Line #337 Characters/GoodEats


1	You might not expect a ''cooking show'' to have a lot of characters. In the case of Good Eats, you'd be surprised...
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3	[[foldercontrol]]
4
5	[[folder:Alton Brown]]
6	!!Alton Crawford Brown Jr.
7	The lead of the show, the man who (usually) makes the dishes, explains the science, and tells the jokes.
8
9	----
10	* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: Sometimes called "AB-speak" on the show. Alton likes launching [[SelfDemonstratingArticle silly salvos of wacky wordplay whenever he's got the gumption]]. Alton {{lampshade\|Hanging}}s this in the Season 7 episode "True Brew IV: Take Stock" and the Season 11 episode "Sub Standards" where he claims he doesn't do it ''[[HypocriticalHumor while he's doing it]]''.
11	* BadBoss: Certainly not in real life, but some episodes portray Alton as this.
12	** The first ice cream episode has him making his nieces and nephews work an old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream machine.
13	** "Down and Out in Paradise" has him get stranded on a desert island because his crew deliberately tries to leave him behind on a sinking ship.
14	** Another episode has his crew actively on-strike.
15	* CanineCompanion: Alton has owned a few real-life dogs, who appeared on the show.
16	** Matilda, a hound, who appeared in several episodes accompanying Alton on walks or in the car. Sadly deceased as of '07 at the age of fourteen.
17	** Scabigail, a Boston terrier/pug mix that Alton and his new wife Elizabeth Ingram rescued in 2018, and who appears in ''Good Eats: The Return''.
18	** Absent from TV are another hound (who passed in 2000 or so), a pair of cardigan corgis (according to ''Good Eats: The Early Years'') who came into his life after Matilda passed, and a rescued terrier named Francis Luther whom he had by 2018.
19	* CharacterCatchphrase: Several.
20	** Alton's exasperated "Oh bother!" Like his preferred tools and implements, this phrase is a multitasker; depending on his manner of saying it and the context, it can range from an expression of supreme frustration to a pained ThisIsGonnaSuck. This also counts as a ShoutOut, as Alton explained in the commentary from the "A Tale of Two Roasts" DVD:
21	--->'''Alton:''' You know, "Oh, Bother," that's from Franchise/WinnieThePooh, okay? Some of you don't remember... You wouldn't think that Winnie the Pooh would be a regular reference for me. But I find that Pooh sums up a lot of... He wasn't terribly bright. I'm not terribly bright either.
22	** "It couldn't get any easier than this" was one that popped up frequently in the first season.
23	** "Walk away. Just -- just ''walk away''." Often said when warning the audience ''not'' to fiddle with cooking steps that would seem to invite fiddling.
24	** "Your patience will be rewarded."
25	** "Golden-brown, and delicious."
26	** "I said it was ''good'', I never said it was _______." ("Fast" or "low-fat" or "good ''for'' you", usually.)
27	** [[AnotherStoryForAnotherTime "But that's another show."]] Usually said when Alton mentions something off-topic better reserved for its own episode. Sometimes it's been addressed in a previous episode, but more often than not it wasn't made at the time. ([[http://goodeatsfanpage.com/References/another_show.htm The fans kept track]].)
28	*** {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d in the bread pudding episode where he delivers the line, then tells Thing to write it down. The camera pans over to show Thing writing in a '''gigantic''' binder labeled "... That's Another Show". Alton remarks "Wow, that's a thick book." Ironically, this was in one of the last episodes to be aired.
29	*** As of the ''Reloaded'' episodes and ''The Return'', there are times AB appends "...''(that/which) we've already made!''" to the above catchphrase when, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin they've already made "another show" on the topic of discussion.]]
30	** "By ''weight'', please." This is to remind viewers that ingredients like flour and sugar must be measured by weight and not volume. It's also to avoid UnitConfusion, as the weight is often given in "ounces", which could be misconstrued as ''fluid'' ounces, a measure of volume.
31	** "Stuffing is evil." This was coined during the Thanksgiving episode and thrown back in his face repeatedly in future episodes. He eventually relents and has a stuffing episode where he shows his way to make turkey with stuffing.
32	** "Like the hat?" This one was popularized by a Website/YouTube uploader adding a clip of Alton saying this from the first season episode ''The Egg-Files'' after a [[SmallNameBigEgo long obnoxious title card]] at the start of every episode uploaded.
