I was watching I Dream of Jeannie and wonder how Dr. Bellows, head of the medical department, could be Major Nelson's and Healey's commanding office.

Also in Laverne and Shirley seeing everyone move to California pretty much at the same time seemed odd to me.

What other unbelievable situations in Sitcoms are out there?

Add Burns and Allen Show with the whole cast Moving to New York then back to California. ( The interesting thing with this show is that for every major change George breaks the forth wall and tells us what and why the changes happened. At least as best as he could. He couldn't really say that John Brown was removed for being targeted in the McCarthy Hollywood Blacklist)

How do pre-teen kids in most sitcoms have so much mobility? The Brady kids go everywhere--Alice quits and works at some restaurant, they're there. 10 year old Beaver needs an attorney, he's at his office.

In the old Britcom Doctor in the House, the young med students were terrorized by the imposing Professor Geoffrey Loftus. In the sequel Doctor at Sea, two of the boys get jobs on a cruise ship only to find that their boss is... Captain Norman Loftus, the Professor's imposing identical twin brother. Shameless!

How did the ladies on Gilligan’s Island, Petticoat Junction, and Ann Marie (That Girl) have so many clothes? Especially Gilligan’s Island.

How did the ladies on Gilligan’s Island, Petticoat Junction, and Ann Marie (That Girl) have so many clothes? Especially Gilligan’s Island.

Yes, and Ann appeared to not have much of an income, with acting gigs now and then. Probably Daddy slipped her some dough when she needed it.

And the Gilligan's Island girls managed to put on a fashion show with what they brought on a three-hour tour.

Realizing that Newhart was a dream from Bob of The Bob Newhart Show


On the middle. When Darren proposed to Sue. When Axl proposed to April. When Frankie’s Mom had Vertago.

Realizing that Newhart was a dream from Bob of The Bob Newhart Show


On the middle. When Darren proposed to Sue. When Axl proposed to April. When Frankie’s Mom had Vertago.Darren was a nice guy who deserved a lot better from the writers. He never should have been forgotten in later seasons, and the one time mentioned was not in a good way. What was pathetic was rewriting history saying Sean and Sue had wanted to be together for a long time. No, they barely interacted during the first 6 seasons. :rolleyes:

Darren was a nice guy who deserved a lot better from the writers. He never should have been forgotten in later seasons, and the one time mentioned was not in a good way. What was pathetic was rewriting history saying Sean and Sue had wanted to be together for a long time. No, they barely interacted during the first 6 seasons. :rolleyes:

If I recall correctly there was one episode where I was sure, the way it was going, Darren and Sue were going to get engaged. I don't remember if he asked her, but one way or the other it didn't work out.

It really should have, because they were a perfect couple.

How did the ladies on Gilligan’s Island, Petticoat Junction, and Ann Marie (That Girl) have so many clothes? Especially Gilligan’s Island.

The Howell's also had a rather extensive wardrobe. And suitcases full of money.

The Howell's also had a rather extensive wardrobe. And suitcases full of money.

This is true. Also how many other people landed on the Island and leave without getting the castaways off the island?

This is true. Also how many other people landed on the Island and leave without getting the castaways off the island?

Right. They usually left quietly in the middle of the night and never told anyone about the castaways or were unable to provide an accurate location.

Shows where (dramas included) the scene is in a dark room or cave of some sort, where they light one candle or oil lamp, and suddenly the entire room is illuminated.

Scenes where people are trapped in a cave, and light a torch for illumination, with no thoughts about oxygen scarcity.

Shows where someone has been unconscious/in a coma for days, they come-to and ask "how long was I out?" And are told something like "four days", and they get up out of bed unencumbered by bodily soils.

Hogan's Heroes, the Germans were not preposterously stupid

The exaggerated "high decorum" of the 1950s family shows

It's fictional TV. You're not supposed to believe it.

these shows don't show you everything. just what they want to show us.

Shows where (dramas included) the scene is in a dark room or cave of some sort, where they light one candle or oil lamp, and suddenly the entire room is illuminated.

Scenes where people are trapped in a cave, and light a torch for illumination, with no thoughts about oxygen scarcity.

