The Five: Great characters, bad shows
Back in January I gave my list of Great Shows, Bad Characters. And now
it's time to reverse that and name five great characters trapped in bad TV shows.
1. Hawk (A Man Called Hawk): Not only is Hawk (from Spenser: For Hire) one of the great characters of 80s television, he's one of the great characters of television history. And Avery Brooks...what a perfect actor for the role. No one else could have played Robert B. Parker's character like Brooks (see the later Spenser flicks for proof of that). But then they gave him his own show, moving him to D.C., and he started playing the piano and getting all mushy. Eh. Great character, bad show.
2. Blanche, Rose, and Sophia (The Golden Palace): Three great characters from The Golden Girls decide to open up a hotel in Miami when Dorothy gets married and moves away. Blanche, Rose, and Sophia open a hotel? That never made any sense to me.
3. Dr. Smith (Lost In Space): What a weird show, and what a weird character. Conniving, cowardly, over the top, and a little evil, Smith was the ultimate creep. Jonathan Harris did a great job with such an outlandish character in an outlandish premise. I never knew why the family always tried to save him. I would have let him get killed by monsters or giant carrots or whatever the Robinsons were fighting that week.
4. Joey Tribbiani (Joey): No explanation necessary.
5. Jack Stiles (Jack Of All Trades): I had high hopes for this show, because Bruce Campbell was the star. But...wow, what a dud this was.

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