33	** "I'm not a doctor, but that HAD to hurt!" comes up a few times, and not always from Alton; Lactose Man uses it after socking one of Alton's crew in the gut.
34	** "You know, I'm really sorry we haven't worked out that scratch-and-sniff TV yet." In later seasons, it morphed to "Ahhh, just smell that _____. Oh, I'm sorry, you can't. That was mean." or some variant.
35	** "Now go wash those ____y hands!" Used when working with raw meat and poultry, though in the episode about beets, he did admonish the viewer to go wash their "beety hands!" since beet juice is notorious for causing stains.
36	** Especially toward the end: "Of course, I make my ___ from scratch, [[SelfDeprecation but I'm a freak, and we all know it]]."
37	** "...(and that's) not [[TitleDrop good eats]]." Used sometimes when describing the consequences of a potential cooking mistake.
38	* ForScience: In "Ginger: Rise of the Rhizome", Alton convinces his cameraman to try out the Vomitron by saying "Do it for science!"
39	* GoshDangItToHeck: "Oh, Bother."
40	* MacGyvering: AB builds such devices as steamers, smokers, and yogurt makers from household items and hardware store purchases... and teaches the viewer how to do the same.
41	** Usually he does this not only because it's cheaper, but because every time he starts building one (or is forced to go buy more cookware) he brings up the fact that there's only one unitasker he'll abide in his kitchen, and if you're doing things right you shouldn't have to use ''it'' at all -- a fire extinguisher. And in the 10th-Anniversary special, [[spoiler:''he uses that in a dish too''.]] [[note]]Although the one he used in the show was a CO[-2-] extinguisher, instead of the chemical one always displayed previously.[[/note]]
42	** Lampshaded in the gyro episode, in which he preceded a vision of him constructing an elaborate homemade rotisserie with several pieces of hardware including a small motor by saying "If you want rotisserie at home, we're gonna have to think like [=MacGyver=]." Amusingly, he then acknowledges that it's not worth the trouble and explains how to make a gyro loaf in the oven instead.
43	** In the smoked fish episode, Alton muses that [=MacGyver=] isn't his patron saint for nothing.
44	** In later episodes, the music that plays whenever he builds something is clearly influenced by Series/{{MacGyver\|1985}}'s theme. The theme also has a touch of the "build music" from ''Series/TheATeam''.
45	* RealisticDictionIsUnrealistic: Averted. Alton often stutters and "um's" and "uh's" his way through many of his monologues because he often pre-records them ahead of time and has them fed to him via an earpiece. Other times (such as skits with W or other characters), he memorizes his lines like an actor. Still other times (usually when explaining technical aspects and merits of various cooking gadgets), he works from a basic outline and pretty much ad-libs until he hits the points he needs to make.
46	* SophisticatedAsHell: Being an eloquent speaker with an American South background, Alton occasionally likes to drop folksy southern idioms into his lengthy scientific explanations. A common example is:
47	--> '' ''''''scientifically explains the results of a common mistake'''''', and that is not [[TitleDrop good]] [[CatchPhrase eats]].''
48	* TrademarkFavoriteFood:
49	** Kosher salt, because it's easier to pinch and dissolves better. Also, Alton never had iodized salt as a kid, so it just doesn't taste right to him. He will use table salt if[=/=]when the occasion calls for it, however.
50	** He's also said that cumin is his favorite spice, and that mangoes are his favorite fruit.
51	** He's carried a whole nutmeg around with him in his pocket, ''for years'', so that he can make freshly-grated nutmeg whenever and wherever he needs it.
52	* TheWatson: In "The Fungal Gourmet", in an inversion of his usual role, the fourth-wall "character" makes suggestions to a clueless Alton.
53
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Real people]]
57	These "characters" are actual people, generally experts who help Alton to explain certain concepts on the show. Even so, their personalities are often... exaggerated on the show for entertainment's sake.
58
59	!!'''Common Tropes'''
60	----
61	* DropInCharacter: The experts tend to show up, mostly unannounced, whenever they're needed to explain a concept.
62
63	!!'''Caroline Connell'''
64	A dietitian who appeared generally in the earlier seasons to help explain some of the science and nutrition of the food presented.
