Top 10 TV Side Characters Who Should Have Been the Main Character

While we loved watching Scott navigate his life as both a high school student and a werewolf, there was a different character that always seemed to catch our eye. Scott’s best friend Stiles would’ve made a great main character in this series. He provided Scott with a constant shoulder to cry on, he always had plenty of jokes, and with his loyalty and empathy, he became a beloved character. It would’ve been interesting to watch his character develop as a teen wolf, or it might have been cool to focus on him as the best friend of a teen wolf, with Scott being a side character instead. Maybe we need a Stiles-centered spin-off to know for sure.

The show was literally called “Will & Grace,” so there was no question as to who would be at center stage throughout its run. The endearing friendship between the two titular characters was great, but one of their best friends would’ve also made a great main character. Jack was arguably the funniest person on the show, with Karen as a close second. The humorous situations in which he found himself usually centered around his career or his love life, both of which were tremendously fun to watch. Much like Will, Jack was a great representation for the LGBTQ community, and we couldn’t get enough of him.

All of Jessica Day’s roommates brought something entertaining and unique to the table. Nick was a sarcastic, beaten down, loving man, while Schmidt was eccentric and mysterious. Schmidt had enough comedic moments, quirks, and flaws to garner main character potential. He evolved the most over the series, growing from a loveable jerk with misogynistic tendencies to a kind-hearted person, and we would’ve loved to see that transformation up close. Watching Jess’ journey was undeniably fun, but a closer look at Schmidt’s transformation from a plus-size university student to a douchebag jar roommate all the way to a super model’s husband would’ve been endlessly amusing.

There are a lot of iconic characters in this show. Jax Teller is definitely loveable, and Clay contrasts well with him, so they do a good job in the driver’s seat of this show. However, it was Jax’s best friend, Opie, who we would’ve loved to see as the focus of “Sons of Anarchy.” He was just as conflicted, tortured, and dynamic as Jax, while still being relatable and hitting some surprising emotional depths. He’s interesting and flawed, which is exactly what you want in a main character, and we would’ve loved to see more of his story arc.

“Community” was an ensemble show, but the main focus was on Jeff, the former lawyer going back to community college. The thing was, a lot of his friends in his study group were much more fascinating, and one stood out from the crowd. Abed was mysterious and hilarious, and he became more and more beloved as the series went on. He spent a lot of time figuring out how to socialize and navigate his new circle of friends and seeing growth in that aspect of his life from his perspective would’ve been insightful. We’ve heard talk of a movie in the future of “Community,” so we may see Abed getting more screen time soon.

Leslie Knope was the cheery, try-hard, go-getter of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department, and Ron Swanson was the anti-Leslie. He had a stern demeanor and a skeptical view of the government, the community, and the relationship between them. We would’ve loved to learn more about how he became the way he was and get a peek into the complicated relationship he had with his ex-wives. Most importantly, we would’ve loved to see more of his deadpan humor and rare heartfelt moments, as those were undeniably some of the most memorable in the series. We couldn’t get enough of Nick Offerman’s performance, and we just wish we could’ve seen more of it.

“Glee” was an ensemble but as it progressed, it more and more centered around Rachel Berry’s journey from high school student to Broadway star. We saw her navigate her relationship with Finn Hudson, her ambitions in the glee club, and her complicated friendships with Kurt Hummel and later, Santana Lopez. However, we think that Santana would’ve been a great protagonist for this show, as it would’ve come from a completely different perspective. Santana competed with Rachel throughout almost the entire series while also struggling with her sexuality. She grew immensely as a character, and was both deeply flawed and fabulously entertaining, and we were so happy that she got a great story arc toward the end of the series.

This show focused on the lives of medical interns and residents, especially on J.D. 's bromance with Turk and his romantic entanglement with Elliot. But it’s his mysteriously comedic dynamic with the Janitor that led to some of the highlights of the series. The Janitor was full of eccentricities that we wish we could’ve learned more about, and we would’ve loved to see the hospital from his perspective, as he had his finger on the pulse of Sacred Heart. The craziest thing about this iconic character is that he was only intended to be included in the pilot, and not only can we not imagine the show without him, we think he should’ve been at the center.

It was a show about nothing, but it was really a show about Seinfeld, as you might’ve guessed from the title. We saw him working as a stand-up comedian in New York alongside his best friend George, his ex-girlfriend Elaine, and his neighbor Kramer. All of the actors brought so much comedic excellence to their roles, but Michael Richard’s performance as Cosmo Kramer was definitely a highlight. Not only was he hilarious, but Kramer’s business endeavors, lack of funds, and insane situations in which he finds himself should’ve been more prominent on the show. Without him, we wouldn’t have ever heard the phrase “these pretzels are making me thirsty,” and that would’ve been truly tragic.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Hugo “Hurley” Reyes, “Lost” (2004-10)
The Most Relatable & Kind-Hearted Person on the Island Should’ve Been Center Stage

Leon Black, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (2000-24)
He’s Energetic & Hilarious, Like Larry, but Better

Niles Crane, “Frasier” (1993-2004)
Frasier Crane’s Little Brother’s Story Is One We’d Love to Dive Into

Omar Little, “The Wire” (2002-08)
The Complexities of His Character Would Have Been Entertaining to Explore

Niles, “The Nanny” (1993-99)
Should This Show Have Been Called “The Butler?”

Ted Mosby’s 9-season quest for love alongside his best friends was fun wrapped in sentimentality, but we’re not sure if Ted’s perspective was the most intriguing one to explore. Neil Patrick Harris’ performance as Barney Stinson was legen - wait for it - dary, and his storylines were some of the most interesting on the show. His relationship with his mom was outrageous, his ploys to get women were crazy to watch, and his growth as a character was something to be revered. We were happy Ted fell in love, but we were thrilled to watch Barney find happiness in the end too, and that showed us that he should’ve been front and center.

Which supporting character do you think should’ve been the star? Let us know in the comments!