Ben Wheeler
Portrayed by: Jean-Luc Bilodeau
- The Bartender: The characterization of this job helps establish that Ben didn't bother with higher education and lacks aspiration.
- Big Brother Worship: Though it's been more or less phased out after the drama of the love triangle, Ben very much did look up to and idolized Danny, and still has a slight dependence upon him.
- The Casanova: Though downplayed due to the love triangle, Ben is nevertheless shown to be a constant womanizer. After all, that's how he got Emma.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Riley called him "Ben-Wetter" in the first episode, but it hasn't shown up again since.
- Good Parents: Though he had no idea Emma existed up until she was dumped on his doorstep, it takes him only a few days to get attached to her and decide to keep her, and it is very clear from the beginning that even as a single dad, he loves her just as much.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Gets it hard in "There's Something Fitchy Going On", though he also admits that he's still figuring things out and, at the least, he loves Riley enough as a friend to avoid being completely destructive.
- Oblivious to Love: Ben has no clue Riley has been crushing on him all their lives.
- The Unfavorite: While he was never treated badly, Bonnie tends to dote on pro-athlete Danny and seems more indifferent to former troublemaker Ben (she mentioned in one episode he got really good at making fake IDs.) When moving things out of storage, the majority of the stuff she brought them was boxes of Danny's trophies.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Occurs in "The Wheeler and The Dealer" where everyone thinks he's basically a lazy unmotivated person and he's intent on proving them wrong. It's suggested that this sort of attitude and behavior has been going on for a while. That said, he kind of is Brilliant, but Lazy - his mom points out that he can't just jump in for two days and suddenly become Danny's manager when his actual manager (their mom) has spent years supporting Danny, taking him to practice, going to games, and otherwise being there.
Tucker Dobbs
Portrayed by: Tahj Mowry
- Ageism Tropes: In the season 5 episode "She Said, Ben Said", Tucker is dating his dad's secretary Renee (Chelsea Harris). After getting suspicious assumptions from Bonnie, Tucker begins to believe that his dad is also dating Renee, thus exposing all Tucker's ageism, hypocrisy and prejudice against not-the-same-age couples or relationships.
- Camp Straight: Tucker has a high-pitched voice, is obsessed with cleanliness and grooming, and displays some effeminate mannerisms. He's also a skirt-chasing Casanova Wannabe.
- Honourary Uncle: To Emma. He even calls himself her "fruncle".note
- The Napoleon: He compensates for his shortness with a bold personality.
- Token Minority: The only black in the otherwise white, blond main cast.
Danny Wheeler
Portrayed by: Derek Theler
- Beware the Nice Ones: He's mostly a sweet-hearted lug who a little bit of a Momma's Boy, but if you hurt someone he cares about (especially Riley,) you will regret it.
- Big Brother Instinct: When one of Riley's boyfriends punched Ben, Danny immediately stepped in:Danny: Big mistake. [punches him in the face]
- Embarrassing Tattoo: He plans to get his girlfriend Amy's name tattooed on his wrist to show his devotion to her, but because he's so heavily drunk, he ends up with Riley's name. He eventually does get the "Amy" tattoo on his other wrist... only hours before Amy dumps him.
- Lovable Jock: He's a pro-hockey player who clearly loves and prioritizes his friends and family over the visages of wealth.
- Momma's Boy: He's still very close to Bonnie and is actually a pretty positive example, however, in "Go Brit or Go Home," once he realizes that Bonnie's been running interference to help his hockey career, he does tell her she needs to back off and let him fight his own battles.
- Mr. Fanservice: It's apparently in Derek Theler's contract that he appears shirtless at least once every second or third episode.
- One Head Taller: Theler is 6'5" so he ends up being comically taller the rest of the cast.
- Proud Beauty: Not usually highlighted, but he knows he's hot, and will use it to his advantage if the opportunity presents itself. Particularly when he and Tucker have a contest of Pick Up Babes With Babes, and decides to take Tucker's ego down a peg.Tucker: Wait you get the nail salon and the yogurt shop!?!
(Danny smiling strips off his shirt and tosses it at Tucker)
Danny: (smugly) Is it ever hot out today!
(confidently struts off with Emma, as Tucker gawks)
Tucker: Hey! I wanna renegotiate! - Security Blanket: His lucky jersey from high school, which he wore under his uniform at every game (
and never washed). Until Tucker shredded it in the washing machine, then he realized he could move a lot better without the undersized garment restricting his movement. - Violently Protective Girlfriend: A gender-flipped example. Interestingly enough, despite never actually having been Riley's boyfriend, Danny still fits in this role. Hurt her in any way, and you will have six-and-a-half feet of pissed-off pro-athlete raining down on you. His own brother Ben has found this out repeatedly.
