Ironic Observations about tv shows, past and present

[lenslady]

I wonder if you sometimes watch a show that you like. but find little items and/or missteps that strike you as unlikely, questionable, implausible and silly. This thread is meant to be all in fun, and for me it's usually something I 've seen in treasured favorite old shows that I've watched so often, that I' ll notice something like a character wearing two different outfits in the same scene ( the original beloved Star Trek abounds in these)

Well, I welcome you to write in and join the fun - and here's a few of my own observations:

I've been watching repeats of old Murder She Wrote episodes; and here's a few resulting pithy insights:
1- Why in the world does anyone live in Cabot Cove? It looks like a cosy little New England town, but there seems to be a murder there every week. In fact, after a few years run, I' m surprised this tiny hamlet has any population left at all.

2- Why is JB Fletcher so darn popular- she seems to know and be best friends with every son of a nephew, old school chum, grocery clerk who moved to Altoona, etc et al from coast to coast. Is there anyone in America who's about to be accused of a murder they didn't commit that she doesn't know????

3- Not a question but an observation. You can binge watch Law And Order, but you can't binge watch Murder She Wrote.

4 - And speaking of Law and Order, SUV - was there anyone who looks more unlikely to be Captain to head this hard biiten, tough skinned NYC squad than Dann Florek? He looks more like a head librarian than a cop jmho- or maybe the assistant clerk to your tax preparer. And what's with that extra 'N' Dann? Lol

[gbgoodies]

I've been watching repeats of old Murder She Wrote episodes; and here's a few resulting pithy insights:
1- Why in the world does anyone live in Cabot Cove? It looks like a cosy little New England town, but there seems to be a murder there every week. In fact, after a few years run, I' m surprised this tiny hamlet has any population left at all.

I haven't seen many episodes of "Murder She Wrote", but I always wondered why nobody suspected that Jessica Fletcher was the murderer. She's a writer, not a cop, detective, etc., so why is she smack dab in the middle of all those murder cases? It just seems natural to suspect that she might be involved.


I've been watching a lot of "Perry Mason" recently, and it made me wonder, if Perry Mason wins every case, is it the police that are so incompetent that they keep arresting the wrong person, or is it the District Attorney who is so incompetent that he can't win even a single case? Somebody should have been fired a long time ago. :lol:

[gbgoodies]

One of my favorite TV shows is "The Big Bang Theory", but there's one specific line in one specific episode of TBBT that annoys me every time I see it because I can't believe the writers missed such an obvious line.

In the episode "The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem", (Season 2, Episode 6), there's a scene where Leslie Winkle calls Sheldon "dumba$$", and he's trying to think of a comeback line to her. He eventually says, "You're a mean person.".

The right comeback line would have been for him to use Captain Kirk's line from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home when the cabbie called Kirk a dumba$$. Sheldon is a Star Trek expert. He should have immediately thought of that comeback line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ1xg-Rz5xw

[average joe]

You're right, gbgoodies. He should have thought of that line.

The thing that always strikes me as funny about Jessica Fletcher is she frequently confronts the murderer alone! I mean, he/she has already killed one person. Why wouldn't he/she kill another to keep it secret? Jessica doesn't seem like the type to carry a gun.

[lenslady]

Lol average joe. Forgot about that; so true. Also, why did this woman never learn to drive? She sprints round town on that bicycle like a teenager , but she looks more to be in the age of arthritis to me.

Also true about Perry Mason - gbgoodies - that DA in particular was certifiably incompetent, and seemed to grow more morose with each case.
( small wonder, I don't think he ever won a case)


Here's one that really bothered me lol- do you remember how Phyllis crashed Rhoda's wedding party, but forgot to pick up Rhoda for the ceremony? She wound up almost ruining Rhoda's wedding! I would have expected SOMEONE to throw her out of the wedding, or at the least; Rhoda's mom to throw that ditzy diva right out the window. ;D

[gbgoodies]

The thing that always strikes me as funny about Jessica Fletcher is she frequently confronts the murderer alone! I mean, he/she has already killed one person. Why wouldn't he/she kill another to keep it secret? Jessica doesn't seem like the type to carry a gun.


