Every now and then everyone needs a helping hand and that is the exact purpose for a sidekick. They are there to bail the “main man” out of trouble, provide a sounding board and a word of encouragement when things get tough. I think you will agree that all the sidekicks listed below provided support, encouragement and a helping hand or hoof when needed.
10. Tonto
The Main Man: Lone Ranger
While his way of speaking certainly wasn’t politically correct (”Him say man ride over ridge on horse.”), Tonto always had valuable advice for the Lone Ranger such as which way the bad guys went. The very fact he stuck around even though the word “Tonto” can mean “fool” or “idiot”, just makes him even more loyal as well as patient with Mr. Lone Ranger. Without Tonto no one would be use the phrase “Kemo Sabe” which means “faithful friend” which he also was.
9. Barney Rubble
The Main Man: Fred Flintstone
While Barney is a spin off of Ed Norton from the Honeymooners, who narrowly missed being on this top sidekicks list, he came into his own as the best pal of Fred Flintstone. Barney Rubble was usually the calming Yin to Fred’s raging Yang and his affable, jovial manner usually influenced Fred to more thoughtful decisions. And while he was never looking for the next big scheme or the next best thing, as did Fred, Barney was certainly the next best thing to Mr. Flintstone.
8. Doctor John Watson
The Main Man: Sherlock Holmes
With Dr. Watson a catch phrase was born, “It’s elementary, my dear Watson!” Even though to Dr. Watson it was usually anything but elementary and had to be explained in detail for him and the reader to understand. Here’s a thought: Was Sherlock Holmes just rubbing it in a little because Watson was a doctor and he wasn’t? Maybe there was a little jealousy possibly? In any case, Dr. Watson was the perfect sounding board helping Holmes work through the crime and without Watson who would do the narration?
7. Mr. Spock
The Main Man: Captain Kirk
While being a Vulcan on the starship enterprise, Mr. Spock was only half human and therefore was puzzled at many human qualities, especially our emotions. Although our humor was sometimes beyond his comprehension he added many humorous moments with his “logical” dry quips. As he was often the calculating brain behind many of the plots on Star Trek, his role was sometimes reduced to that of the problem-solver, but more than not he logically presented reason and thought to Kirk’s fiery “ask-questions-later” approach. Live long and prosper…as a sidekick.
6. Deputy Barney Fife
The Main Man: Sheriff Andy Taylor
While most sidekicks provide much-needed support, Barney Fife instead provided laughs and lots of them. Often Barney caused more problems than he solved and the “Andy Griffith Show” was all the better for it. And even though, as deputy, Barney was only allowed to carry one bullet (and he had to carry that in his pocket), you couldn’t ask for a better protector and friend for your Sheriff. But if you think about it, Andy Taylor probably kept him around to make himself look better. After all, would you want to lose your Sheriff if Barney Fife was next in line?
5. Donkey
The Main Man: Shrek
Okay, this sidekick may appear to be a stretch at #5, but in terms of popularity and notoriety I think you can see Donkey’s merits. As many sidekicks on this list, Donkey provides the softer side to his “main guy”. He helps Shrek relate to the world and helps the audience relate to Shrek by breaking down the walls and “peeling the onion” that is Shrek. Once you add in the humor along with the unquestioning loyalty, the annoying habits of Donkey just don’t seem so big. You have appreciate Donkey, just as Shrek finally does. He provides the heart Shrek always needed even if his big mouth came along with it.
4. Chewbacca
The Main Man: Han Solo
While a very few might argue that Han Solo was a sidekick to Luke Skywalker, I would disagree. Han is probably the more popular character of the two from Star Wars fame. Han Solo was to “big” to be a sidekick.
So, that makes Chewy a perfect candidate for the #4 sidekick. A Wookie making the sidekick list is all the more impressive when you consider he never said a word we could understand. But grunts and growls along with expressive body language usually said it all. Being a “walking carpet” didn’t stop him from helping to save a galaxy far, far away. As Han’s trusted friend he became a gentle, guiding moral compass more than once, helping steer Han Solo and the Millennium Falcon in the right direction.
3. Samwise Gamgee
The Main Man: Frodo Baggins
Look up the word loyal in the dictionary and while you won’t find a picture of Samwise Gamgee, but you probably should. I’m sure it is at least a synonym. This “fat hobbit” showed his loyalty and courage over and over. Among is credentials are: fighting a giant spider, battling numerous of Orcs, leaving his home and following Frodo half way around Middle-Earth and literally carrying a unconscious Frodo on his back up a mountain filled with lava. Oh, and he walked into a lake knowing full well he couldn’t swim to follow his “master”. Maybe blind loyalty isn’t the best thing for a sidekick’s own safety, but if he is your sidekick, you have to appreciate it. You might say it is “precious”.
2. Ed McMahon
The Main Man: Johnny Carson
Heeeeeeeeeer’s Eddy! While sharing this list with my 17 year-old son he saw the name Ed McMahon and asked who he was. I was mildly surprised and felt really old, but even that couldn’t move Mr. McMahon down the list. He owns #2. He provided a cultural catch phrase when he opened every Tonight Show with the familiar introduction of Johnny Carson, “Heeeeeeeeeer’s Johnny.” Playing the straight man isn’t as easy as it appears and providing a live laugh track for Mr. Carson had to be trying at times. The fact that he was a valuable and contributing partner for over 30 years in the fickle beast that is television should prove his success as a sidekick. It should also be noted he is the only non-fictional person on this sidekick list. If that isn’t enough, as a sidekick he is easily the most financially soluble, being valued at 200 million dollars during the 90s.
1. Robin, the Boy Wonder
The Main Man: Batman
When you hear the word “Batman”, in the back of your head you most likely say to yourself “…and Robin”. If the name Batman seems to conjure the afterthought “…and Robin” with little conscious thought then you have to be doing something right as his sidekick, which acrobatically vaults you to the #1 sidekick. While Robin is important, it seems the person portraying Robin isn’t particularly important. Batman has had several different people in the Robin uniform including a female.
But, you have to wonder at the true role Batman had in mind for Robin even though Robin has saved the “caped crusader” many times. The question comes to mind: Why has he has made Robin such an inviting target, brightly colored in red and yellow, while he struts around in dark blue, gray and black. I can almost hear Batman saying to Robin when approaching a dark alley, “Looks dangerous, you go first!” and then silently to himself, “I can always find more of you.” But even though he may be easily replaced, Robin is certainly a viable sidekick and parnter.
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