TV Sitcom Without A Jail Cell Scene

[Markxxx]

I was watching the Mary Tyler Moore Show the episode where she went to jail for refusing to reveal her source. I thought I wonder how many shows have had at least one episode or scene where on of the prinicpal characters is actually shown in a jail cell. Then as I started thinking, all of them I thought of, the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family, All In The Family, Dick Van Dyke, That Girl, I Love Lucy etc, etc all had episodes where one of the prinicpal characters was shown in a jail cell.

It seems being in a jail cell is a typical sitcom idea

What sitcoms do not have scenes where one of the principals was in jail or shown in a jail cell.

Leave It To Beaver had a scene where Wally picks up the Beaver at the police station but he's not in a cell.

 

[Corky Marlowe]

That is, now that you mention it, one of the "go-to" cliches in the sitcom universe. A few more examples--"Mork & Mindy", "Sanford & Son", and of course, "Seinfeld".

One show where I can't think of a jail cell scene is "The Beverly Hillbillies". As far as its sister shows, it seems like there might have been a jail scene in "Green Acres", but not "Petticoat Junction" (although the old cage elevator at the Shady Rest kinda looked like a jail cell).

 

[mleach]

I was watching the Mary Tyler Moore Show the episode where she went to jail for refusing to reveal her source. I thought I wonder how many shows have had at least one episode or scene where on of the prinicpal characters is actually shown in a jail cell. Then as I started thinking, all of them I thought of, the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family, All In The Family, Dick Van Dyke, That Girl, I Love Lucy etc, etc all had episodes where one of the prinicpal characters was shown in a jail cell.

It seems being in a jail cell is a typical sitcom idea

What sitcoms do not have scenes where one of the principals was in jail or shown in a jail cell.

Leave It To Beaver had a scene where Wally picks up the Beaver at the police station but he's not in a cell.

May have to go way way back to the 50s to find a sitcom without a jail scene. The Life of Reily with William Bendix comes to mind but then again its been so long, at least 25 years since I have seen it other than the few episodes on archive.org but back then i watched Bendix and company every night on the old CBN cable and I don't remember a jail scene.

What about those late 60's sitcoms like Julia or Doris Day? Somehow I just can't picture Doris Day in jail.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

One show where I can't think of a jail cell scene is "The Beverly Hillbillies".

A very early first season episode had the Clampetts in the Beverly Hills jail as they were
mistaken for "undesirables" after just arriving in Cali. Mr. Drysdale had to spring them.

 

[bpatrick]

I was watching the Mary Tyler Moore Show the episode where she went to jail for refusing to reveal her source. I thought I wonder how many shows have had at least one episode or scene where on of the prinicpal characters is actually shown in a jail cell. Then as I started thinking, all of them I thought of, the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family, All In The Family, Dick Van Dyke, That Girl, I Love Lucy etc, etc all had episodes where one of the prinicpal characters was shown in a jail cell.

It seems being in a jail cell is a typical sitcom idea

What sitcoms do not have scenes where one of the principals was in jail or shown in a jail cell.

Leave It To Beaver had a scene where Wally picks up the Beaver at the police station but he's not in a cell.

May have to go way way back to the 50s to find a sitcom without a jail scene. The Life of Reily with William Bendix comes to mind but then again its been so long, at least 25 years since I have seen it other than the few episodes on archive.org but back then i watched Bendix and company every night on the old CBN cable and I don't remember a jail scene.

What about those late 60's sitcoms like Julia or Doris Day? Somehow I just can't picture Doris Day in jail.

On the Burns and Allen show George and Harry Morton wound up in jail so often the cell was made a permanent part of the set.

 

[LKellerIII]

One show where I can't think of a jail cell scene is "The Beverly Hillbillies".

A very early first season episode had the Clampetts in the Beverly Hills jail as they were
mistaken for "undesirables" after just arriving in Cali. Mr. Drysdale had to spring them.

This plot line was supported by reality. In those days, the Beverly Hills PD routinely stopped cars passing through some of their super-rich neighborhoods - and I'm not talking just about undesirable looking people in old cars - but anybody they decided didn't have a reason to be there.

Tourists and star-struck locals would buy star maps and drive through these areas looking for stars' homes, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars themselves. Not likely, given that the stars lived behind huge walls and didn't normally go out to the curb to get the mail - they had hired help to do that.