A lot of TV detectives do that. Columbo did it all the time.

[Larry]

House - like the show a lot but in the early seasons he would negligently make a brash diagnosis and then the patient would react then he would eventual get round to the correct diagnosis.

[average joe]

Yeah, I wouldn't want him as my doctor. He seems to operate by trial and error.

[honeykid]

That's every episode of House. It's the most formulaic programme I've ever seen, I think. I liked it though.

Why does anyone answer the door to Jessica Fletcher? She's there. You've invited her. Someone is going to be murdered. Read a bloody newspaper people!

[Gideon58]

This post amused me because I have never sat through an entire episode of Murder She Wrote.

[lenslady]

Lol on House Larry and average joe. Friends who have been fans of the show, along with me, all agreed -
wouldn''t want that guy as a doctor!

Hilarious observation honeykid - JB Fletcher is sort of like the Typhoid Mary of murder mysteries. Don't let her innnnnnnnnnnn!

[spookiemoviemania]

I watched just about ever Colombo episode. I longed for the day when he arrives to interview someone in his dishevelled state and gets the door closed in his face with the comment " Skid Row is down the street pal"https://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gifhttps://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif


Cool thread LL.

[spookiemoviemania]

Oh how I wanted someone to smack the chops of that conceited, opinionated, egotistic, superior; arrogant Fonze in Happy Days.https://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif

[spookiemoviemania]

I also watched every episode of I Dream Of Jeannie... Jeannie got Nelson into so much trouble..why did he not throw away the bottle? I think there was one episode when they returned to the island where he found her in order to rebury her.. but he chickened outhttps://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif

[average joe]

I never understood why Will Robinson's parents allowed him to spend so much time with Dr. Smith. Talk about a bad influence!

[SeeingisBelieving]

I suppose one of the most common ones would be that in various examples of science fiction, humans go to alien planets and all the aliens conveniently speak English.

Doctor Who – eventually 😊 (in The Masque of Mandragora) – addressed this in a very clever and satisfying way by having it that the TARDIS translated everything for the Doctor and his companions.

I'm not sure when Star Trek referred to their Universal Translator but that's its equivalent reason for everyone understanding each other.

[spookiemoviemania]

I suppose one of the most common ones would be that in various examples of science fiction, humans go to alien planets and all the aliens conveniently speak English.

Doctor Who – eventually 😊 (in The Masque of Mandragora) – addressed this in a very clever and satisfying way by having it that the TARDIS translated everything for the Doctor and his companions.

I'm not sure when Star Trek referred to their Universal Translator but that's its equivalent reason for everyone understanding each other. yes that was mostly in the 50/60s American sci fis. I do recall a Twilight Zone episode when a giant alien came to earth and spoke in an alien language. It was only at the end that some scientist deciphered the language.. which was that the humans were " being kidnapped by the aliens to be taken to their planet where they would be food for their captors "

[average joe]

That's the classic episode, "To Serve Man."

[spookiemoviemania]

That's the classic episode, "To Serve Man." That is the one. That giant from the Bond movies played the Alien leader... Richard Keil or other?

[spookiemoviemania]

I have great admiration for the talent of TZ's Rod Serling.. but the man was a walking cigarette advertisement. Wonder he didnt hold up the packet during his hosting.

[spookiemoviemania]

The psychiatrist in I Dream of Jeannie could have written a book on Nelson as he had the astronaut on his couch just about every episode.

[Citizen Rules]

I have great admiration for the talent of TZ's Rod Serling.. but the man was a walking cigarette advertisement. Wonder he didnt hold up the packet during his hosting.
He did! I kid you not...from the ending of certain Twilight Zone episodes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N8MADUzoP0

[spookiemoviemania]

LL is a classic. Creates a thread then rarely posts on it.:p. Should have added this before.

