In last Tuesday's episode of New Girl, we were introduced to Nick Miller's latest alter-ego, Julius Pepperwood, a no-nonsense former cop and Marine from Chicago who goes undercover in Jess's writing class to protect her from a creepy student. With all due respect to Dr. Gavin Daytona, Thirsty Mendelson, Theodore K. Mullins, and Two Boobs Johnson, Pepperwood was the show's best alias yet, and one of the funniest in sitcom history.
So, in honor of the thin crust-hater, I went back and looked at some other classic sitcom alter-egos and picked 15 of my favorites. One note: I only chose one per show, otherwise this list would be nothing but Parks and Recreation. Play us away, Duke Silver.
Real name: Andy Dwyer
Alter-ego: Bert Macklin, FBI agent
Show: Parks and Recreation
Real name: Cosmo Kramer
Alter-ego: H.E. Pennypacker, industrialist, philanthropist, bicyclist
Show: Seinfeld
Real name: Dale Gribble
Alter-ego: Rusty Shackleford
Show: King of the Hill
Real name: Michael Bluth
Alter-ego: Chareth Cutestory, maritime lawyer, specializing in pirates
Show: Arrested Development
Real name: Michael Scott
Alter-ego: Agent Michael Scarn, world famous spy, star of Threat Level Midnight
Show: The Office
Real name: Butters Stotch
Alter-ego: Professor Chaos, super villain
Show: South Park
Real name: Joey Tribbiani and Chandler Bing
Alter-ego: Ms. Chanandler Bong, TV Guide subscriber
Show: Friends
Real name: Lionel Hutz
Alter-ego: Miguel Sanchez, a.k.a. Dr. Nguyen Van Falk
Show: The Simpsons
Real name: Steve Urkel
Alter-ego: Stefan Urquelle, cool guy
Show: Family Matters
Real name: Tobias Fünke
Alter-ego: Mrs. Featherbottom, British nanny
Show: Arrested Development (OK, fine, AD gets two)
Real name: Jack Donaghy
Alter-ego: Victor Nightingale, cookie jar collector
Show: 30 Rock
Real name: Dennis Reynolds and Ronald McDonald
Alter-ego: Hugh Honey and Vic Vinegar, real estate agents
Show: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Real name: Phil Dunphy
Alter-ego: Clive Bixby, visiting businessman
Show: Modern Family
Real name: Latka Gravas
Alter-ego: Vic Ferrari, womanizer
Show: Taxi
Real name: Roger
Alter-ego: Ricky Spanish (there are literally hundreds to choose for Roger, all great)
Show: American Dad!
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Stefan Urquelle, FTW
And Chanandler Bong FTL.
Stefan was next-level because he was a Jekkyl & Hide situation, where the character literally became someone else and wasn’t just pretending.
H.E. Pennypacker over Art Vandalay? And Charweth Cutestory over Franklin (he counts!) For shame.
Hahaha totally forgot Franklin for a second there, agreed
Agreed. Art was the one to take from Seinfeld.
Did anyone from Seinfeld ever actually pretend to be Art? He always seems to be someone George uses as part of his schemes but never actually assumes the identity of.
George assumed the identity of Art Vandalay when Eliane needed to make up a boyfriend to get out of something. He was an Importer that dabbled in Exports
art vandalay was a legend. i even used this alias from time to time. especially while eating my babyruth with a fork and knife!!!
Regina Filangi (Philangi? Falange?) is the ultimate Friends alter ego.
Agreed. Regina Phalange (which are bones in the fingers.), is the winner here. Chanandler Bong wasn’t even an alter ego. I think the name on their TV Guide was just spelled incorrectly.
Yes, I’m a Friends geek. Fuck you.
Honorable mention to Ken Adams. See: The backpacking story.
I’m sorry, I just don’t like Phoebe. My cross to bear.
You can stuff your sorries in a sack.
Nobody liked Phoebe, but Regine Phalange was THE Friends alter ego for sure
No Dr. Martin van Nostrand for Cosmo? or Art Vandelay for George: purveyor of fine latex?
Only did one per show, and H.E. Pennypacker is the most fun to say out loud. Jerry’s Kel Varnsen is great, too.
fair enough, was just more familiar w/ the good Dr.
