Multiple series with one character name... (1 Viewer)

[bmasters9]

For those who have two or more series in your collection with one lead character's first name (not cast member's name) among the cast (I myself have several w/Mike: two detective series [The Streets of San Francisco & Mike Hammer, the latter w/the late Darren McGavin in the title role], and one comedy [The Brady Bunch, where the late Robert Reed was Mike Brady]), is there one of those series that you like better than the others? The reason I ask is because having finished that police/detective series w/the Mike character (The Streets of San Francisco, the late, great Karl Malden as Lt. Mike Stone), it might take me a while to warm up to the comedy I have w/the Mike character (The Brady Bunch).

Also, what character names do you have multiple series with in your collection?

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Hmmm...not a question that's ever occurred to me, I must admit. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few series in my collection where the lead characters share the same first name. For example, Steve Austin (Lee Majors) in The Six Million Dollar Man and Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) in My Three Sons. Then there's 3 Jims: West, Phelps and Rockford. Of those, I'd probably have to choose the bionic Steve and the P.I. who drives a Firebird as my favorites.

That's why it's nice to have unusual character names, like Cheyenne, Yancy, Paladin, Barnaby or Buffy.

 

[bmasters9]

Hmmm...not a question that's ever occurred to me, I must admit. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few series in my collection where the lead characters share the same first name. For example, Steve Austin (Lee Majors) in The Six Million Dollar Man and Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) in My Three Sons. Then there's 3 Jims: West, Phelps and Rockford. Of those, I'd probably have to choose the bionic Steve and the P.I. who drives a T-bird as my favorites.

That's why it's nice to have unusual character names, like Cheyenne, Yancy, Paladin, Barnaby or Buffy.

True-- I have at least two Jim series myself: Jim West on The Wild Wild West, and Capt. Jim Kirk on O-R NBC Star Trek.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

D'oh! How could I forget Kirk! Of course...I'm sure there are more Jims I'm forgetting beyond that. The main thing is, I think most of us don't think Jim, so much as Kirk. Ditto West, Phelps, Rockford, etc. The surname is the important one.

 

[bmasters9]

D'oh! How could I forget Kirk! Of course...I'm sure there are more Jims I'm forgetting beyond that. The main thing is, I think most of us don't think Jim, so much as Kirk. Ditto West, Phelps, Rockford, etc. The surname is the important one.

Good point! BTW, why is the surname the common denominator?

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Well, to me, it seems likely that most writers spend more time thinking up the last names of characters, looking for something catchy or memorable...especially if the characters are cops, private eyes, spies, cowboys etc. It just seems a natural thing to focus on, since most of the other characters will likely refer to them (the lead) by their last names. Again, I'm just spitballing here, no real answers for you.

 

[Bob Gu]

Chip Saunders COMBAT!, Chip Douglas MY THREE SONS, Chipper the dog in LAND OF THE GIANTS, or was that Clipper?

There was a Barnaby in WAGON TRAIN.

Betty in BARNABY JONES and THE FLINTSTONES.

Wilma in THE FLINTSTONES and BUCK ROGERS.

Buck in Buck Rogers, BUCK JAMES (Dennis Weaver show)

Sam in McCLOUD, FELONY SQUAD, CHEERS, QUANTUM LEAP.

This could be endless like that six degrees game.

Jane Hathaway, Jane Rizzoli, Patrick Jane... oops first names only?

 

[bmasters9]

Jane Hathaway, Jane Rizzoli, Patrick Jane... oops first names only?

Yes, only first names-- have clarified up top.

 

[Ethan Riley]

David Silver (90210, David Collins (Dark Shadows), David Banner (The Incredible Hulk)...

 

[Tommy R]

The only ones that comes to mind in my collection is Tony Nelson (I Dream of Jeannie) and Tony Soprano (The Sopranos).

 

[bmasters9]

The only ones that comes to mind in my collection is Tony Nelson (I Dream of Jeannie) and Tony Soprano (The Sopranos).

How about Tony Blake on The Magician & Tony Petrocelli on Petrocelli?

 

[MartinP.]

^^^
Tony Newman (Time Tunnel).

 

[MartinP.]

I believe Baretta's first name was Tony. (TV series Baretta.)