# Invisible Characters on TV Shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055 "2003-08-18T21:33:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/1 "2003-08-18T21:33:59Z")
You know the ones I’m talking about, right? We hear of them, but they are never shown on tv. Here are the ones that come immediately to my mind: From the Mary Tyler Moore Show: Phyllis Lindstrom’s husband **Lars** From the Rhoda: **Carlton the Doorman**. We only heard his voice, but never saw him. From Frasier: Niles’ first wife **Maris** From Cheers: Norm’s wife **Vera**. Well, we did see her one time during a food fight when she got hit in the face with a pie, was it? And she actually spoke. We never saw her face. I guess we could sort of include **Wilson** from Home Improvement, since we were never shown his face. Can you think of any others? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/2 "2003-08-18T21:48:17Z")
There was a similar thread done on this a few months ago that mentioned Maris on “Frasier.” It got me to thinking, has Martin’s buddy ‘Duke’ ever appeared? His name gets mentioned often, but I can’t remember ever seeing him. On “Buffy” & “Angel”: ‘The Powers That Be’ are occasionally invoked, meaning the good Heavenly spirits (presumably God & co.) who have charged Buffy and Angel to fight the forces of evil, but never appeared. Nor have the ‘Senior Partners’ of the devilish Wolfram & Hart law firm been depicted. “Seinfeld”: Kramer has a friend Bob Sacamano (spelling?) who is mentioned again and again. M.A.S.H.: Hawkeye’s dad, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Honeycutt, Radar’s Ma & Pa, Winchester’s sister, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/3 "2003-08-18T22:20:14Z")
M_A_S\*H: We saw Peg Hunnicutt in home movies and in the “Dreams” episode. Mrs/ Potter’s picture was on Potter’s desk. Radar’s dad was dead; we never did see Uncle Ed, but Gary Burghoff in drag played Mrs. O’Reilly in a home movie. Seinfeld: Also Kramer’s friend Lomez. Just Shoot Me: Nina’s friend Binny (sp?). Disembodied voices: Charlie’s Angels, Mission Impossible? (I’m mot as familiar with those shows. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/4 "2003-08-18T22:40:27Z")
The guy who worked for “The Secretary” and doled out assignments on **Mission: Impossible** (the original, not the bastardized movie franchise :mad: ) ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/5 "2003-08-19T01:29:29Z")
Charlie from Charlie’s Angels…kind of. Larry Mondelo’s father, always talked about but always out of town on business…and who could blame the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/6 "2003-08-19T02:04:15Z")
Does “Ziggy” from **Quantum Leap** count? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/7 "2003-08-19T02:21:46Z")
Nah . . . they showed Ziggy when Sam returned to 1996 (or whenever). Good thought, though. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/8 "2003-08-19T02:22:55Z")
In the 1957 PI show “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” the switchboard operator Sam was played by Mary Tyler Moore. You only saw her legs and hands, and heard her voice, but never saw her face. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/9 "2003-08-19T02:28:42Z")
**My So-Called Life** - Tino. Tino was _the man_. You need a fake ID, get it from Tino. You need something to do on Friday night, Tino knows about a party. You need a ride to the hospital, Tino will drive you. But we never saw him. For that matter, the Chase family on that show often bought cat food and kitty litter (and mention it in dialogue), but we never see the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/10 "2003-08-19T02:50:59Z")
Kramer has yet another unseen friend named Spector. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/11 "2003-08-19T03:02:37Z")
And just in case anyone’s interested, an earlier thread on the subject: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=56085](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=56085) ---
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/12 "2003-08-19T03:32:12Z")
Captain Tuttle on an episode of M_A_S\*H. Hawkeye made up this imaginary character: tall, strong, hazel eyes, auburn hair. “I think I’m in love!” said Trapper John as he pictured this creation. Yet almost everyone at the camp believed he was real. That was one of my favorite episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/13 "2003-08-19T04:32:59Z")
Actually, Carlton The Doorman was seen in one episode. Rhoda was having a costume party, and Carlton wound up showing up for it. He was wearing a doorman’s uniform… and an ape mask. We never did get to see his real face… Years later, I was amazed to hear Carlton’s voice coming out of the animated Garfield the Cat… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/14 "2003-08-19T05:18:27Z")
The adults in Peanuts. “Waah woh waaahh…” ---
**Author:** ![LookitMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LookitMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LookitMe)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/15 "2003-08-19T05:25:05Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by LookitMe \* > \*\*Captain Tuttle on an episode of M_A_S_H. Hawkeye made up this imaginary character: tall, strong, hazel eyes, auburn hair. “I think I’m in love!” said Trapper John as he pictured this creation. Yet almost everyone at the camp believed he was real. That was one of my favorite episodes. \*\* [More information on Tuttle](http://vguides.topcities.com/mash/MASH015.html). ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/16 "2003-08-19T05:27:28Z")
Jenny Piccolo in **Happy Days**. I know they got an actor to play her in the later years, the Ted McGinley years. But before the shark was jumped, Jenny was only anecdotal. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/17 "2003-08-19T05:50:28Z")
Susan Richards. Oh, and the Phantom Dennis. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/18 "2003-08-19T06:23:30Z")
A few corrections: Binnie did show up once on Just Shoot Me. She had given up her jet set life, quit modeling, and put on a little weight. Then Nina freaked out about it, but was really freaking out that she stayed that same. And The Powers That Be showed up on Angel all the time during the first season. They were the gold roman statue like people that Angel occasionally visited for advice and or help. Then they were killed in the season finale and now are referred to in the general sense rather than as people in the flesh. And I’ve got one to add: The Bubble Boy on Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/19 "2003-08-19T07:22:28Z")
Peg’s mother on _Married With Children_. The McNabs on _All In The Family_. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055/20 "2003-08-19T07:55:46Z")
In M_A_S\*H, you see Uncle Ed in the same home movie that had Gary Burghoff dressed up as Radar’s Mother. They’re at a picnic table and he uses ears of corn as binoculars. Radar says, “That’s my Uncle Ed, he’s a real cut up” or something to that effect. There is an episode of Frasier where you see Maris’s body, but not her face. Did you ever actually see Ugly Naked Guy on Friends? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-characters-on-tv-shows/196055.md?page=2)