# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/121 "2003-01-20T14:22:22Z")
Actually the “never show where dad works” thing in family sitcoms was taken fromthe original blondie cartoon which i havent read in years so it might have changed Chic youngs assistant (their son/ grandchildren are doing it now)or someone wrote a history of the cartoon He did they say they had to make it a construction company for the movies and radio show But from what im told It was done in early sitcoms for cost reasons and in 50s americia the work place wasnt seen as humorous or intresting more like hallowed ground … Another gimmick is in the dukes of hazard the doors to the car were never able to be opened (the actors hated going throuhg the window and had been injured a few times while doing so ) ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/122 "2003-01-20T18:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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. \*\* They won’t even tell you in THAT episode. Each time it airs, they identify a different state. I got excited until I saw it a second time and said…waitaminute, that was different last time! ~Ferry ---
**Author:** ![rackman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@rackman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/123 "2003-01-20T20:21:37Z")
What about on **Friends** , the ugly naked guy that the gang is always seeing in his apartment in an adjacent building ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/124 "2003-01-20T21:04:11Z")
In Sex in the City, we never find out what Mr. Big’s name is. There’s even an episode where Carrie is on booktour, and Big stands up and asks if “this Mr. Big has a real name.” She says he does but she can’t reveal it. ---
**Author:** ![Harli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c0e974/32.png) [@Harli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harli)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/125 "2003-01-20T21:51:39Z")
During the last couple seasons of **Sliders** , anytime someone seemed confused or said something that didn’t fit in with the current plane they were on, the excuse was “Oh, he/she’s from Canada.” Cracked me up everytime. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/126 "2003-01-20T22:11:15Z")
On **The Simpsons** , Monty Burns never remembers Homer. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/127 "2003-01-20T22:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rackman \* > \*\*What about on **Friends** , the ugly naked guy that the gang is always seeing in his apartment in an adjacent building \*\* This one they finally got rid of. In the fifth season Ross, who left his old apartment, got evicted from his new one (long story) was staying at Chandler & Joey’s but wanted a new place to live. Ugly Naked Guy is seen packing his stuff up (ironically, all the boxes are labeled “clothes” 🙂 ). Ross puts in an application to sublet the apartment (turns out it’s fantastic) and goes to meet Ugly Naked Guy. We see this fellow only from the back, but he looks large and rather unattractive. Ross does get the apartment, thereby ending one of _Friend’s_ enduring gags. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/128 "2003-01-21T02:06:11Z")
On the **Simpsons** _no one_ seems to remember any of the Simpsons. Ever. Despite every person in Springfield having made some personal adventure with the family at least once. But no one ever does. And there’s Gil. Bart used to prank call Moe but he never does anymore. The **Little Rascals** had that bit where the tough kid would get an eye full of soot. It was hard coming up with reasons for him to stick his eye in there, but they had good writers. On **Three’s Company** every episode was about some sort of misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/129 "2003-01-21T06:29:57Z")
Way back in the 50s, the Burns and Allen show would have George Burns up in his den, watching on a TV set what the others in series were doiing. And he’d talk right to the camera and comment on the action. Had a lot of fun breaking the fourth wall. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/130 "2003-01-21T06:46:08Z")
In **Enterprise** , we still haven’t seen Chef. Okay, we’ve seen him, but not anything above the neck. It’s been a season and a half so far. ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/131 "2003-01-21T08:02:48Z")
Number Six and lurkernomore: The Professor’s name is Roy Hinkley in the first episode of GILLIGAN’S ISLAND. And the Skipper’s name is Grumby (Grumbie?)with a b. We hear their names as the castaways listen to a news broadcast on the radio. In A VERY BRADY SEQUEL, the Professor is discovered to be Carol Brady’s first husband, and his name is Roy Martin. For whatever it’s worth, in the original pilot script for GILLIGAN’S ISLAND–which was never filmed–Gilligan’s first name is Willy. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/132 "2003-01-21T08:36:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blackeyes \* > \*\*On the **Simpsons** … Bart used to prank call Moe but he never does anymore. \*\* They brought that back briefly in the 1895 house episode. Bart used a telegraph. ---