65
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67
68	!!'''Carolyn O'Neil'''
69	Another dietitian. For her appearances in-character, see "The Lady of the Refrigerator" below.
70
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72	* CelebrityParadox: She has appeared on the show both as herself and in character. Granted, given the way Good Eats tended to reuse actors, this wasn't particularly ''jarring''...
73
74	!!'''Deb Duchon'''
75	A Nutritional Anthropologist who shows up pretty much whenever Alton mentions a nutritional anthropologist -- or when he ''thinks'' of a nutritional anthropologist -- or when an ''[[NoFourthWall audience member]]'' thinks of a nutritional anthropologist -- to help explain the history of dishes.
76
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78	* DropInCharacter: Even more so than some of the others; she seems to appear as if by magic whenever her title is mentioned.
79	* RunningGag: She will [[SpeakOfTheDevil appear out of nowhere]] whenever her title is mentioned, leading Alton to joke about how he's [[StalkerWithACrush being stalked]] ("... she's back there, isn't she?..."). In later episodes, he'll have an obviously negative reaction to saying the title, and in one case hesitates to say it... but she shows up anyway and ''says it herself''. After a while she started to just show up unannounced, and Alton will grumble that he doesn't even have to say it anymore.
80	--->'''Alton:''' (''[[NoFourthWall looks into the camera]]'') All right! Which one of you said it?!
81	** Actually averted in "The Bulb of the Night", where her title is mentioned, but she fails to show up.
82	* NotActuallyTheUltimateQuestion: When Deb Duchon shows up after the umpteenth time after Alton says "Nutritional Anthropologist", he asks "How do you do this?" She replies with "Study. Write papers. Go to conferences. What do you mean?"
83	* SpeakOfTheDevil: At first, the culinary anthropologist was "summoned" this way. In later seasons, she started appearing without the use of the "magic words", to Alton's annoyance.
84
85	!!'''"Ma" Mae Skelton'''
86	Alton's real-life grandmother, who was referenced in a number of episodes and appeared in several.
87
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89
90	!!'''Shirley Corriher'''
91	A (real-life) culinary scientist who helps Alton to explain the science behind his creations
92
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94	* DropInCharacter: Much like many of Alton's other experts, Shirley tends to show up when she's needed.
95	* StraightMan: Not her, but Alton; she's the one expert he generally plays the Straight Man to, probably because of her naturally goofy personality (she is a self-described "mad" food scientist).
96
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Fictional characters]]
100	As noted above, these characters are... well, fictional.
101
102	!!'''Common Tropes'''
103	----
104	* DropInCharacter: The experts tend to show up, mostly unannounced, whenever they're needed to explain a concept.
105	* YouLookFamiliar: [[invoked]] Due to the show's habit of reusing actors, this is a fairly common phenomenon.
106	** Alton says this almost word-for-word in "American Classics 7: Don't Be Chicken of Dumplings", when the actors who play his lawyers Itchy and Twitchy turn up a couple of minutes later as Myth/RobinHood and Wilfred of ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}''.
107	** He does say it word for word to the oven salesman (Bart Hansard, the same actor that plays Coco Carl) in "Quantum Foam", the soufflé episode.
108	---> '''Oven salesman:''' No, I don't. (flees)
109	** He says it again in the popcorn show, to a popcorn vendor whose actor (Lucky Yates) plays many roles on the show (most famously, the Dungeonmaster). He replies: "Oh yeah? Wait 'till you see the next scene." Sure enough, he does show up in the next scene -- playing Franchise/{{Batman}}.
110
111	!!'''"B.A." Brown'''
112	Alton's tough-guy brother, usually used to present spicy or otherwise "manly" variants of dishes. Played by Alton himself, along with a [[SinisterShades pair of sunglasses]] and a [[BeardOfEvil goatee]].
113
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115	* BeardOfEvil: one of the pieces of shorthand [[IdenticalTwinIDTag used to set him apart from his "twin."]]
116	* DropInCharacter: He tends to show up with relative frequency.
117	* EvilTwin: This is his aesthetic. [[spoiler: This was actually inverted in "Sub Standards", where it was revealed in the last few minutes that B.A. had played the entire episode as Alton. (Appropriately, that episode was about culinary substitutions.)]]
118	* NoodleIncident: Has been in and out of jail ''numerous'' times. What for? No one knows.
119	* RealMenHateSugar: Demonstrates a savory or spicy dish, usually alongside a sweet variation produced by Alton.
