# Sitcom gimmicks. ex: You never saw Vera **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303 "2002-08-23T22:10:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mr.Green\_Fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mr.Green\_Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Green_Fool)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/41 "2002-08-25T21:50:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*re: _Married With Children_ > > Peg’s mother was going to make an appearance, but Divine, the actor who was going to play her, died. \*\* Hmmm… I’m pretty sure Divine was not going to be playing Peg’s mom on Married with Children. In the E! True Hollywood story I recall them saying Divine was happy with the part because he WOULDN’T be playing in drag and would actually get the chance to act sans camp. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/42 "2002-08-25T22:12:51Z")
> [@](#): > > On Barney Miller, they were always calling downstairs for more backup, but you never did see any other room at the 12th precinct but the squad room. Not only that, but **there was only the one set** It was a police series without a single outdoors scene. Cost-cutting gone wild! On \*\*Sanford & Son:[b/] Fred having a heart attack in every episode, bellowing “I’m coming to join you, Elizabeth!” Fred constantly calling Lamont a dummy. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/43 "2002-08-25T23:03:43Z")
In the beginning of every episode of **Police Squad!** (in color!), Lt. Drebin would always knock over some garbage cans due to sloppy parking. In the first episode he knocked over one can, in episode two he knocked over two cans, etc. It’s really a shame that series didn’t last longer. ---
**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 25, 2002, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/44 "2002-08-25T23:39:02Z")
Two more unseen characters; Sgt Vogel, the PA announcer in _MASH_ (he was seen in the movie, but not I believe in the series) and Joanie Cunningham’s best friend Jenny Piccolo from _Happy Days_. Of course _Happy Days_ also the unseen and unmentioned character of the Cunningham’s oldest buy, Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/45 "2002-08-25T23:49:16Z")
> [@](#): > > …and Joanie Cunningham’s best friend Jenny Piccolo from Happy Days. Of course Happy Days also the unseen and unmentioned character of the Cunningham’s oldest buy, Chuck. In the early years, Chuck WAS seen on the show. He was played by Gavan O’Herlihy and Randolph Roberts. In the last couple of years, Jenny was played by Cathy Silvers. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/46 "2002-08-26T00:08:31Z")
**Fawlty Towers** : Sign out front spelled different anagram of “Fawlty Towers” each episode, e.g., “WATERY FOWLS,” “FLOWERY TWATS”, etc. Major always asking if the papers have arrived **Columbo** Never see Mrs. Columbo, or Columbo’s home. The “false exit”: Columbo is on his way out the door, stops suddenly, says “Oh, one more thing…” and proceeds to rattle his prey with a damning observation or question. **The Rockford Files** Phone message at top of each episode. **Get Smart!** Where to begin? “Sorry about that Chief”, “That’s the second biggest (fill in the blank)…” , “And loving it!” Smart’s gadgets always fail him. Never see Agent 69, always in mailbox, crate, etc. **The Munsters** Hideous family of monsters don’t notice people fleeing in terror at the sight of them. Enormous, threatening Herman Munster is quite the sissy. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/47 "2002-08-26T01:37:18Z")
_Futurama_: Each episode has a different message at the bottom of the opening title. “In holo-vision where available.” “When you see the robot, drink!” “Federal law prohibits changing the channel.” and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/48 "2002-08-26T02:22:25Z")
Also in Fawlty Towers, maybe not in every episode, but often Basil would say “He’s from Barcelona.” to explain Manuel’s comic errors and such. Not 100% about this though, I’ve only seen maybe a dozen episodes, tops. (Is that show still on the air in New York/tri-state area?) Every episode of Seinfeld is titled starting with “The.” For example, the episodes “The Bubble Boy” and “The Wallet.” ---
**Author:** ![DeepPurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@DeepPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepPurple)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/49 "2002-08-26T02:42:16Z")
Let’s go back in my time-machine, Mr. Peabody’s not here right now, he’ll never know. back in radio, on Duffy’s Tavern, you never hear Duffy. You do hear Archie, the bartender, “Hello, Duffy’s Tavern where the elite meet to eat. Archie, the manager, speaking. Duffy ain’t here. Oh, hello Duffy…” Abe Burrows wrote for Duffy’s Tavern, his son James Burrows was a producer for Cheers. Bar sit-com trivia. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/50 "2002-08-26T03:15:52Z")
