If Bill Crider and James Reasoner and I were to sit down and discuss sidekicks we'd likely bring up the great Gabby Hayes and work our way down to Fuzzy St. John (I always felt sorry for him; even as a kid I knew he was lame) and the aggravating Smiley Burnette. (My opinions only--Bill and James may disgaree.)
But for younger folks here's a funny piece I ran across from Empire magazine online--10 Worst Sidekicks. I have to admit they make ole Fuzzy and Smiley look positively Oscar-worthy.
http://www.empireonline.com/features/top10/worst_sidekicks.asp?NID=23032
Those are some bad sidekicks, all right.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Smiley. He can be, aggravating though in some things more than others. He thought of himself as a real star, or so I've heard.
I kind of like Fuzzy St. John, although a little bit goes a long way where he's concerned. I agree with you about Smiley Burnette, though, and I don't care much for the other Fuzzy, Fuzzy Knight, and Dub "Cannonball" Taylor. Gabby's the best, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteJoe the Plumber
ReplyDeleteI think Roscoe Ates was by far the worst, with his unfunny stuttering and otherwise complete uselessness.
ReplyDeleteI alway felt sorry for Johnny Mack Brown and Eddie Dean when they stuck with that guy.