# A blonde, a brunette and a redhead walk into a TV studio **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246 "2013-07-11T19:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/41 "2013-07-12T17:58:45Z")
_Band of Brothers_ would have been a hell of a lot easier to follow if this rule had applied. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/42 "2013-07-12T22:15:56Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > That said, Friends didn’t even use the “blonde, brunette, redhead” trope as Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow are both blondes. The trope doesn’t require one of the women to have flaming red hair. [TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlondeBrunetteRedhead) says “Strictly speaking, these women need not have the exact Clairol hues of blonde, brown/black and red, particularly when stepping away from the natural spectrum. The blonde will have the lightest hair, the brunette the darkest and the redhead will have a distinct moderate shade — all for instant sight recognition.” _Friends_ is listed on the page for this trope, with Rachel being described as having “kind of reddish honey-blonde” hair in contrast with brunette Monica and blonde Phoebe. Personally I’d say “kind of reddish light brown”, but I suspect “honey blonde” is just the more poetic way of saying “light brown”. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/43 "2013-07-13T01:27:49Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > _Band of Brothers_ would have been a hell of a lot easier to follow if this rule had applied. You weren’t the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/44 "2013-07-13T06:40:43Z")
> [@BrianJ](#): > > Do casting directors think we can’t tell women apart except for their hair? Maybe they are thinking about overseas markets? Asian Asians tend to find Westerners as difficult to tell apart as the average Westerner finds Asians. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/45 "2013-07-13T09:23:23Z")
I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I was in my thirties (I’m 52) before I consciously realized that Nurse Chapel and Yeoman Janice Rand were different characters played by different actresses. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/46 "2013-07-13T11:30:22Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > It didn’t seem hard at all to me, but then, not many of the pictures were of women. 🙂 I did okay, but if the pictures had been of current teen/twenties-ish stars I wouldn’t have done well at all. I wouldn’t know Demi Lovato from Vanessa Hudgens from Vanessa Manillo. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I can have trouble if characters have the same color hair and similar hairstyles. > > Men are even more difficult, especially if they are wearing suits. > > (And black and white movies where all the men are white guys in suits are especially trying.) I’ve had to give up on some shows or movies where every woman was 5’2" and blonde with straight shoulder length hair, and homogenized rhinoplasty. If they’er in a cop or FBI situation where all the men are all in suits and have brown hair parted on the same side I’m a gonner. I can’t follow. I spend the whole time asking “Wait is that one his wife, or the DA who wants to charge him with murder?” “She’s sleeping with her -wait, is that her brother or her boss?” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/47 "2013-07-13T13:08:14Z")
A family we were friends with as kids had three children, two girls and a boy. The girls had blond and red hair, respectively, and the boy had dark brown, almost black. Nor was there any ambiguity about any of those colors (i.e., no “auburn”, or “strawberry blond”, or whatever): They were all the color you’d use as the type specimen for that hair color. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/48 "2013-07-13T13:45:35Z")
Mom got around, eh? hehheh. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/49 "2013-07-13T14:00:36Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > This wouldn’t be such a problem if what we considered beautiful didn’t correlate with looking very similar. > [@Lamia](#): > > This doesn’t explain why female characters seem to come color coded for our convenience a lot more often than male ones, though. Males in TV & movies are not nearly as much of a “type” facially however. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/50 "2013-07-13T14:35:40Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > You weren’t the only one. I had no problem with Band of Brothers. You just had to do what I did. Watch the series a dozen times. Read the book. Read all the books about the book. Read the books written by the surviving members. No problem. (A month ago I met Bill Guarnere!) I have noticed that in media redheads are shown way out of proportion with reality. Especially in commercials. Not that I’m complaining. At all. Does it seem like I’m complianing? Because I’m really not. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/51 "2013-07-13T16:02:20Z")
> [@BrianJ](#): > > Do casting directors think we can’t tell women apart except for their hair? No, but different hair color can immediately identify who’s who. They’re like a nametag for the character. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/52 "2013-07-13T16:41:01Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I have noticed that in media redheads are shown way out of proportion with reality. Especially in commercials. Not that I’m complaining. At all. Does it seem like I’m complianing? Because I’m really not. That’s because reality can change. Who are the two most famous redheads in movies/TV right now? Christina Hendricks and Emma Stone. Both are naturally blonde. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/53 "2013-07-13T16:55:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I have noticed that in media redheads are shown way out of proportion with reality. Especially in commercials. Not that I’m complaining. At all. Does it seem like I’m complianing? Because I’m really not. Redheads in the media seem to come in and out of fashion, like skirt lengths. There’ll be none (or very few) for a while, then lots, then none, etc. We have an overabundance these days. I am also not complaining. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/54 "2013-07-13T17:03:44Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I have noticed that in media redheads are shown way out of proportion with reality. Especially in commercials. Not that I’m complaining. At all. Does it seem like I’m complianing? Because I’m really not. > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > That’s because reality can change. Who are the two most famous redheads in movies/TV right now? Christina Hendricks and Emma Stone. Both are naturally blonde. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Redheads in the media seem to come in and out of fashion, like skirt lengths. There’ll be none (or very few) for a while, then lots, then none, etc. > > We have an overabundance these days. I am also not complaining. I have no complaints either. You might notice that blondes are over-represented as well. This causes some naturally blonde actresses to color their hair so they will be more distinquishable. Blond male actors frequently dye their hair darker because blond men are not considered telegenic. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/55 "2013-07-13T17:11:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Blond male actors frequently dye their hair darker because blond men are not considered telegenic. I have never heard this before. Who are some of the dark-haired TV actors who are natural blonds? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/56 "2013-07-13T18:57:04Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I have never heard this before. Who are some of the dark-haired TV actors who are natural blonds? William Petersen is an example that comes to mind. This was conventional Hollywood wisdom, male facial features wash out with short blond hair, and blonde haired men wouldn’t get typical roles. I can name plenty of exceptions though, so I can’t attest that following the wisdom was a wise thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/57 "2013-07-13T19:04:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Interesting. Different people must use very different clues for facial recognition. I’ve never thought those two looked similar, though browsing Google Images now I guess some might. To be fair, I don’t think it’s just about facial recognition, more that they’re both tough guys, vaguely similar-looking, with similar-sounding names, and are about the same age. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/58 "2013-07-13T21:11:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > William Petersen is an example that comes to mind. This was conventional Hollywood wisdom, male facial features wash out with short blond hair, and blonde haired men wouldn’t get typical roles. I can name plenty of exceptions though, so I can’t attest that following the wisdom was a wise thing to do. Are you sure Petersen is a natural blond? Both his [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Petersen) and his [IMDb entry](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676973/bio) say that after starring in the 1986 _Manhunter_ film he dyed his hair blond to distance himself from the role. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/59 "2013-07-13T21:19:31Z")
Since nobody else is going to: Is this thread some kind of joke? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246/60 "2013-07-13T21:44:59Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Are you sure Petersen is a natural blond? Both his [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Petersen) and his [IMDb entry](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0676973/bio) say that after starring in the 1986 _Manhunter_ film he dyed his hair blond to distance himself from the role. No, I’m not sure. I remember reading that he was a natural blond, very light, and he went dark to get more roles. Don’t know the guy personally, so I couldn’t tell you. Again, I’m not stating that men dye their hair dark based on personal knowledge of any men doing so, but that this was, and still appears to be, conventional Hollywood wisdom. However, there have been many exceptions, Lee Majors and Tab Hunter come to mind from the old days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blonde-a-brunette-and-a-redhead-walk-into-a-tv-studio/663246.md?page=4)