120	* RightWayWrongWayPair: With Alton, in an early episode explaining how to make spaghetti.
121	* SinisterShades: B.A. is always seen wearing shades.
122	* SitcomArchNemesis: In the Season 1 episode "Pantry Raid I: Use Your Noodle", he appears as "[[DeliberatelyBadExample The Anti Alton]]", who went out of his way to do everything Alton ''wouldn't'' do when cooking pasta.
123
124	!!'''Chuck'''
125	Played by Daniel Pettrow.
126
127	A quirky butcher who mutated into AB's weird neighbor. He's generally used as an everyman character.
128
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130	* AlliterativeName: In "A Chuck for Chuck", Chuck is the owner of a family fun center named Gobble Golf.
131	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Chuck was originally a quirky butcher. Over the course of the series he became more of a [[GeorgeJetsonJobSecurity job-hopping]] {{Cloudcuckoolander}} who knew so little about meat -- except for turkey -- that he didn't know what pot roast is.
132	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Over the course of the series he became this, job-hopping and knowing so little about meat that he didn't know what pot roast is.
133	* TheWatson: Often serves this role.
134
135	!!'''Cocoa Carl'''
136	Played by Bart Hansard.
137
138	A processed-food manufacturer whose low-value products represent over-processed prepackaged foods, especially chocolate products (as you might guess).
139
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141	* DisguisedInDrag: Once assumed the identity of "Auntie Puddin'" in "Puddin' Head Blues".
142	* SitcomArchNemesis: He represents low-quality prepackaged processed food, essentially the antithesis of all the show stands for.
143
144	!!'''Colonel Bob Boatwright'''
145	A southern-fried gentleman character played by Alton, used to present highly-archetypal (or stereotypical) Southern dishes.
146
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148	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Despite his advanced age and [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} rather goofy personality]], he clearly knows what he's doing when it comes to cooking.
149	* [[CaptainErsatz Colonel Ersatz]]: The character is an obvious take on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Sanders Colonel Harland Sanders]], founder of UsefulNotes/KentuckyFriedChicken.
150	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Usually chalked up to senility.
151
152	!!'''Elton Brown'''
153	Played by John Herina.
154
155	Alton's young nephew, generally used for children's dishes or other instances where children are shown cooking.
156
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158	* {{Nephewism}}: He's Alton's fictional nephew (and Marsha's son) as a regular character in the show.
159	* PutOnABus: In ''The Early Years'', Alton says we probably won't be seeing Elton anymore because his actor, John Herina, was in college, a football player, and taller than AB, which would undermine his role as TheWatson. The Middle Years further elaborates that the college in question was West Point.
160	* TheWatson: Often serves this role in episodes focused on teaching family-friendly recipes that kids can cook, where Alton has him as an assistant.
161
162	!!'''The Food Police/Government Agents'''
163	A set of government agents who appear to explain food-related law -- and who also generally appear to prevent AB from eating home-prepared food which skirts those laws. The lead agent is played by Alton.
164
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166	* TheMenInBlack: They usually show up in groups of three to give government standards on foods and food safety. Alton is almost always the leader, and talks in a stereotypical {{Motor Mouth}}ed, overly serious tone. He also shows up on his own in this role, such as in the episode about vanilla where he talks about govt. requirements for what can be legally called vanilla extracts. While they're usually wearing the typical black suits, in "Churn Baby Churn II", they're dressed as ice cream attendants.
167	* RunningGag: Their (off-camera) helicopter showing up whenever certain raw ingredients are used in a dish (usually raw eggs, though they've also shown up for raw meat and raw milk).
168
169	!!'''Frances Anderson'''
170	AB's "Biggest Fan". Played by Widdi Turner. Featured in "This Spud's For You Too" and "Ill Gotten Grains".
171
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173	* AbhorrentAdmirer: Alton's visibly freaked out by her because of her stalkerish tendencies.
174	* {{Expy}}: Of Annie Wilkes from ''Literature/{{Misery}}''.
175	* {{Yandere}}: Toward Alton Brown, much like the above (though greatly sanitized -- this is a cooking show, after all).
176
177	!!'''Itchy & Twitchy'''
178	AB's lawyers, who show up whenever Alton is going to do something potentially dangerous or of questionable legality. Played by Brett Soll and Jim Pace.
