I'm watching Criminal Intent last night (God knows why), and it strikes me that Jamey Sheridan's character of Captain Deakins never does anything other than periodically look over the shoulders of Goren and Eames, and he always seems clueless. I know it's in large part a function of their attempts to make Goren the greatest detective in history, but they at least allow Eames to play off of him well and have some insight of her own. Deakins gets nothing, and he's supposedly a major cast member.

Anyone more useless? Someone in the opening titles who never does anything?

das

I've seen CI 3 times and concluded that everyone except Super Detective is useless.

My answer: Aquaman in Superfriends.

kim bauer das? no point other then t&a and for us fans to laugh at "what will the idiot do next.

• Quoth Rypro 525 •<HR SIZE=1>kim bauer das? no point other then t&a and for us fans to laugh at "what will the idiot do next. <HR SIZE=1>

Perhaps "useless" was a poor choice of words. I was thinking more along the lines of characters that do absolutely nothing (she at least does stuff); but yes, she is most definitely useless.

das

Ensign Travis Mayweather in Enterprise.

Peter Gallagher's character in The O.C. All he seems to do is fashion his mop style of a hair cut.

what about most shows that have kids on them

The paramedic in Boomtown.

Will and/or Grace.

• Quoth Palaver •<HR SIZE=1>Ensign Travis Mayweather in Enterprise. <HR SIZE=1>

Now we're talking. Anytime there's a lull in the script, give him some throwaway lines to talk about what it was like on his parent's ship and then have him look helpless. Still, he did get that whole episode about his family, so I guess that's something. It really is as though he exists only to fill some Paramount mandate that all Trek shows must have 7 major cast members.

das

Jamie on The Practice is pretty durn useless. I swear they use her only to pretty up the scenes with Eleanor in them.

Either of the sisters on Lost In Space.

Tina Yothers on Family Ties.

Dianne Wiest didn't do much with her DA character on Law and Order (esp compared to either Hill or Thompson).

Meg on Family Guy.

In the last year, I have become a huge L&O fan, catching up with the main show in syndication. I decided to check out the new two series over the summer, but I really don't like CI. Last night I watched it for a few minutes before finally decided to give up on it for good. I like SVU, but I think that it all comes down to the actors and how they portray their characters. The stories in all the series are pretty much on par with each other, but I just don't like either of the detectives on CI.

Anyway, I agree about their supervisor on this show, and pretty much the captains on all of the L&O shows. They generally have less than 5 minutes screen time per show, and just tell their detectives to do things that they really should have figured out for themselves...

maggie on the simpsons

The taby in According to Jim or the baby in Friends. In most episodes it's like the writers forgot there is a kid.

The whole cast of Just Shoot Me.

Pete on Smallville? He's in every episode, but very rarely has anything to do...

So...who's winning so far?

Jai on "Queer Eye", if the thread allows.

Nope, gotta disagree. At least Jai is amusing.

It's the food guy that's got no purpose. No one in their right mind wants to spend that much on inedible fare to impress some would-be suitor.

Eventhough it's only been on for 3 episodes the youngest son on Joan of Arcadia seems to be heading that way.

On CI they're not a major character but the defense atty's are all useless. They come in, introduce themselves, and then just sit there while Goren goes off on their clients. They get the same amount of screentime as Deakins anyway.

• Quoth Patman •<HR SIZE=1>So...who's winning so far? <HR SIZE=1>

Looks like me. The other characters either have had major episodes devoted to them or aren't really major cast members. Jamey Sheridan is one of only four people in the opening credits and has pretty high billing, and yet he does nothing. I guess he's there in some false attempt to maintain the Law & Order "formula", because he serves no purpose. In that respect, Carver's pretty darn useless too most of the time, but every once in a while they give him something to do. They should just call it Order and Associates: Criminal Intent, considering how little "Law" gets to do.

das

Another vote for Pete on Smallville. To call him the "token black guy" of the show would be doing a disservice to every other "token black guy" in TV and film. In the first two episodes of Season 3, he's been in exactly one scene.

Last season it was Colin Hart on Everwood... this season he still is.

Or the Piano Player lady on Who's Line Is It Anyway?...