Side Characters Who Stole the Show from the Lead

Cybill (1995) was built around Cybill Shepherd as an actress navigating middle age, failed marriages, and career struggles in Hollywood. Cybill’s mix of humor and resilience was positioned as the backbone of the sitcom, exploring the trials of a woman reinventing herself.

But Christine Baranski’s turn as Maryann Thorpe often hijacked the spotlight. As Cybill’s martini-loving, acerbic best friend, she delivered razor-sharp one-liners and outrageous antics. Her bitter divorce and love of high society added layers of absurdity. Audiences often remembered Maryann’s barbed commentary long after Cybill’s storylines faded.