Character Biographies

Murray Amherst - Simon Reynolds Alf Scully - Henry Beckman Jennifer Woods - Tonya Williams Mrs. Cobb - Barbara Hamilton Viker - Gordon Clapp

Howard Bannister - Don Adams Edna Moseley - Dinah Christie Jack Christian - Jeff Pustil Marlene Weimaraner - Kathleen Laskey Leslie Rappaport - Aaron Schwartz

For detailed filmographies of the cast members, be sure to visit The Internet Movie Database.

Howard Bannister --  Don Adams

Howard was the Manager of Cobb's supermarket. He had been dating his secretary Edna for years, but had a fear of commitment, and no plans to marry her (not to mention the fact that he still had a bit of a roving eye for the young attractive females who frequented the store). Howard's frustrations came from having to deal with the incompetence of various staff members on a daily basis. He was hilarious for many different reasons, but quite often because he was loaded with sarcastic comments and one-liners...

Christian: "Oh, by the way, Mrs. Cobb is in your office."

Bannister: "Mrs. Cobb is in my office? What's she doing there this early in the morning?"

Christian: "Probably sitting down."

Bannister: "Well, that probably makes it hard for you to kiss her where you'd like to."

For more information on Don Adams, you can start by checking out the following site, and be sure to follow the link to Pete's page for the most complete filmography of Don on the web!

Edna Moseley -- Dinah Christie

Edna was Howard's secretary. She was forever frustrated that her relationship with Howard wasn't going anywhere, yet, for reasons she didn't even understand, she remained with him. She was sensible, intelligent, and classy, however, rather under-appreciated by Howard at times, further adding to the mystery of why she was still dating him.

Howard: "Edna, look at this, this is ridiculous -- this is what Mrs. Cobb   wants me to wear!"

Edna: "Well, I think you look rather handsome like Rudolph Valentino."

Howard: "Rudolph Valentino, I am not, Edna. I'm the manager of a supermarket. I'm an executive... not a lover."

Edna: "That's true."

Howard: "Edna, why do you always have to be so agreeable when I'm insulting myself!"

Jack Christian -- Jeff Pustil

Christian was Cobb's' Assistant Manager. When he wasn't busy sucking up to those above him on the corporate ladder, he was usually shallow, manipulative and egotistical, which didn't exactly make him popular with the rest of the staff, though that didn't seem to bother him much anyway. His main focus was to move up the ranks as quickly as possible.

Christian: "You know, I've known a lot of women in my time... God, I've lived! (marvels at himself for a second) Anyway, I've found that the best way to get them to do what you want is one thing."

Murray: "What's that?

Christian: "You stuff 20 bucks in their drink. But you don't use quarters, they splash!"

Marlene Weimaraner -- Kathleen Laskey

Marlene was one of the cashiers at Cobb's, and was loaded with attitude. She wasn't afraid of anything or anybody, and continuous wisecracking seemed to be her natural way of expressing herself. Her style of choice was '80's punk, and she sported a different hair color and hairstyle in just about every episode (sometimes her hair even changed between commercial breaks). Where she found room to keep all these wigs, we'll never know. Marlene was anything but dull, and loved to shock.

Bannister: "Marlene, you've done a lot of rotten vicious things in   your time, but this takes the cake."

Marlene: "Is this about the three weight-lifters and the can of Day-Glo paint?"

Bannister: "No, this is about the way you just turned Murray down. Do you realize how long it took that kid to get the nerve to even ask you to go to the prom tonight?"

Marlene: "Oh, come on, the kid's seventeen -- what am I, training wheels? I am woman, Bannister -- I have dated entire floors of buildings."

Bannister: "Marlene, Murray likes you. Don't punish him for that. God has punished him enough for liking you in th-- (disgusted look comes over his face)... entire floors of buildings???"

Leslie Rappaport -- Aaron Schwartz

Leslie was another cashier. I was a bit young and naive when this show first came out, so a lot of jokes probably went over my head, but it was definitely implied that Leslie was gay, or at the very least more in touch with his feminine side than most men. He was quite comfortable hanging around and gabbing with his fellow (er, lady) cashiers at the check-out counters, and had a very pleasant, bubbly demeanor.

Murray: "Mr. Bannister, can I have a talk with you... man to man?"

Jennifer: "Well, I guess that leaves me out." (getting up)

Leslie: "Me too..." (following behind her)

Murray Amherst --  Simon Reynolds

Murray was a teenage bag-boy and stock clerk at Cobb's. Murray was a bit naive at times, but quite keen and likeable. He was around during the first and second seasons.

Bannister: (finds Murray hiding in his office) "Murray, what the hell are you doing here?"

Murray: "I'm escaping."

Bannister: "I thought Leslie checked out this office."

Murray: "I hid under the desk. Hey, did you know somebody stuffed all these dirty magazines in this long tube-"

Bannister: (quickly cutting him off ) "Uhhh, yes, well, uh, thank you, Murray..."

Alf Scully -- Henry Beckman

Alf was the security guard at Cobb's, and had been there forever. He was a friendly guy, but wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. He was only there the first season (perhaps he retired?) The next season, Viker (see below) regularly appeared on the scene to give Howard even more frustration than Alf had...

Alf: (holding small brown fuzzy thing in his hand) "There you are, you little devil. He don't look so good, though..."

Bannister: "Alf, that isn't Charlton (hamster). That is a kiwi fruit."

Alf: "Oh, thank God -- there are hundreds of them out there!"

Jennifer Woods -- Tonya Williams

Jennifer, another cashier, was a model employee -- bright, friendly, cheerful and polite. Nothing wrong with her at all, except that the writers didn't give her many funny lines (or many lines at all). I guess somebody had to play the straight (wo)man. She was only there the first season.

Murray: Yeah, but I'm just doing him a favor! (had introduced a friend to a prospective date)

Jennifer: Oh, I wish you'd do me a favor like that -- I hate those single bars!

Marlene: Me too! I hate 'em 4 or 5 times a week...

Jennifer: It's a lot safer meeting guys here in the market.

Marlene: Yeah, at least here they squeeze the melons instead of you.

Note:  Tonya Lee Williams is currently seen playing Dr. Olivia Winters on "The Young And The Restless".

Viker -- Gordon Clapp

Viker (nobody used his first name, if he even had one) was, hands down, the most incompetent of anybody who worked at Cobb's. He was Mr. Fix-It handyman, but whenever anyone tried to talk to him, give him some direction, it was like he was on a completely different wave-length. He was always confused, always off on the wrong track, focusing on all the wrong things no matter how clearly you tried to steer him. His lack of awareness of his stupidity only caused more frustration among those who had to deal with him. Viker was just one of those people you wanted to GO AWAY. In fact, you could tell him to his face to go away, and he would always pause for a moment and say... "You mean now?" Sure enough, he managed to stick around and annoy us all until the show's cancellation.

Bannister: "Viker, go out in the store and get that snake outta there!!"

Viker: "Right... <Pause>...  You mean now?"

Note: Gordon Clapp is currently seen playing Detective Greg Medavoy on "NYPD Blue".

Mrs. Cobb -- Barbara Hamilton (recurring guest)

Mrs. Cobb was the head of the Cobb's supermarket chain, and was a rather large and intimidating older woman who smoked cigars. She was well aware of her power, seemed to think highly of herself, and delighted in being rude and crude, which lent itself to many funny moments (though maybe not always from the staff's perspective).

Mrs. Cobb (playing a card game with Edna):   "What do you got, honey?"

Edna: "I think I have a pair."

Mrs. Cobb: "Didn't you check when you got dressed this morning? Haaahahahaha!"

HOME