# Which T.V. Series features the greatest number of Sexual Assaults (Would Happy Days make the Top 5)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836 "2013-12-08T17:45:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/1 "2013-12-08T17:45:28Z")
**Cartooniverse** just recently started a Thread about Chuck Cunningham and linked to a Christmas episode from season 2 of “Happy Days”. I don’t want to talk about Chuck, though. In that episode, we get [this scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35_LZfhd2Mw#t=225) (YouTube link). Richie, Ralph, and Potsie are at Arnold’s and a teen girl walks past their table. Ralph gets her to stop while Potsie stands behind her holding a sprig of mistletoe over her head. Ralph informs her that she is standing under the mistletoe, then _immediately_ forces a full mouthed kiss wrapped around her lips, holding her until she pushes him away. Of course, she just walks off and there are no consequences because “boys will be boys”. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched the show on a regular basis, but growing up I used to watch it all the time. Though I don’t have a lot of cites to offer off the top of my head, I remember this kind of thing occurring on a semi regular basis. I’d love to see a tally of all the sexual assaults ever committed on “Happy Days”. I wouldn’t be surprised if it featured more sexual assault than any other T.V. show ever. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/2 "2013-12-08T17:51:31Z")
I’ll put my money on _Law & Order: SVU_. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/3 "2013-12-08T17:56:14Z")
After watching a bunch of Gunsmoke episodes on Netflix, I was surprised at the number of rapes that occurred in & around Dodge City. They never use the “R word”, but it’s pretty clear what crime has been committed. Matt tracks one rapist (played by Ben Johnson) all the way to Texas & beats him to a bloody pulp. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/4 "2013-12-08T17:58:19Z")
**Clarification of the OP:** It’s got to be sexual assault that is condoned by the rules of the universe of the show. Characters on whose side we are meant to relate and whose personalities we are meant to enjoy. Basically, I’m looking for examples of the T.V. show presenting sexual assault that is “o.k.”. I don’t watch _Law & Order: SVU_, but I imagine it would not fit the bill. Nor would _Oz_. Good Ol’ Boys on _Gunsmoke_ groping the wimminfolk would qualify, but not someone who had to be tracked to Texas and beated to a bloody pulp. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/5 "2013-12-08T18:02:09Z")
OK, how about M_A_S\*H? Hawkeye was a serial groper early on. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/6 "2013-12-08T18:10:58Z")
_M_A_S_H\* totally qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/7 "2013-12-08T18:20:18Z")
I assume that a lot of Soap operas would fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/8 "2013-12-08T18:35:45Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > I assume that a lot of Soap operas would fit the bill. And they all meet the rules of the OP’s clarification post? ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/9 "2013-12-08T18:44:06Z")
I don’t watch soap operas but I can well imagine that there are _a lot_ of examples that do meet the rules of the clarification post. There are probably _also_ cases that don’t meet the rules laid out for this Thread, but I have no doubt that there are many examples that are perfectly appropriate here. With as long running as some of the soap operas have been, and hitting five new episodes a week instead of just one, it’s perfectly possible that a particular soap opera could take the crown here. The thing about _Happy Days_ and _M_A_S_H\*, is that these were family viewing for an entire generation. This kind of sexual assault was taught to children at an impressionable age as acceptable social interaction. But, I’m not about to start adding more rules to the OP at this point. Soap Operas no doubt have more than their share of sexual assaults deemed “o.k.”. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/10 "2013-12-08T19:26:54Z")
You might look at some of the TV “secret agent” programs from the 60s, such as _The Man from U.N.C.L.E._ or _The Wild Wild West_. If they were riding the 007 bandwagon, they were probably aping some of James Bond’s behavior towards women. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/11 "2013-12-08T20:22:32Z")
I’m guessing Pepe Le Pew. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/12 "2013-12-08T20:37:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m guessing Pepe Le Pew. Speaking of animation, I guess it “wouldn’t count” since it’s mainly implied and not explicitly shown but Quagmire on Family Guy has little qualms about using drugs/alcohol to remove a woman’s ability to resist. And, of course, him finding a bound and gagged high school cheerleader in a bathroom stall and saying “Dear Diary: Jackpot!” Ah, that wacky Quagmire… ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/13 "2013-12-09T02:59:53Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > You might look at some of the TV “secret agent” programs from the 60s, such as _The Man from U.N.C.L.E._ or _The Wild Wild West_. If they were riding the 007 bandwagon, they were probably aping some of James Bond’s behavior towards women. I can’t swear to any exhaustive knowledge, but generally, these two shows showed “seduction” scenes rather than “assault” scenes. Yes, Napoleon Solo was a leer-er and a stare-er, and he never much resisted grabbing a woman when it was useful to pull her out of the way of oncoming danger, but, to the best of my recollection, he didn’t grope or kiss without consent. Same for James West: he didn’t commit sexual assault…because the writers were so much on his side, all the women just took one look at him and said “Yes.” However, among the bad guys, these shows depicted a few scenes of almost fetishist bondage, sometimes with a creepy caress. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/14 "2013-12-09T03:37:08Z")
Family Feud. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/15 "2013-12-09T03:38:13Z")