179
180	----
181	* DontTryThisAtHome: This is their ''raison d'être''. If Alton is talking about doing something potentially dangerous (such as consuming dishes containing raw meat or eggs, working with caustics, or using burning charcoal inside the house), they'll often show up to stop him, forcing him to find a different (and safer) way to do the same thing.
182	** In the Season 11 episode "Pretzel Logic", they stopped him from using lye to brown his pretzels, because lye is ''poisonous and extremely caustic'' if handled improperly.
183	--->Who would have thunk [[EvilLawyerJoke those guys]] would have a problem with a [[StealthPun little]] [[{{Pun}} 'lye']]?
184	*** From the same episode, the two lederhosen-clad gentlemen that finished off his jar of mustard are, indeed, Itchy and Twitchy.
185	* OurLawyersAdvisedThisTrope: They have a habit of "serving" Alton with disclaimers to read.
186
187	!!'''Lactose Man/Lever Man'''
188	Played by Paul Merchant.
189
190	A living incarnation of the pains of lactose intolerance. Yes, Good Eats is a weird show.
191
192	----
193	* CharacterCatchphrase: "I'm not a doctor, but that had to hurt!"
194	* IncomingHam: '''''"I'M LACTOSE MAN!"''''' The other "superhero" in that costume, Lever Man, has the same tendency.
195
196	!!'''The Lady of the Refrigerator'''
197	A faerie creature who lives inside Alton's fridge and talks about refrigeration, food preservation, and nutrition. Played by dietitian Carolyn O'Neil, as noted above.
198
199	----
200	* ButtMonkey: In several shows portraying nonstandard food preservation (pickling and cellar-stored pumpkins and gourds, for example), the Lady has risen from a vat of pickling brine or covered in pumpkin innards, respectively. She was... appropriately displeased.
201	* CelebrityParadox: The actress has appeared on the show both as herself and in character. Granted, given the way Good Eats tended to reuse actors, this wasn't particularly ''jarring...''
202	* ItCameFromTheFridge: Subverted. The Lady of the Refrigerator appears inside Alton's fridge to discuss the nutritional benefits of featured foods.
203
204	!!'''The Mad French Chef'''
205	Played by Steve Rooney (Means St. episodes), then voiced by Alton Brown ("Crêpe Expectations").
206
207	A chef who appears in early seasons to represent the culinary establishment. He's French. And very angry.
208
209	----
210	* ArchEnemy: To Alton in earlier episodes.
211	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: He disappeared after Brown left Means Street Productions (at which Rooney was employed as their executive chef) to start his own company, Be Square Productions, at the end of season four. The character only appeared once more (in "Crêpe Expectations") after he left, in the form of a nightmare-induced puppet voiced by Brown.
212	* DisneyVillainDeath: The end of "Mission: Poachable" has the French Chef falling into his own lake of court bouillon in an attempt to prevent Alton from throwing [[WeaksauceWeakness a piece of liver]] into it. [[spoiler:He lives.]]
213	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment He's French. And very angry.]]
214	* FrenchJerk: He's French, and gets angry over the slightest thing.
215	* FrenchCuisineIsHaughty: He's used to represent the culinary establishment in all its snooty French glory.
216	* JerkassHasAPoint: Alton even admits that the French Chef has some good ideas.
217	* PutOnABus: Steve Rooney left the show when the production company changed from Means St. to B Square (between seasons 4 and 5). The character makes a final appearance in "Crêpe Expectations" as a puppet voiced by Alton himself.
218	* SitcomArchNemesis: His haughty, exclusive, and hide-bound personality contrasts with AB's more laid-back nature.
219
220	!!'''Marsha Brown-Brady'''
221	Played by Merrilyn Crouch.
222
223	Alton's pushy, annoying sister. Used as a parody of Martha Stewart, she's often used to show popular, but wrong, trends and opinions. Has at least two children: Elton and Marsha, Jr.
224
225	----
226	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Well, she's not that much younger, but still... Alton finds her annoying because she's always demanding Alton make things for her, or that he do things ''her'' way, such as avoiding fats because she thinks all varieties of them are bad.
227	* DropInCharacter: Marsha tends to drop in to force Alton to make her cookies, donuts, soup, etc. or to offer unwanted advice.
228	* SitcomArchNemesis: Marsha is the stereotypical annoying sibling who cons or manipulates you into doing things for her and never shows gratitude. And thinks any kind of fat or frying is automatically bad.
229	* TheWatson: Occasionally serves this role.
