The Protagonist

Few shows are true ensemble shows; most are centered around one or two characters, with several more peripheral ones. Sometimes this goes to the extreme of not having all the characters in the credits appear in every episode (generally for budgetary reasons). Most of the time, though, it leads to a split between main characters and supporting characters. Main characters get the majority of screentime and storylines. Supporting characters do exactly what it says on the tin—they support the main storylines. They’ll get a B or C story in a lot of episodes, and occasionally (maybe once a season), they are given a focus episode. Generally it will lead to insight into their character background, something that is sorely lacking from most supporting characters.

Shows with single (or dual) protagonists have been around since television began. But there was always one requirement for a show’s protagonists—they had to be likable. Protagonists were the centerpiece of the show, and they therefore tended to be upstanding citizens—like Andy Griffith, or Marcus Welby. Ratings are and have been the name of the game in television, and networks were worried that viewers wouldn’t watch people they felt they couldn’t root for.

But audience began clamoring for more “realistic” protagonists; ones that aren’t perfect and aren’t entirely likable. Cable started the trend, and the F/X network is practically built around the concept: The Shield’s Vic Mackey, Rescue Me’s Tommy Gavin. It took some time, but networks got into it, too. House is probably the biggest network example of an unlikable protagonist currently on the air. Recently, ABC introduced Dr. Megan Scott on Body of Proof. The network protagonist is allowed to be unlikable as long as they follow a few simple rules:

1) Have the other characters point it out: A character is unlikable because other people say they are. It tends to be your first clue. It helps if they overreact before we see that the character is unlikable.

2) Be abrasive, not actively evil: Okay, they can say unlikable things, but generally, they act like a good guy. Maybe they’ll complain about it, but they’ll mostly do the right thing. Or, at the very least, they'll:

3) Work toward the right end: Even if they cut corners or act wrongly, it’s because they’re trying to achieve the right result, whether that’s catching the bad guy, saving the patient, or protecting the people they care about. They may be rebels, but they're rebels with a good cause.

4) Care about something (or someone): Someone matters to them. There’s something that shows their vulnerable side (preferably, this will happen in the pilot).

5) Be right, pretty much all the time: Their correctness gives them more leeway to be abrasive. After all, they’re the best, and they’re always right. If you doubt them, you are clearly inferior and just plain wrong, and you deserve any and all of their ire.

Simple rules, but key in keeping from going from "on-air" to "canceled" in one fell swoop. Because while the character may be a rebel, that's probably not going to be an option for the showrunner.