Arthur "Fonz" Fonzarelli - Happy Days' Fonzie was nicknamed off his last name. This motorcycle-riding, leather jacket wearing, best friend of Richie Cunningham is remembered for his catch phrases => "Aaay!" and "Woah!", as well as his almost inhuman ability to call girls to his side with a snap.
Warren "Potsie" Webber - Of Happy Days fame, 'Potsie' was Warren's childhood nikcname, given by his mother who noticed his love of making things out of clat. While a bit thick-headed, Potsie is a great singer and, like all male, Milwaukee teens, has an avid interest in members of the opposite sex.
Walter "Radar" O'Reilly - Radar, the company clerk for the 4077th, (of the show, M*A*S*H), was named for his apparent clairvoyance. It was because of his ability to anticipate everything from questions to 'choppers' that he was called this, although he'll be the first to explain that his given name is 'Walter'.
Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce - Hawkeye, arguably the main character of the series, M*A*S*H, received his nickname from his father, Daniel Pierce. 'Hawkeye' is a frontier fur-trapper and Indian scout in James Fennimore's the Last of the Mohicans, which is said to have been the favorite book of Benjamin's father.
Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan - According to the TV Series, M*A*S*H, Margaret received her nickname based on 'passionate extracurricular activites'. In the film, she is called 'Hot Lips' after a recording of her saying, "Oh Frank, my lips are hot. Kiss my hot lips", during a wild romp with Major Frank Burns is broadcast over the camp.
Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver - On Leave it to Beaver, 'Beaver' is a family nickname for Theodore, after his brother, Wally, incorrectly pronounced is name 'Tweeter'. This apparently sounded like 'Beaver' to their parents. This led to such insults as, "Hiya, Beaver, you gnaw down any trees today?"
Richard "Boner" Stabone - Mike Seaver, (of Growing Pains), met Richard at a bus stop on their first day of school and dubbed him "Boner" based on his last name. Apalled, Boner replied, "But all the tages in my underwear say 'Dickie'!" The two became best friends until Boner joined the Marines.
Father John Patrick Francis "Dago Red" Mulcahy - Father Mulcahy, the Chaplain of the 4077th on M*A*S*H was often referred to in the original book and film as 'Dago Red'. This was used in the show only a few times and its origin was never revealed.
Darrin "Durrwood" Stephens - In 'Bewitched', Darrin's wife's mother, Endora, hated that her witch-daughter married a mortal, and in retaliation, refused to pronounce his name properly. Some of the things she's called him are, Durwood, Darwin, Dagwood, Donald, Dennis, Dum-Dum, Dumbo, Derek, Darwood, Durweed, Darius, David and Dobbin.
Frank "Ferret Face" Burns - On an episode of M*A*S*H, Major Frank Burns revealed that his brother used to call him "Ferret Face", a nickname that quickly caught on at the 4077th. When BJ came to replace Trapper, his first words to Frank were, "What say, Ferret Face?", and in a toast to his departure, Hawkeye said, "Good bye, Ferret Face."
Frances "Gidget" Lawrence - Gidget, (on the sitcom, Gidget, no less), was a boy-crazy teen nicknamed because a 'gidget' was a girl who was not tall, nor a midget. The sitcom was based on the film, "Gidget", and was followed by several other Gidget films as well as a sequel series.
"Remington Steele" - "Try this for a deep, dark secret..." Remington Steele is a fictional person created by detective, Laura Holt. He was meant to be a pretend boss, as the male chauvinism of 80's America prevented her from being recognized as a successful private eye. Later, a mysterious man came along and pretended to be the real Mr. Steele. His real name was never revealed, although he was often referenced as "Harry". The name "Remington Steele" came from a football team and a typewriter.
Irwin "Skippy" Handleman - Alex Keaton's childhood best friend on Family Ties, Skippy was everything a stereotypical nerd is. Everything but smart. He had a long runequited love for Alex's sister, Mallory.
Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey - From the Facts of Life, Tootie was one of the girls boarding at Eastland Academy. The reason behind her nickname, although never officially revealed, probably stemmed from her fun-loving nature.
John "Trapper" McIntyre - Trapper John of M*A*S*H, was Hawkeye's best friend until he want stateside to be replaced by BJ Hunnicutt. The reason to his nickname was never said during the series, but is explained in the movie with the following dialogue;
Hawkeye: Trapper John! Only man in history who ever found fulfillment in the ladies' can of a Boston and Maine railroad car! When the conductor caught him in there with his Winter Carnival date, she screamed: "He trapped me!" What have you been doing since those days, Trapper? |
