User blog comment:CF12/Underdogs are Overrated/@comment-25285054-20140901045233/@comment-24152851-20140901045901

Julie has mentioned many times, their decisions are not driven on popularity. That only plays a very small part, so most likely everyone's favorite ensemble darkhorses will stay in that place. They focus on which characters have more plot potential, as in who's able to "cause more drama", which for reasons no one understands meant bringing back Sam over Brick in TDAS.

I agree though, nothing wrong with the characters who end up being screenhogs, but very often they're so overused they just end up getting derailed or make plotless appearances.