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 )
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!
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.
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.”
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.
On the Simpsonsno 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
). 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.