Top 20 TV Characters the Show Forgot About

Top 20 TV Characters the Show Forgot About

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at TV characters who played prominent roles until they were suddenly banished to off-screen land. This doesnt mean that they werent ever mentioned later or appeared in a few episodes down the line, but just that the writers and/or characters of the series seemingly didnt remember their existence most of the time. Also, spoilers!

#20: Skipper Johnston

Sex and the City (1998-2004)

Steve Brady was Mirandas most serious love interest throughout Sex and the City... until And Just Like That... ruined everything. Before Steve entered the picture, Miranda had another boyfriend, Skipper Johnston. The two have an on-and-off relationship throughout the first season. However, Miranda eventually makes it clear she isnt looking for anything serious, much to Skippers disappointment. He resurfaces in a single episode of Season 2, finally tired of being emotionally whipped around. Considering how they left things, we suppose it isnt surprising that Miranda and the audience never see Skipper again. Since Skipper was friends with Carrie before meeting Miranda, though, youd think the shows narrator would have insight into his whereabouts. The resolution to his arc was skipped over.

#19: Behrooz Araz

24 (2001-10, 2014)

Day 4 introduces the Araz family. On the surface, they appear like a normal suburban family that immigrated to America. Behind closed doors, theyre secretly working with a Middle Eastern terrorist named Habib Marwan. While his parents are committed to their so-called cause, teenage son Behrooz is apprehensive, especially after his girlfriend is murdered. His mother is eventually prompted to switch sides for her sons sake, although shes killed in the process. CTU later trades Behrooz to the terrorists for Jack Bauer. Although Behrooz is given tracking devices, theyre swiftly destroyed. CTU loses track of Behrooz, as does the audience. A few deleted scenes wouldve revealed that Behrooz was rescued, but in the official canon, his day was cut short.

#18: Alex Lesman

Gilmore Girls (2000-07)

The third season introduces Alex, Sookies friend of a friend. Alex emerges as a love interest for Lorelai, even though hes outdoorsy and she is not. Nevertheless, the two enjoy each others company. After appearing in three episodes, Alex suddenly goes AWOL. Lorelai mentions later in the season that theyre still seeing each other, but it doesnt sound like shes very invested. Thats the last we hear of Alex, and the show never explains what happened to him. Since Lorelai goes on to have relationships with a few other guys, its safe to say she broke up with Alex at some point. Or maybe she forgot to break up with him. The Gilmore girls tend to do that.

#17: Lindsay Gardner

The O.C. (2003-07)

In Season 2, Ryan dates new girl Lindsay Gardner, whos later revealed to be Caleb Nichols daughter from an affair. This kind of means Lindsay is Ryans aunt, but dont worry. They arent biologically related, although there is blood between Lindsay and Seth, with whom she also went out on a single occasion. While Caleb considers adopting her, Lindsay decides to move to Chicago with her mom, leaving Ryan behind. Lindsay never returns to Newport. Not even when Caleb dies later that season. Granted, they didnt have the best relationship, but it still feels odd that Lindsay didnt show up for Calebs funeral. We assumed shed at least be there for her half-sister Kirsten, who was also dealing with heavy substance use around this time.

#16: Brendan Lambert

Step by Step (1991-97)

When youre part of a big family, its easy to get lost in the shuffle. In a sitcom like Step by Step, you can get lost altogether. Such was the case with Brendan Lambert, Franks second-born son. Played by Josh Byrne, Brendan was a part of the Foster-Lambert bunch for six seasons. When the sitcom moved to CBS for a seventh and final season, we guess the showrunners forgot to pack Brendan. It already felt like Brendan was being phased out of the show. He was absent from several Season 6 episodes, with more attention going to little sister Lilly. Behind the scenes, Byrne went to high school and left acting behind. That explains Brendans absence, albeit not within the context of the shows universe.

#15: Violet & Roscoe Plunkett

Mom (2013-21)

This sitcoms premise changed over time. As the title suggests, it was initially about a mom raising her two kids while reconciling with her own mother, Bonnie. After two seasons, teenage daughter Violet only made a handful of appearances in Seasons 3 and 4. Violet made her final appearance in Season 6, as matriarch Christy attempts to reconcile with her. The two never quite receive closure, however. Violet still got more closure than younger half-brother Roscoe, who was last seen in Season 4. Roscoe goes to live with his father and stepmother, a plot point thats glanced over. While many felt the series improved as the focus shifted to Christy, Bonnie, and their support group, its strange that a show called Mom forgot the kids.