**Author:** ![syphillis\_sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@syphillis\_sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syphillis_sam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/133 "2003-01-21T12:06:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Green Fool \* > \*\*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. > > \*\* I second that. I was attracted to the show and it’s characters at the time because here was this big fat guy who wants to be a pro wrestler(which was pretty much me at the time), and he’s screwing most everything up, yet here he gets this attractive and non-blood sucking wife who actually loves him. I dunno, I guess it gave me some hope. Then the bastard lost weight and became just another fake hollywood pretty boy with a hot chick on his wrist. Damn him. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/134 "2003-01-21T13:13:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blackeyes \* > \*\*On the **Simpsons** _no one_ seems to remember any of the Simpsons. Ever. Despite every person in Springfield having made some personal adventure with the family at least once. But no one ever does. \*\* I don’t know about that. Apu does. I think Wiggum has referred to Homer as ‘Simpson’ in their fist encounter of a single episode. Krusty and Burns have a problem remembering the family. Smithers Corrects Burns, so he remembers. Comic Book Guy doesn’t show any signs of remembering the family (IMHO). McBain, Bumblebee guy, the Sea Captain, and Cletus (The SJY) haven’t had too many encounters with the family, so they’re sort of excused. Of course Moe and Barney know Homer, as does Lenny and Carl. Barney seems to have some problems distinguishing between Bart, Lisa and Maggie. Flanders of course does. Doesn’t Professor Fink too? Ralph and Nelson know Bart and Lisa, I’m pretty sure they know Homer as well. Sideshow Bob does. Skinner, Both teachers, Milouse, know the family. I think even Otto knows Homer (and Marge???). Lovejoys know the family. Abe gets confused at times, but also pretty much knows his family. Doesn’t Kent Brokman know Lisa? So, it’s a mixed bag. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/135 "2003-01-21T14:39:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nightshadea \* > \*\* > Another gimmick is in the dukes of hazard the doors to the car were never able to be opened (the actors hated going throuhg the window and had been injured a few times while doing so ) \*\* That wasn’t so much a gimmick as a touch of realism: The General Lee was a Moonshiner’s car, and, as we all know, that’s more or less how NASCAR started. In that era, cars weren’t quite as… solid as they are now, so one of the things that was done to turn a street car into a stock car was to weld the door shut. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/136 "2003-01-21T18:40:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mehitabel \* > \*\*And to go waaaaay back… > > Divine was supposed to play Peg’s Uncle Otto, not her mother. Peg’s mom wasn’t seen in the episode ‘All in the Family’. \*\* I would have liked to have seen Eartha Quake as Peg’s mother. Don’t know who Eartha Quake is? [Click here](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22eartha+quake%22) then on the second link. Disclaimer: no, I don’t have a thing for very large, naked women. I only know about her because one of the magazines I have reviewed one of her films. And consider yourself warned. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/137 "2003-01-21T18:57:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rue DeDay \* > \*\*(About the Barney Miller set originally mentioned by **Icerigger** ) > > 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. \*\* Not entirely true. When Arthur joins the force, Fish gets to feeling old and useless. Arthur visits Fish at his apartment and has a long talk with Bernise and Fish’s daughter. That’s the only time I can remember the show using another set, though. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/138 "2003-01-21T19:08:51Z")
There were a few times that “Barney Miller” used sets other than the squad room & Barney’s office. I remember Barney’s apartment, Fish’s apartment, the vacant apartment they used for the stakeout, and the apartment where Dietrich was asked to help smooth over a relationship. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/139 "2003-01-21T19:10:22Z")
Or was the episode with Dietrich and Fish’s apartment the same? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/140 "2003-01-21T19:14:11Z")
**Barney Miller** did use other sets from time to time. I remember another episode where Wojo and a then-unknown Linda Lavin were undercover in a hotel room. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=8)