Shows where someone has been unconscious/in a coma for days, they come-to and ask "how long was I out?" And are told something like "four days", and they get up out of bed unencumbered by bodily soils.

Hogan's Heroes, the Germans were not preposterously stupid

The exaggerated "high decorum" of the 1950s family shows

Also with Hogan's Heroes how do the prisoners of war has such tremendous access to everything at the camp? Perhaps that's why they never wanted to escape.

It's fictional TV. You're not supposed to believe it.

Hi, Just wanting to have a conversation. So if it's not one you want to be part of that then please don't.

these shows don't show you everything. just what they want to show us.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Can you give an example?

How about shows where people wake up in the morning cleanly shaven with perfectly coiffed hair and breath fresh enough to intensely kiss their partner.

How about shows where people wake up in the morning cleanly shaven with perfectly coiffed hair and breath fresh enough to intensely kiss their partner.

And in old shows how women look so put together, hair and makeup all nice right after giving birth! And when they show the baby , it clearly is not a newborn .They look at least 3 months old ! :D

The Howell's also had a rather extensive wardrobe. And suitcases full of money.That is how millionaires always travel. :lol:

How about shows where people wake up in the morning cleanly shaven with perfectly coiffed hair and breath fresh enough to intensely kiss their partner.

And nobody ever has to go to the bathroom after waking up.

And nobody ever has to go to the bathroom after waking up.

And in the case of the Brady Bunch kids bathroom there was no toilet at all!

Years ago at work we were discussing the plot of Married with Children. And I mentioned what a fool Al was for being completely disinterested in Peggy, And that actually sent one of my female coworkers on a rant about how "no woman in that socio-economic slot was going to take care of herself to the degree Peg did"...the hair, the make up, the clothes 24/7. Especially in view of the slob that Al was.

And this gal was not just offering opposed opinion. She was scolding me for my ignorance.

So, I'd have to submit Peg Bundy here...ALL of her.

Years ago at work we were discussing the plot of Married with Children. And I mentioned what a fool Al was for being completely disinterested in Peggy, And that actually sent one of my female coworkers on a rant about how "no woman in that socio-economic slot was going to take care of herself to the degree Peg did"...the hair, the make up, the clothes 24/7. Especially in view of the slob that Al was.

And this gal was not just offering opposed opinion. She was scolding me for my ignorance.

So, I'd have to submit Peg Bundy here...ALL of her.

Yeah, the whole family was a piece of work. That's what made them so funny.

Our Miss Brooks is odd in the sense of the students and teachers interactions. I mean Walter driving Miss Brooks to school everyday. They eat lunch together with Mr, Boynton and sometimes Mr. Conklin. And so on.

The Britcom Chance in a Million (Simon Callow and Brenda Blethyn) takes on these issues directly: the main character Tom Chance is defined as being plagued by extraordinary coincidences. The local police have mistakenly arrested him so many times that if they find him in suspicious circumstances they now just send him on his way.

Also with Hogan's Heroes how do the prisoners of war has such tremendous access to everything at the camp? Perhaps that's why they never wanted to escape.

I always thought Hogan and his team were spies pretending to be prisoners of war.

How about All in the Family? All the progressive rhetoric aside, you've got Archie who get's up and goes to work everyday, paying a fullboat fare for three live-in burdens, just so they can pontificate how screwed up his values and preferred lifestyle are?

Our Miss Brooks is odd in the sense of the students and teachers interactions. I mean Walter driving Miss Brooks to school everyday. They eat lunch together with Mr, Boynton and sometimes Mr. Conklin. And so on.

Connie Brooks evidently rents space in a house with Mrs. Davis. She is taken to her school teaching job by a student, the kid with a high-pitched voice, Walter Denton. We rarely see any teaching going on at Madison High.

Connie is a school teacher but she is most often involved in schemes, mostly against or trying to fool straight-aced principal, Osgood Conklin. At other times she is plotting to be romantically involved with another teacher, Mr. Boynton. Everyone at the school is aware of this, except naive Mr. Boynton.

You gotta say, this is one odd sitcom. What made it work? Sharp writing for, and great acting by, Eve Arden. Ditto for Gale Gordon.

