One Scene Characters
Two-bit carnie acts
Unlike those beloved one-night stands (a pox upon thee, Sam, for killing my Casey. Jerk.), these lesser (in screen time only, of course) lights, quickies, if you will, generally have little-to-nothing to do with advancing the plot. Their raison d’être? A memorable chuckle, chuckles. There are exceptions of course, which is why this list has shifted its criterion within my brain not once, not thrice, but twice. Holy Hand Grenades of Antioch, should I be conservative (ha!) and limit it to one-scene, one-vote, thereby eliminating the man inferred surreptitiously in this article’s title, or be a flaming liberal commie pinko? In either case, this eliminates such memorable small screen glimmers as Sin City’s Richie (fuhgeddaboutit) and Monster Movie’s aptly named Ed Brewer. The night (or day, if that’s when you’re reading this) is mine (and yours), so let’s take a stroll down memory lane and smell the sulfur.
13. The Museum Guide, Long-Distance Call. Enthusiastically creepy much? Thanks for making learning not so fun. This is why guided tours are the pits; check out those long, forlorn faces ready to pass out or engage in a little CIA-approved assassination. (From Alice – You gotta love the “quoting fingers.”)
12. The Burger Joint Kids, Hell House. Yes, yes, I know that, technically speaking, they appeared in both the teaser and the scene immediately following the title, but don’t blame me for such hypocrisy, it was those damn Pentecostals.
11. Joe Whitetree, Bugs. Speaking of blame, don’t lay any at the feet of Jimmy Herman for the stench of this episode, and though he had a more substantial part in the underrated Shapes from season one of The X-Files, the man got to impart a crucial piece of information while cutting Dean down a few pegs, always worth a laugh.
Hey, Randal, don’t you go dissing Sam Winchester, the guy can take out demons, he’d have no problem swatting some librarian. In any case, I could send some killer rabbit after you. 😉
This was great fun, just about surgical! Thanks Randal! My favourites here are absolutely the sheriff, I loved him!, George Darrow and, of course, the museum guide. I could hardly believe it, since I have had encounters with museum guides of this kind, there must be a company that produces them, Annoying Incorporated or the like…
More of this, please. Best, Jas
Randal, I loved this list. The only thing I dont know is how on earth you narrowed it down to 13, but I guess, 13 shall be the number thou shall count and the number thou shall count shall be 13. Ju
Fantastic list! The strength of this show has always been the acting and the writing -not so much the story as the dialogue – and the one scene guest actors always delight! My only addition, upon immediate reflection, would be the publisher’s receptionist from The Monster at the ENd of this Book – the one who quizzed the boys on their own lives and showed off her tatoo. She was incredible. She also played the woman who died in The Usual Suspects – the one Dean was accused of killing. Her name is Keegan Connor Tracey according to Super-Wiki. I just noticed her again in the movie White Noise as a blind psychic.
Thanks Randal!
As usual, Ran the Man delivers 😉
This was so much fun, I had such flashbacks to these eppies when reading these. I too admire how you got these narrowed down to just 13 but some guests just stand out and carry with you…
I esp. love the BUABS gas station guy. He was so snarky and pissy and just had the coolest dialogue. That back and forth banter with his contemptuous and bored attitude and Deans’ insisted “This guy?!?!” was a real classic. What am I speaking Urdu? I don’t even know what that is yet it’s funny 🙂
And Duane Barry!! Man, that’s the first thing that came to my mind when S.R. came on screen. I love the Duane Barry eppies on X-files!!
Also like George Darrow and Cooper. These guys truly sold me. Both worn and tired, yet accepting their weary lives.
I agree on your nro 1 naturally. That sheriff is just what the doctor ordered. His mustache and his laugh were just the perfect match for his grandfatherly, overtly patronizing speach. Just pure awesome.
My list would also have the bartender from Sin City, he was quite hilarious. First insulting Sam then, for a buck, hands down the info like it’s nothing and adds a little “have fun” in the end. lol
Monster Movie had that girl with the big ass slurpy, or milkshake or whatever that was. Win 🙂
Yellow fever had the snake guy who was funny. And one of the few who recognized the rock star aliases.
Astronaut!!!!
