History Main / ShooOutTheNewGuy

* ''Series/JustShootMe'' had Vicki Costa, a brash hairdresser whom Jack brought in to help make the magazine hipper. Everyone else's storylines were sidetracked to revolve around her -- Jack immediately respects her, Elliot immediately falls for her, Nina feels threatened by her, Finch thinks she's really hot, and Maya is obsessed with getting Vikki to open up to her. All the while, Vikki's too cool to really participate in the plot and usually has to be pursued by the other characters. It's been suggested by somewhat dubious sources that forcing her character into the cast was an aggressive attempt by executives to give Rena Sofer a star vehicle. Ratings plummeted after her introduction, she barely lasted half a season, and they didn't even air her farewell episode.

* In ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', Adrena Lynn was meant to be a recurring rival and foil for Kim. The fans disliked her -- and, more to the point, far preferred Shego - leaving her as one of the very, very few villains with only one episode (and a cameo in the finale).

* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Dr. Beverly Crusher (played by Creator/GatesMcFadden was replaced after season one with Dr. Katherine Pulaski (played by Diana Muldaur), due to head writer Maurice Hurley demanding [=McFadden=] be fired. Creator/GeneRoddenberry never tried to hide the fact that Pulaski was intended to be a DistaffCounterpart to [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries the Original Series]]' [[TheMcCoy Dr. McCoy]], with [[DrJerk all the curmudgeony]], but the attempt to recreate the Bones-Spock dynamic with her and Data [[UnintentionallyUnsympathetic only made her come off as unsympathetic]], outweighing her few positive moments, and she simply failed to gel with the cast as a whole. When Hurley left at the end of the second season, Roddenberry and Creator/PatrickStewart couldn't get [=McFadden=] back fast enough, and Pulaski was relegated to the ExpandedUniverse, never to be referenced on-screen again (except, perhaps, in a hard-to-hear EasterEgg ShoutOut in the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' finale twelve years later).

* There were four series in the leadup to ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}: Conquest:'' the ''ComicBook/{{Nova}}'' ongoing, and the ''ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'', ''ComicBook/StarLord'', and ''Wraith'' miniseries. Nova was a well-established character, while Quasar and Star-Lord were {{Ascended Extra}}s in the original, but Wraith was a new character. Touted as a new and unique addition to the Cosmic mythos, Wraith instead came off as a mix of Drizzt Do'Urden and Jackie Estacado, with the depth of neither and more CommonMarySueTraits than one could shake a shapeshifting gun-whip-sword at. His miniseries mostly focused around how edgy he was while he got to save the much more likeable Ronan and Kl'rt from TheVirus. Fans, of course, hated this guy, and when ''Conquest'' itself finally rolled around, Wraith was barely in it at all. Upon the series ending, Quasar and Star-Lord got [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy their own series,]] while Wraith [[PutOnABus left to try to cure the Phalanx]] and hasn't appeared since, leaving his generic subplot about the search for his father's killer forever unresolved.

* Creator/{{Andrew|Garfield}} [[Creator/TobeyMaguire Maguire]] (a portmanteau of [[PunnyName Andrew Garfield and]] [[StealthInsult Tobey Maguire]]) aka Alpha. He was introduced in ''[[ComicBook/SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #692 as a frighteningly average, under achieving, generally ignored 15-year-old kid who got amazing superpowers via a FreakLabAccident during a field-trip to a presentation made by none other than Peter Parker. He even had a little hype behind him and became Spider-Man's sidekick. Having such low self-worth, it isn't long before everything starts going to Alpha's head. Though it wasn't two issues later where he messes up big time, almost causing some planes to crash, when Spider-Man almost completely de-powers him. And just like that, he's out of the comic after only 3 issues. He was even called this trope's former name, The Poochie, in-universe! Of course, since he later got his own miniseries, it becomes easier to realize that [[InvokedTrope this was planned from the start.]]

