# Characters on long run TV shows who fell in love or hooked up (but didn't start out to do so) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126 "2009-08-20T21:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/21 "2009-08-21T17:38:22Z")
Actually I’d argue that Chandler and Monica was foreshadowed long before it happened. In the first few years of the show, Monica is frequently shown lounging half-on, half-off Chandler in a way she never did with Joey, and in ways neither Rachel or Phoebe did with Joey or Chandler. Chandler and Monica hooking up was not a surprise to me. Answering your question, Worf & Troi from TNG. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/22 "2009-08-21T17:43:27Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > By the end of PJ, the producers were so bereft of ideas that EVERYONE was singing. Mike Minor had been singing professionally since he was 14, but I think the producers’ real push was to have Meredith MacRae sing. Well, her old man sure could. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/23 "2009-08-21T17:44:38Z")
A “kinda, sorta” example might be _the Mary Tyler Moore Show_. At the start, Lou Grant is married, and was written to be more like a father/mentor figure for naive Mary Richards. Over the course of several seasons, Lou gets divorced, Mary never seems to find a serious romantic interest, and a large chunk of fans began rooting for Mary & Lou to hook up and become a couple. The next-to-last episode of the series had Mary & Lou actually going out on a date. The end of the episode, they lock lips passionately - and then they both burst out laughing. Ed Asner said that if he’d written the episode, he would have had them kiss, have Mary turn out the lights…and then out of the darkness the audience would have heard her moaning “Oh, Mr. Grant!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/24 "2009-08-21T17:47:36Z")
Pam and Jim on **The Office** …I never saw that coming. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/25 "2009-08-21T17:48:12Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Along those lines, Angel and Cordelia. (Which still grosses me out.) On a similar note, Angel and Spike. …Hey, they did say there was that one time! ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/26 "2009-08-21T17:55:38Z")
On _The Wire_, Pearlman and Daniels seemed like an unlikely couple (especially since he was married and she was banging McNulty at the beginning). Their relationship was a surprise but worked nicely, IMO. And in the crappy teen drama category, Joey fell for Pacey on _Dawson’s Creek_. The even ended up together at the end because the pairing worked so well (and Dawson turned out to be a major douche). ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/27 "2009-08-21T18:00:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Apollo and Dualla on _Battlestar Galactica_ were a pairing I didn’t expect, though it was clear that his heart was always with Starbuck (and, it became clear to Dualla, too). That one always felt forced to me, I never thought they had much chemistry - Apolla and Dualla, I mean. Sort of the opposite of what the OP is asking, but in the same vein: Turk & Carla from Scrubs were never meant to last, they were supposed to just hook up. But the actors had such good chemistry together, the powers that be kept them together. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/28 "2009-08-21T18:02:13Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Hawkeye and Major Houlihan hooking up while trapped under fire over night. And referencing it in the the last episode, with that long, looooooooong kiss… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/29 "2009-08-21T18:07:21Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Pam and Jim on **The Office** …I never saw that coming. Is this a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/30 "2009-08-21T18:08:55Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Actually I’d argue that Chandler and Monica was foreshadowed long before it happened. In the first few years of the show, Monica is frequently shown lounging half-on, half-off Chandler in a way she never did with Joey, and in ways neither Rachel or Phoebe did with Joey or Chandler. Chandler and Monica hooking up was not a surprise to me. Well, in the context of the show, they had known each other longer and had the best boy/girl friendship. But I highly doubt that they ever thought about putting them together. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/31 "2009-08-21T18:11:16Z")
Chakotay and Seven of Nine from ST: Voyager Paris and Janeway from ST: Voyager ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/32 "2009-08-21T18:18:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Actually I’d argue that Chandler and Monica was foreshadowed long before it happened. In the first few years of the show, Monica is frequently shown lounging half-on, half-off Chandler in a way she never did with Joey, and in ways neither Rachel or Phoebe did with Joey or Chandler. Chandler and Monica hooking up was not a surprise to me. Wow, you must be more perceptive than I was, because when they came up from under the covers in that London hotel, I was jawdrop floored. In (I think) the second season, at the end of the episode when the gang went to the beach and Monica got stung by the jellyfish, they actually had Chandler idly suggest that if they never found anyone, they might get together, and she firmly shot it down by saying, “Chandler, I love you, but you will ALWAYS be the guy who peed on me.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/33 "2009-08-21T18:22:21Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Paris and Janeway from ST: Voyager DOn’t you mean Torres? (I didn’t see the whole series, but they did get married, right?) ---
**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:** [August 21, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/34 "2009-08-21T18:24:18Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Well, in the context of the show, they had known each other longer and had the best boy/girl friendship. But I highly doubt that they ever thought about putting them together. Chandler and Monica joke about getting together constantly throughout the early episodes, including the time where Monica was in a towel and tells her how much she loves him “as a friend” (that made it into the credits for years afterwards). ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/35 "2009-08-21T18:25:02Z")
As seen on a trip in my Wayback Machine-- Corky Sherwood-Forrest and Grant the producer from Murphy Brown. Also, was I the only one who thought Murp and – oh whatwashisname-- the housepainter were gonna hook up? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/36 "2009-08-21T18:25:24Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > …Paris and Janeway from ST: Voyager Dear sweet Og, now you’ve reminded me of that litter of salamanders they left behind… :smack: Victor Sifuentes and Grace Van Owen had a thang goin’ on for awhile on _L.A. Law_, but we all know she was always meant to be with Michael Kuzak. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/37 "2009-08-21T18:25:30Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > DOn’t you mean Torres? (I didn’t see the whole series, but they did get married, right?) Pretty sure I’m thinking of Janeway. Something about them getting turned into tadpoles by breaking the technobabble, and then there being baby tadpoles shown swimming away after they got restored. The thing with Torres happened, too…just wasn’t the one I was referencing. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/38 "2009-08-21T18:36:01Z")
I saw Joanie and Chachi in _Happy Days_ at the beginning. It never occurred to me that the faux-sibling rivalry would go anywhere, even with Chachi’s puppy crush plot line. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/39 "2009-08-21T18:38:10Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > And referencing it in the the last episode, with that long, looooooooong kiss… 😃 I didn’t know they had ever hooked up! I thought that kiss was them finally getting together. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126/40 "2009-08-21T18:41:05Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > As seen on a trip in my Wayback Machine-- Corky Sherwood-Forrest and Grant the producer from Murphy Brown. Also, was I the only one who thought Murp and – oh whatwashisname-- the housepainter were gonna hook up? Eldon! His name was Eldon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-on-long-run-tv-shows-who-fell-in-love-or-hooked-up-but-didnt-start-out-to-do-so/507126.md?page=3)