230
231	!!'''Marsha "MJ" Brady, Junior'''
232	Played by Zoey Brown, Alton's actual daughter.
233
234	Marsha's picky but intelligent daughter. Appears in one episode fully ("Undercover Veggies"), and a cameo in "Alton's Countdown to T-Day (Re-Romancing the Bird)" (the second Thanksgiving special).
235
236	----
237	* PickyEater: Utterly refuses to eat vegetables, aside from potatoes.
238
239	!!'''Mr. [=MacGregor=]'''
240	An aged farmer who live down the street from Alton. Played by Bill Greeley.
241
242	----
243	* BerserkButton: He may be kindly, but don't you dare touch his tomato plants.
244	* DropInCharacter: Drops off loads and loads of eggplants on Alton's door in "Berry from Another Planet".
245	* GrumpyOldMan: Especially when you steal his prized tomatoes, as seen in "Tomato Envy".
246
247	!!'''Paul'''
248	Played by [[TheDanza Paul Merchant]].
249
250	AB's assistant in the early seasons.
251
252	----
253	* TheApprentice: Mainly to Alton, but briefly abides to the Mad French Chef in "Mission: Poachable".
254	--->'''Alton:''' Who knew he had a brain to wash?
255	* BeleagueredAssistant: To Alton.
256	* ButtMonkey: He's usually on the rough side of things, for example having his ice sculpture ducks melted in the duck episode or being BrainwashedAndCrazy In "Mission: Poachable". That said, the actor portraying him gets his own as other characters.
257	* ADayInTheLimelight: Paul, in a rare non-ButtMonkey appearance, is wildly successful in "Dip Madness" as Alton is committed in an asylum for foodies. [[spoiler: It doesn't last; Alton eventually escapes, leaving Paul to take his place.]]
258
259	!!'''The Refrigerator Gnome'''
260	Voiced by Alton Brown
261
262	An abrasive gnome who lives in Alton's fridge and berates him about proper fridge maintenance and food safety.
263
264	----
265	* BritishStuffiness: He speaks with a British accent.
266	* {{Expy}}: The voice resembles that of the Roving Gnome from the Travelocity commercials.
267	* ItCameFromTheFridge: The Refrigerator Gnome (champion of refrigerator and food storage safety) tries his darndest to ''keep'' this from happening.
268
269	!!'''[=Samurai=] Deli Owner'''
270	Played by Bart Hansard
271
272	The owner of the Japanese specialty food shop, first seen in "Turning Japanese".
273
274	----
275	* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: Everything he says is either [[MotorMouth sped-up English]] with stereotypical Japanese pronunciation... or it's complete gibberish. Comes close to becoming AsianSpeekeeEngrish.
276	* {{Fauxreigner}}: He's revealed to be this at the end of "Use Your Noodle 5".
277	--> '''SDO:''' ''(describing Alton without an accent)'' What a weirdo.
278	* TheIdiotFromOsaka:
279	--> '''Alton:''' Wow. I didn't get his accent. He must be from Osaka or something.
280	* LargeHam: Arguably the hammiest character Hansard has played on the show -- especially when he and Alton are discussing miso at the Japanese deli.
281	* ShoutOut: Likely inspired by John Belushi's Samurai Delicatessen character from ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.
282
283	!!'''Sid Maxburg'''
284	Played by Bart Hansard
285
286	A Hollywood-style talent agent... for food. He generally incites episodes by calling Alton with the identity of an underused or underappreciated food/ingredient he wants AB to revitalize.
287
288	----
289	* AmbiguouslyJewish: While he's never specifically assigned a religion, his name and position as a Hollywood-style agent imply it.
290	* LargeHam: It's a Bart Hansard role. Would you expect anything else?
291	* NotInTheFace: In "Okraphobia", Sid uses the word "slime" whenever Alton talks about the mucilage inside okra. After using this word one too many times during Alton's monologue about fried okra, Alton rushes to punch Sid, who responds verbatim.
292	* RhymesOnADime: "A.B., bay-bee!"
293	* RunningGag: Variations of the word "slime" in "Okraphobia".
294
295	!!'''Thing'''
296	A disembodied hand, apparently straight out of ''Franchise/TheAddamsFamily'', who helps AB out in the kitchen.
297
298	----
299	* OverusedRunningGag: Later in the series, Alton got visibly irritated with the RunningGag of Thing presenting Alton with [[VisualPun a mandolin instead of a mandoline]], even telling Thing off a couple of times.
