TV Stars and Their Memoirs Quiz | Non-Fiction

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. She was a very hard working child actress during the 1960s and 1970s. Drawing its title from the popularity of the television historical drama in which she co-starred her book, that was released in 2010, was titled "Prairie Tale: A Memoir". Who was she?

Answer: Melissa Gilbert

Fans of the show "Little House on the Prairie" may have believed that Melissa Gilbert actually lived the idyllic and charmed life she portrayed as the young Laura Ingalls. Her book, "Prairie Tale: A Memoir", has been described as fascinating, heartbreaking, down-to-earth and honest and it tells a different story about the life of Melissa Gilbert.

In her autobiography she told she had everything anyone could want except love and respect for herself. Those struggles led to what she described as a pattern of self-destruction.

The story of her journey continued as she learned to live, to laugh, to accept and to forgive - and, thus, inspire others to do the same.

2. The book titled, "If You Ask Me (And, Of Course You Won't)" was published in 2011. It was written by one of the most popular actresses who ever appeared on television. She acted, directed and produced TV shows during a career that spanned seven decades. Who was this gal with a truly golden touch?

Answer: Betty White

Between 1983 and 2011 Betty White authored, co-authored and/or contributed to several books. Most of what she wrote was said to be much like the woman the world had come to recognize and love - funny, direct and thoughtful. "If You Ask Me (And, Of Course You Won't)" did offer fans of Betty White a plethora of new material as she wrote about love, friendship, aging, being a celebrity and, of course, her love for animals.

3. This American comedienne and TV star released her autobiographical work titled, "Bossypants", in 2011 and it immediately topped the "New York Times Best Seller List". Her self-narrated audio edition of the book sold more than 150,000 copies and earned her a Grammy nomination. Who?

Answer: Tina Fey

Tina Fey's "Bossypants" received mostly positive reviews from the critics and as mentioned in the question it topped the best seller lists - it stayed at the top of the "New York Times Best Seller List" for five weeks. The book revealed a Tina Fey most readers felt they already knew: particular, professional and very funny.

In an oddly eye-catching pose for the front cover (illustration) of her book Tina Fey was shown wearing a black hat, white shirt and black and gray necktie. It was (obviously) her face, head and upper body but the hands and arms were those of "someone else" - those body parts were said to have been provided by actor Joe Rosario.

4. Before she hosted her own daytime television show she had starred in her own comedy series. With the airing of that series she became one of the first actors to portray an openly gay main character on US television. Who was the author of "Seriously ... I'm Kidding"?

Answer: Ellen DeGeneres

Her book earned mixed reviews but her fans loved it as much as they loved her. Ellen DeGeneres enjoyed an amazing career in the entertainment industry with too many credits and accomplishments to list. From her early work in several comedies to the long run of her daytime show, Ellen DeGeneres established herself as someone who was unafraid to be honest about herself - including her sexual identity - and at the same time be funny, thoughtful and kind.

At the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, Ellen was the first recipient of the "Carol Burnett Award" in recognition of her work on television.

5. During the early years of the 21st century, the ubiquitous popularity of "reality TV" provided viewers an opportunity to see how some people "really lived". This author was a part of "The Real Housewives" television franchise for more than five seasons before she wrote her book titled, "Let Me Tell You Something". Who?

Answer: Caroline Manzo

The complete title of Caroline Manzo's book was: "Let Me Tell You Something: Life as a Real Housewife, Tough-Love Mother, and Street-Smart Businesswoman"; it was released in 2013. Her appearance in "The Real Housewives" franchise was as a part of the cast of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" during its first five seasons.

Her book was said to have included "personal color photos and lots of sage advice" woven among her own declarations that it is possible to have a strong marriage, a close relationship with your children, loyal friends and a rewarding and successful career. For the most part, her insights were described as honest and level-headed.

6. The author of the book "A Fine Romance" was born into a family of entertainers but she wasted no time "craving her own niche". Who was the model, actress, philanthropist and Primetime Emmy Award winner who, as a child, had a "sibling" who was a "real dummy"?

Answer: Candice Bergen

Of course, the "real dummy" refers to Charlie McCarthy who was Candice Bergen's father's ventriloquist dummy partner when she was a child. About her book: more than thirty years separated the release dates of the two books authored by Candice Bergen - "Knock Wood" was released in 1984 and "A Fine Romance" was released in 2016.

The second has been called a "follow-up" because Bergen continued the story of her life. Those years provided her with extraordinary material, too. She became a mother, she starred in a very popular TV sitcom, her husband lost his battle with cancer when he died in 1995, she found love again and married for the second time - and, she chronicled those events in an intelligent, witty and unassuming style of writing.

The "Wall Street Journal" wrote (with this book) "she's awfully good company".

7. As an actress on television and in films we have seen this author as a boy-crazed teenager, a nun with a special ability, a woman with a mental disorder, the Bandit's side-kick and Forrest Gump's mother. She was just past seventy years old when her first memoir, "In Pieces", was published in 2018. Who was she?

Answer: Sally Field

Intimate, haunting, powerful, unforgettable and inspiring were a few of the adjectives used to describe "In Pieces" by Sally Field. Critics and casual readers/reviewers were appreciative and complimentary of her work. Her book offered her life's story with details that may have surprised many of her fans. Sally Field had success and accolades for many of her endeavors - Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and as a Kennedy Center Honoree, to mention a few - but she revealed those may not have reflected the struggles of the shy, insecure, inept, victim of sexual abuse who she believed herself to be. Along with what may have been totally debilitating, Sally Field wrote of her celebration as she realized it was her craft - her ability to act and entertain - that proved her wrong about herself and allowed her to move beyond her insecurities.

8. The author of "Going There", that was released in 2018, was a second generation journalist who became the first woman to anchor the CBS Evening News alone. Her career spanned more than forty years; her honesty, understanding, wit and affability allowed her to become one of the most respected people who appeared on television. Who was she?

Answer: Katie Couric

Katie Couric's father had been a journalist before she was born and she named him as her inspiration to become a reporter as she pursued her career options. She procured her first assignment as a desk assistant at (American television network) ABC soon after her graduation from University of Virginia in 1979 and she never looked at any other choices.

Her book was described in a review on amazon.com as: "... heartbreaking, hilarious, and brutally honest memoir shares the deeply personal life story of a girl next door and her transformation into a household name". In her book, "Going There", - her first memoir - she told of her love for the news and entertainment media and the difficulties and rewards that came for her within it. Her book also divulged a lot about her personal life. How the loss of her (young - he was only 42 when he died) husband and sister in a very short span of time changed her life and her aspirations.

9. The book titled "Live Wire: Long-winded Short Stories" was released in 2022. It was described as a collection of real life stories. In that book, what soap opera star turned talk show host penned her narrative with the "Jersey girl" wit and wisdom that had made her universally popular?

Answer: Kelly Ripa

In 2011 when Kelly Ripa replaced Kathie Lee Gifford to co-host a very popular morning show a name change was necessary. The show became "Live! with Regis and Kelly" and TV viewers would enjoy those hosts together for more than ten years. Kelly Ripa's youthful persona (in fact, she was more than fifteen years younger than Kathie Lee Gifford) and spontaneity was the change of pace the show needed to attract a younger audience.

It would be those fans who would continue to watch and admire Kelly as she wove humor, frankness and an almost shameless sharing of her life into each show.

Her book, "Live Wire: Long-winded Short Stories" offers those same qualities as she wrote about being a daughter, a wife, a mother and her life as one of the hardest working people in show business.

10. The star who wrote the book, "I Sang That: A Memoir From Hollywood", had already provided the vocals for hundreds of sound recordings before her book was released in 2022. Who was this singer, actress, writer, producer and the voice heard on the theme songs of TV's "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons"?

Answer: Sally Stevens

While many TV viewers may not have been familiar with her "face" it would be unimaginable that there would be many who would not have heard her voice. Sally Stevens worked with many of the world's best known music makers to produce film scores, television music, sound recordings, commercials and concerts.

By the time her book, "I Sang That: A Memoir From Hollywood", was released she had worked in the entertainment business for almost seven decades. As the cover of that book stated her recounting of her life and her work was: "From 'Sound of Music' to 'The Simpsons'. To 'South Park' and beyond ..."

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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TV Stars and Their Memoirs Trivia Quiz

If you love to read about well-known people then few things could be more gratifying than a book written about one of your favorite TV stars - written by one of your favorite TV stars. Here are some examples.

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