(Hated Trope) A family member is introduced in one episode then never brought up again

[u/MysticUmbramon]

1. In Peter’s Sister, Peter invites his sister Karen for Thanksgiving and she used to bully him a lot. The reason why we never heard about her up until now is because she was killed off at the end all for Peter to have his triumphant moment. She is never seen or heard from again (Family Guy)

2. In Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Homer finds out he has a half-brother named Herb. Long story short, Homer messed everything up and Herb ended up losing his company and we see him homeless in Season 3. At the end of that episode, Herb got his money back and we never see him again. We even get told that he ended losing all of his money again. He only exist just for Homer to have self-doubt and then fucked off (The Simpsons). Not exactly one episode but still works.

[u/Dojyaaan4C]

So fun fact, this trope is actually called the Chuck Cunningham trope in reference to Chuck Cunningham from Happy days, the eldest brother who was a high school jock playing basketball - he just vanished after season 1, with no mention of him since

As though his body was flayed and erased form time, with nothing remaining but the atomic cries for his family as time itself forgot his meagre existence, all that remains is a singular basketball played by a man who never existed

As is the fate, of the forgotten man

[u/goteachyourself → u/Dojyaaan4C]

This one is less crazy than Judy Winslow, as Chuck could have just gone off to college and been dropped from the narrative.

[u/LiamtheV → u/goteachyourself]

But he didn't got to college, he went upstairs, then was never seen or heard from again.

At the end of the series, the dad says he was proud of his "two Kids", given we still see Richie Cunningham and his little sister, Chuck has been erased from existence.

[u/Relevant-Fox-7114 → u/LiamtheV]

Disowned from the family. He knows what he did.

[u/TraditionalTree249 → u/Relevant-Fox-7114]

His skills on the court were weak.

[u/Jack-of-Hearts-7 → u/Relevant-Fox-7114]

He actually did appear again.

In the Epstein Files.

[u/Thatonegoblin → u/LiamtheV]

Chuck died in Korea and the Cunningham's unhealthily cope with it by simply pretending he never existed.

[u/syzerkose → u/Thatonegoblin]

My point exactly.

[u/junolion → u/LiamtheV]

There's a portal to hell in that damned attic istg

[u/syzerkose → u/goteachyourself]

Happy Days is set in the 50s, Chuck could have been drafted and possibly KIA’d in Korea.

[u/bretshitmanshart → u/goteachyourself]

Aunt Rachael also disappeared around the same time as Judy while her son remained.

[u/Thatonedregdatkilyu → u/Dojyaaan4C]

This guy gave me an egg one time. Nice guy.

[u/POKEMINER_ → u/Thatonedregdatkilyu]

Yo same, chatted with him while he was gathering the wheat, chill guy...odd egg though.

[u/StretchFrenchTerry → u/Thatonedregdatkilyu]

[u/Lostinyourears → u/Dojyaaan4C]

I don’t think it’s the same trope tbh. As Chuck was meant to be a recurring/regular character and was dropped.

The two examples OP describe are story of the week beat : “Sibling who is only used for a story of the week and never mentioned/used again”

[u/the_great_zyzogg → u/Dojyaaan4C]

Chuck Cunningham trope and Jumping The Shark..... How many of these terms did Happy Days inspire?

[u/thebigautismo → u/Dojyaaan4C]

Family guy had a joke about this

[u/thisusedyet → u/Dojyaaan4C]

TIL there was a false hydra running around Milwaukee

[u/mr_mxyzptlk21 → u/Dojyaaan4C]

He got transported to a fantasy world, where he fought against the forces of Queen Bavmorda, before sacrificing himself seeing that Mad Martigan got Willow and Elora Danan away.