Family Feud! Excellent! I wish I’d thought of that one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/16 "2013-12-09T12:42:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Speaking of animation, I guess it “wouldn’t count” since it’s mainly implied and not explicitly shown but Quagmire on Family Guy has little qualms about using drugs/alcohol to remove a woman’s ability to resist. And, of course, him finding a bound and gagged high school cheerleader in a bathroom stall and saying “Dear Diary: Jackpot!” _“To this day, I can’t have sex with a woman against her will without thinking of rape!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/17 "2013-12-09T13:15:54Z")
Uh, _Star Trek_? Capt. Kirk, whose 5-year mission appeared to be to go forth and multiply? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/18 "2013-12-09T13:21:01Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Uh, _Star Trek_? Capt. Kirk, whose 5-year mission appeared to be to go forth and multiply? Which episode exactly featured sexual assault? I think I can remember some aggressive kissing in the Native American planet episode, but to be fair Kirk was kind of insane at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/19 "2013-12-09T13:35:58Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Which episode exactly featured sexual assault? > > I think I can remember some aggressive kissing in the Native American planet episode, but to be fair Kirk was kind of insane at the time. Checking around, I find that most of the sex seems to have taken place off-camera. So, given the OP, I’d say he’s not really in the running after all. From [www.trekbbs.com](http://www.trekbbs.com): > [@](#): > > In addition to Carol, Miramanee, and Deela, we can make a good case for Drusilla, the Roman slave girl from “Bread and Circuses.” We see them making out, then there’s your classic “lamp burning down” dissolve to show the passage of hours, then we see Kirk asleep in the same room. It’s not definitive, but the implication is clear. > > It’s also a safe bet that he got laid by one or more Argelian women while on shore leave after “Wolf in the Fold,” given that Argelius is a hedonistic, sexually liberal culture. But we never met any of them on camera. > Women he probably slept with: > > Areel Shaw – Described Kirk as “my dear old love,” suggesting they were closely involved for a time. > > Janet Wallace – Another old flame who keeps track of how long it’s been since they broke up, so it must’ve been pretty serious. > > Janice Lester – She and Kirk were together for a year, according to her. > Women he kissed but definitely didn’t sleep with: > > Eve McHuron – She tried to seduce him but couldn’t go through with it. > > Janice Rand – The evil Kirk’s rape attempt didn’t get past first base, and the intact Kirk was too much of a professional to even let himself look at her legs. > > Andrea – Doesn’t go beyond kissing because she’s “not programmed for [him].” > > Helen Noel – People often think they were an item, but that was an illusion planted by the neural neutralizer. In reality, they only flirted and danced at the Christmas party, and the brainwashed Kirk kissed her briefly before coming to his senses. > > Sylvia – He tries to seduce her to gain an advantage, but she catches on before he gets past first base. > > Marlena – He simply doesn’t have time. The only gap in their scenes together is the act break after Spock warns Kirk he’s been ordered to kill him, and when we come back, Marlena’s still in uniform and reacting to that event. So there’s no opportunity for sex. > > Nona – They’re definitely headed that way, but it’s scuttled by a case of mugatus interruptus. > > Shahna – Ditto, except this time it’s Galtus interruptus. > > Miranda Jones – His seduction bombed totally. > > Uhura – They were forced to make out by the Platonians, and Kirk regained control of himself before it could go further. > > Marta – She interrupted their makeout by attempting, err, premature evisceration. > > Martia (from ST VI) – They only kissed once and then she left. > Uncertain cases: > > Lenore Karidian – They fell into an embrace at the fade-out and we didn’t see either of them again for some time. But he was just using her to get to her father, so the question is, how far would he take it? > > Ruth – With the fantasy version, probably yes, eventually. But the real Ruth was a memory from his Academy days, yet she was played by a 32-year-old actress. So she would’ve been an “older woman.” Was she his Mrs. Robinson, or just someone he worshipped from afar? > > Edith Keeler – She was the love of his life, but would a “Sister” Edith from 1930 have been willing to have sex before marriage? The Crucible trilogy by David R. George says yes, and it’s true that sexual values in that era were probably more flexible than we assume (and more liberal than later in the '50s, say), but it’s hard to be sure. > > Kelinda – Very probably not; they still seemed to be at first base when interrupted by Rojan. But there was a cutaway, so it’s theoretically possible they could’ve gone all the way, gotten dressed again, and started over again with the kissing. > > Anne Mulhall – If it did happen, it was while their bodies were in use by other minds, so it wouldn’t really count anyway. > > Elaan – Again, probably not, since they always seemed to be getting interrupted, but we can’t be sure how much time elapsed between scenes. > > Odona – There’s an act break in which it might’ve happened, but it doesn’t seem too likely that they had time. > > Rayna Kapec – They probably didn’t have the time or opportunity, since the whole whirlwind courtship takes less than four hours, but it can’t be definitively ruled out. > So the breakdown, for women appearing on camera: > > Definite sexual intimacy: 2 > Near-certain intimacy: 5 > Indeterminate: 8 > Kissing but definitely no sex: 12 ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836/20 "2013-12-09T13:53:29Z")
But which would be counted as sexual assault? The question isn’t about who had a lot of sexual encounters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-t-v-series-features-the-greatest-number-of-sexual-assaults-would-happy-days-make-the-top-5/675836.md?page=2)