10 Lovable '90s TV Side Characters

Side characters in some '90s tv shows were so fantastic they became fan favorites overnight. See why these sidekicks rocked in the grunge decade.

Fans have long appreciated the versatility of '90s tv characters who could slide in and out of the lovable dim-witted sidekick and give solid advice to their closest pals on the show. Whether audiences were in the mood for a comedy or drama, the networks supplied a slew of tv shows with unforgettable and adoring side characters who complimented their star counterparts. They may not have been the main attraction in these series, but fans missed their on-screen presence when written out of episodes.

During the grunge era and before social media, fans voted, and producers listened. When the demand for more of the scene-stealer, comedian, or nincompoop became overwhelming, the reward for these sidekicks was more lines and episodes. See how these lovable '90s tv characters won the hearts of global audiences.

One of television's most embarrassing unrequited loves is Gunther's affection for Rachel on NBC's Friends. He couldn't even land a kiss in a game of Spin the Bottle. The white-haired, esoteric, precarious good guy did get a wet one planted on him by Phoebe, another lovable character, when she thought she could regain her sexy voice by kissing Gunther after he sneezes.

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In "The One with All the Kisses," Monica has Rachel considering Gunther (James Michael Tyler) as a love interest (for a short while). But then, she quickly steadies herself on a hot guy in the café she previously contemplated. Rachel may not have appreciated the debonair café server, but fans discover there's more to Gunther than the monotone personality and spicy hair that balance each other. In an episode titled, "The One with the Stain," Gunther shows audiences he's fluent in Dutch. Who knew?

Waldo's introduction was not an in-your-face hit with fans on Family Matters. He splashes on the screen with a towel around his waist and a shower cap on his head, reporting the low water pressure in Eddie's house. Fast-forward to season 4 and what many fans call "The Best of Waldo," when his best friend Eddie asks, "Why is your sister named Quesadilla?" Waldo (Shawn Harrison) responds, "Because she was born in Taco Bell. It was either Quesadilla or Burrito Grande," the crowd erupts. While having to suspend reality but still shaking their heads at the wacky and unbelievable misinterpretations of Waldo, this persona never failed to deliver what Steve Urkel never could — a split personality (Dumb and Dumber) without entering the Urkel Transformation Chamber. And, let's not forget Waldo busting 90s dance moves better than Elaine from Seinfeld.

Between Bob Pinciotti (Don Stark) arguing with Fez through a fast-food ceramic clown and him stumbling upon news his daughter Donna is on the pill, the lovable That '70s Show side character gave big comedy, matching his big hair and wooly sideburns. In the episode, Burning Down the House, Red interrupts Bob and is shocked that Bob wears a toupee. Fans glimpse into the vanity of the protective dad with the ditzy wife as he finally confesses at a game of Scrabble with the Formans that he wears a "rug." It's the way Stark handles ticklish scenes that charm fans to the point of cherishing every moment of his almost Soprano-like voice and physicality, coupled with warm notes of love for his family and sidekick, Red.

When Bob decides to renew his vows with Midge, he doesn't understand the concept of wedding vows, but his examples come from the heart (that's what fans love about Bob). In the episode, "The First Time," the lovable '90s character orders his daughter to jot down, "Midge, you're as thin today as the day I married you," as a vow. Standing at the altar, waiting for Midge in his gold and green tux in honor of the Green Bay Packers (he always means well), his tough-guy accent encases obvious adoration for his wife as he recites the wedding vows Donna wrote for him. This is why fans love Bob.

The '80s clean-cut rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) delivered comedy in their music videos and brilliantly transferred their comedic chemistry onto NBC's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the '90s. The "lights-out" character, Jazz, may have been kind but had very few lucid moments, as he appeared to shuffle his way through life, relying on, not heavily, the teenage wisdom of his best friend Will (who wasn't the wisest life coach, either). Unfortunately, Jazz's cool, dazed, and confused allure wasn't enough to convince Will's over-the-top bourgeoisie cousin, Hilary, that he was "The One." But, the contagious greeting consisting of a hand slap, finger snaps, a blow-off, and head thrown back between him and Will was enough to hook fans and one of those characteristics that endeared Jazz to audiences.

Consistently tossed out of the Banks' mansion, Jazz never became discouraged from visiting Will. Jazz's quips about Uncle Phil's weight garnered laughs, his imaginary relationship with Hilary, and his mismatched outfits and colorful shirts (the zeitgeist of the '90s hip-hop attire) kept the zany character in fan's memory, never to be overshadowed by any cast member or guest. Remnants of the Odd Couple seep into the Old Married Couple episode as Will comes home from school and berates Jazz about not getting the housework done, as Jazz lays into his BF, "I work all day trying to keep this house nice for you. I cook, and clean, and work my fingers to the bone, and this is the thanks I get?" Jazz in an apron with an attitude is just one of the many classic scenes he brought to Bel-Air.