#14: Adam Milligan

Supernatural (2005-20)

During Season 4, the Winchester brothers meet Adam, a teenager looking for his father. As it turns out, his father is John Winchester, making him Sam and Deans half-brother. The dynamic duo soon learn that this is actually a ghoul that killed Adam and took his form. That said, Adam was still their brother. Adam is resurrected the following season, only for Michael to possess him. When Sam and Adam both wind up in Hell, Dean cant save them both. Naturally, he chooses Sam. In a show about brotherhood, one might think that Sam and Dean would channel their energy into freeing Adam. Yet, Adam doesnt resurface until the fifteenth and final season. Even then, its a little unclear what ultimately becomes of him.

#13: Mandy Hampton

The West Wing (1999-2006)

Throughout the first season of The West Wing, actress Moira Kelly was the second name featured in the opening credits. She played Mandy Hampton, a media consultant who used to date Josh. Although creator Aaron Sorkin didnt have any issues with Kellys performance, he felt the character didnt fit. Kelly seemed to agree, and it was decided that Mandy would be gone by the beginning of the second season. That said, Season 1 ends with a shooting, revealing in the following episode that President Bartlet and Josh got hit. Amid this crisis, the White House media director just disappeared without explanation. Sorkin considered bringing Mandy back for an episode that wouldve cleared up her departure, but this never materialized.

#12: Shawns Other Siblings

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

Boy Meets World forgot about several characters over the years. Minkus and Mr. Turner are two notable examples, although the show would poke fun at their absence in a meta moment, while Girl Meets World brought both back. Shawns siblings didnt get the same consideration. In the first season, its mentioned that Shawn has a sister named Stacy, whos never brought up again (let alone seen). In Season 3, Cory learns that Shawn has a half-brother named Eddie. Technically, theyre step-brothers, as Shawn later finds out the woman who raised him wasnt his biological mother. Even so, its curious that Eddie doesnt come up when Shawn reunites with half-brother Jack, who becomes a mainstay of the show.

#11: Various Characters

Glee (2009-15)

Honestly, we could make a whole list of characters that Glee lost track of. Season 3, in particular, introduced several newcomers who either disappeared completely over time or became glorified extras. There was Rory Flanagan, whose entire personality revolved around him being Irish. We also got Joe Hart, who was religious and thats pretty much it. Then there was Sugar Motta, who claimed to be on the spectrum, although that mightve just been an excuse for her to get away with acting insensitive. Either way, not good representation. The show kept forcing in characters like Marley Rose and Ryder Lynn, who were both irrelevant by the final season. Clearly, the writers only cared about a handful of characters. So why keep adding more?

#10: Mark Brendanawicz

Parks and Recreation (2009-15; 2020)

After season one, the political satire sitcom changed direction, and also seemingly left one of the departments integral employees behind. As despite his being a main character and love interest for both Leslie and Ann, season two sees jaded city planner, Mark Brendanawicz swiftly exit the Parks & Rec department. His epiphany is spurred by his fall in the pit, after which he realizes he needs to change his ways. The biggest decision he makes is to leave his government job in order to join the private sector, earning him the name, Mark Brendanaquits in the season finale. Chris and Ben, who appeared in the previous episode, are then set to replace him as permanent cast members while Mark silently disappears and is never heard from again.

#9: Jacqueline "Jackie" Ames

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96)

Tyra Banks made her acting debut in season four of Fresh Prince as Wills childhood friend, Jackie. From the moment they first reunite, their deep-rooted friendship is evident. And as the pair become reacquainted, the romantic energy between them intensifies, too. However, Wills drunken antics at a party bring an abrupt end to their will they/wont they. Infuriated by Will and her new boyfriends childish behavior, Jackie asks Carlton to drive her home and leaves the party. Later that night, when Will sobers up, he admits that his stupid behavior cost him a friend, and we never see Jackie again.

