Will they, or won’t they? That’s been the question about many TV couples. In fact, it’s this back-and-forth tension that keeps the ratings strong. People want these couples to get together, but once they do, oftentimes the ratings plummet. Even so, there have been some memorial TV romances that we all have fond memories of. But have you ever stopped to wonder just how did these crazy kids get together in the first place? The answers may surprise you.
Linus Van Pelt
and Sally Brown
Peanuts
According to the Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown handed out chocolate cigars to his friends when his sister Sally was born on May 26, 1959. She grew up quickly. She took her first steps on August 22, 1960 and she fell in love with Lucy’s brother Linus the next day. It was love at first sight, at least on her part.
Sally’s pet name for Linus is “Sweet Baboo”, a name that abhors, at least publicly. Her dedication to her man seems endless. She has missed out on “tricks and treats” by sitting in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin and she was incensed that Linus would snub her a Valentine’s gift in favor of his teacher, Miss Othmar. Still, she clings hopelessly in love with the striped t-shirt-wearing boy.
Of course, their potential romance is not the only one featured in the comic strips and TV specials. Lucy gave many not-so-subtle messages to classic pianist Schroeder, Peppermint Patty crushed on Charlie Brown and Charlie pined for the little redhead girl. (Image: Charles Schulz’s characters; Apple TV+)
Tony and Jeannie Nelson
I Dream of Jeannie
On September 18, 1965, Captain Tony Nelson’s one-man Stardust space capsule landed far from the planned recovery site. It was there that he found a strange but beautiful bottle. He opened it and, to his surprise, released a real genie who had been trapped inside for 2,000 years. She looked amazing considering her age.
At first, the two could not communicate until he wished that they could. When it was time for him to leave the island, Jeannie rolled her bottle (with her inside) into his duffle bag unbeknownst to him and “followed” him home to serve him as her master. At the time, Tony was engaged to his commanding general’s daughter, Melissa Stone, but the two broke up.
Tony and Jeannie innocently cohabited in his home (no hanky panky) for five years before the two got married. (Image: Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman; TVDB)
Herman and Lily Munster
The Munsters
Herman Munster was born/created in Germany in 1815 at the University of Heidelberg by Dr. Victor Frankenstein and has a twin brother, Charlie. He later moved to Shroudshire, England where he was adopted by the Munsters of Munster Hall. Lily Dracula was born to Count Vladimir Dracula (aka Grandpa on the TV series) and his 166th wife.
Herman and Lily were married in 1865 and moved to America in the mid-1940’s where Herman joined the Army to fight in World War II before settling down in their home on 1313 Mockingbird lane. Herman works at the Gateman, Goobury and Graves funeral home in Mockingbird Heights. Lily is mostly a housewife but has worked numerous short-term jobs.
In 2025, The Munsters celebrated their 160th anniversary. Even after all these years, the two still find ways to surprise each other. And their neighbors too. (Image: Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne; Wikimedia)
Ricky and Lucy Ricardo
I Love Lucy
Musician Ricky Ricardo grew up with five brothers in West Havana, Cuba. He immigrated to Miami Beach, Florida and eventually moved to New York City.
Raised in Jamestown, New York, Lucy McGillicuddy met Ricky while on a blind date set up by her friend Marion Strong. The two fell in love and got married at the Byram River Beagle Club in Connecticut.
The Riccardos moved to their brownstone apartment in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. It was there they met and became best friends with their landlords, Fred and Ethel Mertz, a more combative pair of love birds. Ricky works as a Cuban conga drummer at the Tropicana. Lucy is mostly a stay-at-home mom, but often finds odd jobs with Ethel. Despite all her antics, Ricky loves Lucy. (Image: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz; Wikimedia)
Rob and Laurie Petrie
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Robert Simpson Petrie was born in Danville, Illinois (along with this brother Stacey) and served in the military at Camp Crowder, Missouri as a Special Services Sergeant. It was there that he met his future wife, Laura Meehan, a United Service Organizations dancer.
The couple live in New Rochelle, New York. After several odd jobs, Rob was hired to write comedy sketches for “The Allan Brady Show”. Laura became a stay-at-home mom to their son, Ritchie “Rosebud” Petrie. (Image: Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke; Wikipedia)
Fred and Wilma Flintstone
The Flintstones
Frederick Jospeh Flintstone and Wilma Slaghoople grew up in Arkanstone, but they met the first time while working at the Honeyrock Hotel in Bedrock. Fred worked as a bellboy with his friend Barney Rubble. Wilma and her friend Betty McBricker worked as cigarette girls. The two couples had their first date together at the Cinderama movie theater.
