# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/61 "2002-08-26T15:22:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pergau \* > \*\*Qwertyasdfg > > 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). \*\* There are only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers. [http://us.imdb.com/Title?0072500](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0072500) ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/62 "2002-08-26T15:30:24Z")
On Benson, you never found out just what state they were in either. I remember one episode, where the characters played by Ethan Phillips and Didi Conn were getting married. Just as the guy got to “By the powers vested in me by the state of…” a shot rang out, interrupting the service. Zev Steinhardt ---
**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 26, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/63 "2002-08-26T16:01:11Z")
We almost found out 99’s last name in one episode. When Max meets 99’s mother, he says something like “Well, I’m happy to meet 99’s mother, Mrs. . . .” To which, 99’s mother simply responds something like, “Oh, how cute, you use numbers.” Chief’s first name was known to a few (like the President, KAOS, and an old flame), but when he was accepting a delivery, the delivery guy (protrayed by some actor I don’t remember, but he reminded me of Johnny Silver) was unable to get a signature, because the Chief said his name was “classified.” ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/64 "2002-08-26T18:38:55Z")
**DeepPurple** , you beat me to “Duffy’s Tavern.” Not quite that far back, on the TV sitcom “December Bride,” you never saw Pete’s wife Gladys, even though Pete told jokes at her expense all the time. Later, there was a spinoff called “Pete and Gladys,” in which she did appear. ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/65 "2002-08-26T18:47:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > \*\* > Another body-part gimmick: I want to say the show was called “Richard Diamond” in which Mary Tyler Moore played a secretary and all that was ever shown of her was her legs. \*\* The show was “Richard Diamond, Private Detective.” Mary Tyler Moore played Sam, the secretary, who was never seen except for her legs. The identity of the actress was supposed to be a big secret, but Mary eventually blabbed and was fired. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/66 "2002-08-26T19:14:50Z")
The Dick Van Dyke Show: They never showed Alan Brady’s face. In all of the Star Trek series and movies, you never say any of the characters who were in sane, supporting, healthy long-term homosexual relationships. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/67 "2002-08-26T19:27:42Z")
**Seinfeld** : We never saw the front of George Steinbrenner, just the back of his head. **Nikki** (I may have been the only one to watch it): Every episode began with a striptease/dance routine. I liked the one where the ladies were dressed as cops and criminals, dancing to Joan Armatrading’s “I Love it When You Call Me Names.” I have to confess, I sat here while the second page was loading racking my brain for where the feck Fox Force Five came from. Sweet relief! ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/68 "2002-08-26T19:31:32Z")
There’s also **Bernie Mac** , speaking directly to the camera in his monologues, and the writing on the screen to convey extra details to the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/69 "2002-08-26T19:39:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*The Dick Van Dyke Show: They never showed Alan Brady’s face. > \*\* Yes, they did. In one episode, Laura told on a TV Show that Alan Brady had a toupee, and he was played throughout the show’s run by Carl Reiner. ---
**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 26, 2002, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/70 "2002-08-26T21:56:48Z")
Nikki I thought was actually a solid B grade sitcom. I really liked the characters and their relationship. When the husband was a big chubby guy who wanted to be a wrestler it was cute but then after he lost all the weight between seasons he was just this goofy guy who you couldn’t believe any more. My favorite opening Vegas number was Godzilla by BOC one. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/71 "2002-08-26T22:35:00Z")
On “Roseanne” there was the chicken shirt. “Newhart” had Larry and his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl. They would always introduce themselves every time they came on-even though they all knew each other. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/72 "2002-08-27T00:29:13Z")
Gunther’s secret crush on Rachel in **Friends**. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/73 "2002-08-27T01:09:54Z")
(About the Barney Miller set originally mentioned by **Icerigger** ) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neidhart \* > Not only that, but **there was only the one set** But not in the pilot episode (which really doesn’t count). They showed Barney’s apartment. And his wife. (I hope no one mentioned this on page two. I haven’t gotten that far yet.) -Rue. ---
**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 27, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/74 "2002-08-27T01:34:02Z")
> [@](#): > > In the early years, Chuck WAS seen on the show. He was played by Gavan O’Herlihy and Randolph Roberts. I know that Chuck was an onscreen character in the early episodes. I was joking about how Chuck disappeared from the show and was never mentioned again. My theory is he changed his last name to Starkweather and the family never talked about him after he went on his killing spree. Didn’t know about Jenny Piccolo though. > [@](#): > > 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. In the animated series _Clerks_, Randall did a voice over announcement during the opening scene of every episode. Okay - both episodes. As I recall, the announcement for the first show was “Previously on Clerks…” followed by a blank screen. ---
**Author:** ![the\_O-man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@the\_O-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O-man)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/75 "2002-08-27T12:34:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ianzin \* > **In “Rhoda”** , starring the very wonderful Valerie Harper, every line Carlton the doorman had was always preceded by the entirely redundant “This is Carlton your doorman”, and we heard him but never saw him. Actually, in a trick very similar to the pie smeared face of Vera in “Cheers”, there is an episode where Carlton the doorman is at a costume party (I believe at Rhoda’s), dancing, where we see his body, but his face (and head) is covered by a (Dog?) mask. I remember thinking to myself how chunky he looked. ---
**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 27, 2002, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/76 "2002-08-27T12:44:55Z")
Let’s not forget Lenny & Squiggy. “You’d have to be a real moron to believe that.” “Hello.” That gag cracked me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/77 "2002-08-27T12:54:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Snooooopy \* > \*\* > > 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! \*\* And of course, it could not have been Kentucky-- it’s not on the ocean (has a seaport seen in the sub episode and Navy episode-- and also where the containership full of hot pants was delivered). The actual state named was meant to be a joke-- like Troy was pulling it out of his-- well you know where. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/78 "2002-08-27T12:57:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*The Dick Van Dyke Show: They never showed Alan Brady’s face. > > In all of the Star Trek series and movies, you never say any of the characters who were in sane, supporting, healthy long-term homosexual relationships. \*\* DS9: Miles O’Brian and the Doctor – :rolleyes: His wife was just a front I tells ya. . . ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/79 "2002-08-27T13:07:35Z")
The things about not showing Allan Brady’s face on \*\*The Dick Van Dyke Show \*\* is just _wrong_ – Carl Reiner appeared several times, face and all, on TDVDS (not just the toupee episode). Several of the items listed in this thread aren’t intentional things (like the “red shirt always gets killed” on Star Trek – although it happened so often that it’s become part of Star Trek lore). Carlton’s non-appearance on **Rhoda** , however, _is_ a good example of such an intentional gag. Besides the “mask” example given above, there’s one episode where he was called in to help carry a table or something out. But the table hides his face so you can’t see it. There a similar bit now with **The Powerpuff Girls** – you never see the face of the buxom, red-haired Sara Bellum, the Mayor’s executive assistant. Even in the episode where she and Buttercup trade bodies, they hide her face. Cute touch. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/80 "2002-08-27T13:23:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elf6c \* > \*\* > > And of course, it could not have been Kentucky-- it’s not on the ocean (has a seaport seen in the sub episode and Navy episode-- and also where the containership full of hot pants was delivered). The actual state named was meant to be a joke-- like Troy was pulling it out of his-- well you know where. > > 😉 \*\* But Kentucky is bordered by the Ohio River, where our submarines patrol day and night to prevent an invasion by troops from, um, Indiana. And to guard the shipments of hot pants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=5)