** Creator/JephLoeb's run managed to have no less than three of these: Comicbook/BlackPanther, ComicBook/KaZar, and ComicBook/ShannaTheSheDevil. All were introduced and removed in the same arc, without even doing anything significant to the plot, due to backlash from before the story was even published.
** Creator/JonathanHickman's run had the same problem. He positioned Comicbook/SpiderWoman and the new Comicbook/CaptainBritain as though they would be major characters, but they were promptly written out without any explanation.

** Sam Humphries later introduced the Ultimate version of Stature from the Comicbook/YoungAvengers, and even wrote a scene where she was offered membership in the team. His run ended shortly after this, so she never got a chance to join the Ultimates.

* Creator/{{Andrew|Garfield}} Maguire (a portmanteau of [[PunnyName Andrew Garfield and]] [[StealthInsult Tobey Maguire]]) aka Alpha. He was introduced in ''[[ComicBook/SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #692 as a frighteningly average, under achieving, generally ignored 15-year-old kid who got amazing superpowers via a FreakLabAccident during a field-trip to a presentation made by none other than Peter Parker. He even had a little hype behind him and became Spider-Man's sidekick. Having such low self-worth, it isn't long before everything starts going to Alpha's head. Though it wasn't two issues later where he messes up big time, almost causing some planes to crash, when Spider-Man almost completely de-powers him. And just like that, he's out of the comic after only 3 issues. He was even called this trope's former name, The Poochie, in-universe! Of course, since he later got his own miniseries, it becomes easier to realize that [[InvokedTrope this was planned from the start.]]
* There were four series in the leadup to ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}: Conquest:'' the ''Nova'' ongoing, and the ''ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'', ''ComicBook/StarLord'', and ''Wraith'' miniseries. Nova was a well-established character, while Quasar and Star-Lord were {{Ascended Extra}}s in the original, but Wraith was a new character. Touted as a new and unique addition to the Cosmic mythos, Wraith instead came off as a mix of Drizzt Do'Urden and Jackie Estacado, with the depth of neither and more CommonMarySueTraits than one could shake a shapeshifting gun-whip-sword at. His miniseries mostly focused around how edgy he was while he got to save the much more likeable Ronan and Kl'rt from TheVirus. Fans, of course, hated this guy, and when ''Conquest'' itself finally rolled around, Wraith was barely in it at all. Upon the series ending, Quasar and Star-Lord got [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy their own series,]] while Wraith [[PutOnABus left to try to cure the Phalanx]] and hasn't appeared since, leaving his generic subplot about the search for his father's killer forever unresolved.

* During Busiek and Perez's fondly remembered run on The Avengers, they introduced a guy named Triathlon and played him up as a big deal. Between mediocre powers, a garish costume, an obnoxious personality, being a member of a sinister cult, and being acknowledged ''in-universe'' as a token black for the team, fans pretty much hated him. He stuck around till the conclusion of the cult story arc and was then PutOnABus.

** Creator/JephLoeb's run managed to have no less than three of these: Comicbook/BlackPanther, Ka-zar, and Shanna. All were introduced and removed in the same arc, without even doing anything significant to the plot, due to backlash from before the story was even published.

* After the death of Creator/JamesBeck (Private Walker), ''Series/DadsArmy'' brought in a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of Private Cheeseman, who was part of a major storyline in which he joined the platoon so he could report on them for the newspaper he wrote for. He was not well liked by either viewers or some of the cast (Creator/JohnLaurie is on record as saying that both Creatpr/TalfrynThomas and his character were fast approaching SpotlightStealingSquad status) and was written out after the seventh series.

* After the death of Creator/JamesBeck (Private Walker), ''Series/DadsArmy'' brought in a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of Private Cheeseman, who was part of a major storyline in which he joined the platoon so he could report on them for the newspaper he wrote for. He was not well liked by either viewers or some of the cast (Creator/JohnLaurie is on record as saying that both the actor and character were fast approaching SpotlightStealingSquad status) and was written out after the seventh series.

* After the death of James Beck (Private Walker), ''Series/DadsArmy'' brought in a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of Private Cheeseman, who was part of a major storyline in which he joined the platoon so he could report on them for the newspaper he wrote for. He was not well liked by either viewers or some of the cast (John Laurie is on record as saying that both the actor and character were fast approaching SpotlightStealingSquad status) and was written out after the seventh series.