The **Get Smart** reference reminded me of a gimmick from the cartoon **Inspector Gadget**. Whenever Inspector Gadget got the episode opening “message that will self destruct”, it always ended up blowing up the Chief. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/51 "2002-08-26T04:25:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\*Another **Simpsons** one: Always (until the “Behind The Laughter” episode) dodging the issue of what state Springfield is in. I remember one time that Marge was on the phone, reading off the family’s address, and just as she’s about to get to the state, she is interrupted. \*\* You know, there’s a few different versions of that episode with the state changed. I watched the original and then the rerun, and they changed it from Kentucky to another state. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/52 "2002-08-26T09:52:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > \*\* > > You know, there’s a few different versions of that episode with the state changed. I watched the original and then the rerun, and they changed it from Kentucky to another state. \*\* Yeah, I know. I was quite disappointed to hear about the state being changed, given that I’m from Kentucky. That’s why I made sure to say that the show “addressed” the issue instead of “answered it.” They addressed it, all right – in a really shifty way! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/53 "2002-08-26T09:53:21Z")
OK, so I didn’t actually say “addressed” – but you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/54 "2002-08-26T11:39:04Z")
On Titus, each episode would take place in one location (with the exception of flashbacks and the black & white room). There would never be, say, a scene at home and then a scene at the hospital. If the episode started at a restaurant, you could be sure that the entire present-tense portion of the show would be at the restaurant. Also, at the end of every episode, Titus either switches off or breaks the bare light bulb in the black & white room, usually with some sort of joke. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/55 "2002-08-26T12:56:00Z")
Qwertyasdfg > [@](#): > > Also in Fawlty Towers, maybe not in every episode, but often Basil would say “He’s from Barcelona.” to explain Manuel’s comic errors and such. Not 100% about this though, I’ve only seen maybe a dozen episodes, tops. (Is that show still on the air in New York/tri-state area?) In episodes 13 -18 they didn’t show the front of the hotel at all and in episode 22 they both said that Manuel was from Basingstoke (near the roundabout) I’m sure that the Major got to the papers first, in one of the episodes in the fifth series. I think it was the one with the exploding Dover Sole (far from their best imho). ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/56 "2002-08-26T13:06:01Z")
Qwertyasdfg > [@](#): > > Also in Fawlty Towers, maybe not in every episode, but often Basil would say “He’s from Barcelona.” to explain Manuel’s comic errors and such. Not 100% about this though, I’ve only seen maybe a dozen episodes, tops. (Is that show still on the air in New York/tri-state area?) In episodes 13 -18 they didn’t show the front of the hotel at all and in episode 22 they both said that Manuel was from Basingstoke (near the roundabout) I’m sure that the Major got to the papers first, in one of the episodes in the fifth series. I think it was the one with the exploding Dover Sole (far from their best imho). ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/57 "2002-08-26T13:11:55Z")
Qwertyasdfg > [@](#): > > Also in Fawlty Towers, maybe not in every episode, but often Basil would say “He’s from Barcelona.” to explain Manuel’s comic errors and such. Not 100% about this though, I’ve only seen maybe a dozen episodes, tops. (Is that show still on the air in New York/tri-state area?) In episodes 13 -18 they didn’t show the front of the hotel at all and in episode 22 they both said that Manuel was from Basingstoke (near the roundabout) I’m sure that the Major got to the papers first, in one of the episodes in the fifth series. I think it was the one with the exploding Dover Sole (far from their best imho). ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/58 "2002-08-26T13:14:49Z")
OOPs, sorry about the multiple posts. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/59 "2002-08-26T13:29:54Z")
On **Star Trek** , they had “The Guy In The Red Shirt.” Seemingly every landing part consisted of three or four of the core cast members, plus “The Guy In The Red Shirt” – who would go investigate something behind a rock and get vaporized in seconds. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/60 "2002-08-26T13:48:38Z")
On M_A_S\*H, there was always a bra pinned up on the camp bulletin board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=4)