# Suspension of Disbelief re: TV shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 19, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178 "2009-11-19T18:59:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/1 "2009-11-19T18:59:52Z")
TV shows that make you really, really suspend your disbelief: **Nip/Tuck** : IRL, these doctors would have lost their licenses, been in jail, killed each other, or would have been killed ages ago. And they seem to forgive each other darn near everything. Of course, this is all beside the point if you suspend your disbelief on a regular basis. **Supernatural** : These guys have been beaten up so many times that they would, under normal circumstances, be permanently disfigured and have brain damage as well. Not to mention the whole Hell thing. **Friends** : There’s no way these folks could have afforded such spacious and nicely appointed NY apartments on what they made. **House** : No frigging way would this guy be allowed to practice, no matter how great he is at diagnosing things. Now it’s your turn. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/2 "2009-11-19T19:05:03Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > **Friends** : There’s no way these folks could have afforded such spacious and nicely appointed NY apartments on what they made. One more time… Chandler was a reasonably high paid executive. Joey was a working actor who would eventually become a highly paid soap star. Ross was a research scientist and then a tenured professor. Phoebe didn’t live in Manhatten with the rest of them. And Monica and Rachel lived in Monica’s grandmother’s apartment that was RENT CONTROLLED and you knew this because they mentioned it was RENT CONTROLLED once or twice a season. Did I mention it was RENT CONTROLLED? ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/3 "2009-11-19T19:14:46Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > **Supernatural** : These guys have been beaten up so many times that they would, under normal circumstances, be permanently disfigured and have brain damage as well. Not to mention the whole Hell thing. But Sam had the Demon blood thing going for him and Dean was probably “rejuvenated” when he was ressurrected. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/4 "2009-11-19T19:20:25Z")
Family Matters is a total load of BS. Why Winslow hasn’t killed Urekel long ago makes no sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/5 "2009-11-19T19:45:31Z")
According to Jim - IRL, someone with Jim Belushi’s character’s looks and personality would have an equal chance at snagging someone who looks like Courtney Thorne-Smith as the chance I could sit through an entire episode. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/6 "2009-11-19T19:46:24Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > But Sam had the Demon blood thing going for him and Dean was probably “rejuvenated” when he was ressurrected. No, he was _rehymenated_. As with all genre shows where people deal with really crazy shit that humans don’t have to deal with in real life, they would probably so crazy they couldn’t function in society. I mean, it’s already pretty obvious that they (esp Dean) would benefit from lots and lots of therapy, but in real life they’d be gibbering messes from all the stuff they go through. Same goes for Buffy, who did eventually end up pretty much an obvious headcase. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/7 "2009-11-19T19:52:24Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > According to Jim - IRL, someone with Jim Belushi’s character’s looks and personality would have an equal chance at snagging someone who looks like Courtney Thorne-Smith as the chance I could sit through an entire episode. Same comment re _King of Queens_, Kevin James and Leah Remini. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/8 "2009-11-19T19:56:22Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Phoebe didn’t live in Manhatten with the rest of them. I always thought Phoebe lived upstairs from them. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/9 "2009-11-19T19:57:34Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Same comment re _King of Queens_, Kevin James and Leah Remini. Until she moved up there into Kirstie Alley territory. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/10 "2009-11-19T19:58:50Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Same comment re _King of Queens_, Kevin James and Leah Remini. Well, maybe he character on the show is a $cientologist as well, and she gave up on going for more attractive men because they wouldn’t put up with her crazy BS, so she snagged someone lower on the looks scale because he’d vut off his own foot to be with a woman like that. 😛 ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/11 "2009-11-19T20:21:50Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I always thought Phoebe lived upstairs from them. I guess I was wrong. She does live in Manhatten, but farther away from the rest of the group. But again, she lives in a rent controlled apartment that belonged to her grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/12 "2009-11-19T20:27:05Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Family Matters is a total load of BS. Why Winslow hasn’t killed Urekel long ago makes no sense to me. Damn, I just saw a Family Guy cutaway parody out of that. (Haven’t kept up with it much, but woudln’t surprise me if something like what I just imagined hasn’t already been done there.) ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/13 "2009-11-19T20:31:47Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I guess I was wrong. She does live in Manhatten, but farther away from the rest of the group. But again, she lives in a rent controlled apartment that belonged to her grandmother. Phoebe originally lived with Monica, but moved out without telling her (this was in one of the flashback episodes). The the early seasons they made a big deal over Monica & Rachel not wanting the landlord to find out that Monica’s grandmother didn’t live there anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/14 "2009-11-19T20:47:43Z")
CSI: Miami. What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/15 "2009-11-19T21:01:40Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > CSI: Miami. > > What do I win? I’ll see your _CSI:Miami_ and raise you _Law & Order: SVU_. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/16 "2009-11-19T21:07:21Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > CSI: Miami. > > What do I win? Looks like you win… (puts on glasses) … a one way trip to the station. Yeaaaaahhhhhhh! ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/17 "2009-11-19T22:22:05Z")
**Glee** requires the same suspension of disbelief that all musicals do, that characters can break into song with full accompaniment at the drop of a hat and complete a perfect performance with no rehearsal. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/18 "2009-11-19T23:12:34Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Well, maybe he character on the show is a $cientologist as well, and she gave up on going for more attractive men because they wouldn’t put up with her crazy BS, so she snagged someone lower on the looks scale because he’d vut off his own foot to be with a woman like that. 😛 You do realize that many people who are good looking happen to use some standard other than LOOKS to pick a mate … and frequently the way people act in public is not the way they act in private, and sometimes the way they act in private is not how they act in public… ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/19 "2009-11-19T23:42:27Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > But Sam had the Demon blood thing going for him and Dean was probably “rejuvenated” when he was ressurrected. I thought it was fairly funny that the only time physical damage lasted more than, say, a week, was when Jared Padalecki actually broke his arm. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178/20 "2009-11-19T23:47:00Z")
I’ve got a couple of shows that I like precisely _because_ they so thoroughly thumb their noses at reality-based premises: **Glee** (already mentioned – I do have to roll my eyes at the folks who keep popping into the _Glee_ threads and point out the specific details – and they are myriad – that contradict all common sense); **NCIS** ; **The Mentalist**. Plus, of course, all my beloved “reality” shows. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspension-of-disbelief-re-tv-shows/518178.md?page=2)