After getting sprayed with bullets, Lenny tells Carl, "I see heaven." Carl asks, "What does it look like?" Lenny then envisions endless rows of Carl dressed in angel garb, all reciting in unison, "Hurry up, Lenny! We'll be late for work at the plant." The duo's limited screen time gave fans just enough to have them crave two bone heads, with Carl being the brains of the operation. Whether the producers felt Fox's The Simpsons needed characters who made Homer look genius is unclear. However, through the nonsensical and maniacal chatter, the love Lenny (Harry Shearer) and Carl (Alex Desert) had for each other was showcased humorously in bits like the first issue of The Lenny Saver with the headline, The Truth About Carl: He's Great. As always, the writers succeed in skating on the cusp of mushy when Marge walks into Moe's Tavern in all her usual fabulousness, and Carl says, "Whoa, this is the longest I've ever gone without looking at Lenny."

Sunnydale High School was so lucky to have Principal Robert Flutie (Ken Lerner). In the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Welcome to Hellmouth," the uptight Flutie could have dropped Buffy as a student after re-reviewing her transcripts and seeing that she burned down her former school gym. While Principal Flutie wasn't the smoothest character on the show, he was one of the lovable '90s side characters on tv. His signature walk when he storms off after a verbal spat with a student is enough to take any fan down memory lane about their high school superiors.

How could a show kill off a character who gets hyped about introducing a pig as the new Sunnydale High School mascot for the football team? That's why it was a shame to see Flutie go, but he chastised the wrong students. His death was frightful — a pack of Hyena-possessed teens mulled poor Principal Flutie to his last breath.

Every girl needed a friend like Kimmy (Andrea Barber) from Full House to plead their case to their dad about a separate phone line in their bedroom the way she broke the bill down to Mr. Tanner for D.J. It's difficult playing a lovable dipstick, but, Barber pulls it off, giving fans unexpected bursts of dumbness. Just when the audience thinks Kimmy's getting this one right, she doesn't.

In the episode, Back to School Blues, Kimmy's candidness is almost edgy for its day. When a slightly perturbed Jesse asks Kimmy, "This year, why doesn't D.J. pick you up on the way to school?" Kimmy replies, "No can do. My dad eats his breakfast in his underwear." What fans also enjoy about Kimmy is that she's the girl that's down for anything. Who doesn't want a best friend during the growing pains and a partner willing to experiment with all the latest trends? Since most of these experiments flop because they're usually hair-brain ideas, this puts Kimmy and D.J. on the list as the youngest Lucy-and-Ethel-esque duo to ever hit television.

Will & Grace's Karen (Megan Mullally) is on the fence with fans as they grapple with whether to dodge a real-life friend like the busty, filthy-rich, quick-witted friend on the NBC hit series. The Xanex-infused Karen accented the cast so well that audiences quickly realized while they may not want her in their lives, her unique and sometimes offensive charm should remain a recurring character. As a friend to Will, Grace, and Jack (but closer to Jack), it's the quirky flirtatiousness with her materialistic gay friend and the catty criticisms about her "flat-chested" boss, Grace, that create magic on the set (but the chemistry is more with Jack).

When Jack meets Karen for the first time, he asks, "Are you, Karen?" His future BFF gives him a yes. His priceless reaction is, "Well, Peter, Paul, and Mary, you are fabulous!" The pair would go on to perform scenes only they could do, like when Karen bends over and Jack mimes swiping a credit card through her derrière to gain access to her cash, perhaps a nod to the controversial Nelly rap video, Tip Drill. But, audiences loved the controversy of Karen, the political incorrectness, and her openly "posh" drug use. If one is going to be the BFF of a gay man on a '90s show, these are all the goodies that captivated fans for 11 seasons.

While you can't quite call him the invisible neighbor, fans never got a chance to see his face. Wilson (Earl Hindman), the enlightened confidante next door, seemed to, without fail, have time to lend his ear to his adjoining neighbors on Home Improvement. When audiences saw Tim entering the backyard, they were about to witness an earnest but hilariously misconstrued chat about Tim's family or the problem of the day. While Tim confused apples with testicles, the word "ruminate" for "urinate," and the I-Ching for the word "itching," Wilson never let fans know that conversing with Tim may have felt like talking to Chrissy from Three's Company.

Preoccupied with sex and always putting forth his best effort to work it into a song or conversation (especially with children), Chef (Isaac Hayes) from South Park was the '90s lovable tv side character who taught the SP gang the definition of an "anal probe" in the first episode, "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe." When the kids witness extraterrestrials abduct Kyle's little brother, the question is innocently posed to Chef, "Have you ever had something bad happen to you, but nobody will believe you?" The hypersexual school chef bursts into a song about making love and getting juices flowing (in the school cafeteria) as part of his awkward advice until the reality of the inquiry hits him.

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Audiences are accustomed to Chef speaking "out of pocket." But the Parents-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting showed the soulful school cook out of character as he remarked, "Look, parents. Do you really want your children learning about sex [in school]? Part of the fun of being a kid is being naive. Let them be kids for a while." In the episode, "Proper Condom Use," the script begins with a dog, talks about "milk," and continues with quagmires barely suitable for Comedy Central. The setting feels like HBO at 3 am (but that's the MO of South Park).