# Stuff in your otherwise favorite TV shows that bugs you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565 "2004-07-30T05:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/21 "2004-07-30T19:21:43Z")
My usual rant is on product placement. It annoys me in many shows. **Friends** was probably the worst example. Every time a character would pick up a beer, the camera would zoom right in so we could see the label. The cabinets in the apartment were exposed for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/22 "2004-07-30T19:50:59Z")
Partridge Family - When Shirley sings with the kids in the garage for the first time, they immediately sound like a pristine studio chorus (not that it was ever a favorite). Cheers (and countless other shows) - Nobody ever pays for drinks. Also, every imaginable social event takes place in the bar. And I’m sure we’re all sick to death of phone numbers that start with 555. Can’t they come up with a fictional area code instead? ---
**Author:** ![mbacko1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@mbacko1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbacko1)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/23 "2004-07-30T19:55:02Z")
In Gilmore Girls I hate the musical interludes with the “Naaa, Naaa Naa NAAA!!” singers. I just want to kick the TV when they come on. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/24 "2004-07-30T19:56:31Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > And I’m sure we’re all sick to death of phone numbers that start with 555. Can’t they come up with a fictional area code instead? There’s an SD column about this. And whenever a movie uses a real phone number (I remember _Bruce Almighty_ did this a few years ago), the poor schmuck with that number gets tons of phone calls. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/25 "2004-07-30T19:57:12Z")
The flip side to product placement is product concealment. Logos on cereal boxes and the like are often crudely blacked out. I guess they refused to pay. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/26 "2004-07-30T20:03:10Z")
> [@](#): > > And whenever a movie uses a real phone number (I remember Bruce Almighty did this a few years ago), the poor schmuck with that number gets tons of phone calls. That’s why I suggested a fake area code (7-digit numbers are getting less realistic anyway). And unless it was a change for the DVD, Bruce Almighty did prominently show 555 on his pager, which is what set me off. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/27 "2004-07-30T20:03:46Z")
> [@Rysler](#): > > Nor could I. And that isn’t what I said. They have a registered nurse as a technical advisor, too, but I don’t want _JAMA_ endorsing them. What do you mean by endorse? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/28 "2004-07-30T20:07:59Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Cheers (and countless other shows) - Nobody ever pays for drinks. Also, every imaginable social event takes place in the bar. Except when Harry the Hat scammed Cliff into paying for his two drinks… ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/29 "2004-07-30T20:08:51Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > That’s why I suggested a fake area code (7-digit numbers are getting less realistic anyway). And unless it was a change for the DVD, Bruce Almighty did prominently show 555 on his pager, which is what set me off. It changed for the DVD. There’s even a noticeable audio dub when Carrey says the number. You should still be able to dig up the news stories about the complaints generated regarding the theatrical release’s number. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/30 "2004-07-30T20:09:43Z")
This usually happens on countless shows ( **Seinfeld** and **Frasier** come to mind), but it bugs me when a group of characters will make a scene in a restaurant and none of the other customers look up. Characters will stand in a doorway and yell at each other but nobody seems to care. Like on the Festivus episode of **Seinfeld** , when Frank Costanza carried in that pole and played the tape of a past Festivus with George, nobody looks to see what’s going on. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/31 "2004-07-30T20:18:40Z")
Hardly anybody ever talks about TV shows or movies, whereas in real life, _everybody_ talks about TV shows and movies. Like, say, this thread. :dubious: Nobody ever walks up to characters and says they look just like the actors who are playing them, or like the characters they played in previous TV series. I think _Friends_ may have done this with Tom Selleck, but it’s still extremely rare. The main characters in popular TV shows, in spite of having an entire nation drooling about how gorgeous they are, quite often have trouble getting even the simplest date. Must explain why I like Star Trek and other SF series so much… ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/32 "2004-07-30T20:31:50Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > The main characters in popular TV shows, in spite of having an entire nation drooling about how gorgeous they are, quite often have trouble getting even the simplest date. And then you have guys like George Costanza, i.e. fat quirky bald men who can manage to get a date with Marisa Tomei! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/33 "2004-07-30T20:32:57Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Ducky’s last name is Mallard. I think the writers wanted him to have an eccentric nickname to go with the character, but I don’t get it. It’s just kind of dumb. The character is a bit more refined and the name’s too silly, IMO. > And I’m with you on Abby. It’s a Navy base. Again, I think the writers want to have a funky or eccentric character, but she’d never be allowed to dress that way IRL, right? Why not? XO on mrAru’s first boat was called ‘Fluff’ by his fellow officers, seems it derives from a story about his visiting his GF when they were both in college and he wore her robe and pink fluffy bunny slippers to the bathroom and some friends saw him… ---
