# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/101 "2010-08-09T17:31:54Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > 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. A few weeks ago I was watching the Twilight Zone on one of SciFy’s marathons I think it was and they played [A world of his own](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_World_of_His_Own) > [@](#): > > Serling appears on the set and says, “We hope you enjoyed tonight’s romantic story on The Twilight Zone. At the same time, we want you to realize that it was, of course, purely fictional. In real life, such ridiculous nonsense could never—” > > “Rod, you shouldn’t!” interrupts Gregory, who walks over to his safe and pulls out a tape marked “Rod Serling”. “I mean, you shouldn’t say things as ‘nonsense’ and ‘ridiculous’!” he continues as he throws the tape into the fire. > > “Well, that’s the way it goes,” replies Serling, in a resigned tone as he fades away. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/102 "2010-08-09T17:36:10Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Jon Lovitz first appearance on _Friends_ as the restaurant owner who wants to hire Monica, and smokes a joint in Phoeboes cab. > > “Heh…Tartlets…Heh…Tartlets…Tartlets…” > (This counts because Lovitz was back in Friends…but as a different character) Interesting… because Lovitz also had guest roles as two different characters on NewsRadio before joining the cast (as yet another character) in season 5 after the death of Phil Hartman. One was as a mental patient and the other was a man threatening to jump off the ledge of the building IIRC. (Which is funny, since the exterior shots of the building appeared to be that of a glass and steel office building without ledges.) ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/103 "2010-08-09T17:37:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The cranky old deaf woman in a Fawlty Towers episode. “What?” “Que.” “K?” “Si.” “KC? Whatever are you talking about?” See post 96: > [@Giles](#): > > [Joan Sanderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Sanderson) as Mrs Richards in the [Communication Problems](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_Problems) episode of [Fawlty Towers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers). ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/104 "2010-08-09T17:56:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > > [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > > > Then there’s Zath-RAS. Not to be confused with ZATH-ras. 😃 > > Much as it pains me to cut Zathras from ANY list, he appeared in two episodes (Babylon Squared and War Without End) (at least). You are confusing Zathras with Zathras, just as you were warned against. IIRC, there is also Zathras, who also appeared only in one episode, in which he had a conversation with Zathras\*. No one listens to poor Zathras. \*I am given to understand that in addition to Zathras, Zathras, and Zathras, Zathras, Zathras, Zathras, Zathras, Zathras, Zathras, and Zathras were around, but did not have speaking roles. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/105 "2010-08-09T18:00:23Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > The cranky old deaf woman in a Fawlty Towers episode. “What?” “Que.” “K?” “Si.” “KC? Whatever are you talking about?” > > See post 96: > > > [@Giles](#): > > > > [Joan Sanderson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Sanderson) as Mrs Richards in the [Communication Problems](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_Problems) episode of [Fawlty Towers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawlty_Towers). Read through twice and missed it. I’ll add the cranky American guest (Waldorf salad) from the same series. He was also the officer who confronted Joker about his peace symbol in Platoon. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/106 "2010-08-09T18:22:06Z")
Peter Weller’s time traveling mad scientist character was pretty good in **Fringe**. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/107 "2010-08-09T19:42:35Z")
Veteran character actor William Schallert as pompous Nilz Baris on “Star Trek TOS” “The Trouble with Tribbles”. > **["Star Trek" The Trouble with Tribbles (TV Episode 1967) - Quotes - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708480/quotes/)** > > The Trouble with Tribbles: Directed by Joseph Pevney. With William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, William Schallert. To protect a space station with a vital grain shipment, Kirk must deal with Federation bureaucrats, a Klingon battle... ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/108 "2010-08-09T21:15:44Z")
Joan Collins, _City on the Edge of Forever_. Need I say more? ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/109 "2010-08-09T21:39:58Z")
Harry Mudd? They even got him back for an encore. Though one of my favourites is the android Rock, from “What Are Little Girls Made of?” - That eerie scene where he speaks with the womans’ voice, trying to trick Kirk out of hiding. ---