Bonnie Wheeler
Portrayed by: Melissa Peterman
- Amicable Exes: After learning the real reason her husband left her (Ray is gay), the two seemingly patch up their relationship and become civil parents to their adult sons and grandparents to Emma.
- Former Teen Rebel: She was a bit of a wild child when she was young as seen when Riley finds out about Bonnie's first wedding in Vegas when she was eighteen.
- Hidden Depths: For all her apparent shallowness, she had the hardest time when she got pregnant with Danny as a teenager. She got kicked out of her house at 17, had to move in with her boyfriend's family, was verbally abused and stranged from her mother for keeping her baby and still did everything she could to keep her sons safe and happy.
- It's All About Me: Bonnie is very full of herself and foremost concerned with getting what she wants, especially when it involves publicity or hot guys. Not even her sons are safe from getting thrown under the bus from time to time when she is in pursuit of something.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's pushy and thoughtless at times, but she wants the best for her sons and granddaughter.
- Mama Bear: When she thought Emma fell, she ripped two doors off their hinges to get to her.
- My Beloved Smother: She has no boundaries when it comes to her sons.
- Obliquely Obfuscated Occupation: Averted in the sense that she said in a video dating profile she was unemployed, but it still leave the question: How the hell does she have the money to live in New York City [while it isn't the most expensive city in the world anymore (that's Tokyo,) it's still up there,] and spoil Emma at every opportunity? The closest thing we've had to an explanation is revealing her ex-husband was a successful realtor, so she might just be leeching off alimony. She's also revealed to be Danny's manager so while she may not consider that her 'job' (in that she does it as much to protect Danny as anything else), he or the team may still pay her or otherwise cut her into his salary. Later on, she's seen wandering from job to job, such as selling real estate and giving makeovers.
- She is now married to ANOTHER successful realtor.
Riley Perrin
Portrayed by: Chelsea Kane
- Berserk Button: Do not call Riley "Fat Pants" or she will put you in a headlock and slam your head into hockey glass.
- Beware the Nice Ones: When she got fired from her job at a law firm for being "too nice" and not having the killer instinct a lawyer needs, she (thanks to a Wounded Gazelle Gambit from Bonnie) threatened to sue the firm for Bonnie's (pretend) injuries, and threatened to make every single dirty trick the firm ever did a matter of public record. She ended the whole thing with a big smile and saying "Who's too nice now?" She got her job back.
- Butt-Monkey: On more than one occasion, the insanity of Ben and Co. has spilled over to cause mayhem in her life.
- Cute Bruiser: Riley was known for playing field hockey and beating up Ben when they were kids and she's still very much capable of taking down a huge hockey player like Danny.
- First Love: Riley is suggested to be this to Danny since he's had a crush on her since they were little. Considering how completely devoted he is to her, there's the implication that every other relationship he's had ultimately fails because they never compare and because ultimately, he's emotionally committed to Riley. See "I'm Not That Guy" where the moment Riley is in trouble he rushes to the rescue - despite that he's suppose to be going on a date with the girl he's seeing.
- Go-Getter Girl: Riley has devoted herself to graduating from college, getting into law school, and successfully transforming herself from Fat Pants Perrin to Hello, Attorney!. Though living up to the image she's created can sometimes get to her.
- Honorary Aunt: To Emma, a given as Ben asked her to be Emma's Godmother.
- Like Father, Like Son: During her search for his biological parents in season 3, she learns she inherited her love of sweets from her father, a baker.
- Oblivious to Love: Riley is really clueless about Danny. In "There's Something Fitchy Going On", she finds out and it's implied she was ready to return the sentiment... until Danny's current girlfriend turns into a Moment Killer.
- Passionate Sports Girl: She was really into sports as a teenager and "Take Her Out of the Ball Game" shows that she's still got it.
- Post-Stress Overeating: Baked goods are Riley's go-to stress relief. It was the reason behind her childhood weight problem, but (for the most part) she has a better control over her indulging now.
Emma Wheeler
Portrayed by: Ali and Susanne Hartman in Season 1, Zoey and Mila Beske is Season 2, Ember and Harper Husak in Season 3.
- Out of Focus: While she of course remains a constant in Ben's life and his character development, the show has moved away from the group raising her to the wacky antics they all get themselves into.
- Platonic Co-Parenting: Her primary caregivers are her father, uncle, and their roommate/her Honorary Uncle.
