The best "Second Bananas" in TV history

Seconded.

 

Ethel AND Fred Mertz, for sure.
Dwight Schrute is rapidly climbing the list.

 

Phil Hartman on News Radio
David Spade on Just Shoot Me
Anybody other than Danson from the Cheers cast
Anybody other than Hirsch from the Taxi cast
Anybody other than MTM from the Mary Tyler Moore Show
Anybody other than Daly or Weber from Wings cast

 

Great call.

 

Actually, News Radio was created as a star vehicle for Hartman. It ended up playing out as more of an ensemble, though.

If anyone on that show was a second banana, it wasn't Hartman. Maybe Matthew (Andy Dick) or Mr. James (Stephen Root), but not Bill McNeil.

 

stepping away from sitcoms, how bout tonto?

 

Sorry, but this is Art Carney as Ed Norton, with everyone .... and I mean EVERYone else ... a distant second.

 

Ed Norton - Honeymooners
Barney Fife - Andy Griffin Show
Trapper John - MASH (Hawkeye was the star, everyone else was secondary)
Frank Burns - MASH
BJ Hunnicut - MASH
Barney Rubble - The Flintstones
Norm Peterson - Cheers
Dan Fielding - Night Court

 

Medavoy in NYPD Blue, ably played by Gordon Clapp

Not a "second banana," but the ME on the various Law & Order shows has been a great character over the years as she's evolved.

 

Ensemble casts (Taxi, News Radio, Cheers, Just Shoot Me, Wings) are almost always the best way to go.

 

A few for your consideration:

Tim Conway's ensign character on "McHale's Navy."

Rip Torn (Artie) or Jeffrey Tambor (Hank) from "Larry Sanders Show"

As far as dramas and such, I'm partial to the Ray Luca character opposite Dennis Farina's cop on "Crime Story."

 

Dwight- The Office
Johnny Drama-Entourage