Has anyone noticed that when someone on TV makes a phone call, they rarely have to look the number up? They could be calling a doctor, plumber, neighbor, restaurant, school, library or whatever. They just start dialing like they call that number every day.

:lol: I never thought about that, but you're right. How do they do it!? :rofl:

Characters on television shows never seem to go to work either. :lol: Unless the show takes place at work. Like on All In The Family, we would always see Archie coming home from work, sometimes we would see him in his boss's office, but we actually never saw him doing work. :lol:

Characters on television shows never seem to go to work either. :lol: Unless the show takes place at work. Like on All In The Family, we would always see Archie coming home from work, sometimes we would see him in his boss's office, but we actually never saw him doing work. :lol:
Not entirely true. We saw Darrin Stephens (Bewitched) at the office quite a bit, but on Good Times we never saw anyone on the job (except Willona towards the end of the series run). :lol:

Not entirely true. We saw Darrin Stephens (Bewitched) at the office quite a bit, but on Good Times we never saw anyone on the job (except Willona towards the end of the series run). :lol:


I know that you will never talk to me again after I admit this, but I have never seen Bewitched. :lol: There is a station here that shows it though. The other night I saw a promo for it and the girl on the show said "Oh my stars!", so now I know why it says that over your avatar. :lol:

I know that you will never talk to me again after I admit this, but I have never seen Bewitched. :lol: There is a station here that shows it though. The other night I saw a promo for it and the girl on the show said "Oh my stars!", so now I know why it says that over your avatar. :lol:
:eek2: MIKE!! I am shocked and appalled. :joke:

:eek2: MIKE!! I am shocked and appalled. :joke:

:lol:

You really don't see many of the characters reaching for the phone book when they have to dial a number. I wish I could memorize phone numbers like they do.

Actually sometimes we do see characters at work and they are working. :) I can think of a couple examples. Steven Keaton on Family Ties was shown from time to time working at WKS (PBS Station) he worked at. Maggie Seaver on Growing Pains was shown from time to time working at her work. She was a reporter.

You're right. We did see Mr. Keaton at work a few times. :)


:eek2: I'm surprised. That's a show I figured everyone had seen at some point. ;)

I guess not. :lol:

you should see my mom when we get a new phone book

Madame X, your thread titles are always so funny and cute. :lol:

BTW, on our fave show I Love Lucy, we did see Lucy and Ricky pick up the phonebook a few times. Probably more than any other show in history. :lol:

Judging by the amount of "wrong number" calls I get in a week, I dont think its just people on TV who dont bother with using the phone book! :nonono:

BTW, on our fave show I Love Lucy, we did see Lucy and Ricky pick up the phonebook a few times. Probably more than any other show in history. :lol:

Yeah, like on "The Inferiority Complex" when he goes to call a "physio-chiatrist" and looks under "F!" :lol:

If I'm not mistakin, Herman Munster once tore the phone book in half on an episode of The Munsters, LOL.

you should see my mom when we get a new phone book new phone books can be an exciting time.

What I can't ever understand is that when someone on a t.v. show picks up a phone book and all they do is pratcially open the book and it happens to be the page that has the number they need to call. :lol:

What I can't ever understand is that when someone on a t.v. show picks up a phone book and all they do is pratcially open the book and it happens to be the page that has the number they need to call. :lol:
Thank you! That is so true. :lol:

Well it can have it's drawbacks. I have been referred to on more than one occasion as the walking phone number/address book. I don't mind at times, but then other times it's annoying to be asked so often what the phone number or address is for so and so. I guess I could also be known as a dictionary (for spelling). I'm often asked how to spell words. Ok, so that was probably not interesting. :lol:


Are you sure you're not a sitcom character? With that great phone number memory you could be on one of the tv shows.:lol:

Why is it that, in nearly every sitcom, someone's number always starts with 555 no matter where in the US they happen to live? I've always thought that it's because the viewers at home won't call in and ask for their favourite character but I'm sure there has to be a better reason. This explains why the numbers are so easy to remember.

Why is it that, in nearly every sitcom, someone's number always starts with 555 no matter where in the US they happen to live? I've always thought that it's because the viewers at home won't call in and ask for their favourite character but I'm sure there has to be a better reason. This explains why the numbers are so easy to remember.

No one has a phone number with the prefix 555 in real life (at least in the US). They don't want a repeat of 867-5309.

Theres no 555 exchange in Canada either

No one has a phone number with the prefix 555 in real life (at least in the US). They don't want a repeat of 867-5309.
That's right. I was watching my DVDs of the Bob Newhart Show, and they were using actual phone numbers in a couple of episodes (complete with the Chicago 312 area code). In the commentaries, Bob Newhart said there was no way you could do that on TV anymore. So true!

No one has a phone number with the prefix 555 in real life (at least in the US). They don't want a repeat of 867-5309.

The Straight Dope (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_374a.html)

This is true, The phone company once maintained a service that provided fictional (i.e., unused) numbers to producers and writers. But it soon developed, in this wide, wonderful country of ours, that there wasn't a single number that wasn't in use somewhere. The 555 prefix was created in 1973 and has been used for directory assistance and of course for fictional numbers on movies & tv. The song 867-5309/Jenny caused an uproar in the early 80's when curiosity seekers called the homes of the poor souls across the U.S. asking to speak with Jenny. :rolleyes:

The Straight Dope (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_374a.html)

This is true, The phone company once maintained a service that provided fictional (i.e., unused) numbers to producers and writers. But it soon developed, in this wide, wonderful country of ours, that there wasn't a single number that wasn't in use somewhere. The 555 prefix was created in 1973 and has been used for directory assistance and of course for fictional numbers on movies & tv. The song 867-5309/Jenny caused an uproar in the early 80's when curiosity seekers called the homes of the poor souls across the U.S. asking to speak with Jenny. :rolleyes:


Boy I'm glad that wasn't our phone number, can you imagine getting all those calls. :eek: