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{{trope}}
Like the [[Five-Man Band]], there are certain character archetypes who just seem to fit together, a sort of [[Commedia Dell Arte Troupe]], if you will. In any given [[Sit ComSitcom]] (especially an ensemble), you are likely to find at least two of the archetypes listed below.
 
As an example of how these characters mesh, consider the following sample, from ''[[Commedia Dell'Arte|commedia dell'arte]]'':
 
* '''The Wisecracker:''' Arlecchino
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'''The Square''' -- Often the central protagonist, and usually [[The Everyman]] or the [[Only Sane Man]]. Essentially the [[Straight Man]]; this doesn't mean necessarily that The Square gets no funny lines, but a large portion of the comedy from such a character comes from his/her reactions to the situation or other characters. In a [[Dom Com]], this role will usually be reserved for the [[Closer to Earth]] mother figure.
* Tim Daly's character Joe Hackett in ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]''.
* Fred Savage's character in ''Working''.
* Cory Matthews in ''[[Boy Meets World]]''.
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* Will the [[Straight Gay]] in ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
* Maxwell Sheffield in ''[[The Nanny]]''.
* Carly and Freddie in ''[[I CarlyICarly]]''.
* Yomi and Nyamo from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]''.
* Kryten in ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]''.
* Marge in ''[[The Simpsons (Animationanimation)|The Simpsons]]''.
* Lois in ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Hayley in ''[[American Dad (Animation)|American Dad]]''.
* The title character in ''[[Malcolm in Thethe Middle]]''.
* Kagami in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Dave Nelson in ''[[News Radio]]''.
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* Aiko in ''[[Magical Pokaan]]''.
* The title character in ''[[Barney Miller]]''.
* Jeffrey Fairbrother in ''[[Hi De -de-Hi!]]''.
* Mike "Meathead" Stivic in ''[[All in The Family]]''.
* Dr. Mary Albright from ''[[3rd Rock Fromfrom the Sun]]''.
* Dan of ''Roseanne''.
* Leonard and Penny of [[The Big Bang Theory]]
 
'''The Wisecracker''' -- The domain of the [[Deadpan Snarker]] or the [[Pungeon Master]]. This character just ''lives'' to make fun of others (not usually mean-spirited, like The Bully) or to find the humor in any given situation. Is usually something of a thorn in the sides of the others, particularly in more serious situations. Expect this character to have an especially conflict-laden relationship with The Bully, though the two can be (and often are) good friends underneath. If the protagonist isn't a Square, s/he is most likely a Wisecracker.
* Steven Weber's character Brian Hackett in ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]''.
* Chandler Bing in ''[[Friends]]''.
* Flo, and her various [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute|Suspiciously Similar Substitutes]], in ''Alice''.
* Mama in ''[[MamasMama's Family]]''
* Murray Slaughter in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Jack (Just Jack!) in ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
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* Shawn Hunter in ''[[Boy Meets World]]''
* Niles the butler in ''[[The Nanny]]''.
* Dave Lister in ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]''.
* Johnny Fever in ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]''.
* Brian in ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Bart from ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* Konata in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Hawkeye Pierce in ''[[M*A*S*H (TV)|Mash]]''.
* Dr. Cox in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Kyon in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''.
* Beth in ''[[News Radio]]''.
* Jack and Stan in ''[[On the Buses]]''.
* Yukari from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]''.
* Liru from ''[[Magical Pokaan]]''.
* Ted in ''[[Hi De -de-Hi!]]''
* ''[[Daria]]'': Daria.
* Tommy from ''[[3rd Rock Fromfrom the Sun]]''.
* ''[[Roseanne]]'': Roseanne and her daughter Darlene.
 