For the final season the producers radically changed the format and setting of the show, leading to its cancellation. They also dropped one of the central ideas, Miss Brooks pursuing Mr. Boynton (that regular role was dropped).

How about All in the Family?

In about a five-year period, two people who aren't part of the household die inside the house. Two others are murdered just after leaving the house. The police aren't watching these people?

Connie Brooks evidently rents space in a house with Mrs. Davis. She is taken to her school teaching job by a student, the kid with a high-pitched voice, Walter Denton. We rarely see any teaching going on at Madison High.

Connie is a school teacher but she is most often involved in schemes, mostly against or trying to fool straight-aced principal, Osgood Conklin. At other times she is plotting to be romantically involved with another teacher, Mr. Boynton. Everyone at the school is aware of this, except naive Mr. Boynton.

You gotta say, this is one odd sitcom. What made it work? Sharp writing for, and great acting by, Eve Arden. Ditto for Gale Gordon.

For the final season the producers radically changed the format and setting of the show, leading to its cancellation. They also dropped one of the central ideas, Miss Brooks pursuing Mr. Boynton (that regular role was dropped).

I'm not sure if the writing was all that good. Many episodes especially the early ones seem like they were reworks from the radio program. Gale Gordon's double take over reacting must have played well on radio. Seem to be overkill on TV. Also how often was there a story line where each character is doing the same thing repeating each other. They all had hobbies to show off to Connie. Or they all had behind the same Santa Claus beard to hide from the department store staff. Those are only two examples.

As for the final season Mr. Boynton does return towards the end of that season.

I'm not sure if the writing was all that good. Many episodes especially the early ones seem like they were reworks from the radio program. Gale Gordon's double take over reacting must have played well on radio. Seem to be overkill on TV. Also how often was there a story line where each character is doing the same thing repeating each other. They all had hobbies to show off to Connie. Or they all had behind the same Santa Claus beard to hide from the department store staff. Those are only two examples.

As for the final season Mr. Boynton does return towards the end of that season.

This will most likely be an unpopular statement, but I didn't find Gale Gordon to be that good of an actor in anything.

That Girl was odd in a number of ways. First Ann is supposed to be an independent woman living and working in New York. How often is her father in town to visit? How does he manage to run his restaurant in Brewster if he is in NYC so much?

Ann and Donald have an extremely platonic relationship for being a couple. This was done in the late '60's during the sexual revolution. I mean they get stuck in a cabin, nothing. They take a trip together only to have adjoining hotel rooms. Well at least to did room on different floors.

And as mentioned before Ann had a massive wardrobe for a part time actress.

Will and Grace was not the ground breaking so as it was told to be. Yes there were gay characters but rarely gay couple interactions. Both Will and Jack were far more connected to their female friends. Honestly Will and Grace as well as Jack and Karen could have easily been married couples.

This will most likely be an unpopular statement, but I didn't find Gale Gordon to be that good of an actor in anything.

In some shows he was on I would agree. Our Miss Brooks, The Lucy Show, and Here’s Lucy come to mind. They had him reacting too overtly almost cartoonish.

I liked him on Dennis the Menace. He was also the go to guy when pilot episodes were filmed. So he must have done something right.

So perhaps it was the writing and directing that was the issue rather than his acting ability.

Gomer Pyle USMC- Sgt. Carter spends way too much time with Gomer. I can't imagine that type of a situation in a real military environment.

Modern Family: How did Cam go from substitute music teacher to Vice Principal in only the matter of a few years?
The robotic super advanced closet company Pritchett closets merged with was also very unrealistic and cringe
Mitchell's career path is also strange. He goes from Environmental Lawyer to Assistant DA in only a few years? With some time of being unemployed in between?

Big Bang Theory:
Why is Leonard always so cash strapped? Isn't he a CalTech associate professor in a STEM field? With Sheldon it is explained he has "no use" for money but that fits the character
That hologram Earth model thing Leonard impresses Penny with was also unrealistic and cringeworthy tbh

On Petticoat Junction how could the Shadyrest survive without a telephone? How did Dr. Janet Craig manage without a telephone? The technology was there. Even the Douglas's had a telephone. Plus they got their exercise climbing the pole to answer it.

