5 Myths About Iconic TV Scenes & 5 Surprising True Stories
Top 5 Stories About Iconic TV Scenes That Are a Myth & 5 That Are Actually True
Welcome to MsMojo, and today were looking at the craziest TV backstories that turned out to be bunk and the ones that turned out to be real.
#5: Myth: Seth MacFarlane Resurrected Brian Griffin Due to Fan Pressure
Family Guy (1999-2003; 2005-)
After twelve seasons, the series creator apparently wanted to make a major change. The Griffins beloved anthropomorphic dog, Brian, is killed in a devastating car accident. Creator and voice actor Seth MacFarlane knew the moment would be a shocker, but he didnt realize he was kicking a hornets nest. Fans revolted and grieved as if their own pet had died. Petitions were started to bring the character back. Two episodes later, the show reversed course and Brian was resurrected through a time travel storyline, leading many to think the fan reaction was responsible. MacFarlane dispelled that rumor, saying this was the plan all along. After all, its not like they couldve written and animated Brians return episode in just a couple of weeks.
#5: True: John Amos Was Fired From Good Times for Questioning Producers
Good Times (1974-79)
For the first three seasons, patriarch James Evans Sr. steered his family through storylines about poverty, violence, and job security. In the heartbreaking two-part fourth season premiere, James is written out when his character is killed in a car accident off-screen. When actor John Amos left the series in 1976, producers initially explained his absence by saying he had gone on to pursue other roles. This turned out to be a cover. Amos, along with co-lead Esther Rolle, were becoming displeased with the shows depiction of an African-American family, particularly the antics of eldest son, J. J. Evans. In fact, Amos had confrontations with several writers on the show. Executive producer Norman Lear informed him he was being fired ahead of the fourth season.
#4: Myth: Zsa Zsa Gabors Saucy Appearance
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-92)
For years, Johnny Carson was renowned for his wicked double entendres. One such alleged one-liner involved actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who reportedly brought her cat along for her guest spot on The Tonight Show. Carsons alleged response to a seemingly innocuous question became legend. During her 1989 appearance on the show, actress Jane Fonda decided to clear things up for everyone and ask the host about it outright. Carson denies it. People have tried locating this clip, but never found it, and doubt it ever really happened at all. The fact Carson managed to stay on the air seems like further proof that its a fabrication.
#4: True: Susan Was Written Off Because She Was Difficult To Work With
Seinfeld (1989-98)
Marriage with George Costanza was never going to work. Seinfeld was a show about people who refuse to change and grow. Georges engagement to Susan Ross ended in the most Seinfeld way possible. After settling for cheap glue to mail their wedding invitations, Susan dies from a toxic reaction. For a long time, rumors persisted that the actress who played her, Heidi Swedberg, was written out because the cast didnt like her. This wasnt the whole story. However, Jason Alexander confirmed that he found her hard to play off of, as did the rest of the cast. This contributed to the decision to kill the character off. Alexander insists Swedberg is a good performer, but the chemistry didnt work.
#3: Myth: The Sixth Doctor Pushed Two Enemies Into Acid
Doctor Who (1963-89; 1996; 2005-)
The Doctor may be an interdimensional time traveler in constant battle for the fate of the universe, but generally, hes not a cold-blooded killer. In a case of the Mandela Effect that only afflicts Doctor Who fans, the Sixth Doctor is misremembered as more vicious than his counterparts. In a scene from the episode Vengeance on Varos, we see the Doctor accidentally scaring two of his captors and causing them to fall to their deaths in an acid bath. Some viewers swear he pushed one of them. Now that we have the benefit of going back and watching the scene, we can see thats not the case. He doesnt do much to save them from an agonizing death, though.
#3: True: Ross Saying Rachel Was Based on a Real Mistake
Friends (1994-2004)
Ross and Rachel had one of the most iconic will-they-or-wont-they storylines in sitcom history. One of the most famous scenes on Friends sees Ross marrying Emily but accidentally saying Rachels name. It was the cliffhanger that had everyone talking. It actually came to the writers late in the game. Actor David Schwimmer had made that exact slip in a previous scene, mixing up the characters names. Writer Greg Malins describes the a-ha moment he had in response. Noting how they had no idea how Rachel should factor into Ross wedding, the writer revealed that Schwimmers mistake was the solution they needed.
#2: Myth: The Simpsons Predicted 9/11
The Simpsons (1989-)
Much has been made of the long-running animated comedys seemingly eerie ability to predict future events. While the writers of the show always sought to make some commentary about what the future might hold, a 1997 episode features a bizarre image. Lisa Simpson is trying to convince her family to take a trip to the Big Apple. She holds up a $9 brochure that features the Twin Towers, and viewers note that it looks like its spelling out 9/11. Some of the more fanciful internet users even insist its evidence of a full-blown conspiracy. In reality, its just an unfortunate coincidence blown way out of proportion.
#2: True: An Episode of Pokémon Made Children Sick
Pokémon (1997-)
On December 16, 1997, the episode Denn Senshi Porygon aired and suddenly became the subject of intense public scrutiny. A climactic scene at the end of the episode sees Pikachu using an attack illustrated with quick-flashing lights. This posed a problem for photosensitive young viewers. Over 600 Japanese children were taken to hospitals with illnesses after the episode aired. Reported symptoms were as varied as seizures to nausea, but the overall explanation appears to have been a mass hysteria that rolled into the days following the episodes airing. This snowballed into a panic over the show itself, leading to a months-long hiatus for the program and a permanent shelving of the offending episode.
#1: Myth: Happy Days Jumped the Shark
Happy Days (1974-84)
Ask anybody and theyll say this nostalgic 70s sitcom was basically undone by the Fonz jumping over a live shark while on water skis. Since this now infamous episode, the phrase jump the shark has been used to denote a show past its prime and on the way to cancellation. Ironically, though, this episode aired less than halfway through the series run. Outlandish as the scene may be, Happy Days hadnt jumped the shark at all. In fact, the show was still at its peak as far as ratings go and would run for multiple seasons afterwards.
#1: True: Curb Your Enthusiasm Exonerated a Murder Suspect
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
Most of the time, Larry Davids comedy series doesnt look on humanity that fondly. But lo and behold, the show about a people-hating misanthrope ended up saving an innocent man. Juan Catalan was charged with murder, but he swore he was at a Dodgers game at the time. His lawyers decided to see if any footage of the game had captured him in the crowd. Luckily, Curb Your Enthusiasm had filmed portions of a Season 4 episode, The Car Pool Lane, at Dodger Stadium that same day. Out of 40,000 attendees, their cameras happened to capture Catalan literally feet away from the shows star. After some difficulty with the prosecutors, the charges against Catalan were dropped.
Did any of these behind-the-scenes stories surprise you? Tell us in the comments.