In this case, I think the choice may be a deliberate one. The subtext seems to be “You should listen to me because I’m smarter than you.” I don’t know who this would work on, but I doubt television producers would be among that group. And if I remember the episode correctly, the hair did turn green, so Reed lost his appeal.

I should add that as a kid, I was put off by the green hair, because I didn’t find it believable within the context of the show. I remember thinking “That wouldn’t really happen.” Reed was right, though just a bit pompous.

As a kid, I also had a Reed-like reaction whenever a realistic sitcom would have a supernatural incident, like in a Halloween episode or something. The early stirrings of a future drama major, perhaps.

That’s a helluva point. People sometimes criticize the most what reminds them of themselves…