**Author:** ![Sarcastro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sarcastro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarcastro)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/34 "2004-07-30T20:43:37Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Hardly anybody ever talks about TV shows or movies, whereas in real life, _everybody_ talks about TV shows and movies. Like, say, this thread. :dubious: That’s one thing that bugged me (well, not much, but I thought about it) about _I, Robot_, which I otherwise quite enjoyed. I really wanted Will Smith, in an argument with someone about how harmless robots are, to just lose it at some point and scream **DOES NO ONE REMEMBER _TERMINATOR?!?!?_** ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/35 "2004-07-30T21:32:28Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Cheers (and countless other shows) - Nobody ever pays for drinks. Also, every imaginable social event takes place in the bar. To be fair, Norm had a running tab, and they talked about it several times on different episodes. I can’t remember him ever tipping, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/36 "2004-07-30T22:20:14Z")
> [@Katisha](#): > > Argh, me too. Though not as much as I hated Ferengi episodes. **shudder** :eek: _Heretic!_ ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/37 "2004-07-30T22:22:13Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > _Monk_ - > I’ve never heard them explain how he makes a living, but maybe I missed it. I think Monk’s on leave, not fired. He must be getting disability. And he does get consulting fees, but you’re right, how does he afford Sharona and his nice apartment, not to mention a steady supply of wipes? > [@](#): > > _M_A_S_H\* - > One could write a whole book on the incongruities in the show… My gripe with M_A_S\*H was that they’d often show all four doctors sleeping at the same time or drinking together - shouldn’t there have been one doc on duty in Post-Op at all times, assuming there were wounded? There were lots of times they’d all (Hawkeye, Henry/Potter, Trapper/BJ and Frank/Winchester) walk out of surgery and go drinking in the Officer’s Club. Not very likely if they had a bunch of wounded that might need tending. At least one would need to be on duty. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/38 "2004-07-30T22:32:58Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > I am, however, pissed that they’re releasing **Manos** again along with **Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,** and that you can’t get the latter without also buying the former. Short of cash, BBI? BBI has very little to do with what is released. It’s Rhino’s decision. You do get the _Shorts Vol. 3_ in that set, too. IIRC, the retail is $24.95. Anyways, I agree with the foresight comment. It would have saved a lot of trouble with Sandy Frank. They pissed him off royally so don’t ever look for his movies to appear on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/39 "2004-07-30T22:43:09Z")
In _Quantum Leap_, Sam Beckett’s method of CPR always bugged me. He would strike the chest instead of applying compressions. Granted, you wouldn’t want to do the real thing on a real live actor, but it’s easy enough to fake. Didn’t he have an MD among all those doctorates? ---
**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:** [July 30, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565/40 "2004-07-30T22:49:02Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Cheers (and countless other shows) - Nobody ever pays for drinks. Also, every imaginable social event takes place in the bar. What always seemed incongruous to me on “Cheers” (aside from the never paying for drinks, and never tipping thing) is that nobody ever smoked! A bar in pre-anti-indoor smoking regulations Boston and nobody ever lit up?? Other shows - Star Trek (original series): The regulation uniform for Starfleet women is a minidress, go-go boots, and a beehive / bouffant hairdo. REAL practical for the hazardous mission of space exploration. ALL Star Trek series: Supposedly, the Enterprise(s) have universal translator devices, so that when communicating with (for example) a Klingon ship, the Klingon-speaking other crew’s words are translated into english, and vice versa. Yet, every time they show a Klingon / Romulan / Ferengi / whatever on the monitor, his lips perfectly synch up to the “translated” english language words. As I imagine it, looking at the viewscreen ought to be like watching a foreign language movie dubbed into english. Friends - the establishing shot of the exterior of the building that the gang live in does not have, on any floor, a large picture window & balcony like the one in Monica’s apartment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-in-your-otherwise-favorite-tv-shows-that-bugs-you/257565.md?page=3)