Characters Whose Physical Appearance Was Made An Object of Comedy - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 10-11-2014, 06:35 PM

I was watching The Beverly Hillbillies a couple days ago, the episode that introduced Dash Riprock. As usual, there was a misunderstanding and Dash was led to believe that Miss Jane was Elly. There were several jokes about her, frankly, not being as physically appealing (at least, not as conventionally appealing) as Elly May, and I instantly felt for Nancy Kulp, who had to read through these scripts and act through the scenes, which had the subtext of "Miss Jane isn't very attractive". Had to be a little humiliating, really.

I started thinking about other incidents of this that I could recall. I came up with Rerun from What's Happening!, who was always the butt of jokes because of his weight, Bookman from Good Times, likewise, and Ben Linus, from Lost, who was compared to a rat at one point and whose "bug eyes" were mentioned at least once!

I wonder how the writers approach that scene with the actors. "OK Nancy, in this scene, we're basically, uhm, making fun of the fact that you don't have a curvy figure or blond hair or a conventionally appealing look like Donna Douglas..."!? I know the actors are professionals but this is their APPEARANCE we're talking about; that seems to be automatically personal.

Anybody have any other instances of this?

Mace Dolex · 10-11-2014, 08:19 PM

On Three's Company there an episodes where Jack is trying to win back a girl and goes to her apartment to serenade her but mistakenly doesn't know he's serenated the wrong person and when the wrong girl turns up at Jack's house it turns out to be an overweight woman.

Fontaine · 10-11-2014, 09:20 PM

There was an episode of Taxi where Alex had a "phone friendship" with a woman. He was anxious to meet her, but when he did she turned out to be obese. Although he still wanted to get to know her, there were lots of jokes from Louie about Alex's "big date".

treky · 10-12-2014, 01:19 AM

what about Ralph Kramden on THE HONEYMOONERS? Ed Norton, his best friend and even his wife Alice, used to make cracks about his weight sometimes like when he said once "This is the biggest thing I've ever gotten into!" And she replies "The biggest thing you ever got into was your pants!"

I don't remember Barney Rubble etc. making cracks about Fred Flinstones weight, but I'm sure they did.
Also, on THE BEVERLLY HILLBILLIES once; in the episode GETTING SETTLED in that sweet scene where Jed's talking to Elly he says "Just like mother nature made you a girl...and lately she's been gettin' more an' more positive about it."

Bonniegirl · 10-12-2014, 01:35 AM

Ralph Monroe on Green Acres! The lady carpenter of the Monroe Brothers Ralph and Alf . They always made her out to be a homely women. And she really wasn't !! Monroe brothers, but she was really a sister! She was always in overalls and wearing a cap on her head, no makeup , hair not done and cut short. And the most obvious being named Ralph and referred to as a 'Monroe Brother"! How was this poor girl ever expected to have any confidence or self esteem if she couldn't even have a sense of her own femininity ?

She was a really sweet girl, had a beautiful personality and a pretty smile.

She just never was given a chance. She loved Hank Kimball, but was always made to feel like the ugly duckling and even a goofball like Hank Kimball wasn't interested in her! How sad! Lisa did give her a make over in I think two eps. and she looked really pretty!

comedyfreak · 10-12-2014, 02:59 AM

How can anyone forget Sanford And Son's Aunt Esther. Fred constantly called her ugly and made jokes about her.

treky · 10-12-2014, 03:22 AM

In the TV movie RETURN TO MAYBERRY Thelma Lou was talking to Helen about Barney in one scene and said something like "I know he's not (something) and his physique's nothing to write home about..."
In the 2nd or 3rd episode of GREEN ACRES Kate Bradley is talking to Lisa in one scene about cooking and when Lisa tells her she doesn't know how to, Kate says "When Mr. Douglas married you didn't he ask if you know how to cook?" Then she looked at Lisa and said "No, I can see he didn't."

wiseguy182 · 10-12-2014, 03:51 AM

Dorothy Zbornak owns this thread. Not only did the writers on Golden Girls make her out to be hideously ugly, but also suggested that she looked and acted like a man.

Joy Skroggs gets positively BRUTALIZED on Hot in Cleveland, with constant references to her "man-hands", looking and dressing like a prostitute and acting too young for her age.

Bud Bundy got treated pretty badly as the writers of Married...With Children had him as an 18 year old bedwetter who no right-minded girl would be caught dead with. I though David Faustino was quite attractive back in the day.

