Celebrities
TV couples who are together in real life: How does it reflect on your favorite chara…
If your significant other is on social media, there’s a good chance that from time to time you give bae a shout-out.
But if you’re famous — and your bae is on the same TV show as you — it raises some interesting questions. When do you come out with your relationship? How much of your private lives seep into your messages back and forth? Where’s the work/life balance, and perhaps most importantly for your fans: Does your back-and-forth give us any indication of where your characters are headed?
Since they say art imitates life, let’s take a look at 5 real-life couples currently starring on hit TV shows. From embracing social media to avoiding it, trumpeting their private lives to helping social causes, their actions say a lot about themselves — and perhaps, their characters.
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David Giuntoli and Bitsie Tulloch
Status: Engaged
Show: “Grimm”
Tweet topics: The two actors frequently tweet at each other about all kinds of adorable real-life things like going on vacation, silly moments and workplace matters. But most recently, Tulloch has been proudly posting video from the “Grimm” set of her fiance’s directorial debut.
How it affects the characters: It’s funny, because on the show, Giuntoli’s Nick has a past with Tulloch’s Juliette — but is far more involved these days with his baby mommy Adalind, played by Claire Coffee. To further complicate matters, the “Grimm” fans seem to have largely chosen Nadaline over whatever hybrid name would be combined for Nick and Juliette. In real-life, however, the drama stays on-screen: Coffee and Tulloch are BFFs who teach each other how to Snapchat.
Cute factor: “Because we’re boyfriend and girlfriend on the show, everything I spend will be a tax write-off,” Giuntoli recently joked, breaking the news of their engagement and the impressive rock that accompanied it. On any cuteness scale, these two break the darn thing.
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Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan
Status: Married, five kids
Show: “The Jim Gaffigan Show”
Tweet topics: Jim’s Periscope appearances, embarrassing photos of when he was a little kid, and the kind of loving teasing that only two longtime spouses can deliver.
How it affects the characters: Following these two on social media is like getting a 24/7 livestream of the sitcom. Since Jim and Jeannie write and run the show together, and Jim is playing himself opposite an actress (Ashley Williams) playing Jeannie, what you’re essentially seeing is real-time laughs that could pop into any future episode. Which is kinda awesome.
Cute factor: All that and a bag of chips (and we know what Jim would do with a bag of chips). If you’re a fan of the show, these two are a must follow — especially when Jeannie is accusing her husband of making her sound like a Disney character.
Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Status: Married
Show: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Tweet topics: “Sunny” support for LA Pride festivities, making wood structures together, charity efforts.
How it affects the characters: Thankfully, not at all. On “Sunny,” Day’s Charlie is mentally unbalanced and Ellis’ “The Waitress” is constantly being used and abused. In real-life, however, we’re happy to report that these two seem to treat each other much, much better. If they were this nice on the show, “Sunny” never would have lasted 11 seasons; if they were like the show in real life, somebody would have been imprisoned by now.
Cute factor: Take a look at the picture below and you tell us.
Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson
Status: Married, two kids
Show: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Tweet topics: Inviting persecuted teenagers on their show, odd Netflix suggestions, and possible romantic get togethers.
How it affects the character: How did a show so un-family-friendly become the biggest family on TV? The same thoughts as Day and Ellis apply to McElhenny and Olson, who married in 2008. On the show, Mac and Sweet Dee are pretty much two of the most self-centered, narcissistic jerks you’ve ever come across. Thankfully, there is very little that mirrors the real-life social media impression that Olson and McElhenney are both very nice people.
Cute factor: Totes adorbs. But isn’t it just weird to see the faces behind “Sunny” so … umm … happy?
Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas
Status: Married, two kids
Show: “Once Upon a Time”
Tweet topics: Undoubtedly the most private out of this list, Dallas left Twitter recently, while his wife isn’t on the platform at all.
How it affects the characters: Snow White married her Prince Charming in 2014 — quite literally. Since then, the duo have kept their fairy tale romance pretty much social media-free, which for some might be the best decision a couple can make.
Cute factor: Based on what fans and co-stars post (see below), the two are still the fairest of them all.