Johnny Carson had Ed McMahon. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Ryan Seacrest used to have Brian Dunkleman. But, according to the New York Times, the era of the sidekick is all but over. They note that popular late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, and Craig Ferguson all go without sidekicks (although, it should be noted that Stewart’s rotating cast of commentators, from Kristin Schaal to John Oliver, are hilarious, and he lets them bask in the spotlight). Plus, even though not that many people watch her show, Chelsea Handler’s sidekick is her ubiquitous assistant, Chuy “Little Nugget” Bravo. Here’s how the article defines a sidekick:
And what might have ushered out the era of the right-hand man? The Times blames an interesting person… Dick Cheney.A real sidekick is something between a friend and a servant — a fervant. Sancho Panza is the exemplar, a paid employee who behaves as if he would gladly serve free, but another is James Boswell, so humbly devoted to his friend Dr. Johnson that he took on the role of amanuensis.
For what it’s worth, I am so glad Andy Richter is going to come back to Conan O’Brien’s side.Former Vice President Dick Cheney may share some blame. He stretched the job description so far to fit his own agenda that the definition of “vice” lost its secondary meaning; at times during the build-up to the Iraq war, Mr. Cheney seemed more like Cardinal Richelieu than Tonto.
But the demise of the second banana is also a fallout of the interactive age. Now that everyone feels entitled to a say — by blog, text message or call-in vote to “American Idol” — the audience has become the sidekick. Laughter and applause come on command, then a chosen few in the studio are rewarded with humbling on-camera cameos, whether it’s dancing with Ellen DeGeneres, turning stupid pet tricks with Mr. Letterman or licking a lawn mower on Mr. Fallon’s show.
