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Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since July 2006. The wacky neighbor is a stock character in popular fiction, particularly in situation comedy. This character is usually (but not always) male, lives close to the main character, and is highly eccentric, or just not very bright. This neighbor may be given to bizarre conspiracy theories, improbable get rich quick schemes, a highly unconventional lifestyle, or chronic nosiness (this one is especially prevalent if the main character has a secret). Their lives are also often clouded in mystery. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...
// Fiction (from the Latin fingere, to form, create) is the genre of imaginative prose literature, including novels and short stories. ...
A situation comedy, usually referred to as a sitcom, is a genre of comedy programs which originated in radio. ...
The shield and spear of the Roman god Mars, which is also the alchemical symbol for iron, represents the male sex. ...
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. ...
A conspiracy theory attempts to attribute the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually political, social, or historical events), or the concealment of such causes from public knowledge, to a secret, and often deceptive plot by a covert alliance of powerful or influential people or organizations. ...
Get-rich-quick schemes promise high rates of return for a small investment. ...
The wacky neighbor generally works as a gag character, performing functions that would usually be uncharacteristic or too implausible for main characters. The explanation that the character lives "nearby" allows him or her to easily drop in and out of situations to add comical dialogue or sight gags, without the storyline getting too deep into the character. Typically, the wacky neightbor might barge in to the main character's dwelling unannounced, to the chagrin of the main character. A gag character is usually a character that is rarely used, and shows no personality except for the joke in comic strips and TV shows. ...
In comedy, a Sight Gag is anything which conveys its humour visually, often without words being used at all. ...
Famous wacky neighbors
- Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld
- Dale Gribble, Bill Dauterive, Boomhauer and Kahn Souphanousinphone on King of the Hill. (Ironically, Kahn feels that Hank Hill, the main character, is his wacky neighbor)
- Ned Flanders on The Simpsons. (An interesting twist on the concept of wacky neighbor. Homer Simpson is drunk, stupid, and crude. Ned is a clean-living churchgoer with a successful career. In a Flanders-focused sitcom, Homer would much more easily fit into the "wacky neighbor" archetype.)
- Mr. Heckles on Friends (Seasons 1-2)
- Steve Urkel on Family Matters
- Barbra Jean on Reba
- Bob Pinciotti on That '70s Show
- Bonnie, Brandon, and Harriet Brindle on Small Wonder
- Charlie Dietz on Empty Nest
- Carl Brutanunanadilewski on Aqua Teen Hunger Force
- Ed Norton on The Honeymooners.
- Ernest P. Worrell on Hey Vern, It's Ernest! A rare instance where the wacky neighbor is not a supporting character, but rather, the star.
- Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched.
- Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons
- Howard Borden on The Bob Newhart Show
- Iola Boylen on Mama's Family
- Jane on Dharma and Greg
- Kimmy Gibbler on Full House
- Larry Dallas on Three's Company
- Larry on That's My Bush!, himself a parody of the wacky neighbor character, in a show that was a parody of both a president and all sitcom conventions.
- Larry, Darryl, and Darryl on Newhart
- Lenny and Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley
- Marcy and Steve Rhoades (later Marcy and Jefferson D'Arcy) on Married... with Children
- Mr. Dink on Doug
- Mrs. Steve on Pee-Wee's Playhouse
- Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- Ralph on Wait Till Your Father Gets Home
- Raquelle Ochmonek on ALF
- Stan Parker on Love on a Rooftop
- Wilson Wilson, Jr. on Home Improvement
- Glenn Quagmire on Family Guy
- Barney Rubble on The Flintstones
- Estroy on Evil Con Carne
- Brian Topp and Marsha Klein on Spaced
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