Anyone on The Waltons considered a "breakout character"

[dayton3]

I've wondered why Alan Autry (Bubba Skinner) on "In the Heat of the Night" wasn't listed as a breakout character.

Though Autry was third billed, and intended  as the racist cop foil of  Virgil Tibbs,   Autry turned out to have great chemistry with Howard Rollins (Virgil) and his  wife on show Althea.     They started writing Bubba much more positively and even dedicated entire episodes to him.