What a Character!
By Christine Champagne, Mike Everleth and Diane Snyder

It doesn't take much for a new character to throw a flourishing TV series off-balance, but counting on one to boost an established program can be as risky as relying on a presidential exit poll. Still, mix the right actor with the right role, combine a great new character with a stellar ensemble, and you can revitalize a long-running series that may be showing signs of age. These four characters demonstrate the positive effects that a newcomer can bring to a maturing series.

Special Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick), The X-Files Fox, Sundays, 9 to 10 p.m. ET

"The X-Files can't continue without David Duchovny!" Viewers worried that the show could not go on with the actor appearing in less than half the episodes this season, the series' eighth. Yet it was Duchovny's semi-departure and the introduction of a new character that has brought the show back from the edge of tedium. The X-Files' seventh season, for the most part, abandoned the "mythology" storyline of the alien takeover of Earth and focused on stand-alone episodes that relied more on gimmickry than good storytelling, such as the spoof of Cops and the parody of Hollywood. But now with Mulder missing, we have an exciting new mystery and an even more exciting new partner for Scully (Gillian Anderson): Special Agent John Doggett. It's almost like watching a brand-new show. This is the perfect time for new viewers who have been too intimidated by the confusing storylines to finally start watching.