Kramer's Name and other Fun Mysteries

This isn't strictly a Seinfeld thing, but I'll risk getting yelled at and post it anyway. Over in one of the threads about whether people liked "Cosmo" or not, someone mentioned that they would have rather not found out Kramer's first name, because it had been a fun mystery, and now the fun was gone. They likened it to the often mentioned but never seen Vera on Cheers, and it got me to wondering what other fun mysteries various shows have had over the years. It don't mean the kind that the whole show is built around (like "Who killed Laura Palmer" or "If the Professor can build a radio out of a couple of coconuts, why can't he build a raft"), but the fun little running side gags like, until recently, Kramer's first name. I could only think of a few, but i'm sure there must be more. Here are the ones I thought of (or read in that post I mentioned):

Cheers: Often mentioned but never seen Vera
Frasier: Often mentioned but never seen Mariss (sp?)
Macgyver: Macgyver's first name
Charlie's Angels: Charlie's face
Columbo: Columbo's first name;
         Often mentioned but never seen Mrs. Columbo (self-respecting
         Columbo fans know that woman in the Mrs. Columbo show wasn't
         the *real* Mrs. Columbo)

Can anybody think of any others?

Oh sure ... how about Remington Steele?
Although I wasn't really old enough to watch this show when it was on
primetime, I've seen a bunch of the re-runs.
Remington Steele isn't really his name ... he just showed up one day and Laura
"made" him president of the company because no one wanted to hire a female P.I.
So we don't really know his name or where he's from (other than england --duh)
	Kerry Jane
	[email]

well, if i seem to remember correctly, macgyver's first name was ANGUS!! sorry to ruin it for anyone who did not know...

almost as strange a name as cosmo...

i cant think of any other sitcom mysteries, but this is a good thread to continue...

Todd

In [email] (B & G Wires) writes:

I think his name was Jonas Cumby. Two better questions: what was the professor's name and what was Gilligan's first name?

What? We see Vera in the Thanksgiving episode where she gets a pie in her face.

Marist.

Angus.

Thanks for playing.

We have some nice parting gifts for you.

Fabrizio Gallucci - SHTM/F94 blessed us with this masterpiece of modern thought:

And, hey, what was Mary-Anne's na... oh, wait, never mind. :)

[email] blessed us with this masterpiece of modern thought:

Oops, look like I took your post wrong. I thought you were flaming me, sorry for the snotty reply. Don't stay out of the way, it's your God-given right as a netizen to get in peoples' way, whether you mean to or not. You'll figure it out, or I will, or something. :)

In article , [email] (Steve Thompson) wrote:

Did we ever see Carmine the Doorman on "Rhoda"?

Last time I checked, we still don't know if Pat from SNL is "a him or a her". I understand this premise is enough to base a soon-to-be-released motion picture. :/

In article ,

Actually, the movie you are referring to, "Pat: The Movie" I think it was called, was released. It lasted about 1 weekend in the theaters pulling in about $15.00 (some 14 year old on a date saw it). Anyway, it should be on video soon, if you're ever that desperate to see a movie.

-Eric

During the first season of "Grace Under Fire", Grace (Brett Butler) constantly made fun of her ex-husband Jimmy. I thought it was a big let down when he made a few appearances in the second season. The imagination can usually conjure up images that are much more extreme than any actor can portray.

On the other hand, I didn't have any problem with the unveiling of Kramer's name. It fits with the character, as it's eccentric. Maybe the worst part about it is that it will end the speculation in this notes group, which many folks enjoyed, but a benefit is that there shouldn't be anymore "is Kramer his first or last name" posts.

JO>During the first season of "Grace Under Fire", Grace (Brett Butler) JO>constantly made fun of her ex-husband Jimmy. I thought it was a big JO>let down when he made a few appearances in the second season. The JO>imagination can usually conjure up images that are much more extreme JO>than any actor can portray.

Imagination is one thing, but when it affects ratings.... When 'Columbo' was 7 or 8 years old, Peter Falk wanted more money and the ratings were starting to slip, so the network decided to take a chance and cancel it, and replace it with 'Mrs. Columbo'. In those 7 or 8 years, we always heard about her as 'the missus', or 'my wife', but never saw her or knew any more about her. When the new show started, it bombed. They divorced the Columbos, changed the show around & renamed it. It bombed. They renamed it again & got rid of all Mr. Columbo references. It bombed. When 'Columbo' came back as a rotating movie series, all references to the divorce, etc... were gone, & Mrs. Columbo was once again 'the missus.' Later... --- * SLMR 2.1a * My reality check just bounced.

In article , [email] (Fabrizio Gallucci - SHTM/F94) says:

I do remember an episode where the professors name was given out !!

I just can't seem to remember what it was ?

Jason

It was in the first episode (pilot) where they are all on the beach nexxt to the wrecked ship and there is an announcement on the radio naming them all except now that I remember I don't recall what Gilligan's name was or WAS GILLIGAN HIS FIRST NAME OR LAST NAME?

I smell another thread.--

In article ,

That would be "Willie Tiberius Grumby."

Kent "what was Gopher's real name" Hoover

Kent Hoover writes:

i didn't remember the prof's name, but in the first episode they gave the skippers name as Jonas Grumby. are we now to believe that skipper and the prof were brothers? if so, why didn't they room together? or maybe why that's why they didn't room together... did you ever notice that the prof is the only one w/out a roomate?

but what's all this to do with the Seinman? (besides mysteries involving character names) so, now that we know all about Cosmo, will we get Newman's name next? i vote for Melvyn Newman

How about on Get Smart:

99's name? The Chief's last name? (First name: Thaddeus!)

Okay so now that we know Kramer's first name, this will finally put an end to the Kramer last or first debate. But, what about NEWMAN! Is that his first or last name? And what would be a good first name for him. (Assuming that Newman is his last name, which I do.) I am proposing we pick up the Boutros-Boutros suggestion and apply it to Newman. Boutros Boutros Newman. What do you say?

Dennis

- "Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do." - TMBG