# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/141 "2003-01-21T19:33:38Z")
As for “That 70s Show”, Fes is asked what his name was (cant remember the episode) and there is a burst of noise (cant remember source) as he speaks it out. If you read his lips he is saying the real names of all of the cast members on the show. Hope that helps, even if it is a little vague. ---
**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, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/142 "2003-01-21T20:30:08Z")
Also, on **The Simpsons** , even if other people don’t remember the Simpsons from story to story, it’s not a gimmick/running joke the way it is with Burns not remembering Homer. Homer even strangled Burns once trying to get him to say his name. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/143 "2003-01-21T20:51:26Z")
One more set for Barney Miller. After Chano shoots and kills a perp, Barney visits his apartment. Also in the two-parter “Wojo’s Girl”, we see Wojo’s apartment. That’s two - two more sets for Barney Miller… ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/144 "2003-01-21T23:42:51Z")
To expand on the Homer/Burns thing, Matt Groening says on one of the DVD commentaries that the rule is now that Burns remembers his name after he meets him for the first time in the episode. Here’s another one: you never saw Dr. Claw on **Inspector Gadget.** ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/145 "2003-01-21T23:45:16Z")
Another running gag on The Simpsons: anytime anything crashes, it bursts into flames. A car falling through the ice, a baby carriage turning over in the street, two cars having a fender bender- there’ll always be an explosion. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/146 "2003-01-22T02:18:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnugTheJoiner \* > \*\*For whatever it’s worth, in the original pilot script for GILLIGAN’S ISLAND–which was never filmed–Gilligan’s first name is Willy. \*\* Actually that’s [an urban legend](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/gilligan.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/147 "2003-01-22T03:21:05Z")
Yay, debunking! That’s where Snopes is a Viking! ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/148 "2003-01-22T08:05:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > **You never see Mrs. Columbo.** Sure you do. [She loved a mystery](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078635). (When I watched it, it was titled “Mrs. Columbo.”) My favorite repeated from the other thread: The “stingers” at the end of every episode of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” After the closing credits, they’d show a brief scene from the movie, out of context. My new favorite is the lead from Werewolf saying “This is absolutely fascinating,” with the most dull, empty expression on her face. ---
**Author:** ![Homer\_J](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@Homer\_J](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/149 "2003-01-22T12:40:59Z")
So where do the simpsons comes from then? Troy MCclure(sp?) always says ‘hi im troy mcclure, you may remember me from such …’ Dr Hibbert always laughs, usually at un-funny/unapproaite times. ---
**Author:** ![Lilly\_Putt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Lilly\_Putt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilly_Putt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/150 "2003-01-22T13:52:07Z")
The reason Kentucky was changed after the first airing of that Simpsons episode was probably not to play a trick on viewers. It was more likely due to the fact that the state of Kentucky charges royalties for the use of it’s name, hence the renamings of Kentucky Fried chicken (to KFC), and the Kentucky Derby (to The Run For The Roses). I read somewhere (probably SNOPES), That Neil Diamond even asked radio stations to stop playing his song “Kentucky Woman” because he was having to pay the state more in royalties than he was making off of that particular song. ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/151 "2003-01-22T14:57:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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 ) \*\* On the show the Dukes occasionally mentioned that the doors were welded shut for safety reasons - not flying open in a crash or when going over rough ground or something. How about on every other episode of Knight Rider where somone flips out because the car can talk?🙂 ---
**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 23, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/152 "2003-01-23T04:53:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lilly Putt \* > \*\*The reason Kentucky was changed after the first airing of that Simpsons episode was probably not to play a trick on viewers. > It was more likely due to the fact that the state of Kentucky charges royalties for the use of it’s name, > hence the renamings of Kentucky Fried chicken (to KFC), and the Kentucky Derby (to The Run For The Roses). I read somewhere (probably SNOPES), That Neil Diamond even asked radio stations to stop playing his song “Kentucky Woman” because he was having to pay the state more in royalties than he was making off of that particular song. \*\* I read in a few places Kentucky Fried Chicken changed it’s name due to growing reports on bad “fried” food actually is for a person. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/153 "2003-01-23T05:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lilly Putt \* > \*\*The reason Kentucky was changed after the first airing of that Simpsons episode was probably not to play a trick on viewers. > It was more likely due to the fact that the state of Kentucky charges royalties for the use of it’s name, > hence the renamings of Kentucky Fried chicken (to KFC), and the Kentucky Derby (to The Run For The Roses). I read somewhere (probably SNOPES), That Neil Diamond even asked radio stations to stop playing his song “Kentucky Woman” because he was having to pay the state more in royalties than he was making off of that particular song. \*\* While interesting, that seems unlikely. I mean, they just mentioned it as a place they live, not a brand name or anything. If they just said “Hi, I’m from Kentucky.”, I’m sure they wouldn’t have to pay royalties. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/154 "2003-01-23T06:53:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lilly Putt \* > \*\*The reason Kentucky was changed after the first airing of that Simpsons episode was probably not to play a trick on viewers. > It was more likely due to the fact that the state of Kentucky charges royalties for the use of it’s name, > hence the renamings of Kentucky Fried chicken (to KFC), and the Kentucky Derby (to The Run For The Roses). I read somewhere (probably SNOPES), That Neil Diamond even asked radio stations to stop playing his song “Kentucky Woman” because he was having to pay the state more in royalties than he was making off of that particular song. \*\* You are quoting direct from Snopes in the section called “The Repository of Lost Legends” you should have taken the link at the bottom of the page called more information. There you would have found out about False Authority syndrome. > [@](#): > > If you’re reading this page, chances are you’re here because something about one or all of the entries in The Repository Of Lost Legends (TROLL) section of this site struck you as a tadge suspect, if not downright wrong. > > If any or all of the stories in this section caused your internal clue phone to ring, we hope you didn’t let the answering machine take the call. That niggling little voice of common sense whispering to you in the background was right – there was something wrong with what you read. > > You’ve just had an enounter with False Authority Syndrome. > > Everything in this section is a spoof. Lilly you have just been whooshed. Now back to the OP. Does anyone else recall the time on Newhart that Larry showed up with only one Darryl? He introduces himself as "Hi my name is Larry, and this is my other brother Darryl. Also the statement that The Darryls never spoke until the last show is not quite correct. In one earlier episode it comes out that one of the Darryls is the oldest. The next time the three come in Darryl has taken over Larry’s job and does the intros. later in the episode it turns out that Larry is actually the oldest and everything returns to normal. (or as normal as that show ever got) God I miss that show. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/155 "2003-01-23T07:02:33Z")
Here is a partial list of things repeated on _Futurama_: Amy is always accident prone, and usually falls down or off of something if she is in an episode for a while. Hermes always says “Sweet \ of \”, and he always seems to relate something currently happening with a green snake, and usually sugar. Examples: “Sweet gorilla of manilla!”, “Our water usage is climbing faster than a green snake up a sugar cane.” Bender always seems to be made out a certain precent of whatever metal, alloy, or mineral was just mentioned, usually 40%. So far, he has been made of: iron (30%), zinc (30%), dolomite (40%), titanium, and possibly others. Dr. Zoidberg is very poor and doesn’t eat a lot of food, due to his being poor and all. Also, Zoidberg’s species seems to all be Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/156 "2003-01-23T07:26:19Z")
On **King of the Hill** , Hank is always sure to describe his job as selling “propane and propane accessories”. Never just “I work at Strickland Propane” or “I sell propane.” ---
**Author:** ![Lilly\_Putt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Lilly\_Putt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilly_Putt)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/157 "2003-01-23T07:49:21Z")
Yeah, so I’m a sucker! I failed to read the “additional information.” What does “whooshed” mean? ---
**Author:** ![ShadowWarrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7993a0/32.png) [@ShadowWarrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowWarrior)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/158 "2003-01-23T11:11:05Z")
You see that joke flying over your head, Lily? Can you hear the noise it makes as it goes past? Welcome to the boards - I think you’ll fit right in! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/159 "2003-01-23T11:12:05Z")
Holy oversight, Batman! ---
**Author:** ![Hatshepsut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Hatshepsut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatshepsut)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303/160 "2003-01-23T16:44:17Z")
I haven’t seen every episode, so I might be wrong, but on **Will & Grace** you never see Stan, Karen’s husband. Even if he’s around, there’s always some reason for him not to be visible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sitcom-gimmicks-ex-you-never-saw-vera/125303.md?page=9)