It did bring up some unique situations like setting up a gun fire alert system for when a visiting pregnant woman needed to get the doctor to the hotel. (Episode- Race Against the Stork from season 2)

I was never a fan of Married with Children but I never understood why in the hell Al would not want to have sex with Peg. Peg was hot. Yes, Peg was over the top and too overdone but the woman was smoking.

In about a five-year period, two people who aren't part of the household die inside the house. Two others are murdered just after leaving the house. The police aren't watching these people?

Cousin Oscar died a natural death and the Transexual friend was killed in the neighborhoood, a victim of a hate crime.

There was the Jewish guy who was blown up in his car by a terror group who accidentally spray painted a swastika on Archie's door meant for someone else.

Let's not forget that the family was home invaded and kept hostage for a day by two burglars (Clifton Little and Demond Wilson). The Edith almost being raped at home by an intruder. (That episode would NEVER have been shown if I ran CBS.)

Let's not forget

Edith was also present, but did nothing, for a death at the Sunshine Home. Death accompanies her.

On Perry Mason and a few other shows, a phone rings and someone says Perry the call's for you. How did the caller know Perry would at that location at that time. I can see the situation in recent times with cell phone but not then.

On Perry Mason and a few other shows, a phone rings and someone says Perry the call's for you. How did the caller know Perry would at that location at that time. I can see the situation in recent times with cell phone but not then.

Della and Gertie would have an itinerary of where Perry was going. That's how it really worked in those days.

In some shows he was on I would agree. Our Miss Brooks, The Lucy Show, and Here’s Lucy come to mind. They had him reacting too overtly almost cartoonish.

I liked him on Dennis the Menace. He was also the go to guy when pilot episodes were filmed. So he must have done something right.

So perhaps it was the writing and directing that was the issue rather than his acting ability.

For some reason he was Lucy's go-to guy. After Charles Lane on Lucy Show he was an improvement though (I do normally like Lane's curmudgeon roles, but his Barnsdall character wasn't a good fit.)

Gale was excellent on Dennis.

The Big Bang Theory. In real life, nobody would be Sheldon's friend with the way he constantly insults people's intelligence, and his crazy and extremely controlling behavior and always having to be right and smarter than everybody else, and also always having to get his way about everything. In real life Leonard or nobody else would ever willingly be his roommate for long! I know I'd never be Sheldon's friend or roommate.

Ed.

Families that are suppose to be lower middle class being able to afford lavish vacations or afford high end merchandise you can see it in just about every sitcom especially those made in the 80's and 90's.

I find it difficult to believe the Big Bang Theory guys had girlfriends, let alone wives. The early version of the show seemed more true to comedic life.

Families that are suppose to be lower middle class being able to afford lavish vacations or afford high end merchandise you can see it in just about every sitcom especially those made in the 80's and 90's.

What shows did that?

Take your pick too many to name on the spot.

Families that are suppose to be lower middle class being able to afford lavish vacations or afford high end merchandise you can see it in just about every sitcom especially those made in the 80's and 90's.

What shows did that?

The Foreman's in That 70's Show could afford a microwave oven and a VCR prior to 1980.

Realizing that Newhart was a dream from Bob of The Bob Newhart Show


On the middle. When Darren proposed to Sue. When Axl proposed to April. When Frankie’s Mom had Vertago.

About the Newhart final episode: The "It was all a dream" cliché was stupid. I would've ended this series with Dick slowly falling down after being beaned with the golf ball, and then the screen going black.

About the Newhart final episode: The "It was all a dream" cliché was stupid. I would've ended this series with Dick slowly falling down after being beaned with the golf ball, and then the screen going black.

On the contrary, for once the "it was all a dream" scenario was hilarious in this case. I loved seeing Suzanne Pleshette again as Emily.

Ed.

On the contrary, for once the "it was all a dream" scenario was hilarious in this case. I loved seeing Suzanne Pleshette again as Emily.

Ed.

I agree. It was classic! And you never saw it coming. That's what made it great.

The Foreman's in That 70's Show could afford a microwave oven and a VCR prior to 1980.