I feel bad for Lucy Lee Flippin, who seemed to get typecast in these type roles.

MikeLutton · 10-12-2014, 04:14 AM

always lt bad for rerun must of hurt the actors like crazy to have to go through that

wiseguy182 · 10-12-2014, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I started thinking about other incidents of this that I could recall. I came up with Rerun from What's Happening!, who was always the butt of jokes because of his weight, Bookman from Good Times, likewise, and Ben Linus, from Lost, who was compared to a rat at one point and whose "bug eyes" were mentioned at least once!

Actually, Shirley from What's Happening!! was on the receiving end of the fat jokes as well. And Mabel King was actually the largest member of the cast.

Kasey · 10-12-2014, 10:49 AM

I agree Dorothy Zbornak owns this thread. In the later seasons, it got even worse with most of Sophia's zingers aimed at Bea/Dorothy's height, butt, voice, etc.

On "That '70s Show" the scripts often made light of Topher Grace's skinny frame as well.

installLSC · 10-13-2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Couple examples from Cheers: There's one whole episode of Cheers devoted to Diane dating someone who has everything she's looking for...except that he's homely. And then there's a cold opening where Coach gets a call from upstairs for someone with a dinner reservation, and he calls out, "Table for the Blubberbutts!"

Or remember the episode where an IRS agent, who's investigating Norm for accounting fraud, offers to drop the charges if Norm sleeps with her? Everybody in the bar acts like he's committing suicide. And when Cliff says she's hot, the laugh track breaks out.
Another good example is the Gidget episode "My Ever Faithful Friend" where Gidget gives LaRue a makeover because the local kids make fun of her looks. Cause it's so embarassing being next to this. If anything, LaRue should get more dates because she's much curvier.

gidgetgrape · 10-13-2014, 04:04 PM

My vote for the worst use of this is "Jan's Aunt Jenny" from season 3 of The Brady Bunch. Aunt Jenny (Imogene Coca) isn't called names, but Jan is devastated that she might grow up to look like her. Mike and Carol have to explain to Aunt Jenny that Jan keeps avoiding her because she's unattractive. How would you like to be on the receiving side of that conversation?

JamesG · 10-13-2014, 04:10 PM

A season 4 episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" had Willis wanting his own room so he said he was going to take Adalaide's room and have her move in w/ Arnold.

Arnold goes, "I don't want Adalaide in here, she can see me in my underwear. Even worse, I could see her in hers."

Bonniegirl · 10-13-2014, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

My vote for the worst use of this is "Jan's Aunt Jenny" from season 3 of The Brady Bunch. Aunt Jenny (Imogene Coca) isn't called names, but Jan is devastated that she might grow up to look like her. Mike and Carol have to explain to Aunt Jenny that Jan keeps avoiding her because she's unattractive. How would you like to be on the receiving side of that conversation?

I know! I thought that was mean for Aunt Jenny!

And I didn't think Aunt Jenny was bad looking for an older women, she certainly wasn't ugly!

Her gaudy eye shadow reminds me of Samantha's mom Endora!

10-11-2014, 06:35 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Characters Whose Physical Appearance Was Made An Object of Comedy I was watching The Beverly Hillbillies a couple days ago, the episode that introduced Dash Riprock. As usual, there was a misunderstanding and Dash was led to believe that Miss Jane was Elly. There were several jokes about her, frankly, not being as physically appealing (at least, not as conventionally appealing) as Elly May, and I instantly felt for Nancy Kulp, who had to read through these scripts and act through the scenes, which had the subtext of "Miss Jane isn't very attractive". Had to be a little humiliating, really. I started thinking about other incidents of this that I could recall. I came up with Rerun from What's Happening!, who was always the butt of jokes because of his weight, Bookman from Good Times, likewise, and Ben Linus, from Lost, who was compared to a rat at one point and whose "bug eyes" were mentioned at least once! I wonder how the writers approach that scene with the actors. "OK Nancy, in this scene, we're basically, uhm, making fun of the fact that you don't have a curvy figure or blond hair or a conventionally appealing look like Donna Douglas..."!? I know the actors are professionals but this is their APPEARANCE we're talking about; that seems to be automatically personal. Anybody have any other instances of this?
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

