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Throughout the series, Carly and Spencer sometimes mention or hint at members of the Shay family.

Carly and Spencer's Relatives[]

Granddad Shay[]

Main article: Granddad Shay
ICarly Grandad Shay

Granddad Shay talking to Carly in iWanna Stay With Spencer

Granddad Shay is the paternal grandfather of Carly and Spencer Shay and the father of Colonel Steven Shay. He lives in Yakima, Washington, but frequently makes trips to Seattle to visit his grandchildren, Carly and Spencer.

His first appearance was in iWanna Stay With Spencer, when he wanted to take Carly to the city of Yakima after Spencer caused her to almost get hit in the head with a hammer. After several failed attempts to change his mind, he allowed Carly to live with Spencer when Spencer revealed he had kept Carly's asthma inhaler "just in case" although Carly hadn't had an asthma attack for years.

It has also mentioned that he didn't agree with Spencer's choice to become an artist, with him trying to convince Spencer to go back to law school in iHire An Idiot. He also appeared in iWant a World Record to help Carly's 24-hour webcast.

Granddad Shay appeared in the revival series in the episode iHire a New Assistant, where he comes to visit Spencer and Carly. Carly hires her grandfather to be her assistant when she finds she is too busy, but eventually has to fire him.

Colonel Steven Shay[]

Main article: Colonel Steven Shay
CARLYSDAD

Colonel Steven Shay is Carly and Spencer's father. He is a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and currently on a tour of duty in a United States submarine somewhere near Anchorage, Alaska.

It has been implied several times he may be involved in some kind of classified work that requires dedication and little time for family. In iWon't Cancel The Show, Spencer tells Carly that she probably shouldn't give away their father's current position. In iMeet The First Lady, he is unable to come home for his birthday as originally planned. Nonetheless, he still displays deep concern and love for his children, calling Spencer and Carly in iStill Psycho to make sure they are okay after seeing on the news they had been kidnapped by Nora Dershlit.

Colonel Shay has displayed a bit of an attitude towards Spencer, such as when he and Spencer were talking over the phone and Spencer told him about Oystomato, but Colonel Shay said he didn't care. Spencer did not tell him he had dropped out of law school, as mentioned in iSpace Out and iMeet the First Lady, due to his possible reaction. When he finally told him in iGoodbye, he was unhappy at first but still accepted it. Nonetheless, when Grandad called him in iWanna Stay With Spencer and expressed concern over Spencer's maturity, Colonel Shay did say he thought Spencer was responsible enough.

He appeared in the original series finale iGoodbye to take Carly to a special father-daughter dance. During an iCarly webcast held in the episode, he finally discovers that Spencer dropped out of law school. While initially disappointed, he seems to get over it and accepts that not being a lawyer is what Spencer wants and agrees to send Spencer more money in the future.

Dan Schneider, the producer of iCarly, cleared up the confusion as to whether he was in the Navy or Air Force; he was in the Air Force on a Navy Submarine (This makes sense, since the U.S. Navy does not have Colonels, since Captain is the equivalent Officer rank in the U.S. Navy).[1]

He has not been mentioned in the revival.

Mrs. Shay[]

Main article: Mrs. Shay

Throughout the series, no sign of Carly and Spencer's mother is ever seen or mentioned; it was unconfirmed at the time if Spencer and Carly even had the same mother, or if they were half-siblings. It is also uncertain what kind of relationship they or their father had with this woman, if they had any.

The absence of Mrs. Shay has been lampshaded throughout the series and its spin-offs. In the episode iStakeout, Mrs. Benson says to Spencer, "Spencer, you have a stain on your shirt, go put on a fresh one!". Spencer then replies, "But you're not my mother!" In the Sam & Cat episode, #SuperPsycho, Sam just walks away when Nevel questions the absence of Carly's mother. When questioned about her parents in the 2021 revival, Carly awkwardly changes the subject.

One explanation that has been strongly suggested, but never confirmed, is that Mrs. Shay is deceased (which would make Colonel Shay a widower). In iWanna Stay With Spencer and iHire a New Assistant, Granddad Shay is mentioned as the only family Carly and Spencer have as their father is always away, and that he is the only other option to be Carly's guardian. Another explanation is that Mrs. Shay is/was unable to, or uninterested in taking care of Carly or Spencer. At one point, the show's webpage on Nick.com said that Spencer and Carly's parents were both out at sea, though this was likely an error.

The cast has been asked in interviews what happened to Mrs. Shay. When asked in an interview, Jerry Trainor joked, "I don't know, shopping I guess." In a 2011 interview with Rosie O'Donnell, Miranda Cosgrove said "I don't know... They never mention [Carly's] mom. [Her dying] might be it, but they never really say for sure."[2] Nathan Kress has also stated that he didn't know what happened to Carly's mom. In a 2023 video, Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Nathan Kress and Laci Mosley all notably talked about whom they would want to portray Mrs. Shay,[3] implying she is alive and likely either divorced Col. Shay or just abandoned him and their kids. It was revealed in the season 3 finale, iHave A Proposal, that the mom abandoned Carly and Spencer when Carly was a child, but she turns up just as Carly is about to get married to Freddie.

Great Grammy Shay[]

Great Grammy Shay is Carly and Spencer's deceased great grandmother, Steven Shay's deceased grandmother, and Granddad Shay's deceased mother. Her diamond encrusted watch was destroyed in a fire in iGot a Hot Room and Spencer got $82,000 for it, which he spent all on Carly's new room. Steven, Carly, and Spencer apparently never attended her funeral.

Aunt Margaret[]

Aunt Margaret is Carly and Spencer's aunt mentioned in iMove Out. According to Spencer, she pronounced window "winder". She died of a heart attack.

Potter[]

Potter
Main article: Potter

Potter is Spencer's daughter introduced in iReunited and It Felt OK, and one of Carly's nieces. She loves Spaghetti Tacos and is Spencer's favorite among his 11 kids. Potter starts fires easily by just touching things, just like her father, and Spencer and Harper initially think she is not his child until she accidentally sets Mount Spencemore on fire.

Spencer's 10 Unnamed Children[]

IReunited and It Felt OK (2)
Main article: Spencer's unnamed children

Spencer reveals in iReunited and It Felt OK, he has 10 other kids from donating sperm, making Carly an aunt of 11 kids, including Potter. Spencer meets his kids and introduces them to each other, as well as his friend Harper.

References[]

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