"Star-Named" Shows Sometimes Succeed Online Trivia | Television

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The star plays a character in law enforcement with a cousin

Answer: The Andy Griffith Show

Running for eight seasons (1960-1968), the show starred Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, sheriff of the small town of Mayberry, NC. Don Knotts portrayed Barney Fife, the town deputy and Andy's cousin. Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee) and Ron Howard (Opie) rounded out the cast.

The show ended its run at Number One in the Neilsen ratings after airing on CBS for 249 episodes, largely because of Andy Griffith's interest in stepping away from his role.

2. The star plays half a couple who raises the three kids of one's sister.

Answer: The Bernie Mac Show

In the show, Bernie's character and his wife Wanda (Kellita Smith) care for the children of his sister while she is in rehab. Over the five seasons of the show (2001-2006), Bernie's emotions run the gamut from frustration to love. Camille Winbush, Jeremy Suarez, and Dee Dee Davis portray the children. Bernie's character would occasionally break the "fourth wall" and address the viewing audience directly.

The show aired on FOX for 104 episodes.

3. The star plays psychologist who interacts with staff and patients.

Answer: The Bob Newhart Show

Over six seasons (1972-1978) Bob Newhart portrayed Chicago psychologist Dr. Bob Hartley, who often served as the straight man to other cast members. Suzanne Pleshette portrayed his wife and Bill Daley his neighbor. At work, Marcia Wallace was his secretary and Peter Bonerz was a dentist in the next office.

The characters appeared in other series including the finale of "Newhart", where a cameo of Bob Hartley and his wife showed that "Newhart" was simply a dream of the former. The show aired on CBS for 142 episodes.

4. The star discovered this show always has room for Daddy.

Answer: The Danny Thomas Show

During the first three of its eleven seasons (1953-1964), "The Danny Thomas Show" was known as "Make Room for Daddy". Danny Thomas played Danny William's a comedian and nightclub entertainer who was often on the road. Jean Hagen portrayed his first wife Margaret and after the character died Majorie Lord portrayed second wife Kathy. During its 343 episodes, the show would spend its first four seasons on ABC and the rest on CBS.

5. The star played an aspiring musician works at a family-owned hotel.

Answer: The Jamie Foxx Show

Jamie Foxx portrayed Jamie Foxx, a musician from Texas who is trying to become a success in Los Angeles over the five seasons of this show (1996-2001). While he waits for this to happen, he takes a job at the hotel owned by his Aunt and Uncle (Ellia English and Garrett Morris).

The show also featured Jamie's budding romance with a co-worker in its final seasons. The show would air for an even 100 episodes on The WB.

6. A writer teams with other writers to create clever lines for a fictional show

Answer: The Dick Van Dyke Show

This show is considered by many to be one of the best US shows of all time, winning 15 Emmy Awards during its five seasons (1961-1966). Dick Van Dyke played Rob Petrie who was part of the writing staff for a fictional show along with Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) and Sally (Rose Marie).

At home, his wife Laura was portrayed by Mary Tyler Moore. The CBS show was still in Top 20 when it ended its run, at the end of 158 episodes

7. The star plays a character who is management at a department store

Answer: The Drew Carey Show

During most of the nine seasons of the show(1995-2004), Drew Carey portrays Drew Carey, Assistant Director of Personnel for a department store in Cleveland, OH. He interacts with his friends Lewis (Ryan Stiles), Oswald (Diedrich Bader), and Kate (Christa Miller), as well as his office nemesis Mimi (Kathy Kinney).

The show was known for elaborate opening sequence dance numbers with the cast and April Fool's Day episodes with intentional bloopers. It ran on ABC for 233 episodes.

8. The star plays a character owns a ranch.

Answer: The Roy Rogers Show

Roy Rogers portrays a ranch owner over the six seasons (1951-1957) if this shown while his real life wife Dale Evan's is a cafe/hotel owner. The show mixes features of a traditional western with then-contemporary (1950s) ones. Several items based on the show were marketed towards children. The show would run on NBC for 100 episodes.

9. For this star the premise keeps changing, but several years are spent at "Today's World" magazine.

Answer: The Doris Day Show

Star Doris Day was contracted to do this show without her knowledge by her husband shortly before his death. During the five seasons (1968-1973) of "The Doris Day Show", Doris Martin went from being a widow who lived with her children and father on a ranch to working (and then also living) in San Francisco at "Today's World Magazine". Denver Pyle portrayed her father and McLean Stevenson, her boss at the magazine.

The show ran on CBS for 128 episodes

10. The star plays part of a team at for a local news program

Answer: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Over its seven seasons (1970-1977), "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" focused on the team who produced a news show at a Minneapolis television station. Mary Tyler Moore portrayed Mary Richards, an associate producer. Ed Asner portrayed her boss and Ted Knight the on-air anchor. Cloris Leachman was Mary's landlady and Valerie Harper was her best friend.

In the finale, most of the show's staff was fired by the new owners of the station. The show ran on CBS for 168 episodes

Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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"Star-Named" Shows Sometimes Succeed Quiz

Sometimes a show named after the star works. Match the "star" show with its brief description. All of these shows lasted 100 episodes or more.

Questions		Choices
1. The star plays a character in law enforcement with a cousin		The Mary Tyler Moore Show
2. The star plays half a couple who raises the three kids of one's sister.		The Doris Day Show
3. The star plays psychologist who interacts with staff and patients.		The Danny Thomas Show
4. The star discovered this show always has room for Daddy.		The Bob Newhart Show
5. The star played an aspiring musician works at a family-owned hotel.		The Dick Van Dyke Show
6. A writer teams with other writers to create clever lines for a fictional show		The Roy Rogers Show
7. The star plays a character who is management at a department store		The Andy Griffith Show
8. The star plays a character owns a ranch.		The Jamie Foxx Show
9. For this star the premise keeps changing, but several years are spent at "Today's World" magazine.		The Drew Carey Show
10. The star plays part of a team at for a local news program		The Bernie Mac Show