# TV trivia challenge: name the show from the minor character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140 "2007-02-06T22:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/1 "2007-02-06T22:40:56Z")
Here’s the premise: I will name a minor character from a TV show, one that is rarely seen, if ever, and maybe mentioned by name a bit more than that, and you tell me the show he/she/it is from. Special consideration needs to be taken for characters that, while might only have one or two appearances, are essential to the plots of those episodes and so are known much better (like Zathras.) As an example of what are good and bad minor character choices, here is a list: Good: Dr. Mickhead (Scrubs) Bad: The Todd (also Scrubs) Good: Naomi Wildman (from ST: Voyager) Bad: Reginald Barclay (from ST: TNG) (I realize he might actually only have a small number of episodes, but he is essential in them and is a memorable character.) I’ll start it off with Ethan Tate. Hint: His nickname is “Bubblegum Tate” ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/2 "2007-02-06T23:57:41Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] I’ll start it off with Ethan Tate. Hint: His nickname is “Bubblegum Tate” [/QUOTE] Ethan “Bubblegum” Tate: Physics professor at Globetrotter University (Futurama) I’m not sure what you mean by “good vs bad minor character choices” but here’s some: Bucky Dornster Tony Profacci ---
**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:** [February 7, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/3 "2007-02-07T00:02:17Z")
[QUOTE=Dooku] Tony Profacci [/QUOTE] Background detective character on _Law & Order_. Try: Cosmic Cow. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/4 "2007-02-07T00:13:37Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Background detective character on _Law & Order_. Try: Cosmic Cow. [/QUOTE] Comic book character drawn by Mr. Rush in _Too Close for Comfort_ . How about: Steve Richards Dirk Duddleson ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/5 "2007-02-07T02:34:54Z")
[QUOTE=Dooku] Bucky Dornster [/QUOTE] Rarely seen chief engineer on WKRP. How about… Bob Barsky ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/6 "2007-02-07T03:07:15Z")
This has potential to be an extremely frustrating thread - all these names are vaguely familiar, but I can’t place them. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/7 "2007-02-07T03:34:29Z")
Here are a few: 1. Bob Vance 2. Patty the Daytime Hooker 3. Dr. Molly Clock 4. Tibor 5. Proposition Joe 6. Aaron Echols 7. Todd Gack ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/8 "2007-02-07T03:36:48Z")
#3 is from _Scrubs_. Heather Graham is a lust-object of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/9 "2007-02-07T03:48:58Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] #3 is from _Scrubs_. Heather Graham is a lust-object of mine. [/QUOTE] Bingo! (Me too.) ---
**Author:** ![bumfuzzled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@bumfuzzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bumfuzzled)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/10 "2007-02-07T05:07:39Z")
Patty the Daytime Hooker is from My Name Is Earl And Aaron Echols was Logan’s father on Veronica Mars How about Bonnie and Ginger? I can’t remember last names, but I’m not sure their full names were ever used. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/11 "2007-02-07T06:10:02Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] 7) Todd Gack [/QUOTE] One of Elaine’s boyfriends, from Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/12 "2007-02-07T06:11:56Z")
[QUOTE=bumfuzzled] Patty the Daytime Hooker is from My Name Is Earl And Aaron Echols was Logan’s father on Veronica Mars How about Bonnie and Ginger? I can’t remember last names, but I’m not sure their full names were ever used. [/QUOTE] Bonnie and Ginger were Sam & Toby’s secretaries on The West Wing. Hmm… how about Andrea Planbee? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/13 "2007-02-07T06:15:43Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] Bob Barsky [/QUOTE] Allie’s husband towards the end of the run of Kate and Allie. Okay, let’s try… Big Rhonda ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/14 "2007-02-07T06:30:53Z")
Easy one: Carlton. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/15 "2007-02-07T06:37:43Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] Allie’s husband towards the end of the run of Kate and Allie. Okay, let’s try… Big Rhonda [/QUOTE] from That 70s Show! umm… Captain Bass (not B **r** ass) Serena Benson Jennifer Greene ---
**Author:** ![e-bow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@e-bow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/e-bow)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/16 "2007-02-07T06:46:54Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] 4) Tibor [/QUOTE] The guy at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant who can’t speak English and is responsible for anything that goes wrong. He lost the key to Marge’s office, and he was promoted ahead of Homer. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/17 "2007-02-07T06:56:25Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] 1. Bob Vance [/QUOTE] I don’t think anybody said this one yet - it’s Phyllis’s fiance from The Office. Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/18 "2007-02-07T07:40:31Z")
[QUOTE=Dolores Reborn] Easy one: Carlton. [/QUOTE] The doorman on “Rhoda.” You only ever heard his voice over the intercom. Umm, let’s see… Art Donovan ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/19 "2007-02-07T16:11:20Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] The doorman on “Rhoda.” You only ever heard his voice over the intercom. Umm, let’s see… Art Donovan [/QUOTE] IRL Art Donovan was a member of the old Baltimore Colts football team who made many hilarious appearances on Dave Letterman’s show, talking old school about the old days, but I don’t think that’s who you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/20 "2007-02-07T16:45:03Z")
Serena Benson is the mother of Det. Benson (Mariska Hartigay) on L&O:SVU. Here’s some more: Janice Wentworth Zatelli (no first name given, but he does have an official title) Elizabeth Miller Ben Scanlon Here’s a hint. All of these characters have a particular thing in common… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140.md?page=2)