# Unseen TV characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646 "2001-01-18T05:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BobSchroeck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@BobSchroeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobSchroeck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/101 "2001-01-25T13:07:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CnoteChris \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by barstow \* > > > > * * * > > Norm’s wife actually appeared on the Thanksgiving feast at Carla’s house.\*\* You might also be interested to know that the woman who played his wife in that episode was also his wife in real life. \*\* [/QUOTE] Am I mistaken, or didn’t I see Ruth Buzzi play Norm’s wife, once? – Bob ---
**Author:** ![BobSchroeck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@BobSchroeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobSchroeck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/102 "2001-01-25T13:11:56Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Arken \* > \*\*Mildred Potter made an appearance as a regular on the unfortunate After-M_A_S_H.\*\* If you count the photo on Potter’s desk, she was in a _lot_ of M_A_S\*H episodes… – Bob ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/103 "2001-01-25T23:19:15Z")
Bob, Bob, Bob! I’ve already posted on this. If you count the photo on Col. Potter’s desk, she was NOT in a lot of shows! The woman in the photo was actress Spring Byington. The woman who played Mildred Potter in AfterMASH was someone else (Ms. Byington having died previously.) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2001, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/104 "2001-01-28T09:20:58Z")
On **Red Green** , there are a lot of unseen characters. Besides Bernice, Red’s wife\*, there’s Stinky Petersen, Old Man Sedgwick, Moose Thompson, Junior Singleton, and Buster Hatfield. I think that’s all. \*There was an episode where a network was going to buy the program, and cast a young blonde babe as Bernice, but they also cast a young Ted McGinley-looking guy as Harold. Anyway, the deal didn’t go through, and I was left wondering how those two were going to get out of Possum Lake in one piece. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/105 "2001-01-29T00:14:06Z")
There was Serge, Edina’s son on AbFab who was never seen… In Jimmy Durante’s act there was Mrs. Calabash… That’s all I can think of that hasn’t been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Caesar0211](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caesar0211](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caesar0211)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/106 "2001-01-29T03:11:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kawliga \* > \*\*Sheridan, son of Hyacinth, on “Keeping Up Appearances.” \*\* I thought I was the only person who watched that! haha ---
**Author:** ![maryka1950\_comcast.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@maryka1950\_comcast.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maryka1950_comcast.net)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/107 "2011-06-14T03:42:46Z")
I’m about 10yeqrs late with this but, in response to DG Bowe in 2001: Pete’s (Harry Morgan, later Col. Potter on MASH) was neighbor Pete on Spring Byington’s “December Bride”, married to the unseen Gladys, and later in the spinoff “Pete & Gladys”, where Gladys was played by Cara Williams who married John Drew Barrymore, later married to Ildiko Jaid and the father of Drew Barrymore. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/108 "2011-06-14T05:11:16Z")
Throwing fresh brains over fence to Cafe Society to lure zombie thread away from IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/109 "2011-06-14T12:14:31Z")
I could be wrong… But did we ever get to see God’s face on The Simpsons? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/110 "2011-06-14T13:47:33Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Well, Cambot from MST3K almost qualifies, ('cause it’s filming the show) but it’s in the intro. > > _Black Adder_ had a few characters who were repetedly refered too but either never actually show up, or show up in later series. Most of those are Bob Sakamato-esqe in jokes for repeated viewers, though. The only one I can think of offhand is Ms. Miggins, the offscreen pie-shop owner from Black Adder 2, is an on-screen coffee shop owner in BA3. Well, and Baldrick’s mother, but that’s pushing. > > In _Slayers_, Lina Inverse’s sister is frequently refered to, but only apears for a few frames in the opening of the third season. And Xellos’ boss demon, Beastmaster, is only shown in a _The Graduate_-like leg-and-stocking shot at the very end of the series. > > – > “I AM the baby-eating Bishop of Bath and Wells!” I loved that show! Baldrick: (in dire straights) I want my mum. Black Adder: Yes, a maternally outraged female gorilla would handy about now. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/111 "2011-06-14T14:38:27Z")
On Erma Bombeck’s short lived TV series **Maggie** , the eldest son was an adolescent who was always in his room with the door closed or out of the house. He was never seen. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/112 "2011-06-14T14:54:01Z")
I was gobsmacked that no one mentioned howard’s mother on Big Bang Theory until I got to the end and realized it’s a ten year old zombie. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/113 "2011-06-14T14:55:13Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > The idea of the never-seen (heard) character was also very popular in radio comedies. For instance, Mr. Peevee’s wife in “Fibber MaGee and Molly.” as long as zombies have rose from the dead Myrt was unheard on Fibber McGee and Molly. Peavey was the druggist was on The Great Gildersleeve, a spinoff of Fibber McGee and Molly. that actor did do another character on Fibber McGee and Molly. ---
**Author:** ![DivineComedienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DivineComedienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DivineComedienne)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/114 "2011-06-14T15:32:53Z")
> [@Serendipity](#): > > I don’t think Chandler’s dad is ever seen on “Friends,” although we might have caught a glimpse of him in the worst-Thanksgiving-flashback episode. Chandler’s dad was never seen until near the end of the series, when he was played by Kathleen Turner (brilliant casting!). Chandler and Monica went to Las Vegas to invite him to the wedding, and we met him for the first time. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646/115 "2011-06-14T15:48:34Z")
On the old _December Bride_, Pete Porter (Harry Morgan) complained frequently about his his unseen wife, Gladys. This caused a problem when the producers spun \*Pete and Gladys \*into its own show. Like Vera and Maris, the real thing was nowhere near as interesting as what we imagined. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unseen-tv-characters/50646.md?page=5)