# Commonly Accepted TV Legends That Are BS **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070 "2004-12-04T16:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/21 "2004-12-05T03:37:18Z")
One of the most commonly accepted legends overall: That burning cars explode shortly after they catch fire. Examples are too numerous to cite. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/22 "2004-12-05T03:39:38Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > ^^^What did Ralp say, then? It was close to that, right. He would say “Bang, zoom!” or he would say “You’re goin’ to the moon, Alice!”, but he never said them together as many think he did. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/23 "2004-12-05T03:48:40Z")
[Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/palmer.asp) on the Mrs. Arnold Palmer story (“False”). ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/24 "2004-12-05T03:52:24Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > ^^^What did Ralp say, then? It was close to that, right. > > And in the 1986 ST film, **The Voyage Home** , Kirk says, “Scotty, beam me up.” It was written the classic misremembered way, but for whatever reason, Shatner refused to say “Scotty” at the [end] of the line. > > Sir Rhosis Huh. I’ve never read that in any of the books I’ve read. If true (and I have no reason to not believe it), the answer is simple: Shatner was (is?) an egocentric asshole. I love him now that he’s embraced his inner ham and laughs along with everyone else but in decades past, the man was impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/25 "2004-12-05T03:54:43Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Well, talking of Star Trek (I’m amazed no one has mentioned this), Captain Kirk never actually said “Beam me up, Scotty” on any episode of the show. Likewise, Ralph Kramden never said “Bang zoom, to the moon!” to Alice. [Just the facts, Ma’am.](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/dragnet.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/26 "2004-12-05T04:02:12Z")
**Aesiron** , I’ve heard for years about Shatner changing the wording in the line for the film. Rumor has it that he did not want “Scotty” to be the last person referenced in the line, instead he wanted himself (“me”) to be last referenced, thus more emphasis on him. It sounds a bit dubious, but perhaps he just didn’t want to actually voice what had become a culturally iconic (cliche) line. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/27 "2004-12-05T04:16:53Z")
I’m inclined to believe it but, then again, I’ve recently read Takei’s “To the Stars” and am probably a little biased by his obvious bitterness towards Shatner. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/28 "2004-12-05T04:18:46Z")
Or maybe for the fact that it doesn’t make an incredible amount of sense. When you want to grab someone’s attention in order to make them do something, you generally say their name. “Scotty, beam me up” makes more contextual sense IMHO than “Beam me up, Scotty”. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/29 "2004-12-05T04:26:40Z")
**Priam** , very good point, as indeed Shatner puts a slight pause after “Scotty,” as we would in real life, to get his attention, before he delivers the rest of the line. It would seem that if Shatner really wanted the emphasis on himself as many claim, he would have left the line as was instead of proclaiming the other character’s name first, louder and set off from the rest of the line. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/30 "2004-12-05T05:31:35Z")
There’s also the legend about Burt Reynolds\* going on the _Tonight_ show\* and goving out his phone card number, explaining that he won a $40,000,000\* lawsuit against the phone company and is thus able (and happy) to afford his fans the opportunity to make a long-distance call to Mom or an old friend. As for characters, there’s the belief that Jan Brady often complained about her older sister with the exasperated “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” whine. The phrase was indeed uttered on _The Brady Bunch_, but just once, in Episode #55 on November 19, 1971. [Just once. In Episode #55 on November 19, 1971.](http://www.bradyresidence.com/episodes.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/31 "2004-12-05T06:34:13Z")
Then there is the long-standing myth that Lucielle Ball was funny. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/32 "2004-12-05T06:37:00Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Just once. In Episode #55 on November 19, 1971. For 20 minutes. Oh, I’m gonna hate myself in the morning for _that_ one. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/33 "2004-12-05T06:37:08Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > CAPTAIN KIRK BANGED LOTSA GREEN ALIEN CHICKS! Well, that’s silly, his predecessor [Captain Pike](http://homepage.mac.com/m5comp/trekbits/trekpics/cage/Cage_38.jpg) banged the [green alien chick](http://homepage.mac.com/m5comp/trekbits/trekpics/cage/Cage_39.jpg). Or at least he wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/34 "2004-12-05T07:56:29Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > As for characters, there’s the belief that Jan Brady often complained about her older sister with the exasperated “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” whine. The phrase was indeed uttered on _The Brady Bunch_, but just once, in Episode #55 on November 19, 1971. [Just once. In Episode #55 on November 19, 1971.](http://www.bradyresidence.com/episodes.html) On the subject of the Bradys, it’s widely believed that Mike and Carol were TV’s first couple to share a double bed onscreen, but this is [not the case](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/marykay.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/35 "2004-12-05T13:00:50Z")
> [@Ninja Pizza Guy](#): > > the myth that Survivor is interesting. _Yay_uh… I’ve never seen the show but I have seen hints that news programs actually _consider that show to be news_… :eek: For example, I caught a morning TV show not too long ago at the gym (They have TVs set up in front of the cardio machines) and they were _interviewing people who got kicked off the show_!! How lame… is that really what a morning news show considers noteworthy??? Kill your TV. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/36 "2004-12-05T15:12:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Then there is the long-standing myth that Lucielle Ball was funny. Ever. I don’t know about **Lucielle Ball** , but **_Lucille_ Ball** was pretty funny. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/37 "2004-12-05T15:15:21Z")
> [@ggurl](#): > > _Yay_uh… I’ve never seen the show but I have seen hints that news programs actually _consider that show to be news_… :eek: For example, I caught a morning TV show not too long ago at the gym (They have TVs set up in front of the cardio machines) and they were _interviewing people who got kicked off the show_!! How lame… is that really what a morning news show considers noteworthy??? Kill your TV. > > [/hijack] Actually, if it was the CBS morning magazine show (which it probably was), you’re mistaken in its actual purpose. It’s there to promote CBS television. The fact that it provides news a few minutes per hour as well is completely incidental and so far down the list of priorities for those folks that it’s practically invisible. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/38 "2004-12-05T15:33:12Z")
Another Star Trek myth is that Kirk and Uhura had the first interracial kiss on network television. It was supposed to be the episode… I’ve forgotten the one, the decendants of the greeks with the immense psychic powers. Plato’s Children? They do act affectionate, but do not actually kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/39 "2004-12-05T15:54:58Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Another Star Trek myth is that Kirk and Uhura had the first interracial kiss on network television. It was supposed to be the episode… I’ve forgotten the one, the decendants of the greeks with the immense psychic powers. Plato’s Children? They do act affectionate, but do not actually kiss. [You could have fooled me.](http://locutus.pos.to/tv/3/03stepchildren.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/40 "2004-12-05T16:19:29Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Another Star Trek myth is that Kirk and Uhura had the first interracial kiss on network television. When people say “interracial” do they really only mean “black/white”? Because whenever I hear this, I can’t help but think that **I Love Lucy** must have beat them to it. I don’t recall Lucy and Ricky really swapping spit (on TV in the '50s? surely not!), but I’m certain there was at least the occasional peck on the cheek. And they were married and had a baby, so the audience could infer that riskier business was going on. I will grant that Hispanic/Latino is not really a race but an ethnicity. Latinos often have mixed racial backgrounds and may be of almost any skin color…but then again much the same could be said of African-Americans. So I can’t really see awarding this distinction to **Star Trek** unless the races involved in the interracial kiss are specified. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070.md?page=3)