10-12-2014, 01:19 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	what about Ralph Kramden on THE HONEYMOONERS? Ed Norton, his best friend and even his wife Alice, used to make cracks about his weight sometimes like when he said once "This is the biggest thing I've ever gotten into!" And she replies "The biggest thing you ever got into was your pants!" I don't remember Barney Rubble etc. making cracks about Fred Flinstones weight, but I'm sure they did. Also, on THE BEVERLLY HILLBILLIES once; in the episode GETTING SETTLED in that sweet scene where Jed's talking to Elly he says "Just like mother nature made you a girl...and lately she's been gettin' more an' more positive about it."
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

10-12-2014, 02:59 AM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	How can anyone forget Sanford And Son's Aunt Esther. Fred constantly called her ugly and made jokes about her.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

10-12-2014, 03:51 AM	#8
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Dorothy Zbornak owns this thread. Not only did the writers on Golden Girls make her out to be hideously ugly, but also suggested that she looked and acted like a man. Joy Skroggs gets positively BRUTALIZED on Hot in Cleveland, with constant references to her "man-hands", looking and dressing like a prostitute and acting too young for her age. Bud Bundy got treated pretty badly as the writers of Married...With Children had him as an 18 year old bedwetter who no right-minded girl would be caught dead with. I though David Faustino was quite attractive back in the day. I feel bad for Lucy Lee Flippin, who seemed to get typecast in these type roles.
	__________________ "Dottie had said, in the event I got transferred that she was not interested in going with me. I wasn't expecting her to go with me. And wouldn't have even wanted her to I guess."

10-12-2014, 04:14 AM	#9
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,884	always lt bad for rerun must of hurt the actors like crazy to have to go through that
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man

10-11-2014, 08:19 PM	#2
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	On Three's Company there an episodes where Jack is trying to win back a girl and goes to her apartment to serenade her but mistakenly doesn't know he's serenated the wrong person and when the wrong girl turns up at Jack's house it turns out to be an overweight woman.

10-11-2014, 09:20 PM	#3
Fontaine Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 16, 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 160	There was an episode of Taxi where Alex had a "phone friendship" with a woman. He was anxious to meet her, but when he did she turned out to be obese. Although he still wanted to get to know her, there were lots of jokes from Louie about Alex's "big date".

10-12-2014, 01:35 AM	#5
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,698	Ralph Monroe on Green Acres! The lady carpenter of the Monroe Brothers Ralph and Alf . They always made her out to be a homely women. And she really wasn't !! Monroe brothers, but she was really a sister! She was always in overalls and wearing a cap on her head, no makeup , hair not done and cut short. And the most obvious being named Ralph and referred to as a 'Monroe Brother"! How was this poor girl ever expected to have any confidence or self esteem if she couldn't even have a sense of her own femininity ? She was a really sweet girl, had a beautiful personality and a pretty smile. She just never was given a chance. She loved Hank Kimball, but was always made to feel like the ugly duckling and even a goofball like Hank Kimball wasn't interested in her! How sad! Lisa did give her a make over in I think two eps. and she looked really pretty!

10-12-2014, 03:22 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	In the TV movie RETURN TO MAYBERRY Thelma Lou was talking to Helen about Barney in one scene and said something like "I know he's not (something) and his physique's nothing to write home about..." In the 2nd or 3rd episode of GREEN ACRES Kate Bradley is talking to Lisa in one scene about cooking and when Lisa tells her she doesn't know how to, Kate says "When Mr. Douglas married you didn't he ask if you know how to cook?" Then she looked at Lisa and said "No, I can see he didn't."

10-12-2014, 10:49 AM	#11
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	I agree Dorothy Zbornak owns this thread. In the later seasons, it got even worse with most of Sophia's zingers aimed at Bea/Dorothy's height, butt, voice, etc. On "That '70s Show" the scripts often made light of Topher Grace's skinny frame as well.

10-13-2014, 04:04 PM	#13
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	My vote for the worst use of this is "Jan's Aunt Jenny" from season 3 of The Brady Bunch. Aunt Jenny (Imogene Coca) isn't called names, but Jan is devastated that she might grow up to look like her. Mike and Carol have to explain to Aunt Jenny that Jan keeps avoiding her because she's unattractive. How would you like to be on the receiving side of that conversation?

10-13-2014, 04:10 PM	#14
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,106	A season 4 episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" had Willis wanting his own room so he said he was going to take Adalaide's room and have her move in w/ Arnold. Arnold goes, "I don't want Adalaide in here, she can see me in my underwear. Even worse, I could see her in hers."