# Bowling episodes on TV sitcoms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381 "2003-06-25T22:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/1 "2003-06-25T22:20:42Z")
It seems that every single television sitcom has at least one (tenpin) bowling episode during its run, with a select few containing multiple bowling episodes. Due to the nature of the game and the similarity between episodes, it seems like there is a specific protocol on how they set up the lane, ball return, etc. Has anyone on the boards ever attended a taping of a bowling episode, or is there anyone with inside information on the protocol, i.e. How do they deal with a bowled ball? Who owns the equipment; certainly not the shows’ producers? I guess the audience is told to applaud as if a strike was bowled and to groan upon the bowling of an open frame? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/2 "2003-06-25T22:25:45Z")
Darn, I’m sorry for my recent rash of misplaced posts; I meant for this to go in Cafe Society. Sorry for the extra work, Mods. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/3 "2003-06-25T23:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*It seems that every single television sitcom has at least one (tenpin) bowling episode during its run… \*\* I’ve seen a lot of tv sitcoms, and, for the life of me, I can’t think of a single bowling episode. Please, refresh my memory. I’ll give you a few sitcoms: Seinfeld All in the Family Frasier M_A_S\*H The Cosby Show The Bob Newhart Show Newhart The Andy Griffith Show Saved by the Bell The Odd Couple Everybody Loves Raymond Archie Bunker’s Place King of the Hill The Simpsons Taxi Barney Miller Cheers Sanford and Son The Mary Tyler Moore Show The Dick van Dyke Show And you better not be attempting a lame whoosh either! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/4 "2003-06-25T23:21:54Z")
Off to Cafe Society. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/5 "2003-06-25T23:23:17Z")
M_A_S\*H - the MASH unit versus a Marine outfit. Margaret throws the winning ball The Simpsons - Homer bowls a 300 game Married with Children - Al and the No-Ma’am boys win the Puggy Cup I’m sure I’ll think of others later. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/6 "2003-06-25T23:26:12Z")
“Malcolm In the Middle” - the episode in which they show how an evening can have very different outcomes depending on whether it’s Mom or Dad who takes you bowling… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/7 "2003-06-25T23:39:01Z")
Simpsons – The one where marge has an affair with the bowling instructor: [Life on the Fast Lane (#7G11) 18 Mar 1990](http://www.snpp.com/episodeguide/season1.html) > [@](#): > > Homer gives Marge a bowling ball for her birthday, intending to use it for himself. However, Marge vows to learn how to bowl, and ends up getting intimate with Jacques, her bowling teacher. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/8 "2003-06-25T23:47:15Z")
There’s also the episode where Homer gets Mr. Burns to sponsor a league team, composed of Homer, Otto, Apu, and Moe. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/9 "2003-06-25T23:48:06Z")
All in the Family: [Archie and the Bowling Team: December 16, 1972](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-201/epid-38158/) > [@](#): > > Archie loses his spot on a top bowling team to a black player. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/10 "2003-06-25T23:57:07Z")
Dick Van Dyke Show: [“The Twizzle” Episode 23, February 28, 1962](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-535/epid-8299/) > [@](#): > > Rob & Laura find Sally at the door to introduce them to Randy Twizzle (Sally found him at the bowling alley.) They learn how to Twizzle at the bowling alley along with the staff of the show! Mel tells Randy he can do the dance on the show! ---
**Author:** ![Sauroposeidon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sauroposeidon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauroposeidon)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/11 "2003-06-26T00:03:03Z")
I remember an episode of The Drew Carey Show where Drew and Mimi bowl for money against a team of doctors. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/12 "2003-06-26T00:04:13Z")
_Cheers_ episode 78, [From Beer to Eternity](http://s9000.furman.edu/~ejorgens/cheers/episodes/78.html). > [@](#): > > Since the gang at Cheers has lost to Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern in just about every sport, when they are challenged to a bowling tournament they feel that finally they have found something that they can beat Gary at. They start out losing, but find a surprising ace in the hole. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/13 "2003-06-26T00:05:24Z")
On **All in the Family** the bowling in all of the episodes is dealt with off screen. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/14 "2003-06-26T00:07:14Z")
The Odd Couple: [“To Bowl or Not to Bowl” Episode 94, September 19, 1974](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-104/epid-92640/) > [@](#): > > Felix drops a bombshell when he refuses to participate in the championship bowling match. > > \*Voice on speaker:“Okay Unger get up, I’ve got people waiting to bowl.” > > Felix: “Shut up conscience” > > Voice: This isn’t your conscience, it’s the manager of the bowling alley." \* ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/15 "2003-06-26T00:11:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*It seems that every single television sitcom has at least one (tenpin) bowling episode during its run, with a select few containing multiple bowling episodes. Due to the nature of the game and the similarity between episodes, it seems like there is a specific protocol on how they set up the lane, ball return, etc. > > Has anyone on the boards ever attended a taping of a bowling episode, or is there anyone with inside information on the protocol, i.e. How do they deal with a bowled ball? Who owns the equipment; certainly not the shows’ producers? I guess the audience is told to applaud as if a strike was bowled and to groan upon the bowling of an open frame? Thanks. \*\* The setup of the lane, ball return, etc. are governed by the [American Bowling Congress](http://www.bowl.com/bowl/abc/common/static.html?page=bowl_bowlingrulebook_index) (In America, at least. I imagine other countries have similar organizations.) The rules are intricate. Very intricate. (Did you know that it’s not allowed to put ArmorAll on a bowling ball?) As for who owns the equipment - It normally belongs to the bowling alley they’re taping in. Being a “location” shot, there’s probably no audience at all, and audience reactions are dubbed in as if it were a laugh track. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/16 "2003-06-26T00:13:05Z")
