Was watching some of the Married With Children Christmas episodes last night and got to the one where Seven, the younger new kid addition for a season or two, and realized just how crappy that character was.

Got me thinking, what were some of the BEST and WORST new cast member addition outside of the core established cast to a show.

IMO, Woody on Cheers was the best new addition.

I was coming in here to post Seven, as well as cousin Oliver.

Almost forgot... One of the best was Andrew Scott's character, on Fleabag.

Rob Lowe and Adam Scott replacing Blandowicz on season two of Parks and Rec was a great move.

Seven, worst on Married with Children but best on Star Trek: Voyager.

aaaaaagreeeed!

Best :
Frasier and Lilith on Cheers
Jimmy Smits on NYPD Blue
Gloria Rubin on ER
Saul Goodman and Gus Fring on Breaking Bad
Brianne of Tarth on Game of Thrones

There were a lot of things that went into making Parks and Rec better after season one but this was probably the most notable.

Going back to Married With Children I liked Steve ok but adding Ted McGinley was great.

Jefferson certainly added more comedy then Steve did.

I'm adding BEST: Kevin Murphey to Mystery Science Theatre 3000

Danny Devito in season 2 of It's Always Sunny

Also, I think he gets downgraded in a lot of people's minds because of his later (horrible) arcs but Ed Helms was a great addition to the office (as was Ellie Kemper). Lost also had a bunch of great candidates but I think the ending really soured people on the whole thing so it's easy to forget, like Michael Emerson and Elizabeth Mitchell.

And of course the recently deceased Jason David Frank to Power Rangers.

Worst: Freddie Prinze Jr on season 8 of 24

Corey Hawkins on 24 Legacy. No offense to him, but the character he played as the lead sucked.

James Spader on The Office



Best: Robert Patrick on X-Files

Ted Danson on CSI

Joe Mantegna on Criminal Minds

That is a scorching hot take.

I thought Doggett was a great addition, but I know X-Flies nerds may think otherwise

Cheers has had some good ones, add Rebecca Howe to the list.

I always like Nick from Family Ties

Leon on Curb Your Enthusiasm

Best: Spike on both Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel.
Worst: Connor on Angel. He made Dawn on Buffy seem tolerable.

Agreed. When I first watched some of the original KTMA episodes, I wasn't a big fan of the guy who first did the voice for Servo (and was also the predecessor to the far superior TV's Frank)

Good one, I can't imagine the show without him, Devito is so great. Rewatching the first season seems so weird without him.

Best:
Hunnicut and Winchester - M*A*S*H
Amy - Big Bang Theory

Worst:
Walden - Two and a Half Men
Tori - Saved by the Bell

I watched VOY during it's first run and it was still a bit jarring even over four years, but rewatching it over the years it's clear that Jeri Ryan stole the show. And not just for her looks, but how she really showed Seven's growth as a human.

And Potter, of course, and then making Klinger and Mulcahy fulltime cast members. Once that full cast was in place, it was almost like a new show at times.

Christopher Lloyd in Taxi (guest star in season one, regular in season two)

Markie Post on Night Court was great.

Great call. Insane that his character stuck around, but I'm so glad he did.

Spike was one I was going to mention. I would also add Anya from Buffy, and from Angel, I'd say Fred and Wesley.

For worst, I'll throw out Phil Capra on Northern Exposure. He never clicked with me at all. He was a terrible Joel replacement.

Anorher nominee for best addition would be Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. I'd maybe add Alan Brady on Dick Van Dyke Show as well.

Edited to correct a dumb mistake

^ Alan Brady. Wayne wasn’t even born yet.

That's why it was such an amazing addition!

Worst - The Jewish kid that played David Duchovney's son in Californication. It was such a cool show until that shithead showed up -- just tanked the series thereafter. I think that may have been the final season?