# Which TV husband or wife would you most want as your spouse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816 "2011-10-26T03:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bannedit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Bannedit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bannedit)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/41 "2011-10-26T10:33:07Z")
I must have missed a post… I CAN’T be the first guy to mention June Cleaver! A dress and pearls every morning? Lemonade every Saturday while I mow the lawn? What’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/42 "2011-10-26T10:48:59Z")
… > [@](#): > > Lister: D’ya think Wilma’s sexy? > Cat: Wilma Flintstone? > Lister: Maybe we’ve been alone in deep space too long, but every time I see that body, it drives me crazy. Is it me? > Cat: Well, I think in all probability, Wilma Flintstone is the most desirable woman that ever lived. > Lister: That’s good. I thought I was going strange. > Cat: She’s incredible! > Lister: What d’ya think of Betty? > Cat: Betty Rubble? Well, I would go with Betty… but I’d be thinking of Wilma. > Lister: This is crazy. Why are we talking about going to bed with Wilma Flintstone? > Cat: You’re right. We’re nuts. This is an insane conversation. > Lister: She’ll never leave Fred, and we know it. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/43 "2011-10-26T11:57:39Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Jamie Buchman](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103484/), from _Mad About You_. The character was irresistibly cute and neurotic. Just like me. Brilliant choice. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > You are all crazy for missing the bestest of the best: Agent 99 from “Get Smart.”…Yowza!!! Another pick I endorse. If there had never been a Laura Petrie, I would ask 99 for her number. > [@Bannedit](#): > > I must have missed a post… I CAN’T be the first guy to mention June Cleaver! A dress and pearls every morning? Lemonade every Saturday while I mow the lawn? What’s not to love? I don’t get the love for June. She is not at all attractive, she constantly nags Ward in a passive-aggressive manner, and I hear tell her lemonade is too sweet. Yep, I’ll stand by Laura Meehan Petrie of 148 Bonnie Meadow Road. _Laura Mustard…sigh_[/daydreaming] mmm ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/44 "2011-10-26T12:06:57Z")
My first thought was Claire from Modern Family - probably influenced by current shows. Lois Griffin has appeal, still has that swimmer’s body, the red hair and she’s going to inherit a lot of money when her dad dies. Not sure about Donna Reed from TV but the one who says “Welcome home Mr. Bailey” in “Its a Wonderful Life” would be on my list of movie wives. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/45 "2011-10-26T12:09:26Z")
Lorelai Gilmore, now that her annoying teenager is finally out of the house. She owns her own business, has an extremely high rate of speaking, and will be rich when her toady old relatives kick the bucket. Cons: high drama quotient, Paul Anka, and a creepy diner owner to deal with. Am I a bad person for never having heard of Laura Petrie? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/46 "2011-10-26T12:13:55Z")
Definately Donna Reed. Gorgeous and at my side through thick and thin. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/47 "2011-10-26T12:32:57Z")
Dexter. What? He’s adorable. And he’s widowed now too. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/48 "2011-10-26T12:54:24Z")
Sherman T. Potter, please. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/49 "2011-10-26T12:57:31Z")
Kind of an odd choice but Doctor Julia Hoffman on “Dark Shadows”. Grayson Hall was never much of a looker but she was intelligent (the only person of the dimwits in Collinsport who deduced that Barnabas Collins was a vampire). After a number of episodes where she and Barnabas were on the verge of killing each other (a plot line dropped almost as soon as Victoria Winters returned from 1797 that a seance sent her to), she helped Barnabas get other sources of blood,helped Dr Lang build Adam to cure his vampirism, went back in time and parallel dimensions for him, hypnotize Maggie to cover up her being kidnapped by Barnabas. Fat lot of good it did her. Barnabas was always too interested in Victoria or Josette/Maggie to notice her except for a few times calling her a good friend. But apparently there is a post series plot written by Sam Hall, Grayson’s husband, saying Barnabas finally realized he loved her and they got married. So I will use that as my loophole saying she was a TV wife. I don’t know if there were a whole lot of female doctors in television in the late 1960s. A few years later on “All in the Family” everyone was stumped by a question of “man and his son were injured. Emergency room doctor says, I can’t operate, it’s my son” with the answer being his mother was the doctor. So she was a pioneer for gender equality (of course originally Dr Hoffman was referred to off camera as a man). ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/50 "2011-10-26T12:59:58Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Rob Petrie . . . especially since Laura will be busy with her many other husbands. I was going to say Rob, too–cute, funny, sexy, great coworkers. But then I thought, what happens when \*The Alan Brady Show \*goes off the air? He’s out of work, doing freelance TV spots for Don Draper, he and Laura probably have to leave New Rochelle and move to the lesser parts of Queens or the Bronx . . . Is Alan Brady married? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/51 "2011-10-26T12:59:59Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Am I a bad person for never having heard of Laura Petrie? Allow me to [introduce](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tvCyqQ1_wOI/Toj0ukZZPEI/AAAAAAAAGgA/CuFJaVBXGVk/s1600/dick+van+dykemary-tyler-moore-cute.jpg) [you](http://elviswomen.greggers.net/images/mtm-dvd05.jpg). mmm ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/52 "2011-10-26T13:12:44Z")
\*\*Eve \*\*- I think Alan’s sister was married to Mel Cooley, but I don’t recall every hearing about a Mrs. Brady. My choice would be Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I just know he’s caring, protective, smart, handy around the house, and he’s major eye candy. Except when he has that cheesy mustache… ---
**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:** [October 26, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/53 "2011-10-26T13:24:26Z")
Do I get to pick Jaime Sommers? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/54 "2011-10-26T13:48:40Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Gomez Adams. > > Cute, intelligent, witty, good with a sword, and adored his wife. > [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Seconded. > [@Baker](#): > > You know, I never would have thought of him, but now that you mention him, yeah, he might be the one. Of course, being Gomez, he’d never leave Morticia so I’d have to bump her off. > > And of course, when mentioning his fine qualities, there’s also _ **rich** _. I never would have thought of him, but I’d take Gomez in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d take Buddy Ryan. Or even his son Harry Stone. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/55 "2011-10-26T13:52:19Z")
Meredith Baxter Birny’s character on “Family Ties” was attractive and funny. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/56 "2011-10-26T14:09:49Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Meredith Baxter Birny’s character on “Family Ties” was attractive and funny. That would be Elyse Keaton. I’d pick Emily Hartley, Dr. Bob Harley’s wife on “The Bob Newhart Show”. Smart, funny and sexy as all get out. [Link](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xGU3W7Ugqn4/TUW7foqYN9I/AAAAAAAAF4I/wNoY5-K71SM/s1600/suzanne+pleshette+a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/57 "2011-10-26T14:24:34Z")
No, Gloria (Sophia Vergara) is mine! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/58 "2011-10-26T14:31:56Z")
matt roelof? can u say tiger. Jim Bob Duggar (bet he’s the energizer bunny) Was Trapper John married? Mr. Kotter Ok scrolling up I see Gomez Adams, finally a suitable suitor! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/59 "2011-10-26T14:44:06Z")
I’m tempted to say [Francine Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francine_Smith) from _American Dad,_ but she’d be better to have a fling with – too much craziness to be a good spouse. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816/60 "2011-10-26T14:45:43Z")
[Barbara Good](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)) - bright, resourceful, loyal, hard-working, impishly witty, assertive, kind, and played by Felicity Kendal whom I personally would nail like a loose floorboard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tv-husband-or-wife-would-you-most-want-as-your-spouse/600816.md?page=4)