King of the Hill: [“Transnational Amusements Presents: Peggy’s Magic Sex Feet” Episode 83, May 14, 2000](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/GuidePageServlet/showid-250/epid-9200/) > [@](#): > > When Peggy and Hank’s double date with Nancy and Dale gets switched from dinner to bowling, Peggy is completely unnerved. She reluctantly goes along, and is forced to confide her shameful secret to the shoe clerk: She wears a size 16! The clerk is shocked and Peggy flees the alley in shame. > > Later, Peggy’s getting fitted for a custom pair of bowling shoes and finds out her feet have actually grown to size 16 and a half! As she sits in her car, sobbing, another big-footed woman approaches and refers Peggy to Grant Trimble. She assures Peggy that Trimble can make her troubles go away ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/17 "2003-06-26T00:21:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gotpasswords \* > \*\*The setup of the lane, ball return, etc. are governed by the [American Bowling Congress](http://www.bowl.com/bowl/abc/common/static.html?page=bowl_bowlingrulebook_index) (In America, at least. I imagine other countries have similar organizations.) The rules are intricate. Very intricate. (Did you know that it’s not allowed to put ArmorAll on a bowling ball?) > > As for who owns the equipment - It normally belongs to the bowling alley they’re taping in. Being a “location” shot, there’s probably no audience at all, and audience reactions are dubbed in as if it were a laugh track. \*\* Well, sure, I know about the ABC and bowling (both small-ball and tenpin) in some detail, but I didn’t think they’d care to regulate the appearance of the apparatus on the set. Which leads me to my next question: Are you sure they always shoot in an alley? I was watching a repeat of _Home Improvement_ tonight (the inspiration for this thread) and it looked suspiciously like a set to me (same with _Married With Children_, etc., as opposed to the scenes on _The Andy Griffith Show_ and _Malcolm In The Middle_ which are for sure located in a real alley (and rather dramatically so in the case of the latter!). ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/18 "2003-06-26T00:27:55Z")
> [@](#): > > (Did you know that it’s not allowed to put ArmorAll on a bowling ball?) Yeah. I almost learned the hard way that you have to watch it with certain household cleaners, as well – especially with today’s balls that chip easily if you throw too many gutter-balls. Something about decreasing the durometer, I think – as if such an advantage is neccessary with the relatively Super-Ball™ consistency of said balls. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/19 "2003-06-26T00:33:12Z")
It seems I used to watch more TV than I readily admit. Here are episodes I recall: In the Cheers episode, Diane was compelled to admit that she bowled in college to satisy a physical education requirement. The best moment in the show was when Norm Peterson walked into the bowling alley’s lounge and everyone shouted “Norm!”. Sam asked how it was possible everyone there new him, and Cliff said something such as: “Hey: he’s got a life besides you.” There was an episode of The Real McCoys where Richard Crenna felt guilty and embarrassed because he had a female bowling partner other than his wife. This may have been considered racy at the time. On My Three Sons there was an episode where Fred MacMurray takes Beverly Garland to a bowling alley and she seems insanely competitive–a weakness she had wanted to conceal from him. On Designing Women the women all went bowling to get in good with a prospective client. Annie Potts does a kind of caricature of a loud-mouthed, vulgar, male bowler, and the potential client, revolted, decides to hire a group of gay men who are good sportsmen instead. On Roseanne there was an episode in which Booker, Jackie’s old supervisor at the plastic factory, makes a bet with her that if he outscores her at bowling she will spend the night with him. He wins, and she is disappointed when he does not enforce the bet. There were also a number of jokes about how Roseanne was completely inept at bowling. On Laverne and Shirley there was an episode in which Lennie and Squiggy try hitting on women at a bowling alley by telling them they are the heirs to the Schotzky Beer forturne, Lennie and Squiggy Schotzky. I don’t believe there was an episode set in an alley on Benson, but for a time there were numerous references to Inga Swenson dating a man who liked to take her bowling. Similarly, I don’t recall any scenes in a bowling alley on The Honeymooners, but there were numerous references. In a Christmas episode which parodied O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, Ralph pawned his bowling ball so he could afford a gift for Alice. She, in turn, buys him a new bowling ball bag. As noted above, there is an episode of The Drew Carey Show in which Drew and Mimi became bowling hustlers. Bowling has figured more than once on The Simpsons. In one of my favorite episodes, Homer told of how he quit his job at the power plant shortly before Maggie was born, and realized his lifelong dream of becoming a professional pin monkey. It was revealed that replacement bowling pins are continually being whittled in the basement of the alley, one each from enormous tree trunks. On The Andy Griffith Show, Howard Sprague was on his way to bowling a perfect game. His team and their opponents got into a big bet, and then, at the start of the tenth frame, there was a blackout. It was decided that they would come back the next week to bowl the last frame, and ost of the show was about the tension Howard was feeling. I don’t recall the conclusion. While I don’t recall specifics, it seems likely there were numerous bowling references on The Odd Couple. So too on The Flintstones. On Cheers, Roseanne, and (I believe) The Andy Griffith Show and Laverne and Shirley many shots were done from the point of view of the end of the lane, as though the camera was in the way of the pins. The Real McCoys and My Three Sons episodes appear to have been shot in real alleys. The only scenes I remember from Designing Women were from the area at the front of the lanes. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381/20 "2003-06-26T00:39:13Z")
There’s also an episode of Newhart where Stephanie goes bowling with Michael, and is heartbroken and ashamed to find she actually likes such a low, proletarian pursuit. I believe all of the scenes took place prior to leaving and after returning from the alley. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowling-episodes-on-tv-sitcoms/184381.md?page=2)