** Due to his [[UnexpectedGameplayChange fishing levels]] in his debut game and his slowgoing, dopey personality, Big the Cat has mostly been relegated to goofy cameos. Harmless stuff, right? Continued aggression towards the character despite not having any relevant role in a main series title in years led to his ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' cameos being pointlessly DummiedOut of the GCN re-release (most of them return in the XBLA/PSN/Steam re-release), a cameo in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' being cut and Creator/SonicTeam heads ''apologizing for bringing him in'' during a Q&A at the Summer of Sonic fan convention. He was eventually brought back for ''VideoGame/TeamSonicRacing''.
** After Silver's debut in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'' and prominent role in ''VideoGame/SonicRivals 2'', he was demoted to extremely minor roles due to the character's overall superfluousness and the poor implementation of his psychic powers...in the game's case. Ascended Fangirl Evan Stanley's work on the IDW Sonic comic series has done much to reintroduce a revamped version of the character that has largely redeemed the character to make him distinct from the other Hedgehog main's and give his existent purpose beyond 'Hedgehog version of Dragonball's Future Trunks'.

For some reason, the character doesn't gel. Maybe [[TheScrappy the audience takes against them]], maybe the actor [[LargeHam over-]] or [[DullSurprise underperforms]], maybe the writers realize [[TheLoad they actually have no idea what to do with the character]]. Whatever it is, they will end up [[PutOnABus leaving the show]], often for contrived reasons. And they [[BusCrash probably won't be back]], even if [[LongBusTrip they logically should be at certain points]]. They could also be killed off if the show allows for it.

** There was also Charlotte Braun, who appeared in a dozen strips in the 1950's before evaporating. She had [[NoIndoorVoice a loud voice]] and ... that's about it. Originally she was to be a female foil for Charlie Brown, but was no more interesting in the role than Lucy was. There's a hilarious [[http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/peanuts/images/6/6b/Charlotte-braun.gif/revision/latest?cb=20130512070823 response letter]] that Schulz wrote to a fan who didn't like the character, featuring Charlotte with an axe in her head.

** In 80's Wrestling/{{WW|E}}F a lot of vignettes were filmed hyping a wrestler named Outback Jack. This was basically Vince's attempt to cash in on the success of ''Film/CrocodileDundee''. After months and months of hype, fans were treated to some of the worst "wrestling" ever performed in public. Jack was shown the door in short order.

* Gabby Goat from the late 1930's ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' cartoons was intended to be an abrasive comic foil for WesternAnimation/PorkyPig, but he was seen as an annoying, unlikable character by audiences, and only appeared in 3 shorts before being immediately abandoned; storyboards for "Porky's Party" reveal he was planned to have a fourth appearance, but he was replaced with a penguin in the final cartoon. When [[TheBusCameBack he was brought back from total obscurity]] in 2018's ''WesternAnimation/WabbitALooneyTunesProduction'', the show's writers had to be more careful in handling him to prevent history from repeating. Thankfully, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap his characterization was improved]] alongside [[TakeThatScrappy regular reminders]] of how his abrasiveness made him unpopular in-universe (the episode with his debut ends with Porky blowing his top at ''Gabby'', for instance, which is perfectly understandable when up to that point it was the other way around).

** Most of the characters introduced between ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' and ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' have been demoted to very short appearances in recent Sonic games due to the re-emphasis on Sonic being the only mandatory playable character. Recent titles have Tails as the other only companion to Sonic.
** Even after re-introducing other characters to the games, Sonic Team is still adamant about having Sonic be the only playable character until they've perfected the Sonic formula. Although they do seem to be trying to ease other characters back in and will presumably make them playable in a later game.

* ''[[LetsPlay/TacoMan Taco-Man: The Game Master]]'' zig-zags this in Part 2 of "I've Got a Woody". In order to accept Woody as a new member of his team, Taco-Man fires Virtual Boy. However, Woody turns out to be so much of an in-universe example of TheScrappy, that Taco-Man stars to miss Virtual Boy! [[spoiler:He gets rid of Woody by sending him to the real world.]]