#8: Tori Scott

Saved by the Bell (1989-93)

When the gang finally made it to graduation, they thought they were saying goodbye to their Bayside days for good. But when the show got picked up for some extra episodes, actresses Tiffany Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley had already moved on. To fill the gap, the show introduced tough-girl, Tori Scott. Although she and Zack initially butt heads, she soon befriends the group and of course, dates Zack and Slater. After 10 episodes though, she disappears and her absence is never acknowledged - neither are we told why Jessie and Kelly are all of a sudden back (though the real-life reason is because the episode was filmed beforehand). Zack does mention Tori in the revival, but Kellys response leaves him wondering if she ever really existed at all.

#7: Mutt Schitt

Schitts Creek (2015-20)

As played by Tim Rozon, Schitts Creeks rugged recluse Mutt was a series regular during the shows first two seasons. As Roland and Jocelyns once estranged son and Alexis community-service buddy, love interest, and later boyfriend, it seemed very unlikely that he would suddenly disappear. However, following their break-up, we start seeing less of Mutt around the Creek. And after a brief cameo at the start of season three, he doesnt reappear again until the season four episode, The Rollout. After Alexis rejects his advances, he vanishes again for good. Fans hoped that he might reappear during the shows final season, but it simply wasnt meant to be.

#6: Tina Pinciotti

That 70s Show (1998-2006)

Considering this character had such a short lifespan on the sitcom, youd be forgiven for forgetting she ever existed. In season one, Donna throws a party while shes stuck babysitting her little sister when their parents go away. Tina crashes the party to complain about rowdy partygoers in the house before getting her flirt on with Fez. And thats it. Shes never seen or heard of again and Donna becomes an only child. Well, actually shes mentioned once more at the end of the season two episode Vanstock. Making a meta, tongue-in-cheek joke, the soap-opera-style voiceover comments on her sudden disappearance.

#5: Ruby Lucas

Once Upon a Time (2011-18)

After her growing popularity in season one, not to mention an entire episode devoted to her story in season 2, Red was set as a series regular. However, that would end up only being temporary. Even though the writers had big plans for her story, the introduction of several new characters meant that their plans got put on the back burner and seemingly forgotten about completely. Eventually, Ruby decides that Storybrooke no longer feels like home and leaves. We catch up with her again in season five, when the writers decided to bring her story arc to a close. But after giving her a happily-ever-after, any memory of Ruby vanishes as if by magic from the rest of the series run.

#4: Terri McGreggor

Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-15)

Poor Terri was put through a lot during the first three seasons, including a harmful relationship that later left her in a coma. Going into season four, you might hope that the writers would cut her some slack - but instead, she completely disappears. Considering that the last time we see her, shes recovering in hospital, you can bet that fans were alarmed. A deleted scene from season four explains that she had been transferred to a private school to keep her away from Rick. Well, were glad that shes ok and we hope she has better luck at her new school.

#3: Ben Geller

Friends (1994-2004)

From the moment Ross learns hes going to be a father, he seems pretty determined to play an active role in his sons life. And sure, he certainly has his moments, but we can all agree that he was never going to win father of the year. Over the course of the series, Ben sightings become more sporadic and we last see him about midway through season eight. By the end of that season, Rachel gives birth to Emma. Not only does she seem to replace her big brother in their fathers life, but she also never ends up sharing any screen time with her half-bro. To top things off, Jack Geller seems to forget that Emma isnt actually his first grandchild.

#2: Chuck Cunningham

Happy Days (1974-84)

Hardcore Happy Days fans might recall that in the first two seasons Richie and Joanie had an older brother called Chuck. While local bad-boy Arthur Fonzie Fonzarelli grew in popularity with viewers, Chuck was phased into the background and eventually vanished without a trace. The show continued as if he never existed with the hopes that the fans wouldnt notice, or would at least play along. However, not only did they notice but they also coined the term, Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. This has since caught on as a blanket term for those characters, who, like Chuck, simply evaporated from their shows.

#1: Judith "Judy" Winslow

Family Matters (1989-98)

Originally a spin-off of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters was meant to center on the Winslow family. However, after introducing the hugely-popular nerdy neighbor, Steve Urkel, the show decided to take a new direction. This was bad news for the Winslows youngest daughter, Judy, who started to fade into the background. We last see her in season fours Mamas Wedding, in which shes seen as a flower girl during Estelle and Fletchers wedding. The sitcom had plans to bring her back for Steve and Lauras wedding, where they would also explain her absence, but Family Matters was canceled before they got a chance.

Which forgotten character do you think deserved better? Let us know in the comments.