There were microwaves and VCR's in the 1970's. The microwave has its roots in WWII and the first commercial microwave was made in the 1950's. Here is an article on it. I was a child of the 1970's and we always had a microwave.

https://www.edn.com/1st-domestic-microwave-is-sold-october-25-1955/

The first VCR's, or the ancestor of VCR's came out in the 1960's. According to the film "Auto Focus" about the life of Bob Crane, the man who more than likely murdered him, John Carpenter, worked for SONY. But quickly looking it up, the first commercial VCR came out in 1975. I remember the very first one I ever saw as a child around that time, it was a large metal box and even had a channel dial.

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/flashback-1975-vcr-born

How about shows where people wake up in the morning cleanly shaven with perfectly coiffed hair and breath fresh enough to intensely kiss their partner.

And nobody ever has to go to the bathroom after waking up.

Yes, but they as in a couple will make out.

Also, in scenes where they are brushing their teeth, typically a couple, they seem to brush without toothpaste used and they hold a conversation at the same time. No frothy toothpaste residue shown coming out of their mouths or them cleaning their faces from it.

My family got our first microwave oven in the mid-1970s, it was an analog Amana Radarange. Very heavy, and extremely dependable. Here's what it looked like. Turned a dial to set the cooking time:

284690

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Can you give an example?

Meaning, think of everything you do in a day or a week. All of that is not entertaining TV. Same for the actors. It can't all go on a TV show.

Placing cast at a table. Most table scenes have the cast sitting in such a way that all faces are seen. One example is on Dave's World where there are four card players at the kitchen table. One on each end the two in the middle sitting next to each other. Click link.

https://youtu.be/kRtz9Q7xAqE

I think I remember Richard Crenna saying that he hated that setup and wanted to set things up differently so that things looked more realistic. I can find the place where I read/saw this.

Jethro Bodine on the Beverly Hillbillies besides being a full grown adult still in the sixth grade how about his eating habits neverminded metabolism that keeps him slim how can one person put away so much groceries as he did and not develop health issues such as diabetes, gout, high blood pressure and heart issues.

The two-shot in a car looks unrealistic, since they have to sit unnaturally close to each other.

Jethro Bodine on the Beverly Hillbillies besides being a full grown adult still in the sixth grade how about his eating habits neverminded metabolism that keeps him slim how can one person put away so much groceries as he did and not develop health issues such as diabetes, gout, high blood pressure and heart issues.

Considering how strong he was he must have need a ton of food to keep him energized.
And who knows how healthy that hillbilly food was. I mean possum might be a superfood.

The two-shot in a car looks unrealistic, since they have to sit unnaturally close to each other.

Yes, and look at Dragnet. Gannon was really working that steering wheel even when driving a straight line.

Yes, and look at Dragnet. Gannon was really working that steering wheel even when driving a straight line.

OMG, those scenes were really funny.

I just have to imagine that LAPD non black-white cars assigned to detectives have really bad alignments. They have to steer all over the place to keep the car in its lane. :lol:

The two-shot in a car looks unrealistic, since they have to sit unnaturally close to each other.

This is worse if they have to get two people in the back seat in a two-shot. To get them in they definitely have to sit together when they wouldn't normally. I've seen this on a few Leave It To Beaver episodes.

Taking a car apart and then putting it back together.

Taking a car apart and then putting it back together.

Well I thought Goober did a great job with doing that in the Sheriff's office. Granted Andy wasn't pleased.

The Flintstones Christmas shows. The show was set in BC (Before Christ).

The Flintstones Christmas shows. The show was set in BC (Before Christ).

Gazoo clued them in?

Gazoo clued them in?

That's The Great Gazoo to you:lol:

Show set in countries where English is not the primary language yet the entire cast speak English. Examples - Hogan’s Heroes, McHale’s Navy, I Love Lucy's European trip episodes.

Show set in countries where English is not the primary language yet the entire cast speak English. Examples - Hogan’s Heroes, McHale’s Navy, I Love Lucy's European trip episodes.

The whole Lucy bit here in France is no one speaks English

Xle3I-5nfpI
https://youtu.be/Xle3I-5nfpI

In season 10 of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" David is married to June but there was nothing leading up to this. Normally a show would have some sort of build up for such a change.

Then again in The Burns and Allen Show they end up in New York with Ronnie just popping up out of nowhere.

