# Who is the smarter, stronger, or more clever character? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516 "2025-04-02T12:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/121 "2025-04-04T13:48:08Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Did Gidget actually surf though, or did she just hang out on the beach watching the guys surf? Movie Gidget surfed. I would imagine TV Gidget also did, and according to Google, she did. Sally Fields got the part without knowing how apparently, and then learned for the show. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/122 "2025-04-04T13:51:05Z")
> [@solost](#): > > And while we’re on the subject of Sally Field sitcom characters, if I may make a slight hijack, just how did the flying nun fly, anyway? Not with a bang, but with a wimple. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/123 "2025-04-04T13:53:44Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Not with a bang, but with a wimple. OK, that made me laugh. But, don’t let that become a habit. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/124 "2025-04-04T14:08:45Z")
Oh yes, TV [Gidget surfed—](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Catv1sxs7E)and quite well, I must say! ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/125 "2025-04-04T14:43:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Sally Fields got the part without knowing how apparently, and then learned for the show. A common brag from any diminutive male surfer from the 1960s was that they once put on a bikini to body double Gidget. But almost all of those scenes were filmed using rear projection. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/126 "2025-04-04T14:46:12Z")
> [@solost](#): > > > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > > Not with a bang, but with a wimple. > > **OK, that made me laugh.** > > But, don’t let that become a habit. Holy cow, yes. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/127 "2025-04-04T14:58:28Z")
Gidget was a much nicer person than Patty. More like Patty’s cousin Kathy. Patty would wipe the floor with her. Also, Kathy Kohner, the real life Gidget was actively surfing into her 60s and still gets out in the water annually for charity events. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/128 "2025-04-04T15:00:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Also, Kathy Kohner, the real life Gidget was actively surfing into her 60s and still gets out in the water annually for charity events. Did not know Gidget was based on a real life character. I learn something new and interesting every day on the Dope, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/129 "2025-04-04T16:31:17Z")
Mack Bolan The Executioner or his ripoff Marvel Comics’ Frank Castle The Punisher? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/130 "2025-04-04T16:36:41Z")
How about Swamp Thing vs. Man Thing? ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/131 "2025-04-04T17:03:09Z")
Jessica Fletcher vs Jane Marple: this time, it’s personal ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/132 "2025-04-04T17:21:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How about Swamp Thing vs. Man Thing? I think they are pretty close when it comes to strength. Man Thing burns anyone who fells fear. However he doesn’t possess human intelligence. Swamp Thing should be able to out smart him. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/133 "2025-04-04T18:06:01Z")
From Larry Niven’s universe: how about Vaemar the WunderKzin versus Brennan the Protector? Actually of course, I’d prefer to have them both on _my_ side… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/134 "2025-04-04T18:46:27Z")
Death-match: _Tattoo_ from Fantasy Island vs. _Chucky_ from Chucky. Sure, Chucky looks like the obvious winner—tiny psycho doll with a knife and a bad attitude—but I wouldn’t count Tattoo out. He’s seen more twisted fantasies than Chucky’s ever dreamed of. He’d put that little stuffed maniac into an endless loop of voodoo vacation packages faster than you can say _“De plane! De plane!”_—all while sipping a piña colada and smirking like a madman. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/135 "2025-04-04T19:11:29Z")
Nick Carter the Killmaster slips in behind each of them for the win ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/136 "2025-04-04T19:24:35Z")
Westley Crusher vs. Will Robinson? Crusher for sure, although they would probably team up and find some way to cause a huge mess for everyone else… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/137 "2025-04-04T19:33:22Z")
_ **Banacek** _ or _ **Baretta** _? Banacek is smarter but Baretta carries a gun… and dats da name of dat tune. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/138 "2025-04-04T19:53:22Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Westley Crusher vs. Will Robinson? > Crusher for sure, although they would probably team up and find some way to cause a huge mess for everyone else… Will, the Doctor and the robot had some funny episodes. Not so Wesley. > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Banacek is smarter but Baretta carries a gun… and dats da name of dat tune. Banacek is just plain cool. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/139 "2025-04-04T20:09:56Z")
> [@solost](#): > > OK, that made me laugh. I was proud of that; one of my better efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516/140 "2025-04-04T20:11:35Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Banacek is just plain cool. And he never lost a fight. Banacek would beat Baretta, earn a 10% commission, and have the perfect old Polish proverb to explain why. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-smarter-stronger-or-more-clever-character/1016516.md?page=8)