Nagging TV Show Mysteries

[Stanislav]

Emergency !!!!......just how big was Squad 51's coverage area? One minute Gage & DeSoto was at the beach, next they were up in the mountains and then "downtown" and perhaps later...some amusement park. I can see if another fire company had asked for 51's help but often Gage & DeSoto were seen doing the rescues alone.

That was a Jack Webb production, and though his shows were generally based on real-life incidents, the necessity of dramatizing an adequate variety of situations/locales with a static cast led to such suspensions of logic. Take Dragnet -- one episode Friday and Gannon were working homicide, the next day rackets, then narcotics or something else, etc. IRL, I don't think big-city PDs have their detectives skipping around from division to division on a daily basis like that.

 

[Stanislav]

Here's another mystery: Why did all the North Carolina state cops on "The Andy Griffith Show" sound like they were from Brooklyn?

Never mind bit players: among the regular cast, why did the matriarch of the show (Aunt Bee) have nothing even resembling a southern accent, unlike Andy, Barney, Opie, etc.? She sounds more like she would be related to Miss Jane on The Beverly Hillbillies than to anyone on The Andy Griffith Show!

 

[Corky Marlowe]

How did Kramer afford a New York apartment in Seinfeld?

That was explained (sort of) on the infamous series finale...Kramer was constantly falling ass-backwards into money.

Here's a Lawrence Welk Show mystery...How did that good looking young guy Tom Netherton always manage to remain single? (wink-wink)

 

[Stanislav]

How did Kramer afford a New York apartment in Seinfeld?

That was explained (sort of) on the infamous series finale...Kramer was constantly falling ass-backwards into money.

Here's a Lawrence Welk Show mystery...How did that good looking young guy Tom Netherton always manage to remain single? (wink-wink)

Um....maybe the same way Liberace did? ;D

 

[biggguy]

A couple of answers (or possible answers):

1. Gilligan's first name was Willy- saw that on a Sherwood Schwartz interview once.

2. Ozzie's occupation was irrelevant- all the Ozzie and Harriet shows took place on Saturday- to explain why
the boys weren't in school( at least in the early years).

3. Iola Boylan lived with her mother- and probably got an allowance from her. She had a couple of probable
sidelines though. She probably sold the "tea cozies" and other crafty things she was always making. And,
a little less on the genteel side, she probably got money from the guys she'd picked up wherever the night before
seeing her with a hangover the next morning had to be worth at least $50 in "Getaway" money.

My question: Considering how miserly Milburn Drysdale was on the Beverly Hillbillies- how could Miss Jane afford a brand new top-of-the-line mid-size red Dodge convertible every year?

 

[searadiofreak]

On Gilligan, I want to know what radio station was coming through on the professor's radio so clearly? Must have been a 50K blowtorch if the island was so deserted! And listen for the the late Laker announcer Chick Hearn as an announcer on that station in a couple of episodes. (Actually, Hearn did a lot of TV/radio "announcer" roles, being based in L.A.)

 

[Stanislav]

On Gilligan, I want to know what radio station was coming through on the professor's radio so clearly? Must have been a 50K blowtorch if the island was so deserted!

Wasn't that station identified by calls as an actual Honolulu station in at least one or two episodes?

Wouldn't need 50kw -- after all, they were originally on a "three-hour tour," meaning 1.5 hours out and 1.5 back (or 3 hours in a big loop), so even given being blown off-course by the storm, they shouldn't have been so terribly far out, so the stronger Honolulu stations would have made it in nicely over an all-water path.

Which, of course, reminds one of another enduring Gilligan's Island mystery -- how could there be an "uncharted desert isle" so close to Oahu, and yet no one ever saw or heard of it? It's not some little sandspit or atoll -- it appears to be a fairly substantial little hunk of island -- so no one ever saw it from the air or sea?

 

[bk77]

Emergency !!!!......just how big was Squad 51's coverage area? One minute Gage & DeSoto was at the beach, next they were up in the mountains and then "downtown" and perhaps later...some amusement park. I can see if another fire company had asked for 51's help but often Gage & DeSoto were seen doing the rescues alone.

That was a Jack Webb production, and though his shows were generally based on real-life incidents, the necessity of dramatizing an adequate variety of situations/locales with a static cast led to such suspensions of logic. Take Dragnet -- one episode Friday and Gannon were working homicide, the next day rackets, then narcotics or something else, etc. IRL, I don't think big-city PDs have their detectives skipping around from division to division on a daily basis like that.

I doubt the practice of skipping around division to division on a daily basis happens in smaller cities as well...maybe Mayberry, NC.

The county thing that was brought up earlier, not sure about LA/LA County and their situation but this sort of thing varies a great deal depending on that state. Some cities and counties have merged over the years so I assume we are talking one big police/fire department ( Jefferson County, KY and Louisville maybe ) while there are some cities that are totally independent from any county like Baltimore for example. I assume in that case Baltimore County,MD doesn't send their police and fire personel into Baltimore City unless the city asks for them to be there.

Back to this topic, there is the town of Bedrock from The Flintstones. In one early show it was mentioned that Bedrock was a small town with a population of only around 2300. Small town? Right !!!!!!!!! Lets see here- Bedrock had their own local TV, high rises, public bus system, big downtown department stores, posh hotels, expressways and an airport that can handle passenger flights...how many small towns of 2,300 have any of those things?

 

[landtuna]

...how many small towns of 2,300 have any of those things?

Math was different back in the....uh, Stone Age.

 

[LKellerIII]

On Gilligan, I want to know what radio station was coming through on the professor's radio so clearly? Must have been a 50K blowtorch if the island was so deserted!

Wasn't that station identified by calls as an actual Honolulu station in at least one or two episodes?

Wouldn't need 50kw -- after all, they were originally on a "three-hour tour," meaning 1.5 hours out and 1.5 back (or 3 hours in a big loop), so even given being blown off-course by the storm, they shouldn't have been so terribly far out, so the stronger Honolulu stations would have made it in nicely over an all-water path.

Which, of course, reminds one of another enduring Gilligan's Island mystery -- how could there be an "uncharted desert isle" so close to Oahu, and yet no one ever saw or heard of it? It's not some little sandspit or atoll -- it appears to be a fairly substantial little hunk of island -- so no one ever saw it from the air or sea?

Did it ever occur to you that Gilligan's Island and the island in Lost are one and the same? Maybe it was Gilligan and his crew that murdered the members of the Dharma Initiative in cold blood, but that storyline in one of those mysterious "lost episodes."

 

[Legend City]

OK, the thought of Mr. and Mrs. Howell having to use a squat hole in the sand is surreal enough, but where did they get drinkable water?

How come so many people on TV shows go out to eat, order dinner, and leave before it gets there?

Where were the black people in Mayberry? Its North Carolina for chrissakes!

How come the Partridge family never tuned their instruments, they always went from dead quiet to a wall of sound, complete with back up musicians. And what the hell did Tracy add to the band, honestly.

How come only 4 sweathogs ever talked?

What was up with that Mr. Mooney/Mrs. Charmichael thing? He was in charge of all her money? Did her dead husband not entrust her to her own financial freedom?

How come Fonzie was a great fighter, but he never fought?

How come Julia was the first show with an african american lead, but all the jokes sound like they were written by Borscht Belt comedians?

What did Mrs. Brady do? Alice did all the work, she just flitted about.

Who employed all the actors in Fantasy Island? When someone wanted a fantasy, there was always dozens of actors joining in on the fantasy, what was their deal...I get a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern vibe.

Captain Stubing, all we ever saw of him working was stock footage in the control room, rest of the time he was boozing and sexing it up. And what of Vicki? Didn't she have school? How could she work at such a young age? (was the ship registered in the Bahamas?)

Little House on the Praire...Mary..geeez that woman was unlucky, my god, they did everything to try to kill her off, and the youngest one, just window dressing?

And, just what was Willis talkin' bout?

