Recurring character
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A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who is not a main character, but appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus. The character's return is based on popularity.
Examples of recurring characters:
- Amy Gardner and Nancy McNally from The West Wing
- Bra'tac from Stargate SG-1
- Dr. Radek Zelenka from Stargate Atlantis
- Reginald Barclay and Q from Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Cigarette Smoking Man from The X-Files
- Barry Zuckerkorn from Arrested Development
- Newman from Seinfeld
- Tara Maclay from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Except for the Seeing Red (Buffy episode), where she was made a regular.)
- Lindsey McDonald from Angel
- Sam Franklin from The Brady Bunch
- Pete Pryor from American Dreams
- 'The Colonel' John Camden on 7th Heaven.
- Murdoc from MacGyver
- Dr. Miguelito Loveless from The Wild Wild West
- Lenny and Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley
- Mike Novick from 24
- The Great Gazoo from The Flintstones
- A great number of the characters on The Simpsons
Recurring characters usually start out as guest stars in one episode but continue to show up in future episodes because of their popularity. Some recurring characters have been so popular that they became main characters, famous examples being the Family Matters' Steve Urkel and The West Wing's Donna Moss. In other cases, recurring characters have been given spin-off series of their own, such as Dr. Frasier Crane who originally appeared on Cheers.
On sketch comedy programs, recurring characters are generally a staple. Usually they will appear in their own sketch and due to presumably to their popularity, the sketch itself will become a regular part of the show. Some exemples would include the Church Lady and Hanz and Franz from Saturday Night Live, the Gumbys from Monty Python's Flying Circus, and Bob and Doug Mckenzie from SCTV. However, the characters are not always limited to their own sketchs, often they will appear in others. Sometimes, the characters go on to have their own TV shows. For example, when The Carol Burnett Show was canceled the central character of a popular sketch called The Family, Naomi Harper, went on to have her own show Mama's Family. Also, sometimes recurring characters in sketch comedy shows go on to even have their own movies. This is especially true with Saturday Night Live which has had many recurring characters turn into movies such as Stuart Smalley, Wayne and Garth of Wayne's World, The Blues Brothers, and The Ladies Man. Recurring characters will even revist shows long after the actor who played them has left the cast. Sometimes they will even visit other shows, sketch comedy or not.Template:Tv-stub