Only Children on shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James · 04-27-2002, 01:38 AM

What characters do you remember from television that had no brothers or sisters? Two that come to mind are Laverne DeFazio on L&S and Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show". Some not-so-obvious ones include Norma Arnold (Kevin's mom) on "The Wonder Years": Episode #113 of TWY, "Reunion", stated somewhere that Norma was an only child. I also remember in Episode #80 of "The Brady Bunch", "Jan, The Only Child", hearing Jan tell everyone that her friend Donna had no brothers or sisters (and how lucky she was).

Oh, and FWIW, the only actor I know of which was an only child was Robert Reed, perhaps best known for his role as Mike Brady on TBB.

Bootsy Whoosh · 04-27-2002, 09:28 AM

Umm....Harry Kim from Star Trek Voyager?

He didn't have any, but that's not a sitcom.

At the moment I can't think of anymore other than those you mentioned... oh except for little Ricky Ricardo Jr. (was the child's name Ricky? Forgive me if it's not....it's been forever since I've seen I Love Lucy and plus I haven't been awake this early in like 5 years, so I don't think the ol' brain juices are flowing quite right yet!

Off for some coffee....

RGO · 04-27-2002, 11:31 AM

Ritchie Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show) was an only child, as well as Lamont Sanford (Sanford and Son), Fonzie (Happy Days), Bobby Hill (King of The Hill), Gloria Stivik (and son Joey, on "All In The Family"), Pebbles Flintstone (The Flintstones, duh!:-) I don't think Latka Gravas (Taxi) had any, and (not sure if this one counts) Mr. Spock and Pavel Chekov (Star Trek) were both only children in thier families.

Plata · 04-27-2002, 12:20 PM

Dave Foley from "Kids In The Hall" and "News Radio" is an only child.

Penny Lane · 04-27-2002, 03:00 PM

Eunice and Ed Higgins (Mama's Family) had just 1. Bubba. On The Carol Burnett Show in the Family sketches I think they had 2 boys.But on M F only Bubba is mentioned.

Penny Lane · 04-27-2002, 03:09 PM

Bess Lindstrom was Phyllis' and Lars' only child.

mstewart · 04-27-2002, 05:57 PM

Ann Romano, One Day At A Time, was an only child. Muriel Rush, Too Close for Comfort, was an only child and adopted to boot.

sreadtx · 04-27-2002, 10:25 PM

Also Steve Urkel from Family Matters was an only child as was Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell. I belive that Lionel from the Jeffersons was also a only child.

JT · 04-27-2002, 11:14 PM

Sonny Drysdale from TBH
JJ from The Governor and JJ

Janice · 04-28-2002, 12:25 AM

They only had one child on Mad About You.
Frasier only has one child, even though he's rarely seen.
Julia had just the son.
Cliff Clavin on Cheers is an only child.
I think all four cast members on Seinfeld were only children, not sure though.
Alice had just the one son too, I think.
Maude had one daughter.
Murphy Brown.
The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
My 2 Dads.
Two only children on Who's the Boss?
Dennis the Menace (could be wrong).

JT · 04-28-2002, 08:52 AM

Annie Preston from The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Linda from Make Room For Daddy was an only child b4 Kathy married Danny.

James · 05-07-2010, 01:48 AM

I just learned Cindy Brunson Walton, Ben's wife on The Waltons, was an only child.

Zoneboy · 05-07-2010, 02:27 AM

Eddie Munster
Lydia Monroe (My World and Welcome to it)

comedyfreak · 05-07-2010, 05:57 AM

Eddie was an only child on The Courtship Of Eddie's Father.
Freddy Benson is an only child on iCarly.
Sherman Bagley is an only child on The Lucy Show.

biffbronson · 05-07-2010, 07:51 AM

Mark McCain from The Rifleman was an only child

Dennis Mitchell from Dennis the Menace

On Lassie, Jeff was an only child, and I believe later Timmy too

On The Bob Newhart Show, I believe Howard Borden's son was an only child

On My Three Sons, Dodie was an only child before her mom Barbara married Steve, and Ernie Thompson was an only child until the Douglas Family adopted him

And wasn't Lionel Jefferson from The Jeffersons and All in the Family an only child?

