# Let's talk about great one-off characters on fictional TV series with continuing casts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599 "2010-08-08T14:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/1 "2010-08-08T14:33:53Z")
By _one-off character_, I mean just that. A character who made a single appearance on a show with a continuing cast, who is nevertheless extremely memorable because of the way they interact with one or more members of the regular cast. Characters who appear two or more times on the same show do not count. No Callisto, no Harcourt Fenton Mudd, no Agent Farnell. Likewise, characters from anthology shows like The Twilight Zone are also not eligible, as those shows do not have continuing casts by definition. And no, Rod Serling does not count as a continuing cast; he’s not a character in the stories and never interacts with the people shown therein. Lastly, only _fictional series_ count. It doesn’t matter how awesome it was for Elizabeth Smart to deliver a subtle smackdown to Nancy Grace: Smart is a person, not a fictional character, and the Nancy Grace is not a fictional series. Anyway…thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/2 "2010-08-08T14:40:19Z")
Hmm, That’s a bit of a tough one. Simply because if the one-time is successful they always seem to go back to the well for sweeps. Everyone I think of I then remember an encore appearance. Pretty much every good one from Seinfeld was disqualified in the final episode for example. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/3 "2010-08-08T14:47:01Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Hmm, That’s a bit of a tough one. Simply because if the one-time is successful they always seem to go back to the well for sweeps. > > Everyone I think of I then remember an encore appearance. Pretty much every good one from Seinfeld was disqualified in the final episode for example. Hmm. You know, you’re right, and I’m willng to make this concession: characters who appear only once before being brought back for the grand finale count as one-offs, as do characters who appear in both parts of a two-part episode. Also, subsequent appearances as the same character in a different series, or in a different medium (say spin-off movie) do not disqualify the character as being a one-off. Having said that, I’ll nominate the character of Patti Miller, portrayed by the glorious and beautiful [Stephanie D’Abruzzo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_D%27Abruzzo), in the Scrubs episode [“My Musical.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Musical) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/4 "2010-08-08T15:15:46Z")
The Horta from Star Trek: OS was a memorable character for me, despite her being a giant pizza monster that only spoke through Spock. The nameless Romulan Captain from _Balance of Terror_ was also good. “We are both creatures of duty Captain. Just…one more duty…left.” ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/5 "2010-08-08T15:17:49Z")
OK, during the two-part Borg episode from Next Generation (where Picard was Borgified), Brian Denahey’s daughter Elizabeth played Riker’s temporary second-in-command, Commander Shelby. When Picard resumed command of the Enterprise, she disappeared, never to be seen again. However, she was, as far as I know, the first truly command-level female officer seen in the series. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/6 "2010-08-08T15:23:22Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The Horta from Star Trek: OS was a memorable character for me, despite her being a giant pizza monster that only spoke through Spock. I’ve not seen that episode since Hector was a pup. Was that one of those mind-melds in which Spock seemed briefly possessed by the consciousness of the person he was melding with–as in, I think the Nomad incident? Because, as I recall it, he simply relatee what he had learned from the Horta. If the latter, I wouldn’t call her a character (though I clearly think she was a, well, she). > [@](#): > > The nameless Romulan Captain from _Balance of Terror_ was also good. “We are both creatures of duty Captain. Just…one more duty…left.” With her I haven’t the slightest quibble. She rocked. A pity she was probably executed when she went home. (And yes, I know what Marsha Culbreath & Diane Duane would say about that.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/7 "2010-08-08T15:28:47Z")
I was all set to post Leslie Jordan’s wonderfully bitchy Beverly Leslie on _Will & Grace_ but your rules shut me down. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/8 "2010-08-08T15:34:25Z")
I was going to suggest David Cross playing Elliot’s brother Donnie in _Just Shoot Me_. But apparently they brought him back for two more appearances after his first one. Would Robin Williams’ appearance as Mork on _Happy Days_ count? He only appeared once on that show but then they based a series around his character. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/9 "2010-08-08T15:37:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Was that one of those mind-melds in which Spock seemed briefly possessed by the consciousness of the person he was melding with Yes. He has a weird little sing-song voice when he’s channelling the Horta. And she’s definitely a she, being the mother of all those bajillion eggs. To answer the actual topic of the thread, several of the Doctor’s one-off Companions from the new series’ specials are fairly memorable - Astrid and Lady Christina, particularly come to mind, though the end of Waters of Mars certainly ensures Abigail will be remembered. Actually, Astrid’s mainly memorable for her end, too. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/10 "2010-08-08T15:38:48Z")
