# Name some "invisible" TV characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2005, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916 "2005-04-18T16:58:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [April 19, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/101 "2005-04-19T22:28:10Z")
Here are two from “the Fantastic Four” comic book: - Ben J. (the Thing) Grimm’s “Sweet Aunt Petunia” - referenced for about 20 years before John Byrne (the arch-villain extraordinaire in the comics medium) had to blow it and make her appear in an issue. - the Yancy Street Gang - Perpetual thorns in the side of the same Mr. Grimmm. Yancy, presumably, is based on Clancy Street - a street in Manhattan’s lower west side that was, once upon a time, over-run by Juvenile Delinquent street gangs.) The Yancy Street Gang never appeared in a panel, but were always harassing the Thing from “offstage” (throwing bricks & bottles at him, mercilessly insulting him) . ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/102 "2005-04-19T22:48:29Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Did Radar’s friend Sparky ever make an appearance? Radar was always calling him and asking him for things the 4077th was out of. Yeah, once. It was when Hot Lips was checking on Capt. Tuttle and Radar had Sparky reroute the call back to Hawkeye. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/103 "2005-04-19T23:33:32Z")
Al Borland’s mom on Home Improvement was constantly the butt of Tim’s jokes, but was never shown. Also, Nanny from The Muppet Babies was only shown from the waist down. (I wonder if this is where Cow and Chicken got their idea?) ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/104 "2005-04-19T23:48:02Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > On “That 70s Show”: the guys frequently mention the name Pam Macy, implying that she’s the trampy, easy girl in their school. I don’t recall ever seeing her though… IMDB credits [Jennifer Lyons](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0529078/) with three [Guest Appearances](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165598/guests) as Pam Macy in the early seasons of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/105 "2005-04-20T16:19:25Z")
Edina’s son in _Absolutely Fabulous_. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/106 "2005-04-20T17:03:34Z")
First season _X-Files_ episodes often had Scully calling somebody named Danny back at headquarters for information on background checks, etc. I don’t recall ever actually _seeing_ him … and that’s a show you pay attention to. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/107 "2005-04-20T17:12:26Z")
> [@Art Vandelay](#): > > - the Yancy Street Gang - Perpetual thorns in the side of the same Mr. Grimmm. Yancy, presumably, is based on Clancy Street - a street in Manhattan’s lower west side that was, once upon a time, over-run by Juvenile Delinquent street gangs.) The Yancy Street Gang never appeared in a panel, but were always harassing the Thing from “offstage” (throwing bricks & bottles at him, mercilessly insulting him) . You sure about that? Seems like I recall them making an actual appearance to lend their nemesis a hand when he took on The Hulk in FF #…26 (?). ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/108 "2005-04-20T17:15:05Z")
I remembered one as I lay in bed last night that had been nagging at me since I first read this thread three days ago. Does anyone else remember the cartoon DangerMouse from the 80s? The bad guy was never shown AFAIK, only shots of the back of his chair, or his metallic hand resting on the arm of the chair as he spoke. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/109 "2005-04-20T17:15:57Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > You sure about that? Seems like I recall them making an actual appearance to lend their nemesis a hand when he took on The Hulk in FF #…26 (?). I recall that issue as well. The voice behind the floating disco ball on the Super Globetrotters cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/110 "2005-04-20T17:21:56Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > I remembered one as I lay in bed last night that had been nagging at me since I first read this thread three days ago. Does anyone else remember the cartoon DangerMouse from the 80s? The bad guy was never shown AFAIK, only shots of the back of his chair, or his metallic hand resting on the arm of the chair as he spoke. Okay, I just went poking into some fan sites and now I’m wondering if I’ve misremembered because they don’t mention this. But I can very specifically recall being squeeked out by that mean-looking hand as a kid. What cartoon am I remembering? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/111 "2005-04-20T17:28:54Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > Also, Nanny from The Muppet Babies was only shown from the waist down. (I wonder if this is where Cow and Chicken got their idea?) It all probably started with the Peanuts cartoon specials, where adults were never seen and only heard by “Wah wah wah” noises. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/112 "2005-04-20T17:29:42Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Is there any sort of online resource that recaps that era (let’s say 1998 to the end in 2001), and explains who was in charge of writing and booking which angles? Why yes, yes there is. WRESTLECRAP! Yes, at [www.wrestlecrap.com](http://www.wrestlecrap.com) you get to see the worst angles, the worst characters, and the stupidest darn ideas ever. But wait, there’s more! [The Death of WCW](http://www.wrestlecrap.com/crapcrap.html) is a book R.D. wrote, about the… er, death of WCW. Great stuff, too. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/113 "2005-04-20T18:05:05Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > I remembered one as I lay in bed last night that had been nagging at me since I first read this thread three days ago. Does anyone else remember the cartoon DangerMouse from the 80s? The bad guy was never shown AFAIK, only shots of the back of his chair, or his metallic hand resting on the arm of the chair as he spoke. Metalic hand? That sounds like Doctor Claw, nemesis of Inspector Gadget, to me. He would often say things like: [“I’ll Get You Liberal Media, Next Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!”](http://wpwend.typepad.com/wpw/2005/03/now_say_in_the_.html) Well, not quite those words, but you get the idea. [![](http://web.archive.org/web/20000310031539/gogogadget.simplenet.com/catclaw.gif) ](http://web.archive.org/web/20000310031539/gogogadget.simplenet.com/catclaw.gif) [http://web.archive.org/web/19991010002904/gogogadget.simplenet.com/index2.html](http://web.archive.org/web/19991010002904/gogogadget.simplenet.com/index2.html) [http://www.retrojunk.com/video/4/80s-tv-show-theme-songs.html](http://www.retrojunk.com/video/4/80s-tv-show-theme-songs.html) ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/114 "2005-04-20T18:08:05Z")
That’s totally it, thank you. I can’t believe I got those confused. Go Go Gadget Dipshit! ---
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/115 "2005-04-20T19:14:50Z")
I was gonna say Don Pardo, but a) he’s an announcer, not a character, and b) during one of Jon Lovitz’s “Get Ta Know Me!” sketches, he actually made it on screen. “I’m on TV!!!” The audience loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/116 "2005-04-20T19:19:57Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Why yes, yes there is. WRESTLECRAP! > > Yes, at [www.wrestlecrap.com](http://www.wrestlecrap.com) you get to see the worst angles, the worst characters, and the stupidest darn ideas ever. > But wait, there’s more! [The Death of WCW](http://www.wrestlecrap.com/crapcrap.html) is a book R.D. wrote, about the… er, death of WCW. Great stuff, too. Oh, I know Wrestlecrap very well. I think I even have a link to it somewhere on my own [website](http://www.geocities.com/bigbadvoodoolou). I’m more interested in an overall insider’s look at late-'90s WCW, the locker-room zeitgeist, how stories originated and how they ended up on TV, with all the volatile personalities involved. That book might be my best bet, if there isn’t some smart-mark website that recaps the era. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/117 "2005-04-20T22:06:34Z")
> [@The Sonoran Lizard King](#): > > Has no one mentioned Carlton the Doorman from the Mary Tyler Moore Spin Off _Rhoda_? No one ever reads my posts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/118 "2005-04-20T22:49:59Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > First season _X-Files_ episodes often had Scully calling somebody named Danny back at headquarters for information on background checks, etc. I don’t recall ever actually _seeing_ him … and that’s a show you pay attention to. 🙂 I’m pretty sure it was implied that that was the same guy as Agent Pendrell, the cute red-haired guy who had a crush on her. I could be misremembering, though. ---
**Author:** ![Typically\_Sunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Typically\_Sunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typically_Sunday)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/119 "2005-04-20T23:16:06Z")
Drew’s first boss on the **The Drew Carey Show** was never shown until the episode where he was fired. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916/120 "2005-04-21T00:45:47Z")
> [@Typically Sunday](#): > > Drew’s first boss on the **The Drew Carey Show** was never shown until the episode where he was fired. And then he morphed into Kevian Pollack! Kinda ruined the joke. Of course that paved the way for the great Mr. Wick era. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-some-invisible-tv-characters/299916.md?page=7)