[spookiemoviemania]

He did! I kid you not...from the ending of certain Twilight Zone episodes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N8MADUzoP0

I had forgotten that. https://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif I downloaded the full DVD set to put in my library. That commercial is not on any of those.. so must only be on the original prints. RS was a chainsmoker.. his heart attack is said to be a direct result of that. A great talent gone too early at 50. I heard there is to be a TZ reboot. They should bring back the little man as host by way of a hologram. Just an idea.

[spookiemoviemania]

I like this caricature of RS.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ8Rl--ZSyC4BagX3up_wuxXLwzcWY3y3jjQlBerfGrNY4f_neI

[average joe]

It was a different time. Fred and Barney actually did a cigarette commercial when "The Flintstones" aired on primetime.

[Captain Steel]

A lot of TV detectives do that. Columbo did it all the time.

At least Columbo was a cop, so he had a reason to be investigating one murder after another - it was his job, he was assigned cases, he didn't just seem to happen upon murder after murder in the same town.

Oh... and just one more thing...

[Captain Steel]

I also watched every episode of I Dream Of Jeannie... Jeannie got Nelson into so much trouble..why did he not throw away the bottle? I think there was one episode when they returned to the island where he found her in order to rebury her.. but he chickened outhttps://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif

Because the sex made it all worth it! :cool:

[gbgoodies]

At least Columbo was a cop, so he had a reason to be investigating one murder after another - it was his job, he was assigned cases, he didn't just seem to happen upon murder after murder in the same town.

Oh... and just one more thing...


Captain Steel, I was referring to the fact that Columbo doesn't carry his gun, but he's often alone with the murders, even when he's arresting them.

[Captain Steel]

Captain Steel, I was referring to the fact that Columbo doesn't carry his gun, but he's often alone with the murders, even when he's arresting them.

Yes, I know.

I was giving this some thought and was wondering, do we know Columbo didn't carry a gun? He was a cop, so he probably had a gun. Was there ever a scene like where he was at home and didn't have his coat on where you could see a chest holster?

But, yeah, he was usually alone when he made his arrests (this is why I think he was probably packing under that raincoat!) ;)

[spookiemoviemania]

Yes, I know.

I was giving this some thought and was wondering, do we know Columbo didn't carry a gun? He was a cop, so he probably had a gun. Was there ever a scene like where he was at home and didn't have his coat on where you could see a chest holster?

But, yeah, he was usually alone when he made his arrests (this is why I think he was probably packing under that raincoat!) ;) He was usually alone for his interviews but almost always had a couple of uniforms when making an arrest.

[spookiemoviemania]

" book em Danno"

who is responsible for that statement?

[lenslady]

That was a catch phrase used by Jack Lord on the old Hawaii 5-0. Popular in its day. Probably not many of those born on this side of the century would use it. I haven't really watched the new version, except to glance at the gorgeous scenics..
Btw on the topic of our favorite dishevelled crime solver; why oh why did they never reveal his first name??They could have 'clued
us in ' at the finale.

Anyone thought of what his name would be? I' m saying it's Frank Columbo.

As in: "Frankly my dear, I have just one more question...." .;D

[spookiemoviemania]

Spot on about Hawaii Five O.



Never revealed his name.. I will say Giovanni Colombo

Never showed his wife either tho she must have been mentioned in every second episode.

Actually Columbo's famous catchphrase was " There's just one more thing"

What about that old jalopy he drove. This is a quote from one episode.
You know, in all the years I've had this car, this is the first time I've ever had the top down! (http://www.great-quotes.com/quote/1518841)

And his dog. Big floppy ears, sunken jowls.. Bassett Hound?