300	* SpinOffspring: ''Behind the Eats'' claims he's the son of the Addams' Thing.
301	* VisualPun: Prone to being the subject of these.
302	** After imbibing too much brandy in "School of Hard Nogs", Thing has a numeral 1 attached to itself by a string. Alton remarks, "You really tied one on, didn't you?"
303	** Occasionally, Thing will [[{{Pun}} hand]] one of these to Alton. Most commonly it's a mandolin (the musical instrument) instead of a mandoline (the slicing tool), but others have also been done.
304
305	!!'''Vicki "W" Wong'''
306	The person Alton turns to when he needs new equipment. The two share a rather severe mutual antagonism.
307
308	----
309	%%* DeadpanSnarker
310	* {{Leitmotif}}: A variation on the show's theme song, redone as a SuspiciouslySimilarSong of Bond's theme song.
311	* PerformanceAnxiety: Occurs in "Long Arm of the Slaw", in which she completely freezes up when seeing herself in front of a TV camera.
312	* RealLifeWritesThePlot:
313	** W's depiction in early episodes as a VirtualGhost came about because Vicki Eng (the actress who portrays W) was overseas trying to adopt a child, and had to film her appearances in advance.
314	** Her casting as Alton's recurring antagonist was due to her being his chiropractor -- a literal pain in his neck.
315	* SitcomArchNemesis: Alton and W [[InUniverse view each other like this]]. W often treats Alton like someone to make fun of, while Alton tends to deliberately antagonize her in return. This is because he usually prefers his homebrew knockups, and W makes her living selling [[CripplingOverspecialization the very unitaskers Alton disdains]].
316	* TechnoWizard: "W", named in honor of James Bond's "Q", is the harried kitchen appliance retailer who supplies info about whatever new machine Alton needs that episode.
317	** She doesn't seem to appreciate the job, possibly because in her capacity as "W" Alton is her only customer; other characters, such as a dentist who employs her part-time as an assistant, refer to her as "Ms. Wong".
318	** W has had a bit of an interesting story arc -- she started as something of a VirtualGhost, appearing on giant screens behind Alton and on microwave doors and so forth. Then she [[BecomeARealBoy becomes real]], managing the Bed Bath & Beyond where he shops. Then, apparently, he hires her onto his organization, as she only shows up in a "lab" type of environment, testing and evaluating products.
319	** And of course, Alton points out in ''Behind the Eats'' that in real life, Vicki Eng knows almost nothing about cooking. She's actually his chiropractor.
320
321	!!'''The Yeast'''
322	A group of farting, burping, googly-eyed sock puppets used to represent yeast.
323
324	----
325	* {{Gasshole}}: Befitting the behavior of their real-life brethren, the yeast puppets are constantly burping and farting out [=CO2=].
326	* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: [[http://www.amazon.com/Good-Eats-3-Later-Years/dp/158479903X "Good Eats 3: The Later Years"]] comes with a "Make your own yeast puppet kit!"
327	* ShooOutTheClowns: In "Roll Call", Alton tells them that they've been replaced with a more realistic puppet [[note]]stuffed socks that sit there[[/note]], leading to a rather TearJerker moment as they sadly leave the set.
328
329	!!'''Ygor J. Dungeonmaster'''
330	Played by [[WesternAnimation/{{Archer}} Lucky Yates]]
331
332	A sallow, hunchbacked serf who [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin lives in a dungeon below AB's kitchen]]. The DungeonMaster shows up in later seasons to display particularly scary-looking or old-fashioned cooking implements.
333
334	----
335	* BasementDweller: Literally, seeing as he resides in a dungeon under Alton's house.
336	* BizarreTasteInFood: In "There Will Be Oil", the Dungeon Master wants to use Alton's prototype oil press for his own personal use to produce [[{{Squick}} frog oil]].
337	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Alton addresses him as "Dungeon Master", which, given the nature of the show, [[HisNameReallyIsBarkeep may well be his actual name]].
338	** He's eventually been given the name "Ygor J. Dungeonmaster" [[https://youtu.be/E0JupKL3sOI in the title of this short]].
339	* EvenEvilHasStandards: He's nasty, but winces in fear upon hearing W's name.
