Invisible Characters

[dwanollah]

Someone suggested we start a thread on characters who play an integral (or heck, even not-so-integral) role on a TV show, but don't actually exist. You know, like Niles' wife Maris, who's talked about all the time but never shows up.

Say. Did any of these Invisible Characters ever actually show up?

[starskin]

Monk's dead wife Trudy has shown up once or twice in either flashbacks or hallucinations, but other than that, she's definitely an invisible character.

And then of course there was Mulder's sister Samantha. Even when she showed up we were never sure whether or not it was actually her

That's all I've got. You can tell how much television I watch, eh?

Cool thread though!

[Deleted]

I always wonder about Lane's dad on Gilmore Girls. They mention him, but you never ever see him- even at family gatherings. I'm all about Mama Kim, though, so it doesn't bother me.

[grumpygirl]

How about Norm's wife Vera on "Cheers?" Often discussed, never seen.

Also, Tim Allen's Hidey Ho neighbor on "Home Improvement" who we only saw from the eyes up.

Oh, and Charlie on "Charlie's Angels" was only heard, never seen.

[iceblink]

Didn't Vera show up once, but she'd been hit in the face with a pie or something like that so you couldn't see her features?

[huntergrayson]

IMHO, Peri Gilpin, who played Roz, had the best casting suggestion for Maris, if she ever showed up: Iman.

I never really paid attention to Will & Grace long enough - did Stan Walker ever show up? Wasn't he raised from the dead somehow?

They pretty much stopped referring to Lane's dad after the early seasons of GG.

[Deleted]

Tino on My so-called life never really showed up, did he?

[swanflake]

grumpygirl said:

Also, Tim Allen's Hidey Ho neighbor on "Home Improvement" who we only saw from the eyes up.

But he was still certainly there and had lots of dialogue. The invisible character on that show was Al's mom. (I hate that show BTW.)

[Deleted]

solly79 said:

Tino on My so-called life never really showed up, did he?

Heh...you're right! I totally forgot about that show.

[Deleted]

huntergrayson said:

I never really paid attention to Will & Grace long enough - did Stan Walker ever show up? Wasn't he raised from the dead somehow?

I didn't by any means see every episode, but I think a couple times you came close to seeing him. Once I think Karen was talking to him in a sauna and you could see his whale's breath blasting through the steam. Another time she was sharing a bath with him and I believe you could see his feet sticking up out of the suds. The thing is, I didn't like it! I always preferred when he was completely invisible!