[average joe]

Captain Steel, I agree with you that Columbo carried a gun. A website called The Columbophile says he hated guns but also acknowledges he fired one once and is seen holding one in one episode. I think his confrontations are more plausible than Jessica Fletcher's because as a cop, he would likely have a gun and other officers waiting in the wings. Even if Jessica went to the police first, it's hard to imagine them allowing her, as a civilian, to approach a suspect with them some distance away. But it is a convention of the genre even though I poked fun at it.
As for his first name, it's said that Frank appears on his badge a couple of times and on an evidence bag once but is only visible if you zoom in with today's technology. According to The Columbophile, that was probably a prop man's idea and the show's creators didn't intend for him to have a name.

[lenslady]

Thank you! average joe for confirming his name was Frank, which was a wild guess on my part. I just thought he looked like a Frank. Also thanks for the tip on the website, think I' ll check it out.

Also totally agree, re: JB and others; it's a convention of the genre. That we are here to poke ( affectionate) fun at.

Btw although they never showed his wife on Columbo, I believe there was a later series called Mrs. Columbo, who also was a crime fighter of some sort . And they probably never showed 'Mr.' Columbo on that show either.

[mattiasflgrtll6]

The only thing I can think of right now is how Carl Kanisky in Gimme A Break! slapping his own daughter was "justified" because he was grieving the loss of his wife. That was really bizzarre.

[Gideon58]

I also watched every episode of I Dream Of Jeannie... Jeannie got Nelson into so much trouble..why did he not throw away the bottle? I think there was one episode when they returned to the island where he found her in order to rebury her.. but he chickened outhttps://www.planetcricket.org/forums/styles/planetcricket/xenforo/smilies/laughing.gif

And did it drive anyone else insane that Dr. Bellows would walk into Maj Nelson's house without knocking or ringing the bell?

[average joe]

It seems like lots of people walked into the Cunningham home without knocking on "Happy Days," too. And as for "Mork & Mindy," I can accept that no one suspected he was an alien, but wouldn't they think he was insane or on drugs?

[gbgoodies]

Yes, I know.

I was giving this some thought and was wondering, do we know Columbo didn't carry a gun? He was a cop, so he probably had a gun. Was there ever a scene like where he was at home and didn't have his coat on where you could see a chest holster?

But, yeah, he was usually alone when he made his arrests (this is why I think he was probably packing under that raincoat!) ;)

There were several times when Columbo mentioned that he didn't carry his gun. I don't think he ever wore a holster.

I think there was even an episode where he was supposed to take a shooting test, but he had someone else take it for him.


He was usually alone for his interviews but almost always had a couple of uniforms when making an arrest.

Yes, there were times when there were uniformed cops with him when he made the arrest, but there were also many times that he was alone with the murderer when he made the arrest.

There were even a couple of times that he was in a deserted place when he confronted the murderer, and then he drove back to town in the same car with them.

I guess it just depended on how dangerous he thought that person was, and if he thought they would try to kill him.

[gbgoodies]

Btw although they never showed his wife on Columbo, I believe there was a later series called Mrs. Columbo, who also was a crime fighter of some sort . And they probably never showed 'Mr.' Columbo on that show either.


Yes, there was a short-lived TV show called "Mrs. Columbo". It starred Kate Mulgrew as Kate Columbo. As far as I know, Peter Falk never appeared on the show.

[lenslady]

I think you figured that right gbgoodies, he sensed who would be a danger or not.


If I' m remembering correctly, it was Johnny Cash, who played a murderer in one episode, who asked Columbo just that question when they both were alone on a deserted road: "Aren't you afraid to be alone with a dangerous murderer?" To which Columbo says ' "No, I figure you don't have another murder in you." and Johnny assents. Then the capper from Columbo is:
'"Besides, anyone who sings and plays like you can't be all bad" lol The line was surely meant not just for the part he played, but for Johnny himself. Well I know I started this as a sort of 'blooper' thread-;D but there was no blooper there .

PS Thanks gb for remembering the Mrs. Columbo show. Anyone see it?

[gbgoodies]

PS Thanks gb for remembering the Mrs. Columbo show. Anyone see it?


I saw it a long time ago, but I think I still have some of the episodes on VHS tapes somewhere. Hopefully I'll be able to transfer them to DV-R discs before my VCR dies.