Sesame Streets Bert and Ernie neverminded their sexuality how about their source of income after all it's not cheap to live in New York City let alone a one bedroom brownstone basement apartment with a basement and washing machine and dryer sure you can say the building is rent controlled and utilities included but how do they pay for it.

Sesame Streets Bert and Ernie neverminded their sexuality how about their source of income after all it's not cheap to live in New York City let alone a one bedroom brownstone basement apartment with a basement and washing machine and dryer sure you can say the building is rent controlled and utilities included but how do they pay for it.

Same could be said about Ozzie Nelson. And not only did he have a house, but a car and the need to support a wife and two sons. How did he pay for all of that.

Also, how do you know what Bert and Ernie's sexuality was? They could have been friends who shared an apartment like Felix and Oscar did.

Same could be said about Ozzie Nelson. And not only did he have a house, but a car and the need to support a wife and two sons. How did he pay for all of that.

In a few episodes there was a slight indication he had some sort of job--like waiting for a bus to go home from work (gasp!). That he did something besides going to the malt shop for a quart of ice cream, going fishing, or playing golf.

Same could be said about Ozzie Nelson. And not only did he have a house, but a car and the need to support a wife and two sons. How did he pay for all of that.

Also, how do you know what Bert and Ernie's sexuality was? They could have been friends who shared an apartment like Felix and Oscar did.

That was what I was trying to say but didn't go any further in explaining due figuring that no one would make a deal out of it besides the income part I've always wondered why neither of them never moved out or moved to a better place where the cost of living was cheap.

The only time characters are dressed in winter clothing is for the Christmas focused episodes.

[QUOTE=24/7 reruns;6137703]Same could be said about Ozzie Nelson. And not only did he have a house, but a car and the need to support a wife and two sons. How did he pay for all of that.

Ozzie's profession comes up periodically, I wrote this awhile back:


"Ozzie was asked about this in interviews, he indicated the TV series was kind of a continuation of the radio show. The radio show was about the home life of band leader Ozzie Nelson, his wife Harriet and their two children. Ozzie was a successful band leader, he had a number 1 hit way back in 1935 titled "And Then Some" (a pretty good record). The big band era was sunsetting by the time the show moved to TV, so his former profession wasn't referenced (as far as I know).

Person A has an upcoming birthday, then proceeds to tell person B and person C that he/she doesn't want a big deal made over person A's birthday. So both persons honor the wish and then the entire episode is focused on person A fretting over no one remembering his /her birthday. At the end of the episode, there's a huge surprise birthday party and all is well.

The Flintstones Christmas shows. The show was set in BC (Before Christ).

Exactly! So what on earth were they celebrating? LOL!

Ed.

Many cop and detective shows feature the suspects being followed. Not only do the ones following manage to keep the car in sight, but they manage to make traffic signals while staying a 1/4 of mile behind. Then when arriving at a motel, downtown or museum, there's plenty of parking spots to choose from.

MASH your average draftees stint was no more than two years so technically Klinger wouldn't have needed to buck for a section 8 just do his job and Hawkeye would've been executed for treason for the stuff he did such as aiding and abetting an enemy bomber in blowing up an ammo dump.

MASH your average draftees stint was no more than two years so technically Klinger wouldn't have needed to buck for a section 8 just do his job and Hawkeye would've been executed for treason for the stuff he did such as aiding and abetting an enemy bomber in blowing up an ammo dump.

Plus the show ran longer than the war it was depicting.

The whole last season of Roseanne (when it was cancelled in 1997). It's just absolutely ridiculous and bizarre! :mad::rolleyes: Complete nonsense.

Ed.

The whole last season of Roseanne (when it was cancelled in 1997). It's just absolutely ridiculous and bizarre! :mad::rolleyes: Complete nonsense.

Ed.

Plus the reboot had Dan alive. Just added to the oddity of the show.

Even though this is not program based but commercials often show unusual situations. My favorite is when all the sudden there is a flash dance for no reason. All that's missing are the June Taylor Dancers.

Plus the reboot had Dan alive. Just added to the oddity of the show.

Oh yeah I totally agree with you about that.

Ed.

When a scene is set in a non English speaking country and the locals are speaking in English to each other.