I’m do glad you included him, Randal, because that kid cracked me up, and he caused Dean to shout one of my favorite Dean shouts ever. Plus, that was a pretty sweet costume he had.
Great list!
I agree with you on many of these. I adored Casey and Richie from “Sin City” even though they don’t really fit the one-scene description, but when we discuss memorable guest stars, we have GOT to have a lengthy discourse on those two. I thought that one kiss Casey gave Dean a sizzler and Richie was so funny, endearing and didn’t deserve to die in that skank’s basement, damn it!
I loved that crazy waiter who offered Dean and Sam the extreme whatever (was it dessert)? Can’t quite recall now. HILARIOUS!
Astronaut? Priceless!
I was a big fan of the nutty gal with the two-tone hair who quizzed Sam and Dean in “The Monster at the End of This Book,” who asked the brothers all the questions about themselves and showed off the tat I assume was on her bum. She was outrageous!
I have to start paying more attention to these, because they ARE amazing, important, and quirky.
Great article!
Love, Robin
Alright, awesome! Great list Randal…I would never have been able to narrow it down to 13 hahah. I second the publisher from TMATEOTB, Monster Movie girl, and the bartender from Sin City. And I add Mr. Okie Dokie (security guy from Nightshifter)..but I’m not sure if he appeared again in the ep or not.
Thanks Randal..I absolutely love this list. The show is so full of these quirky little extras..it makes the show so much more rich and fun.
Hi Randal
Great list idea. I also liked the museum guide and the kid serving at the restaurant. All those buttons on his suspenders. Ha!
There are two more that stand out for me that I would of added to the list.
The kid in Phantom Traveler who signs himself into the Psychiatric ward because of what he witnessed.
The other was the professor in ‘What is and What Should Never Be’. Dean asking about Djinns and if they can really grant wishes.
“Have you been drinking son?â€
‘Everyone keeps asking me that, but no’.
Oh btw Congrats on the Silver…Fantastic Game.
Good list, love the Astronaut, Sarky Mustache ( and its’ sheriff ) and Frighteningly Keen Flashing Braces Waiter but feel the lack of Know It All Snake Bloke and Tattoo Bum Super Fan Publisher Lady … ( Bit out of sorts as Being Human just finished and I’ve got to wait til next year for my next fix. :cry:: )
Great article, Randal. I love the waiter too…I don’t know where they got all those buttons, but it was just hilarious. I don’t know how they come up with these guys, but they really make an episode shine. Loved Dean’s reaction too.
I also liked the lawyer Maya in ‘Folsum Street Blues’. She had class. Always hoped she would show up again. Boys could always use a lawyer on their side.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks all!
Jas, did we not learn from another series that knowledge is the ultimate weapon? Super Librarian! 😎
JulieUK, that’s the problem with lists like this, there’s always someone that’s inadvertently left out, but a piece is like is mainly to get the brain juices flowing. Always cool to get everyone else’s take on things.
MMW, thanks for proving my point. 😀 She did a great job in both of her SPN roles, but I’ll always remember her from Omerta, the season three Xmas episode of Millennium.
Supernarttu, I thought about the bartender, but he had too much screen time. The milkshake girl! A fine addition to the list, though no Urdu. I’m more a fan of Tocharian A.
Ardeospina, astronaut! That’s one of those gags that will never ever get tiresome.
Robin, oh, I could go on at length about my precious Casey, damn you to hell, Sam. Ice Cream Extreme. It’s extreme! Alright, awesome. Yikes, what is the thought process in such a brain?
Narcissus, Okie Dokie guard did in fact appear again (was having that, I presume, a mild heart attack). But you’re right, in addition to having two fantastic leads and great stories, there are all these little bits. I wanted to include Gerard St. James (peppersteak) but agian, too much screen time. Damn myself!
Karen, yeah, great game, grumble. Freaking 20 seconds left and then to lose in OT. At least it was to you guys. 😉 Those are two great choices, and I loved the prof because he asked that question so matter-of-fact.
Suze, you’re giving up being human? Or is this some Brit program that I have no idea existed?
Sablegreen, oh yeah, she was a great character, and like you said, it was nice to have a civilian on their side for once. Can’t blame the populace for thinking their nuts even though we know better. 😀