Wordplay Wednesday (May 16th)

[SCHALAAY]

http://ken-jennings.com/blog/archives/3759

The man in question is Danny TANNER of Full House

His best friend is Joey or JOE Gladstone

TANNER JOE = JANET RENO

Tough one.
I narrowed it down only by the Cabinet member clue and looking at which cabinet members were notable and had easily anagrammable names.

[Bill]

Nice!

I spent some time on this one, but the potential field was too wide.

I did find one solution that would have worked if the cheat were being allowed to replace three letters in the anagram instead of using a nickname.

Both the show and the politician are from the early 1970's. All four names in question have the same number of letters.

Can anyone guess my "near miss"?

[jbenz]

I was hoping it was going involve Michael SEAVER and his best friend BONER.

Alas, I couldn't recollect any late 80s political figures named NORSE BEAVER.

RIP BONER

[jbenz]

I also considered Alex P. KEATON and his neighbor SKIPPY.

I thought I was really on to something for a minute, as I was convinced that Tipper Gore's maiden name was TIPPY E. O'SKANK.

Alas, strike two.

[Ponch]

I too was stuck thinking of TV characters who had nicknames, not realizing the "cheat" was using a nickname never actually used on the show...

[marpocky]

I too was stuck thinking of TV characters who had nicknames, not realizing the "cheat" was using a nickname never actually used on the show...

Well, he was Ranger Joe on that TV show

[Bill]

Nice!

I spent some time on this one, but the potential field was too wide.

I did find one solution that would have worked if the cheat were being allowed to replace three letters in the anagram instead of using a nickname.

Both the show and the politician are from the early 1970's. All four names in question have the same number of letters.

Can anyone guess my "near miss"?

The TV character I was thinking of was Felix UNGER whose best friend was OSCAR Madison.

Change three letters of OSCAR UNGER to get OSPAR INGEW which anagrams to SPIRO AGNEW, who was Vice President for three years while The Odd Couple was on the air.