'''The Bully''' -- Despite the name, The Bully is oftentimes not an actual bully per se, but ''is'' usually a [[Jerkass]], or sometimes a [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Gold]]. Typically more outright beligerent than The Wisecracker, The Bully will have the least patience with The Wisecracker (who isn't afraid to stand up to him/her) or The Goofball (who is more often than not oblivious to the animosity); on the other hand, if written as a complete Jerkass, The Bully may actively dislike ''all'' the other characters. If female, this will be the [[Alpha Bitch]] or the [[Rich Bitch]]. In [[Work Com|Work Coms]], The Bully will be excessively driven to climb the corporate ladder and/or dominate the others, whether a [[Pointy-Haired Boss]] or a co-worker.
* Roy Biggins in ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]''.
* short-order cook Mel in ''Alice''.
* Lou Grant in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Sam (who is also a Wisecracker in her less [[Jerkass]] moments) in ''[[I CarlyICarly]]''.
* ''Working''
** Liz.
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** Marie Barone is also a Bully, but is much more passive-aggressive in her tactics.
* Stewie from ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Reese and Lois from ''[[Malcolm in Thethe Middle]]'', the former also the Goofball.
* ''[[The Simpsons]]''
** Nelson and Jimbo.
** Homer often fills this role as well, especially during his [[Jerkass]] period.
* Archie Bunker in ''[[All in The Family]]''.
* Frank Burns in ''[[M*A*S*H (TV)|Mash]]''.
* Bill McNeal from ''[[News Radio]]''.
* The Janitor in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
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* Haruhi in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''.
* Blakey in ''[[On the Buses]]''.
* Tomo from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]''.
* Harley Keiner from ''[[Boy Meets World]]''. Also his underlings, Joey 'The Rat' Epstein and Frankie 'The Enforcer' Stecchino.
* Pachira from ''[[Magical Pokaan]]''.
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** George is this in terms of being the Jerkass. And there's Newman too. Other than Kramer, Seinfeld's whole cast basically qualifies.
* [[The Other Darrin|(Lecy Goranson's version of)]] Becky from ''[[Roseanne]]''.
* Sally of ''[[3rd Rock Fromfrom the Sun]]''.
 
'''The Dork''' -- A [[Hollywood Nerd]]/[[Hollywood Geek|Geek]]. The Dork need not be stereotypically nerdy or geeky, at least [[Hollywood Homely|not visually]], but should be such [[Straw Loser|relative to the other characters]]. In a cast full of such characters, The Dork will be the most obviously "dorky" of them. In shows with no obvious Goofball, The Dork may fulfill that role as well. And if a show needs a [[Butt Monkey]], who better than The Dork?
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* Big brother Robert in ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]''.
* Rhoda in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Freddie in ''[[I CarlyICarly]]''.
* Les Nessman in ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]''.
* Stuart Minkus in ''[[Boy Meets World]]''.
* Steve from ''[[American Dad (Animation)|American Dad]]''.
* Meg from ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Milhouse from ''[[The Simpsons (Animationanimation)|The Simpsons]]''
* Matthew Brock from ''[[News Radio]]'' is this along with being The Goofball.
* Ross Gellar from ''[[Friends]]''.
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'''The Goofball''' -- This role is typically filled by [[The Ditz]] or the [[Cloudcuckoolander]], but the character could also be generically zany or a [[Blithe Spirit]] rather than outright ditzy. Could also be a [[Pollyanna]], with naivety serving as the defining trait; if so, expect this to be the youngest character (see also The Precocious) or a [[Naive Newcomer]]. In [[Dom Com|Dom Coms]] this can be an air-headed child -- [[Always Female|typically a daughter]] -- and a (sometimes) milder incarnation can take the form of a [[Bumbling Dad]].
* ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]'' had two: Fay Cochran and Lowell Mather.
* ''[[Father Ted]]'' has both Father Dougal and Mrs. Doyle.
* ''[[Friends]]'' has Phoebe and Joey.
* Vera in ''Alice''.
* Spencer and Gibby in ''[[I CarlyICarly]]''.
* Kramer in ''[[Seinfeld]]''.
* Rose Nylund in ''[[The Golden Girls]]''.
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* Dharma in ''[[Dharma and Greg]]''.
* Daphne in ''[[Frasier]]''.
* The Cat in ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]''.
* Jerry Stiller's character in ''[[King of Queens]]'' is a dangerous combination of The Goofball and The Bully.
* Haruhi from ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'' is the same, but on top of that, she's also {{spoiler|God.}} Mikuru also shares this status.
* Dewey in ''[[Malcolm in Thethe Middle]]'', sometimes Hal as well.
* Homer in ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* Peter in ''[[Family Guy]]''.
* Francine in ''[[American Dad (Animation)|American Dad]]''.
* Tsukasa in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Matthew Brock in ''[[News Radio]]''.
* J.D. in ''[[Scrubs (TV)|Scrubs]]''.
* Reverend Jim, Tony and Latka in ''[[Taxi]]''.
* Osaka from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]''.
* Yuuma from ''[[Magical Pokaan]]''.
* Edith Bunker in ''[[All in The Family]]''.
* Dick from [[3rd Rock Fromfrom the Sun]].
 