The BHPD would just check IDs and ask a few questions. But if you had a warrant, you were going to jail. I believe this all stopped in the 70s when the Supreme Court ruled that police needed probable cause to pull people over.

 

[KyDXIn]

One show where I can't think of a jail cell scene is "The Beverly Hillbillies".

A very early first season episode had the Clampetts in the Beverly Hills jail as they were
mistaken for "undesirables" after just arriving in Cali. Mr. Drysdale had to spring them.

Early episode?? Yep, it was the pilot. BTW, I love the running gag at the end of the show where they are fleeing the "prison".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTFKJ9r8pbM&feature=related

There has been a lot of negative things written about the Beverly Hillbillies trilogy of shows, but one thing has to be said. Paul Henning never compromised the respect of the characters. I think society has degraded over the years due to the fact that murder and physical crimes are routinely shown on television. I refuse to watch most of network tv cause the last thing I want to watch after a long day of work is a murder scene. At least a good ole corny sitcom will help you end the day with a laugh.

 

[RicoGregg]

Was there a jail in Gilligan's Island?

I always thought it was a little tacky in the show Designing Women to have the only black character be an ex-convict. Did they have to do that? Was it a necessary ingredient? ???

 

[KyDXIn]

Leave It To Beaver had a scene where Wally picks up the Beaver at the police station but he's not in a cell.

On the Burns and Allen show George and Harry Morton wound up in jail so often the cell was made a permanent part of the set.

I just wanted to remind everyone about the fine actress Bea Benaderet who played Blanche Morton on Burns and Allen, who also played Pearl Bodine on Beverly Hillbillies, and Kate Bradley on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. I think many of us have forgotten what a great actress she was, starting in radio on the Fibber McGee and Molly show, moving to cartoons doing voice over work as Granny and Betty Rumble, then ending her career in televison.

So many of her shows had been mentioned, I thought I would honor her with a mention here.

 

[Braves2005]

One show where I can't think of a jail cell scene is "The Beverly Hillbillies".

A very early first season episode had the Clampetts in the Beverly Hills jail as they were
mistaken for "undesirables" after just arriving in Cali. Mr. Drysdale had to spring them.

Jed and Jethro were arrested for breaking and entering their own dress shop that Mr. Drysdale got for them by opening up at 5:00 AM in the morning. When Elly called Mr. Drysdale and told him about Jed and Jethro being in jail, Mr. Drysdale is seen running outside with his robe and pajamas and then him in jail with Jed and Jethro for disorderly conduct, indecent exposure and being drunk with Jethro saying that Mr. Drysdale had them all beat and that all they got was breaking and entering.

Mr. Drysdale was also arrested in Hooterville for being with a drunken bear and carrying moonshine. The Clampetts and Miss Jane had to go back to Hooterville to bail him out.

 

[Maine-i-ac]

Was there a jail in Gilligan's Island?

Yup, in season 2, the castaways are afraid that if they stay for awhile, lawlessness will run amuck so Gilligan is elected sheriff. Taking his job seriously, he tickets and jails all the other castaways for minor violations. I can't remember how, but he comes into the jail cell with them and accidentally locks himself in while the key is outside of the cell. Of course a chance to be rescued comes along and passes.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Gilligan......I can't remember how, but he comes into the jail cell with them and accidentally locks himself in while the key is outside of the cell.

Taking lessons from Barney Fife?

 

[jwk1979]

Jed and Jethro were arrested for breaking and entering their own dress shop that Mr. Drysdale got for them by opening up at 5:00 AM in the morning. When Elly called Mr. Drysdale and told him about Jed and Jethro being in jail, Mr. Drysdale is seen running outside with his robe and pajamas and then him in jail with Jed and Jethro for disorderly conduct, indecent exposure and being drunk with Jethro saying that Mr. Drysdale had them all beat and that all they got was breaking and entering.

Mr. Drysdale was also arrested in Hooterville for being with a drunken bear and carrying moonshine. The Clampetts and Miss Jane had to go back to Hooterville to bail him out.

Ther was also the episode where the Clampetts were being sued by a couple after the couple backed into the Clampetts in front of Mr. Drysdal's bank. The judge charged the Clmpetts for comtempt of court and put them in a cell to cool them off.