Where some of TV’s favorite couples first met
You have to be pretty hard-hearted to not get a least a little lump in your thought when you think of some of fictional couples. But have you ever stopped to think just how these crazy lovebirds ever got together? The answers may surprise you.
Linus Van Pelt and Sally Brown
According to the comic strip, Charlie Brown’s sister, Sally was born on May 26, 1959 where Charlie marked the occasion by passing out chocolate cigars to his friends. She grew up quickly. She took her first steps on August 22, 1960 and she fell in love with Linus, Lucy’s brother, on the next day. It was love at first sight, at least on her part. Sally has often referred to Linus as her “Sweet Baboo.” 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 for his teacher, Miss Othmar. Still, she clings hopelessly in love with the stripe t-shirt-wearing Linus.
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.
Tony and Jeannie Nelson
The astronaut Captain Tony Nelson met Jeannie on a deserted island in the South Pacific on September 18, 1965 in the premiere episode of I Dream of Jeannie. Nelson’s one-man Stardus One space capsule landed far from the planned recovery site where he found a strange bottle. He opened the bottle releasing a genie who had been trapped inside for 2,000 years. At first, the two could not communicate until he wished that they could. Unbeknownst to Tony, Jeannie rolled her bottle into his duffle bag and “followed” him home. At the time, Tony was engaged to his commanding general’s daughter, Melissa Stone, but the two broke up.
Herman and Lily Munster
Herman Munster was born/created in Germany in 1815 at the University of Heidelberg by Dr. Victor Frankenstein but he wasn’t completed until 1850. He later moved to England where he was adopted by the Munsters of Munster Hall. Lily was born in 1827 to Count Vladimir Dracula (aka Grandpa on the TV series) and his 166th wife. She lived with her father in Transylvania before meeting Herman. 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.
Ricky and Lucy Riccardo
Lucy McGillicuddy was raised in Jamestown, New York in 1921. When Lucy was 22, she met Ricky Ricardo 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. They moved to their brownstone apartment in New York in the early 1940’s. It was there they met and became best friends with their landlords, Fred and Ethel Mertz, another pair of (sometimes) love birds.
Rob and Laurie Petrie
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 met his future wife, Laura Meehan, a United Service Organizations dancer. After a number of odd jobs, Rob was hired to write comedy for the TV program, The Allan Brady Show and Laura became a stay-at-home mom to their son, Ritchie “Rosebud” Petrie. The family live in New Rochelle, New York.
Fred and Wilma Flintstone
Fred Flintstone and his good friend Barney Rubble once worked at a resort where the two met their future wives, Wilma Slaghoople and Betty McBricker, who worked as cigarette girls/waitresses. The two couples married and live next door to each other in the town of Bedrock. Fred and Barney work as bronto-crane operators at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company while the women are stay-at-homes moms (who don’t mind trying out a few new careers every now and then) to the children Pebbles Flintstone and Bam-Bam Rubble.
Chachi and Joanie Arcola
Joanie Cunningham grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In about 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, which unfortunately included a fire in the restaurant. Soon, the two were dating regularly becoming budding musicians. The two ran off to Chicago to see if they could make a go of their new band but the two came back to Milwaukee to get married in 1965.
Writer of Pop Culture 
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