How to Get Away with Murder. Too many characters?

My wife and sister-n-law turned me on to the show. As I watched last night I started to think how many of those characters are just not needed. They bring very little to the episodes. At very least they could combine Michaela and Laurel into 1 and Frank and Asher into 1 and have 2 interesting characters with interesting arcs instead of 4 sort of "extras". While I'm at it I'm not a big fan of Wes' character either. However, I guess I'm enjoying it because I keep tuning in.