Not true – he was named “Rudolph” in one of the 1950s cartoons. For some reason they didn’t stick with that and called him “Gossamer” instead.
1910, actually. Although the story started being serialized in 1909. 1910 was the date of book publication
In the Monty Python Cheese Shop sketch, John Cleese asks for Wensleydale cheese and it turns out the Michael Palin character’s name was Wensleydale all along.
The Nameless Detective, featured in many fine Bill Pronzini novels (“Shackles” is a classic example) was not identified by name, though he was known to be of Italian heritage.
In a few later novels he acquired the first name “Bill”.
In Touchez pas au grisbi, it looks like Max is using an insulting moniker when he addresses Angelo’s mook as “Fifi” - but that’s actually the character’s name.
Quite right, of course and thank you.
(at 31 seconds, if the time index fails)
I always assumed he was lying about that, in order to further enrage the customer.
At the beginning of the sketch, the sign outside identifies Henry Wensleydale as the owner of the shop.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that part before! So I guess it does count.
Comic Book Guy in The Simpsons is unnamed except for one single episode in season 16, where he is Jeff Albertson.
I can’t believe no one’s posted this one yet…
“Please, what does it always mean, this… this ‘Junior’?”
“That’s his name. Henry Jones Junior.”
“I like ‘Indiana.’”
“We named the dog ‘Indiana.’”
In The Big Bang Theory, I always though it would be clever to have a UPS fellow show up with a package, “I have a package for Miss Penny (last name unintelligible)”. The last name would still be unknown to the audience because of a loud noise that occurs at the time he is reading aloud Penny’s last name.
They’ve done this for a few other Simpsons characters: “Squeaky-Voiced Teen” is named Jeremy Freedman, and “Sarcastic Middle-Aged Clerk” is named Rafael.
Robert B. Parker’s character, known only as “Spenser” in the novels, is revealed in the TV series to have a first name. From the Wikipedia entry on “Spenser”:
Spenser is only referred to by his surname in the novels, but the television series has him introduce himself as “David Spenser” to a cop sitting at the diner in the fifteenth episode of season 2.
I would have put that “only” after “surname,” or perhaps between “to” and “by,” but what do I know? I’m only a former proofreader.
That was done in That '70s Show. Around the fifth season, there was a flashback that included Fez meeting the gang, or at least the guys, for the first time. He says “My name is–” then a fire alarm goes off. His mouth keeps going (I’m told Wilmer Valderaama was saying “Topher Danny Ashton Laura Mila Kurt Debra”) and of course, all the audience hears is the alarm, but the others appear to have heard. “Okay, we’re just gonna call you Fez.”
I never saw that episode, but I think I remember reading that they did something like that during the vows in the Leonard/Penny wedding.
Malcolm in the Middle famously never revealed the family’s last name, except that in the pilot episode, Francis is seen wearing a name tag with the last name Wilkerson.
Columbo famously had never revealed his first name except he totally did. At least 3 times the camera picked up his name on his ID - Frank.
Not sure if Spocks name has been rolled out yet. Apparently posters gave it away but were decanonized?? Thanks NuTrek for making things more confusing.
I’ll just go on assuming Spocks name is “U couldnt pronunc t”
How the hell did my friends and I NOT do that one back in the day?? We did all the others right down to “I’m not here to make friends”…“Oh you havent!! You havent!!”