# TV characters who were unseen- until later in the series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596 "2010-09-30T13:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/61 "2010-10-01T14:37:42Z")
On King of the Hill, Bill Dauterive often pines about his ex-wife Lenore, but we don’t ever see her until she makes in appearance in season 5. The episode was [Hank and the Great Glass Elevator](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_and_the_Great_Glass_Elevator). She is never seen again in the series after this appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@Mona\_Lott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lott)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/62 "2010-10-01T15:57:15Z")
I’m probably wrong, but I don’t recall ever seeing Sarah, the phone operator on the Andy Griffith Show. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/63 "2010-10-01T19:03:16Z")
In Star Trek, the Breen, Dominion, and I’m sure several others are mentioned long before they are ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/64 "2010-10-01T19:06:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > [@TBG](#): > > > > OFF TOPIC NITPICK > > There is only one _series_ of Lost, and it lasted 6 _seasons_. > > When speaking of television shows, the British use _series_ as we use _season_. They use _show_ as we use _series_ (and, um, _show_). > > Next you’ll be objecting to the words _lorry_ and _petrol_. I’m well aware of what terms the British use, but it’s not a British show so it’s divided into seasons, not series. There are a whole slew of reasons why series might be an appropriate term for British shows (their TV industry is completely different) but they don’t apply to American shows. And it’s not like I ripped anyone a new one. I made a simple informative statement. If no one tells them they’re using the terms ‘wrong’ when talking about American shows, they’ll never learn. 😛 Since it’s off topic, that’s the last I’ll say on the matter in this thread, I don’t want to totally derail things. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/65 "2010-10-01T19:15:19Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m probably wrong, but I don’t recall ever seeing Sarah, the phone operator on the Andy Griffith Show. This is a slight hijack, but along the same lines, you never see the guy who does the announcements in **M_A_S\*H**. This has always bugged me, because he’s clearly broadcasting from Radar’s (later, Klinger’s) office, since that’s where the P.A. system is. Yet we never see him. Or, for that matter, know who he is. He seems completely out of the continuity of the show, because there’s nobody among the regular or even the semi-regular cast\* he could be. Don’t tell me the name of the actors who did the voice – i know it’s not conjured out of thin air. The point is that there’s nobody on the show it could be. After 12 years, we should have run into him walking out of Radar’s office, or somebody should have commented about what _X_ said over the speaker, or something. \*like Nurse Kellye ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/66 "2010-10-01T19:17:27Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > When speaking of television shows, the British use _series_ as we use _season_. They use _show_ as we use _series_ (and, um, _show_). > > > > Next you’ll be objecting to the words _lorry_ and _petrol_. > > I’m well aware of what terms the British use, but it’s not a British show so it’s divided into seasons, not series. So if I want to talk about _Dr. Who_, will you complain if I refer to _seasons_ rather than _series_? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/67 "2010-10-01T19:46:20Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Wow… that’s… not what I expected. It looks like someone’s blowing on his face with a high-pressure air hose. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/68 "2010-10-01T19:55:45Z")
Check it out: [Dr. Claw action figure](http://thereheis.com/nucleus3.22/item/2009/03/behold-the-face-of-dr-claw-2) [Martin Short from _Innerspace_](http://img4.immage.de/2601351987.innerspace.dvb.hdtv.1080i162017.png) Coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/69 "2010-10-01T20:11:16Z")
Newman on Seinfeld was only referenced at first, then he showed up. There was an episode early on when he was threatening suicide and you hear him. The voice is Wayne Knight’s, but you didn’t see him. I just don’t remember how long into the show it was before he made an actual appearance. However, we never got to see Kramer’s often mentioned friend: Bob Saccamano ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/70 "2010-10-01T20:27:57Z")
Well, did Charlie, of Charlie’s Angels ever make an appearance? How about Kramer’s friend, Bob Sacamono? ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/71 "2010-10-01T21:35:02Z")
Mrs Slocombe’s pussy in _ **Are You Being Served?** _ ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/72 "2010-10-01T21:49:48Z")
On _Fringe_, William Bell isn’t revealed to be Leonard Nimoy until the end of the second season. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/73 "2010-10-01T22:31:28Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > Newman on Seinfeld was only referenced at first, then he showed up. There was an episode early on when he was threatening suicide and you hear him. The voice is Wayne Knight’s, but you didn’t see him. The orginal voice was Larry David, it was re-recorded for syndication. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/74 "2010-10-01T22:55:34Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > I’ve got a vague recollection of Vera Peterson eventually turning up in Cheers , but with a pie in her face. Or did I imagine that? It happened. There was also an episode where she got a job in the restaurant upstairs from Cheers. We heard her voice calling to Norm, but we didn’t see her. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/75 "2010-10-02T05:37:22Z")
In _Heroes_ Season 1, Linderman is mentioned all season, but didn’t appear (in the person of Malcolm McDowell) until Episode 18. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/76 "2010-10-02T15:06:31Z")
In Quantum Leap, Gooshie, Tina and Ziggy are frequently mentioned, but not seen until a later episode where Sam and Al changed places. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/77 "2010-10-02T20:53:18Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I’m well aware of what terms the British use, but it’s not a British show so it’s divided into seasons, not series. > > There are a whole slew of reasons why series might be an appropriate term for British shows (their TV industry is completely different) but they don’t apply to American shows. > > And it’s not like I ripped anyone a new one. I made a simple informative statement. If no one tells them they’re using the terms ‘wrong’ when talking about American shows, they’ll never learn. 😛 > > Since it’s off topic, that’s the last I’ll say on the matter in this thread, I don’t want to totally derail things. Wow. Just … wow. Just so I know for the future, do I have to stick to American spellings when referring to American shows as well or is it just American definitions of words? ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/78 "2010-10-02T21:43:16Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > > [@TBG](#): > > > > I’m well aware of what terms the British use, but it’s not a British show so it’s divided into seasons, not series. > > > > There are a whole slew of reasons why series might be an appropriate term for British shows (their TV industry is completely different) but they don’t apply to American shows. > > > > And it’s not like I ripped anyone a new one. I made a simple informative statement. If no one tells them they’re using the terms ‘wrong’ when talking about American shows, they’ll never learn. 😛 > > > > Since it’s off topic, that’s the last I’ll say on the matter in this thread, I don’t want to totally derail things. > > Wow. Just … wow. > > Just so I know for the future, do I have to stick to American spellings when referring to American shows as well or is it just American definitions of words? It’s a matter of how you were shooled. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/79 "2010-10-02T22:47:11Z")
_shooled_? ---
**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:** [October 3, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596/80 "2010-10-03T17:29:22Z")
Blossom’s mother Maddy Russo, finally seen as played by Melissa Manchester. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-characters-who-were-unseen-until-later-in-the-series/555596.md?page=5)