What is the role of recurring characters on sketch shows?

What is the role of recurring characters on sketch shows?

Robert Morton (Current E.P. of Mind of Mencia) gives expert video advice on: How does writing sketch comedy differ from other types of comedy?; What makes a successful sketch?; How do writers create recurring characters in sketch shows? and more...

Recurring characters are interesting because you have to know how to use them, and how much to use them. On the Mind of Mencia show, Carlos' brother Joseph, who's a guy who has a very heavy accent and very dark skin and looks like your typical Mexican (but he is actually Guatemalan), and we use him quite a lot to play off pieces. We use him to come out with a single line that he butchers up and it's always the high point of the show. The problem is the more you see it, the more it loses a little punch, and it also loses a little bit of strength and effectiveness. We used to do it with the Letterman show with Larry “Bud” Melman. He was always a great recurring character, but you just can't be greedy. You know that these people will always deliver and you want to use them more and more and more. You know that by having these recurring characters, and if they are good, that there is a sure fire laugh, but you just don't want to use it all up.