History Main / CreatorsPet

There are certain characters who receive [[TheScrappy a lot of hatred from the fanbase]] for one reason or another. Most often, when their creators pick up on the hate, they have a couple options. They can ignore it, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap tweak the character into a more likable version]], or even [[TakeThatScrappy play it for laughs.]] Sometimes, however, the creator(s) have become so attached to this character that they decide to increasingly [[CharacterFocus focus on him]], magnifying the importance of his role, and having the other characters [[CharacterShilling talk about how awesome he is]], in painful ignorance of -- or sometimes in spite of -- the fans' obvious hatred.

Keep in mind that this isn't "TheScrappy [[TheSameButMore with a big role]]", nor is it the CanonSue, although there's a lot of overlap in both cases. The Creator's Pet is a combination of being:

%%Per Image Pickin' thread, no pic on page: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1319821739010820200
%%Please do not add a pic without starting a new IP thread.

There are certain characters who receive [[TheScrappy a lot of hatred from the fanbase]] for one reason or another. Most often, when their creators pick up on the hate, they have a couple options. They can ignore it, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap tweak the character into a more likable version]], or even [[TakeThatScrappy play it for laughs.]] Sometimes, however, the creator(s) have become so attached to this character that they decide to increasingly [[CharacterFocus focusing on him]], magnifying the importance of his role, and having the other characters [[CharacterShilling talk about how awesome he is]], in painful ignorance of -- or sometimes in spite of -- the fans' obvious hatred.

There are certain characters who receive [[TheScrappy a lot of hatred from the fanbase]] for one reason or another. Most often, when their creators pick up on the hate, it's ignored, RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap, or even [[TakeThatScrappy played into.]] Sometimes, however, the creator(s) become so attached to this character that they spend increasing amounts of time [[CharacterFocus focusing on him]], magnifying the importance of his role, and having the other characters [[CharacterShilling talk about how awesome he is]], in painful ignorance of -- or sometimes in spite of -- the fans' hatred.

'''Note:''' Although this is {{YMMV}}, only blatantly obvious or creator-acknowledged examples should be listed in the pages below.

* Loved (or worshiped) by the writers

* Loved by the writers

If it doesn't meet these criteria, then it doesn't fit.

Once a Creator's Pet has been identified, there are only a few ways to reliably [[AuthorsSavingThrow prevent the show]] from JumpingTheShark. PutOnABus is the easiest, followed by [[KilledOffForReal killing]] [[DroppedABridgeOnHim him off]] outright. Some shows may substitute AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence if his "pet" status gets absorbed into {{canon}}. While it is at least possible for the Creator's Pet to be RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap, it's rare and takes considerable writing talent. Lastly, if the character is too important to get rid of, he could become TheArtifact.

Compare CharacterShilling, which is unwarranted praise for one character by one or more other characters, regardless of fan reaction. Contrast ThePoochie, whom the creators get rid of as quickly as possible, the UnpopularPopularCharacter and the DesignatedMonkey, who's adored by fans despite being loathed in-universe. Finally contrast EnsembleDarkhorse, a character who receives relatively little CharacterFocus but is adored by fans. On the flip side, take note of CreatorBreakdown and ArtistDisillusionment, which can happen when the author vehemently disagrees with the fans and takes it out on the show.

'''Note:''' Although this is {{Subjective}}, only blatantly obvious or creator-acknowledged examples should be listed in the pages below.

Compare CharacterShilling, which is unwarranted praise for one character by one or more other characters, regardless of fan reaction. Contrast ThePoochie, whom the creators get rid of as quickly as possible, the UnpopularPopularCharacter and the DesignatedMonkey, who's adored by fans despite being loathed in-universe. Finally contrast EnsembleDarkhorse, a character that receives relatively little CharacterFocus but is adored by fans. On the flip side, take note of CreatorBreakdown and ArtistDisillusionment, which can happen when the author vehemently disagrees with the fans and takes it out on the show.

There are certain characters who receive [[TheScrappy a lot of hatred from the fanbase]] for one reason or another. Most often, when their creators pick up on the hate, it's ignored, RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap, or even [[TakeThatScrappy played into.]] Sometimes, however, the creator(s) become so attached to this character that they spend increasing amounts of time [[CharacterFocus focusing on him]], magnifying the importance of his role, and having the other characters talk about how awesome he is, in painful ignorance of -- or sometimes in spite of -- the fans' hatred.

* Talked up by the other characters

There are certain characters who receive [[TheScrappy a lot of hatred from the fanbase]] for one reason or another. Most often, when their creators pick up on the hate, it's ignored, RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap, or even [[TakeThatScrappy played into.]] Sometimes, however, the creator(s) become so attached to this character that they spend increasing amounts of time [[CharacterFocus focusing on him]], magnifying the importance of his role, and having the other characters talk about how awesome he is, in painful ignorance of -- or sometimes in despite of -- the fans' hatred.

Contrast ThePoochie, whom the creators get rid of as quickly as possible, the UnpopularPopularCharacter and the DesignatedMonkey, who's adored by fans despite being loathed in-universe. Finally contrast EnsembleDarkhorse, a character that receives relatively little CharacterFocus but is adored by fans. On the flip side, take note of CreatorBreakdown and ArtistDisillusionment, which can happen when the author vehemently disagrees with the fans and takes it out on the show.

'''Note:''' Although this is a {{Subjective Trope}}, only blatantly obvious or creator-acknowledged examples should be listed in the pages below.

%%Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1296982870080460100
%%Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
[[quoteright:300:[[StarTrekTheNextGeneration http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wesley.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[[WilWheaton Even the actor who played him]]'' [[CreatorBacklash hates his guts]].]]

* (Optional) Talked up by the other characters

* TheWesley/NewspaperComics
* TheWesley/{{Other}}
* TheWesley/ProfessionalWrestling
* TheWesley/TabletopGames
* TheWesley/VideoGames
* TheWesley/WebComics
* TheWesley/WebOriginal
* TheWesley/WesternAnimation

* TheWesley/{{Film}}
* TheWesley/{{Literature}}
* TheWesley/LiveActionTV

Compare SpotlightStealingSquad, which happens when CharacterFocus pushes a lot of the other characters out of the limelight for an extended period of time; PeripheryHatedom, when this kind of character is hated by people he's not even targeted at; the CanonSue, which is frequently also this trope by default; and the {{GMPC}}, which is often this in a RolePlayingGame. Also contrast ThePoochie, whom the creators get rid of as quickly as possible, the UnpopularPopularCharacter and the DesignatedMonkey, who's adored by fans despite being loathed in-universe. Finally contrast EnsembleDarkhorse, a character that receives relatively little CharacterFocus but is adored by fans. On the flip side, take note of CreatorBreakdown and ArtistDisillusionment, which can happen when the author vehemently disagrees with the fans and takes it out on the show.

* TheWesley/ComicBooks

* TheWesley/{{Anime}}

[[redirect:ShillingTheWesley]]

[[redirect:TheWesley]]