Why doesn't the sitcom next door neighbor never knocks? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GARFIELDKOOL · 07-21-2007, 01:07 PM

Willona (Good Times)
Schnieder (One Day At a Time)
Steve Urkel (Family Matters)

I don't think I've ever seen these characters knock or ring the door bell.

Ohio8 · 07-21-2007, 01:12 PM

Kramer on Seinfeld
Chandler and Joey on Friends. They never knocked or buzzed Monica and Rachel's -- later, Monica and whoever's apartment -- when they came in.

clj2 · 07-21-2007, 01:14 PM

I Love Lucy's Fred and Ethel Mertz

Mikado · 07-21-2007, 03:48 PM

I think the reasons are threefold:
1) To make things simple/ otherwise, youd have to watch as the characters walk up to the door, unlock it open it...waste of time.
2) Element of surprise/ If the door just opens, and the nosey neighbour walks in, it makes it all seem less scripted and more random.
3) To make an "entrance" / Don't forget, for many of the actors in these parts, these were the only times you saw them ...so, they wanted to get that little bit of glory and hear that audience applause that came with their 2 minutes of airtime, when they burst through the door.

tanquant · 07-21-2007, 08:20 PM

Frank and Marie Barone (Everybody loves Raymond)
ED Norton ( The Honeymooners)
Shawn Hunter (Boy Meets World)

catlover79 · 07-21-2007, 10:52 PM

You forgot to mention Howard Borden (Bob Newhart Show). He would always barge in and raid the Hartleys' fridge - the Kramer of the 1970s!

Nighthawk76 · 07-21-2007, 10:55 PM

Lenny and Sqiggy on Laverne & Shirley

roseha · 07-22-2007, 10:41 PM

I believe this was explained by producer Garry Marshall on the first Odd Couple DVD. He pretty much confirmed that people burst through the door in order to keep the action going. I believe he made another comment but I forget right now, however he did explain why it was done so much.

In the Dick Van Dyke show, Jerry and Millie always seemed to be coming in through the screen kitchen door, I guess so they wouldn't have to knock.

Dennis Dubois · 07-23-2007, 11:40 AM

I agree about the time factor. It would be awkward to have a character that's well known always ring the doorbell if he/she was a neighbor when they appear every episode. After a while, it would be boring.

With Kramer's case, it was an audience favorite how he flew in the door all of the time.

Adamantium · 07-23-2007, 10:21 PM

If I remember correctly, on "Married...with Children," Steve and Marcy always knocked first.

It's funny when you think of how rude the people are being. If anyone did that in real life, the resident of the house, would be ticked off. I found out the hard way.

J/K

catlover79 · 07-23-2007, 11:03 PM

Don't forget that neighbors like Bewitched's Gladys Kravitz (especially the second one) would've been arrested and/or slapped with a restraining order for all the times she snuck into the Stephens house and spied on them from the window.

Adamantium · 07-23-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Don't forget that neighbors like Bewitched's Gladys Kravitz (especially the second one) would've been arrested and/or slapped with a restraining order for all the times she snuck into the Stephens house and spied on them from the window.

That always makes me nervous whenever Gladys would peak into the Stephen's window. And I know it's a sitcom, but it still makes me nervous. I'm just surprised that Darrin and Samantha don't seem upset with Gladys. When Gladys confronts them they should tell her that what they do in their own home is their business and that she has no business peaking through their windows. lol Instead Darrin and Samantha nervously try to explain everything to her.

Janice · 07-24-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamantium

It's funny when you think of how rude the people are being. If anyone did that in real life, the resident of the house, would be ticked off.

That's very true. It's wrong on every level. People could be in the buff, doing personal things...or you could really scare a person. I've been doing dishes and things before and jumped a mile when I saw my husband suddenly appear.

Ireneparalegal · 07-24-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Don't forget that neighbors like Bewitched's Gladys Kravitz (especially the second one) would've been arrested and/or slapped with a restraining order for all the times she snuck into the Stephens house and spied on them from the window.

With Samantha's powers, I would have made Gladys "disappear".

catlover79 · 07-24-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

With Samantha's powers, I would have made Gladys "disappear".

Same here - at least Gladys #2.

07-21-2007, 01:07 PM	#1
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Why doesn't the sitcom next door neighbor never knocks? Willona (Good Times) Schnieder (One Day At a Time) Steve Urkel (Family Matters) I don't think I've ever seen these characters knock or ring the door bell.

07-21-2007, 01:14 PM	#3
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	I Love Lucy's Fred and Ethel Mertz
	__________________ -Chris

07-21-2007, 10:52 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	You forgot to mention Howard Borden (Bob Newhart Show). He would always barge in and raid the Hartleys' fridge - the Kramer of the 1970s!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-21-2007, 01:12 PM	#2
Ohio8 Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 29, 2003 Location: Wherever you aren't. Posts: 18,966	Kramer on Seinfeld Chandler and Joey on Friends. They never knocked or buzzed Monica and Rachel's -- later, Monica and whoever's apartment -- when they came in.

07-21-2007, 03:48 PM	#4
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	I think the reasons are threefold: 1) To make things simple/ otherwise, youd have to watch as the characters walk up to the door, unlock it open it...waste of time. 2) Element of surprise/ If the door just opens, and the nosey neighbour walks in, it makes it all seem less scripted and more random. 3) To make an "entrance" / Don't forget, for many of the actors in these parts, these were the only times you saw them ...so, they wanted to get that little bit of glory and hear that audience applause that came with their 2 minutes of airtime, when they burst through the door.

07-21-2007, 08:20 PM	#5
tanquant Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Posts: 864	Frank and Marie Barone (Everybody loves Raymond) ED Norton ( The Honeymooners) Shawn Hunter (Boy Meets World)

07-21-2007, 10:55 PM	#7
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Lenny and Sqiggy on Laverne & Shirley

07-22-2007, 10:41 PM	#8
roseha Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 100	I believe this was explained by producer Garry Marshall on the first Odd Couple DVD. He pretty much confirmed that people burst through the door in order to keep the action going. I believe he made another comment but I forget right now, however he did explain why it was done so much. In the Dick Van Dyke show, Jerry and Millie always seemed to be coming in through the screen kitchen door, I guess so they wouldn't have to knock.

07-23-2007, 11:40 AM	#9
Dennis Dubois Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 14, 2004 Location: Newington CT. Posts: 172	I agree about the time factor. It would be awkward to have a character that's well known always ring the doorbell if he/she was a neighbor when they appear every episode. After a while, it would be boring. With Kramer's case, it was an audience favorite how he flew in the door all of the time.

07-23-2007, 10:21 PM	#10
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	If I remember correctly, on "Married...with Children," Steve and Marcy always knocked first. It's funny when you think of how rude the people are being. If anyone did that in real life, the resident of the house, would be ticked off. I found out the hard way. J/K

07-23-2007, 11:03 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Don't forget that neighbors like Bewitched's Gladys Kravitz (especially the second one) would've been arrested and/or slapped with a restraining order for all the times she snuck into the Stephens house and spied on them from the window.