12 Sitcom Dimwits With Real Degrees, Patents and a Seat in Congress

Gopher on The Love Boat was played by a Harvard graduate who went on to serve four terms in the United States Congress. He was not the only sitcom dimwit with a surprising record off screen. In this video, we look at 12 classic sitcom stars who played the goofy, the naive and the clueless, and the degrees, patents, scholarships and public careers behind them. Every story comes from biographies, obituaries, interviews, patent records and the public record. Which sitcom star patented a fish attractor? Who patented pantyhose in the 1970s? And which TV dad with no visible job had a law degree and ran his own show? Featuring Fred Grandy, Julie Newmar, Tony Danza, George Lindsey, John Banner, Ozzie Nelson, Michael McKean, Buddy Ebsen, Justine Bateman, Woody Harrelson, Gary Burghoff and Robin Williams. If you love classic TV, subscribe to Prime Time Reruns for more stories from behind the scenes.