Fred would often visit Wilma with flowers and rock candy in hand. The Flintstones were married at the Rock Mountain’s Justice of the Peace and the couple honeymooned at the Rock Mountain Inn.
As the best of friends, the Flintstones and Rubbles bought houses next to each other (on Cave Stone Road, Cobblestone Way or Rocky Way depending on who you talk to) in the town of Bedrock. The men took jobs ats Bronto-Crane operators at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company while the women were stay-at-homes moms for their children. When Pebbles Flintstone moved out of the house, Wilma began working as a reporter for The Daily Granite. (Image: TVDB)
Chachi And Joanie Arcola
Joanie Loves Chachi
Joanie Cunningham grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1960, she met Charles “Chachi” Arcola, the younger cousin of Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, a boarder who lived in the upstairs apartment of the Cunningham home. About two years later they had their first date at Arnold’s Drive-In.
Chachi was so excited, he accidently set fire to the restaurant. Soon, the two were dating regularly becoming budding musicians. Joanie and Chachi ran off to Chicago to see if they could make a go of their new band but the two came back to Milwaukee in 1965 to get married with Uncle Fonz in attendance. (Image: Scott Baio, Erin Moran; TVDB)
Jack and Rebecca Pearson
This is Us
Two days before Christmas in 1972, Rebecca Malone was suffering through another bad, boring date. After leaving the date early, Rebecca went to Ray’s Tavern dive bar. It was an open-mic night, and she decided to sing Cat Steven’s “Moonshadow” before the crowd.
As it turns out, Jack Pearson was also at the bar that night and found himself captivated by Rabecca. Their first date was a disaster. The couple went to a carnival, but Jack only had $8 on him. It started raining and he couldn’t afford to buy her an umbrella. However, all was forgiven when he told her that she felt like home to him. The two were married on May 16, 1976. (Image: Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore; TVDB)
Homer and Marge Simpson
The Simpsons
Marjori Bouvier first met Homer Jay Simpson while attending separate but neighboring summer camps. However, Homer was mistaken for a missing camper at a fat camp and was taken away from her. The two were reunited at Springfield High School after being sent to detention (he for smoking in the men’s room and she for burning her bra in protest).
Homer pretended that he was taking a French class and requested that she tutor him so he could spend time with her. Initially, she was put off by his…Homerness. She later came around though. During their 20’s, Marge was a photographer, and Homer aspired to become a rock star.
Some say that the couple were childless for a number of years, but others say that the two quickly got married after finding out that she was pregnant with son Bart. Today, Homer and Marge are also the proud parents of Lisa and Maggie. (Image: TVDB)
Jim and Pam Hapert
The Office
Jim Hapert began working as a sales representative at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company at Scranton, Pennsylvania when he met his future wife, Pam Beesley who worked as a receptionist. However, the couple’s memories about who met first are a bit fuzzy.
Jim once said that he had developed a crush on Pam after she had started working at the company. But later he told her that he had fallen in love with her on his first day with the company when she showed his desk (and warned him about salesman, Dwight). Either way though, she had been engaged for three years to Roy, a guy who worked at the company’s warehouse.
Eventually, Pam broke up with Roy and started dating Jim. Now living in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the two got married after an unexpected pregnancy. They secretly got married aboard the “Maid of the Mist” at Niagara Falls before having a public ceremony back home. (Image: John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer; TVDB)
Ross and Rachel Geller
Friends
No couple on TV have had a more difficult relationship than Ross Geller and Rachel Green. Ross’s sister Monica was friends with Rachel during high school
During high school, Ross’s younger sister Monica and Rachel were classmates in high school, but Ross graduated before she did. Rachel was friends with Ross’ younger sister, Monica.
When the Rachel’s prom date canceled, it was Ross who stepped up to take her, so that she didn’t have to go to it alone.
Years later, Rachel fled her own wedding and met up with Monica at the Central Perk Coffee Shop. It was there that she saw Ross for the first time in a long time. He himself was going through a divorce from his wife Carol. The two got together, broke up, got together, broke up, rinse and repeat.
Eventually, Ross got engaged to his girlfriend Emily but at his wedding he replaced her name with Rachel’s during the vows. More back and forth. The two even got married at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas, but that went nowhere. They eventually grew up, declared their love for each other and finally made it stick. We hope. (Image: Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer; Friends)
Which TV couple is your favorite?
Main Image: Apple TV+
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