The Long and Undignified History of The Sidekick’s Sidekick
The sidekick is one of television sitcoms’ most honorable roles. Not quite as cool as the hero, but nonetheless, the sidekick is the loyal friend, the faithful assistant or the steadfast relative. But take one small step down the food chain, and you’ll find a different kind of buddy– the sidekick’s sidekick. The sidekick’s sidekicks take a world of abuse, and they take it — not from the sitcom’s lead character– but instead from a secondary character. And something about that makes them loveable, even though they have no pride, and range from mildly annoying to outright awful. Who are they?
Seinfeld > Kramer >Newman
Seinfeld. While Kramer is considered one of Jerry’s sidekicks on Seinfeld, the wacky neighbor has one of his own– NEWMAN. Jerry will hang with Kramer by his side, but he doesn’t get involved in his schemes. That’s where the sidekick’s sidekick comes in. Newman is with Kramer during some of his weirdest ideas; recruiting the homeless to pull rickshaw, making sausage, the great bottle return run. And it was faithful sidekick’s sidekick Newman who was with Kramer on the infamous day of the second spitter.
Andy Taylor > Barney Fife > Gomer Pyle
The Andy Griffith Show. Barney Fife was the dedicated lawman and faithful deputy to Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show. But this number 2 man had his own number 2. When it was time for a full fledged investigation in the town of Mayberry, Deputy Fife would deputize Gomer Pyle into the sheriff’s department. Barney screamed and ridiculed Gomer, but he needed his trusty third-hand man when it came time to check out haunted houses or solve the great filling station robbery. In Mayberry, the backup was ready to call for his backup.
Larry Sanders > Hank Kingsley > Brian the Assistant
The Larry Sanders Show. Who’s there when Hank Kingsley’s world comes crashing down around him on The Larry Sanders Show? That’s his faithful assistant and sidekick’s sidekick Brian the Assistant. Brian the Assistant arrived to save the day after Darlene left the show. Brian had the unusual task on Larry Sanders of being the person who actually respected Hank. He knew right when to call for an ambulance during Hank’s panic attacks, wanted to assist Hank in tracking down his sex tape and did his best to handle Hank’s medication.
Kenny Powers > Stevie Janowksi > Maria
Eastbound and Down. Stevie Janowski would be willing to follow Kenny Powers to the ends of the Earth on Eastbound and Down, but there was someone willing to follow Stevie further than that. It’s his Mexican Mrs, Maria. More than just a wife, Maria becomes the sidekick’s sidekick with daring maneuvers like helping Kenny and Stevie escape Ashley Schaeffer’s plantation while under heavy cannon fire. She also underwent a huge breast augmentation to help sales at Taters & Tits. The woman was even willing to put grab Stevie’s bloody fake chin and reattach it to his face after he accidentally shoots it off. That goes beyond being a faithful wife, that’s a loyal sidekick’s sidekick.
Wally Cleaver > Eddie Haskell > Lumpy Rutherford
Leave It To Beaver. Eddie Haskell has always been known as Wally Cleaver’s unlikable sidekick. Eddie always played it tough around other people, but not with Wally. He knew Wally could take him if the occasion ever came to it. Eddie needed someone he could push around. That’s where Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford comes in. Know as “Creeps Incorporated” by Beaver Cleaver, Eddie and his sidekick’s sidekick caused plenty of trouble for the Cleavers whenever Lumpy would follow Eddie’s lead.
Michael Scott > Dwight Schrute > Mose Schrute
The Office. One vital job of the sidekick’s sidekick is to make the sidekick look better. He’s is usually not as bright as the actual dimwitted sidekick. A perfect example of this is the sidekick to Michael Scott’s sidekick, Dwight Schrute on The Office. Dwight’s flunky is his cousin Mose who only rarely leaves the family beet farm. He makes Dwight look brilliant by comparison. Mose hand delivers raccoons, has to be warned about throwing manure and lets guests know that “everybody poops”. He’s even loyal enough to chase cars on Schrute family property.
Stan > Eric Cartman > Butters
South Park. Not making it as a replacement for Kenny on South Park, Butters Scotch finds himself as the sidekick of Stan and Kyle’s sidekick Eric Cartman. When a sidekick character can’t get the main characters to go along with his plans, that’s when he needs his own sidekick. The naive Butters falls for whatever Cartman tells him. All on Cartman’s urging, Butters has become a Somali pirate, kills 11 people after stealing a Nascar and holds up a restaurant and ends up shooting people. Despite all this, Butters continues to be devoted to Cartman.