These basic archetypes can be supplemented with:
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* Ryoko Asakura from ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''.
* Joey Tribbiani from ''[[Friends]]'' is definitely the Casanova version.
* Brian Hackett on ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]'' is also the Casanova variation.
* ''[[Daria]]'': Daria's little sister Quinn plays this in addition to The Precocious.
* Dan Fielding on ''[[Night Court]]''.
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* Topanga Lawrence in ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' after they ditch her [[Granola Girl]] persona.
* C.C. Babcock in ''[[The Nanny]]''.
* Arnold Rimmer in ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]''.
* Stan in ''[[American Dad (Animation)|American Dad]]''.
* Post-[[Flanderization]] Flanders in ''[[The Simpsons (Animationanimation)|The Simpsons]]''.
* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''[[M*A*S*H (TV)|Mash]]''.
* Dr. Kelso in ''[[Scrubs (TV)|Scrubs]]''.
* Bob in ''[[The Oblongs]]''.
* Nagato in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'', though she doesn't enforce it.
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* Diane on ''[[Cheers]]''.
 
'''The Sage''' -- Usually an older character, this person acts as a sort of [[Mentors|Mentor]] to the main characters, dispensing advice and [[An Aesop]] or two. Though close to the main group, The Sage generally exists outside that group, for example a neighbor, or an authority figure such as a teacher. In [[Sit ComSitcom|Sit Coms]] of old this position was typically filled by a wise, calm-voiced father figure, but that character type has been largely supplanted by the [[Bumbling Dad]]. Indeed, The Sage himself is becoming a [[Forgotten Trope|forgotten character type]] these days, as the main characters tend to share the Aesop-dispensing chores rather than get them from a singular source.
* Wilson in ''[[Home Improvement]]''.
* Ward Cleaver in ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]''.
* Mike Brady in ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.
* Mr. Drummund in ''[[DiffrentDiff'rent Strokes]]''.
* Mrs. Garrett in ''[[The Facts of Life]]''.
* George Feeney in ''[[Boy Meets World]]''.
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* Dr. Cox in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Jimmy James in ''[[News Radio]]'' manages to be the Sage and the Goofball simultaneously.
* Sakaki from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]'' often fulfills this role.
* Rosario in ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
 
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* Cliff Claven in ''[[Cheers]]''.
* [[Ted Baxter]] in ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''.
* Tomo from ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]'', and to some degree, Kagura as well.
* Paul Kinsey in ''[[Mad Men]]''. Joan, the smoking-hot girl Friday, even tells him this to his face in one episode.
* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''[[King of the Hill]]''.
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* Mikuru in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'', resident [[Moe Moe|Moe Blob]] and ironically ''oldest'' member of the cast. Kyon's little sister is another example from the same series.
* Bobby and Cindy (more usually Cindy) in ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.
* Dominic, Logan and Sammy in ''[[Yes, Dear]]''; most especially Dominic, the only one of the three old enough to handle dialogue with the adults.
* Dewey in ''[[Malcolm in Thethe Middle]]''.
* Miyuki in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Maggie in ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* Morgan Matthews in ''[[Boy Meets World]]''.
* [[Cheerful Child]] Chiyo is the obvious choice in ''[[Azumanga Daioh (Manga)|Azumanga Daioh]]'', but Sakaki also fills this role.
 
{{reflist}}
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