What about Charles Nelson Reilly’s appearance as Jose Chung? He only appeared once on _X-Files_ but he also played the character once on _Millennium_. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/11 "2010-08-08T15:40:42Z")
Since your rigid rules require that [Richie Aprile from **The Sopranos**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFRTi32CWQE) not be counted, then, well, I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/12 "2010-08-08T15:41:43Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Yes. He has a weird little sing-song voice when he’s channelling the Horta. Oh, duh, and she also communicates directly with them after the first Mind Meld attempt (he can’t because of her pain, though it’s not clear if his ‘PAIN! PAIN!’ is her speaking through him, or him saying _he_’s feeling her pain) - she burns ‘NO KILL’ into the rock. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/13 "2010-08-08T15:43:36Z")
[quote=“Skald\_the\_Rhymer, post:6, topic:549599”] > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > The nameless Romulan Captain from _Balance of Terror_ was also good. “We are both creatures of duty Captain. Just…one more duty…left.” > > With her I haven’t the slightest quibble. She rocked. A pity she was probably executed when she went home. Wrong Romulan commander, Skald. The one you’re thinking of was in _The Enterprise Incident_. \*Balance of Terror \*was Mark Lenard’s commander. (But yes, the Romulan officers in ST:TOS were very well realized) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/14 "2010-08-08T15:44:17Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > > The nameless Romulan Captain from _Balance of Terror_ was also good. “We are both creatures of duty Captain. Just…one more duty…left.” > > With her I haven’t the slightest quibble. She rocked. A pity she was probably executed when she went home. We are obviously thinking of different episodes. The Captain in question was male, and blew up his ship immediately after the quote above; that was his “one more duty”. According to the Memory Alpha entry [here](http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Balance_of_Terror_%28episode%29), my memory got the quote a little wrong: > [@](#): > > “We are creatures of duty, captain. I have lived my life by it. Just one more duty to perform.” EDIT: Ninjaed! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/15 "2010-08-08T15:45:36Z")
The first one I thought of was **Frank Grimes** from The Simpsons. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/16 "2010-08-08T15:49:57Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > However, she was, as far as I know, the first truly command-level female officer seen in the series. Ignoring of course Number One in the original pilot. If the rules didn’t get in the way, Col. Flagg from MASH (3 appearences) ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/17 "2010-08-08T15:52:47Z")
The Araber from Homicide: Life On The Streets ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/18 "2010-08-08T15:53:08Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > > The Horta from Star Trek: OS was a memorable character for me, despite her being a giant pizza monster that only spoke through Spock. > > I’ve not seen that episode since Hector was a pup. Was that one of those mind-melds in which Spock seemed briefly possessed by the consciousness of the person he was melding with–as in, I think the Nomad incident? Because, as I recall it, he simply relatee what he had learned from the Horta. If the latter, I wouldn’t call her a character (though I clearly think she was a, well, she). > > > [@](#): > > > > The nameless Romulan Captain from _Balance of Terror_ was also good. “We are both creatures of duty Captain. Just…one more duty…left.” > > With her I haven’t the slightest quibble. She rocked. A pity she was probably executed when she went home. > > (And yes, I know what Marsha Culbreath & Diane Duane would say about that.) I’m on my iPad, so I can’t go through the effort of checking this early in the morning, but I think you’re mixing up your Romulan officers. Der is talking about the one portrayed by Mark Leonard during the sub chase, not the sultry crab-apple that was distracted by visions of Spock-Wang while Kirk walked in and boosted her cloaking device. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/19 "2010-08-08T15:56:35Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > Was that one of those mind-melds in which Spock seemed briefly possessed by the consciousness of the person he was melding with > > Yes. He has a weird little sing-song voice when he’s channelling the Horta. And she’s definitely a she, being the mother of all those bajillion eggs. I \*\*said \*\*the Horta was definitely a she. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/20 "2010-08-08T15:58:14Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’m on my iPad, so I can’t go through the effort of checking this early in the morning, but I think [Skald is] mixing up your Romulan officers. Der is talking about the one portrayed by Mark Leonard during the sub chase, not the sultry crab-apple that was distracted by visions of Spock-Wang while Kirk walked in and boosted her cloaking device. You’re right; I wasn’t paying close attention. The female Romulan commander was in “The Enterprise Incident,” notable for being the episode in which the bad guys won. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599.md?page=2)