 

[WMC2006]

Little House on the Praire...Mary..geeez that woman was unlucky, my god, they did everything to try to kill her off

But she sure was awful purty. ;D

 

[easttxtv]

And all those distant mountains around the Dallas area during the mid-to-later seasons of Dallas? Uh-huh.... maybe Ewing Oil caused that while drilling all around for oil? 8)

The bathroom population among daytime soaps has been pretty close to -0- over the years, with a possible exception of some woman once in a blue moon using a 'powder room' at a restaurant maybe, with an outside chance of eavesdropping thrown in for dramatic measure 8) Still somehow, everyone drinks water/booze/otherwise!

And also, how most women (soaps and other shows too) wake up for their day with perfect hair...

 

[Stanislav]

How come so many people on TV shows go out to eat, order dinner, and leave before it gets there?

Or order coffee, beer, etc., take one sip, and leave. Or light a cigarette, take one drag, then put it out?

Ever notice also that when someone is served a beverage in a cup, half the time it's obvious that there is no liquid in either container, or if actual liquid is poured, it's about a tablespoonful?

Or one of my biggest pet peeves -- someone makes a phone call (you only hear their side of the conversation), and they (a)begin talking before it could possibly have time to ring, and (b)leave impossibly short pauses between their lines to account for the assumed response.

Where were the black people in Mayberry? Its North Carolina for chrissakes!

They were on the other side of the railroad tracks.

How come Julia was the first show with an african american lead, but all the jokes sound like they were written by Borscht Belt comedians?

Not quite "borscht belt," but consider that producer and writer Hal Kanter's resume included writing for Bob Hope, Martin and Lewis, George Gobel...you get the drift. And imdb claims that Kanter did some writing for Amos 'n Andy -- now THERE'S an irony for ya....

 

[Stanislav]

And all those distant mountains around the Dallas area during the mid-to-later seasons of Dallas? Uh-huh.... maybe Ewing Oil caused that while drilling all around for oil? 8)

Even worse was I Dream of Jeannie -- it's supposed to take place in Cocoa Beach, and yet in several long location shots (Tony driving his car, etc.), there are clearly mountains in the background. I've lived in Florida for almost 40 years, and I've yet to find those mountains!

And also, how most women (soaps and other shows too) wake up for their day with perfect hair...

Not to mention wearing full makeup. No curlers or face cream for soap women!

I think, as a rule, there are no ugly people in soap operas. (With the possible exception of the occasional villain.)

 

[Corky Marlowe]

Black people in Mayberry: There were some in a couple of crowd shots during the show's run. On another note, they love their basketball in North Carolina...Apparently everywhere but Mayberry. Nobody ever goes to see Mayberry play Silar City in the Mount Pilot sectional, nor are there are any arguments over the merits of UNC-NC State-Duke.

Related Show Mystery: Back in Mayberry, Gomer Pyle was a master mechanic/car doctor. So how come when he joined the Marines, he was in an infantry unit and had no discernible skills other than singing or screwing up?

 

[Braves2005]

A pretty funny question about Green Acres: How could Oliver afford a Lincoln Continental every year but he couldn't afford a new tractor and always fixing Mr. Haney's old tractor as rich as he was and Lisa could afford new clothes, furs, jewelry, etc.?

 

[mleach]

What was up with that Mr. Mooney/Mrs. Charmichael thing? He was in charge of all her money? Did her dead husband not entrust her to her own financial freedom?

That part is true. There is one episode where Mooney said the Lucy Charmichael could not be trusted with her husband's money so Mooney ( and Mr. Barnsdahl before Mooney ) were in charge of Lucy's dead husband's money.. Plus there was another episode of the Lucy Show where Lucy's daughter "Chris" ( Candy Moore ) made a mention something like "..I know daddy didn't trust you with money but if we ever really need anything Mr. Mooney will have to give us the money" .

 

[searadiofreak]

This is one of the best threads ever! What did Mrs. Brady do? Haha.

 

[bpatrick]

It's spelled "Siler" City (I know, I live there).
I seem to recall an episode of "Mayberry RFD"
which guest starred a real black teenager from
North Carolina. But remember, "The Andy Griffith
Show" was on in a time when black faces were
hardly ever seen; it was a big deal when, in 1964,
Lawrence Welk put a black man--Art Duncan--on
his show. It would take a combination of Bill Cosby
on "I Spy" and Diahann Carroll on "Julia" to change
that situation.