Greatest sidekicks ever: Nos. 26-30
26. The Supremes
Sidekicks to: Diana Ross
Peanut butter and jelly. Ham and cheese. Spaghetti and meatballs. All of these things can be enjoyed separately, but are better taken together — much like Diana Ross and the Supremes. There was something indeed magical in the pairing of a young diva-in-the-making with two other comely chanteuses, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard (the latter was replaced by Cindy Birdsong in 1967 — remember?). After La Diana left to pursue solo stardom in 1970, both she and her backup singers would score further hits. Still, it was never the same, was it? —Tom Sinclair
27. Hank Kingsley
Sidekick to: Larry Sanders
On The Larry Sanders Show, he was never more than a couch's length away, with his catchphrase ''Hey now!'' always cocked and ready to let fly, usually at an inappropriate moment. Clueless about comedy, wildly misinformed about his own show-biz importance, Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor) was an Ed McMahon without the charm or self-awareness. But all these debits for the the boobish, boorish Kingsley added up to one irreplaceable credit to Larry Sanders, giving the insecure host exactly what he needed: an on-air scapegoat. —Josh Wolk
28. Falstaff
Sidekick to: Prince Hal (1 Henry IV and 2 Henry IV)
There's no shortage of fools, clowns, and jesters in Shakespeare's canon, but none is more renowned than Falstaff, who held an honored place in Prince Hal's ragtag entourage despite his less-than-royal looks. (He's been called, among other things, a ''fat-kidneyed rascal'' and ''huge hill of flesh''). Even Queen Elizabeth I was a Falstaff fan — so much so that in The Merry Wives of Windsor, the Bard elevated the sack-loving rogue from sidekick to star. —Melissa Rose Bernardo
29. Walter Sobchak
Sidekick to: Jeffrey ''The Dude'' Lebowski
The Big Lebowski character may be a little unstable and have questionable taste in fashion, but if you're a Dude in need of a beefy bowling partner or someone to help kick some Nihilist ass, then look no further than Mr. Sobchak. He's definitely the guy you want in your corner when involved in a case of mistaken identity — after all, Walter didn't watch his buddies die face-down in the muck to see his best friend menaced by a guy named Wu. Plus, he's capable of delivering one hell of a heartwarming eulogy (''Donny was a good bowler... and a good man''). —Tim Stack
30. Keith Richards
Sidekick to: Mick Jagger
The Stones needed Sir Keith of the Blackened Teeth. Admit it: Mick's autocratic airs would be wholly unbearable without Keef's shambolic bluster to offset them. Besides, the grizzled ax-slinger has always grasped that backing up a flamboyant frontman has three prerequisites: an never-ending dedication to finding the next killer riff; the ability to play brilliantly when medicated; and the willingness to tell your lead singer that his latest idea is a load of bollocks. —Tom Sinclair