**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 9, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/110 "2010-08-09T21:45:21Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Harry Mudd? They even got him back for an encore. And thus he is not a one-off character. Did you read the OP? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/111 "2010-08-09T22:03:10Z")
Sean Hayes as Nick Murdoch on _Scrubs._ [(spoilers)](http://scrubs.wikia.com/wiki/My_Super_Ego) ---
**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 9, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/112 "2010-08-09T22:18:31Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Sean Hayes as Nick Murdoch on _Scrubs._ [(spoilers)](http://scrubs.wikia.com/wiki/My_Super_Ego) I remember that without any help from Wikipedia. It was from when JD was still sympathetic. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/113 "2010-08-09T22:45:40Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Though one of my favourites is the android Rock, from “What Are Little Girls Made of?” Nitpick: Ruk. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/114 "2010-08-09T23:07:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](#): > > > > For those of us who don’t, the first command-level female character shown is the captain of the USS Saratoga NCC-1867 in the opening scenes of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, released 1986. There was also Saavik’s Kobayashi Maru training scenario in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, released 1982. > > It’s silly to count Saavik. She was not in command of anything; it was a training exercise, part of her academy training. You’re right, all she was commanding was a simulator room. But we didn’t know that initially, which makes it somewhat relevant to the question of Star Trek’s portrayal of female commanders, IMO. In addition, the way the scene played out made it clear that in-universe, it was not an oddity at all for a female to be training for command. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/115 "2010-08-09T23:45:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > He appeared more than once, so he doesn’t count for this thread, but I only have to give the name: > > > > Gandolph Fitch > > I have no idea who that is. I don’t think I’m the only one. You may not have been a fan of the show in question; it has been a few decades. From _The Rockford Files_; Jim’s former cellmate, the toughest guy in C block, gets out of prison and comes to collect a debt. Played menacingly by Isaac Hayes.I’m curious if anyone will know it without looking. ---
**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 9, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/116 "2010-08-09T23:46:26Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > I have no idea who that is. I don’t think I’m the only one. > > You may not have been a fan of the show in question; it has been a few decades. > > From _The Rockford Files_; Jim’s former cellmate, the toughest guy in C block, gets out of prison and comes to collect a debt. Played menacingly by Isaac Hayes.I’m curious if anyone will know it without looking. Yeah, I’m not a fan of the Rockford Files. I’m the right age; I just didn’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/117 "2010-08-09T23:59:12Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > > > Harry Mudd? They even got him back for an encore. > > And thus he is not a one-off character. Did you read the OP? Yeah I read it. and I read your rudeness as well. The humour in my comment is obviously lost on you If you want to still state the obvious after reading it, then forget it Jeez. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/118 "2010-08-10T11:10:53Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > Also from TNG, Ronnie Cox as Capt Jellico. Ah, I remember him. I remember when I saw the episode as a kid, I thought he was a jerk, and watching the show years later… he’s still kind of a jerk, but at least you understand that he’s not acting that way just to be mean.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/119 "2010-08-10T13:24:34Z")
The best two-fer was when Chandler’s often mentioned but never before seen transvesite father finally showed up in a marvelous portrayal by Kathleen Turner: Chandler: And theerrreee’s Daddy. Monica, dropped-jawed: That cannot be your father. Chandler: Believe me, I’ve been telling myself that for years. ---
**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 10, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599/120 "2010-08-10T17:44:53Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > > [@Icerigger](#): > > > > Also from TNG, Ronnie Cox as Capt Jellico. > > Ah, I remember him. I remember when I saw the episode as a kid, I thought he was a jerk, and watching the show years later… he’s still kind of a jerk, but at least you understand that he’s not acting that way just to be mean.😃 I don’t think he was jerkish at all. All the jerkishness was on Riker’s side, and I always suspected Riker was motivated (perhaps subconsciously), by pique at not being chosen captain after Picard left. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-great-one-off-characters-on-fictional-tv-series-with-continuing-casts/549599.md?page=7)