340	* TheIgor: With the dark robes, hunch, and habit of calling AB "Mahster", he's obviously designed with this image in mind.
341	* LargeHam: Standard operating mode for Lucky Yates.
342	* TooKinkyToTorture: When he's ordered to skim the moat in punishment for having bought some expensive equipment on Alton's credit card, he hops in glee, claps, and goes to fetch his [[{{Squick}} "lucky straw"]].
343	* TortureTechnician: He supplies Alton with tortilla-making implements and a few other delightful terrors, like a device that uses blades for tenderizing meat. He seems to be renting Alton's dungeon basement solely for the opportunity to do this particular job, because his lease favors the landlord heavily; Alton can evict him at a moment's notice if he's not happy with his tenant's job performance.
344
345	[[/folder]]
346
347	[[folder:Historic Personalities]]
348	!!'''George Washington Carver'''
349	The spirit of George Washington Carver, a native of Tuskegee, Alabama, who is known for popularizing the usage of the peanut in the American south. Seen in the episode "Peanut Gallery". Played by B.J. Winfrey.
350
351	----
352	* ArgumentOfContradictions: After speaking with the Lady of the Refrigerator, he and Alton get into an dispute over peanut butter sandwiches.
353	-->'''Lady of the Refrigerator:''' Peanuts are high in the amino acids lysine and isoleucine. But they lack in tryptophan, cystine, and methionine, so you really need to pair them with something like wheat to make a complete protein.\
354	'''Alton:''' Well I guess that explains the peanut butter sandwich.\
355	'''Carver:''' I invented that.\
356	'''Alton:''' You did not!\
357	'''Carver:''' I did so.\
358	'''Alton:''' You did [[PunctuatedForEmphasis not invent that sandwich!]]\
359	'''Carver:''' Yes I did...
360	* CoolOldGuy: Carver develops into one despite starting "Peanut Gallery" with a ScaryBlackMan persona.
361	* InventionPretension: Alton would bring up something peanut-related and Carver would go "I invented that"... most notably concerning peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.
362	* JacobMarleyApparel: And it's a long garland of peanuts.
363	* MacGyvering: Much like the real person, Carver finds several uses for peanuts, including bizarre items like a "peanut colada" and an "iPeanut". Of course, Alton suggests that Carver may have been a little ''too'' clever about how to use peanuts.
364	-->'''Alton:''' I realize, for some of you, this dish (a peanut butter pie) is never going to be [[TitleDrop good eats]]. I speak, of course, of the 11 million or so Americans out there who are allergic to peanuts.\
365	'''Carver:''' Allergic to peanuts?! Inconceivable!\
366	'''Alton:''' Actually, there are allergists out there who believe that it’s because of overexposure. Perhaps you invented ''too many'' uses for the peanut.\
367	'''Carver:''' Hmm. And to think I was just getting started.
368	* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: The real Carver lived until 1943 and there are several surviving recordings of his voice, which is startlingly high-pitched (something that was often noted in his lifetime by those who heard him speak). The actor instead chooses to speak with the more authoritative baritone we ''imagine'' someone like Carver would have had.
369	* ScaryBlackMan:
370	** Carver is initially portrayed as a mix of this and JacobMarleyWarning during Alton's dream at the start of "Peanut Gallery". Despite a lack of brawn and brutishness, he's still a ''ghost'', and therefore ''scary''. It doesn't help that when Alton wakes up, he screams after [[Film/TheGodfather seeing his bed filled with peanuts]], implied to be Carver's doing.
371	-->'''Carver:''' If that's the way you want to play, then that's the way we'll play. (EvilLaugh)
372
373	!!Louis Pasteur
374	The French scientist whom which [[TheNamesake pasteurization]] -- [[KillItWithFire the use of heat to kill bacteria]] -- is named. Shows up [[OneSceneWonder briefly]] in "Milk Made".
375
376	----
377	* BigDamnHeroes: The flamethrower incident.
378	* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: Averted! Once he's introduced, [[KillItWithFire he appears with a flamethrower mounted on his back]]. He puts it to good use once the Food Police helicopter arrives outside Alton's house. Pasteur blows up the helicopter -- [[TakingYouWithMe along with himself]] -- in the scuffle.
379	* KillItWithFire: Why else does he appear with a [[NoKillLikeOverkill flamethrower]]?
380
381	[[/folder]]

Context Characters / GoodEats