# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/41 "2004-12-05T16:21:06Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > Different topic. A lot of people falsely remember that Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) **always** tripped over the ottoman, but in many eps opening credits, he smugly sidestepped it. Question: Was there a rhyme or reason to what credits (tripped or sidestepped) preceded what episode? Early seasons vs. later seasons, perhaps? I had always assumed an early/late dichotomy to this, but then I read (IIRC, in an interview with Carl Reiner) that for the second season (the first season had a different opener) they filmed both beginnings , and spliced one or the other randomly for the rest of the run, giving the viewing audience an attention-getting “will he or won’t he” moment right at the top of the half hour. I won’t retype my entry right now, but a quick check to see whether I’m full of it or not uncovered the show’s [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dick_Van_Dyke_Show) third paragraph) ---
**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, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/42 "2004-12-05T16:28:37Z")
Yes, I believe the distinction is that Shatner was white, Nichols was black, thus two different races, not ethnicities. For that matter, the distinction is that it was male/female. Early in the first season (1966) of Trek, Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barret exchanged a “kiss of sisterhood,” for lack of a better term, when Barrett’s Nurse Chapel discovered her fiance was still alive (he wasn’t, really, but that is a Trekkie topic). For that matter, Shatner kissed France Nuyen (nee Nguyen), who has Vietnamese ancestry, iirc, but again, I think people are making a race vs. ethnicity distinction. Others more knowledgeable than I can explain the technicalities. All I can say is, Shatner was one lucky dude all around! In 2004, it all seesm a bit silly, doesn’t it? Thank God, as Dylan said, “the times, they are a changin’.” 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, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/43 "2004-12-05T16:31:16Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > [You could have fooled me.](http://locutus.pos.to/tv/3/03stepchildren.htm) While not what E-Sabbath was talking about, it could still be argued that wasn’t the first interracial kiss as Shatner denies it was a real kiss but was, instead, all camer angles. Nichols says it was real though. > [@Lamia](#): > > When people say “interracial” do they really only mean “black/white”? In America? Almost always. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/44 "2004-12-05T19:57:43Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > [You could have fooled me.](http://locutus.pos.to/tv/3/03stepchildren.htm) Huh. Shatners “Star Trek Memories” goes into great detail about how the network refused to let them actually kiss. He says the camera angle was such that it appeared they were kissing, but their lips never touched. Been a long time since I saw the episode, but I **do** remember you can’t actually see them kissing like in the linked photo. Hmmm…maybe that pic’s from a rehearsal or something? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/45 "2004-12-05T20:04:15Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > In 2004, it all seesm a bit silly, doesn’t it? > > Thank God, as Dylan said, “the times, they are a changin’.” Given the way some people reacted to the Nicolette Sheridan/Terrell Owens thing a few weeks ago… ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/46 "2004-12-05T21:45:24Z")
The only racial element of the MNF promo that I heard about was from Tony Dungee (a black head football coach.) I thought that outroar was mostly about sex. I was proud of myself. I must be rather enlightened, because it never occured to me to think of that spot in terms of race until Dungee reminded me that I must for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/47 "2004-12-05T23:28:54Z")
Elvis Presley had to be filmed from the waist up when he first appeared on the _Ed Sullivan Show_. Not true. It wasn’t until his third appearance there when this rule was placed on him. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/48 "2004-12-05T23:31:24Z")
> [@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) I’ve never heard of that, but it reminds me of Carl Sagan’s “billions and billions” from **Cosmos** –a phrase he never once uttered in the entire series. ---
**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, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/49 "2004-12-05T23:54:31Z")
> [@Earthworm Jim](#): > > Hmmm…maybe that pic’s from a rehearsal or something? It’s a screen cap (freeze frame) from the actual episode. ---
**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 6, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/50 "2004-12-06T02:35:21Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > [You could have fooled me.](http://locutus.pos.to/tv/3/03stepchildren.htm) I have watched that entire episode repeatedly and never seen that kiss. Admittedly, I saw it on network television, before DVD. Eh. Go fig. Probably censored out for commercials. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/51 "2004-12-06T03:01:22Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > When people say “interracial” do they really only mean “black/white”? Well, you have those who are white on their right side, as opposed to those folks who are white on their left side… ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/52 "2004-12-06T03:12:37Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I have watched that entire episode repeatedly and never seen that kiss. Admittedly, I saw it on network television, before DVD. Eh. Go fig. Probably censored out for commercials. ?? I’ve never NOT seen the “kiss” on that episode!! I think the reason that Shatner claims they’re not kissing is ‘cuz they arent’ kissing so much as touching mouths. If you notice, Kirk’s lips are pulled tight because he is straining to go against the mind control they are forcing on him. So it’s not really a mutual kiss, per se. ---
**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 6, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/53 "2004-12-06T03:17:30Z")
Hmm, since it has always been realized that the first kiss between a white person and a black person on TV was forced on them by aliens, what is the first mutually intentional black/white television kiss? Anybody know? Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/54 "2004-12-06T04:25:29Z")
Probably in 1975 on _The Jeffersons_ between [Helen and Tom Willis](http://tvshowsondvd.com/graphics/screenshots/128509_s.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/55 "2004-12-06T04:36:08Z")
Thank goodness Jeremy Brett, as Sherlock Holmes, never said the patronizing “Elementary, dear Watson” during his run, especially since Sir Arthur Conan doyle \*_never_ wrote that phrase. ---
**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 6, 2004, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/56 "2004-12-06T11:33:10Z")
I remember an [episode](http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/files/episode/season13.html#show404) of Bonanza where the Ponderossa’s Chinese cook falls in love with a white woman. I don’t recall if they were shown kissing on screen. Yes, I know that’s Asian/ White not Black/White. Same principle, though. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/57 "2004-12-06T13:05:51Z")
George Reeves put on his Superman suit and, thinking he could fly, jumped out of a tall buildong’s window to his death. Not. I heard this all through my childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/58 "2004-12-06T14:40:01Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > George Reeves put on his Superman suit and, thinking he could fly, jumped out of a tall buildong’s window to his death. I had heard he was shot by a kid who wanted to see him deflect the bullets. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/59 "2004-12-06T15:02:49Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Given the way some people reacted to the Nicolette Sheridan/Terrell Owens thing a few weeks ago… Most (not all) people in the US , whether they approve of it or not, are pretty inured to multi racial coupling at this point. I think that was less of a racial issue and more of an inappropriateness re the towel dropping. It was a lot more about her being naked than him being a Negro. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070/60 "2004-12-06T16:34:04Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Most (not all) people in the US , whether they approve of it or not, are pretty inured to multi racial coupling at this point. I think that was less of a racial issue and more of an inappropriateness re the towel dropping. It was a lot more about her being naked than him being a Negro. That’s pretty much the way I understood it as well. I read plenty of complaints about her dropping the towel. But the only one I recall saying anything about the interracial element was some Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton type who claimed that the clip perpetuated the “black male as a mindless sexual animal” stereotype or some such garbage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonly-accepted-tv-legends-that-are-bs/278070.md?page=4)