04-27-2002, 09:28 AM	#2
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	Umm....Harry Kim from Star Trek Voyager? He didn't have any, but that's not a sitcom. At the moment I can't think of anymore other than those you mentioned... oh except for little Ricky Ricardo Jr. (was the child's name Ricky? Forgive me if it's not....it's been forever since I've seen I Love Lucy and plus I haven't been awake this early in like 5 years, so I don't think the ol' brain juices are flowing quite right yet! Off for some coffee....
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04-27-2002, 03:00 PM	#5
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,274	Eunice and Ed Higgins (Mama's Family) had just 1. Bubba. On The Carol Burnett Show in the Family sketches I think they had 2 boys.But on M F only Bubba is mentioned. Attached Images
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04-27-2002, 03:09 PM	#6
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,274	Bess Lindstrom was Phyllis' and Lars' only child. Attached Images

04-27-2002, 05:57 PM	#7
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Only child Ann Romano, One Day At A Time, was an only child. Muriel Rush, Too Close for Comfort, was an only child and adopted to boot.

04-28-2002, 12:25 AM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	They only had one child on Mad About You. Frasier only has one child, even though he's rarely seen. Julia had just the son. Cliff Clavin on Cheers is an only child. I think all four cast members on Seinfeld were only children, not sure though. Alice had just the one son too, I think. Maude had one daughter. Murphy Brown. The Courtship of Eddie's Father. My 2 Dads. Two only children on Who's the Boss? Dennis the Menace (could be wrong).
	Last edited by Janice; 04-28-2002 at 12:38 AM.

04-27-2002, 01:38 AM	#1
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Only Children on shows What characters do you remember from television that had no brothers or sisters? Two that come to mind are Laverne DeFazio on L&S and Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show". Some not-so-obvious ones include Norma Arnold (Kevin's mom) on "The Wonder Years": Episode #113 of TWY, "Reunion", stated somewhere that Norma was an only child. I also remember in Episode #80 of "The Brady Bunch", "Jan, The Only Child", hearing Jan tell everyone that her friend Donna had no brothers or sisters (and how lucky she was). Oh, and FWIW, the only actor I know of which was an only child was Robert Reed, perhaps best known for his role as Mike Brady on TBB.

04-27-2002, 11:31 AM	#3
RGO Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 26, 2002 Posts: 11	Ritchie Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show) was an only child, as well as Lamont Sanford (Sanford and Son), Fonzie (Happy Days), Bobby Hill (King of The Hill), Gloria Stivik (and son Joey, on "All In The Family"), Pebbles Flintstone (The Flintstones, duh!:-) I don't think Latka Gravas (Taxi) had any, and (not sure if this one counts) Mr. Spock and Pavel Chekov (Star Trek) were both only children in thier families.

04-27-2002, 12:20 PM	#4
Plata Member Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Regina,Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 1,201	Dave Foley from "Kids In The Hall" and "News Radio" is an only child.

04-27-2002, 10:25 PM	#8
sreadtx Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Houston, Texas, United States Posts: 261	Also Steve Urkel from Family Matters was an only child as was Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell. I belive that Lionel from the Jeffersons was also a only child.

04-27-2002, 11:14 PM	#9
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Sonny Drysdale from TBH JJ from The Governor and JJ

04-28-2002, 08:52 AM	#11
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Annie Preston from The New Dick Van Dyke Show Linda from Make Room For Daddy was an only child b4 Kathy married Danny.

05-07-2010, 01:48 AM	#12
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I just learned Cindy Brunson Walton, Ben's wife on The Waltons, was an only child.

05-07-2010, 02:27 AM	#13
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,459	Eddie Munster Lydia Monroe (My World and Welcome to it)
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05-07-2010, 05:57 AM	#14
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	Eddie was an only child on The Courtship Of Eddie's Father. Freddy Benson is an only child on iCarly. Sherman Bagley is an only child on The Lucy Show.
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05-07-2010, 07:51 AM	#15
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,547	Mark McCain from The Rifleman was an only child Dennis Mitchell from Dennis the Menace On Lassie, Jeff was an only child, and I believe later Timmy too On The Bob Newhart Show, I believe Howard Borden's son was an only child On My Three Sons, Dodie was an only child before her mom Barbara married Steve, and Ernie Thompson was an only child until the Douglas Family adopted him And wasn't Lionel Jefferson from The Jeffersons and All in the Family an only child?
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