* ''Anime/{{Symphogear}}'' introduced main character Hibiki's estranged father Akira Tachibana in the third season, and some fans generally seemed to think he'd become a regular despite the lack of recurrence by any adult characters outside of S.O.N.G (by some accounts, his creation was influenced by the death of the creator's father). By the end of the season, he's reunited with her mother and it's revealed that one of Hibiki's {{catchphrase}} ("It's fine, totally fine!") was acquired from him. However, fandom reception to Akira was near-universally negative at first, with people considering him negligent, annoying, UnintentionallyUnsympathetic, and generally scummy due to his abandonment of his family when the Tachibana family came to (for reasons the writers never justified) be inexplicably despised for Hibiki surviving a massacre in the series' backstory. In the following two seasons he makes only limited appearances (a mention confirms Hibiki's parents to still be separated as her dad is working to earn his redemption, as only 6 months pass from the end of GX to the end of XV, too little time to earn such), though the catchphrase is still present.

** He is introduced in the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E14TheItchyAndScratchyAndPoochieShow The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show]]" when [[ExecutiveMeddling Meddling executives]] create said TotallyRadical character (voiced by Homer) in a clumsy attempt to pander to children, both regain fan interest that had recently been lost, and entice new fans to the show. In his first episode of ''JustForFun/TheItchyAndScratchyShow'', Poochie sidetracks the plot to introduce himself by rapping about all of the reasons kids should just love him. Naturally, the audience overwhelmingly hates Poochie and the focus being put on him, so in the very next episode, the studio president crudely alters the cartoon himself to remove him and declare [[BusCrash "Poochie died on the way back to his home planet."]] Krusty then promises the audience that [[DeaderThanDead he will never be brought back]], AndThereWasMuchRejoicing.[[note]]Poochie does make a brief cameo without any lines in another Itchy and Scratchy episode, however.[[/note]]

* ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'': Creator/{{SNK}}, during their brief partnership with Eolith, introduced the character of K9999 in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001'' and immediately pushed him in the role of a major villain - being affiliated with the main antagonistic organization, featured quite prominently in its intro, personally screwing over main characters K' and Kula, and pulling a VillainExitStageLeft with the implication that he would cause more havoc in the future. One small problem: [[CaptainErsatz he was practically]] ''Manga/{{AKIRA}}'''s Tetsuo Shima [[CaptainErsatz in everything but name and color scheme]]. While Eastern audiences didn't mind much, Western audiences [[AmericansHateTingle cried foul]] over suspected UsefulNotes/{{plagiarism}} -- and with the threat of possible litigation by Creator/KatsuhiroOtomo dangling over them, after jumping ship from Eolith, SNK went [[BuryYourArt to great lengths]] (including, but not limited to [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute the introduction of Nameless]], erasing him from archived artwork in ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXIV XIV]]'', and making it unofficial company policy that even so much as alluding to him was forbidden) to ensure that K9999 would never be heard from again. [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFightersXV Or would he...?]]]]

* Cecilia Reyes, Maggott and Marrow in ''ComicBook/XMen''. Marrow in particular, who continued to exist within the X-Men roster largely because editor Bob Harras wanted her to be both the next ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and as [[ShipSinking a potential spoiler]] for the [[Characters/MarvelComicsRogue Rogue]]/[[Characters/MarvelComicsGambit Gambit]] relationship. Thankfully, she was PutOnABus right before Creator/ChrisClaremont returned to the X-Books. At least Marrow managed an appearance in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2''; Cecilia Reyes gained popularity enough to star in some Claremont stories and returned to the team some years later; Maggott, on the other hand, remained as TheScrappy.

* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', Mona Wu was generally the least popular of the season 4 additions, for being a divisive comic relief and her Werewolf alter ego "Wolfie" being see as underwhelming to some. Unlike Ava, who already had a strong bond with Sara through their romance, and Constantine, who is an iconic DC character, Mona was a completely new character that failed to catch the audience's attention. She was written out in the season 5 premiere thought [[DownplayedTrope she still came back for the finale]].