I would have gone with Dr. Cosmo “Assman” Kramer of proctology
The sad thing is the episode that involved all three alter egos, Vandelay, Varnsen, and Pennypecker was the Puerto Rican Pride Parade episode and it always gets skipped in sindication.
…. i think. Its been a while since I actually saw the episode.
Vandalay can’t even sell latex. How can be beat pennypacker?
No love for Inspector Spacetime and his beloved constable Reggie? Boooo!
Also, Janet Snakehole FTW
You included goddamn Steve Urkel but no Inspector Spacetime and Reggie? What’s wrong with you?
Just taking a guess- maybe since they’re real (in show, at least) characters, they don’t count? That’s the only explanation for leaving off a community reference
Ron Swanson and Duke Silver?
First post man, first post
and naturally, by post I mean to say first page of the blog post slide
Who wants a banger in the mouth?
I really wanted to see The Great Cornholio make the list.
I hope that wasn’t the last we’ll see of Julius Pepperwood.
And it’s technically not a sitcom, but my username is Olive Snook’s undercover name. So I’m kind of partial to that, too.
Yeah, I’ve been wondering about that (and the internet doesn’t help). Are Kitty Pimms and Patty Boots a reference to something, or is it just one of those perfect-sounding things the Pushing Daisies writers came up with?
Just adorable names that the writers came up with. I would’ve picked Kitty Pimms, but that’s not the best choice for a cat lady.
MANTIS TOBOGGON, M.D.
hell yes.
Duke Silver
Vic Vinegar: From real estate agent to bodyguard. The man can do it all.
Seeing Lionel Hutz’s alter-egos made me realize you weren’t going to include MAX POWERS- THE NAME YOU WANT TO TOUCH
But you musn’t toooouuuuuucchhh!!!
There’s three ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way, and The Max Power Way!
“Seymour Skinner” is technically an alter-ego, although we all promised to never speak of it again.
All of Marge’s names at the end still crack me up. Hooty McBoobity, Busty Sinclair, Chesty Larue.
Max Power doesn’t snuggle. You just strap yourself in and feel the Gs!
I’ve always loved Jan Itor from Scrubs.
That’s DOCTOR Jan Itor to you, good sir!
“Julius Pepperwood” is clearly a nod to Chicago Bears Defensive End Julius Peppers…right?
Jake Johnson is from Chicago, so yea, it beats “Jason Cutlerwood”
Duke Silver.
wheels and the legman.
D’Oh. Now everyone will know my secret identity!
I have to respectfully disagree with Pepperwood > Theodore K. Mullins. The speech from last season’s Secrets episode alone makes that the clear winner. “OH GREAT NEGRO SPIRITUAL, PLEASE COME DOWN AND LOOSE THESE CHAINS ON THIS WOMAN!”
Theodore K. Mullins>Pepperwood for sure. “Flesh on flesh, when the lights are off, we are all the same. Dear lord, HELP ME FATHER!” Classic.
CLETUS VAN DAMME!!!! How can you call this a list without Cletus Van Damme?!?! For shame.
I always chuckle when Professor Chaos and General Disarray get together to wreak havoc.
However, The Coon must be in this conversation.
A Chicagoan is not a thin crust hater. Chicago style is deep dish pizza (which has a thin crust, but is made like a pie) and “thick crust” pizza. I don’t watch New Girl, so I am not sure if it was part of the character or of the author of this post. At any rate, under on-line rule 3534.34(b), all regional misconceptions listed on the internet must be pointed out, corrected and mocked.
and *not “thick crust” pizza. Dammit.
I understand your theory……but have eaten at Giordanos and Lou Malnattis…. both have a “thickish” crust..
Ms. Chanandler Bong wasn’t really an alter ego…Regina Phalange would have been a much better choice from Friends.
I don’t recall seeing the entire episode Remedial Chaos Theory – Community being included. Parallel Universes and beyond alter egos. Or did that not count? The Evil Study Group? C’MON! How about the cast as an 8-Bit video game?
Honorable mention to Abed’s best ever Batman. (No I haven’t forgotten Inspector Spacetime, someone else mentioned it already).
Shouldn’t Chet Manley count for something?
IASIP needs more episodes involving alter egos. I pray for the day Charlie Kelly knocks on my door informing me he’s an oil man from texas.
seriously tho, was there anything better than michael scarn in threat level midnight??? best movie ever!!