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Television Pilot Episodes Trivia Quiz

TV shows' first episodes, called pilots, set the tone for the rest of the series. They're often rejected and the show is not produced. The ones that are accepted sometimes are re-shot with editorial changes suggested by the producers.

A multiple-choice quiz by TonyTheDad. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
TonyTheDad

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
414,315

Updated
Aug 26 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
299

Last 3 plays: Guest 130 (6/10), Luckycharm60 (10/10), meandyou2011 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "How I Met Your Mother": which of the following events did NOT happen in the pilot episode, "Pilot"? Hint

Robin and Ted slept together.

Ted committed a felony.

Lily got groped by someone other than Marshall.

Marshall gave Lily a black eye.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "Star Trek: The Next Generation": which character from the original "Star Trek" made a cameo appearance in their pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint"? Hint

Scotty

Kirk

McCoy

Spock

3. "The Incredible Hulk": In the pilot episode, Dr. David Banner is investigating people who have exhibited super-human strength. He sees a correlation between their incidents and excessive gamma ray levels. He exposes himself to gamma rays, but he doesn't gain strength. He finds out that he needs to experience excessive emotion to trigger the strength. Unfortunately, he had been exposed to more gamma radiation than he thought. So when he finally gained strength, he also mutated into a large, green beast with no intellect, only rage.

What event occurred that triggered Dr. Banner's first transformation into The Hulk? Hint

His girlfriend died in a lab fire.

His funding grant was cut because he hadn't yet found the cause of super strength.

He got angry when trying to change a flat tire during a heavy rainstorm.

His toilet stall didn't have any toilet paper.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine": What character from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" made a cameo appearance in the pilot episode, "Emissary"? Hint

Worf

Riker

Picard

Data

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "Quantum Leap" (1989): Whom did Sam Beckett leap into at the beginning of the first episode, "Genesis"? Hint

Frankie La Palma, a mafia hit-man

Tom Stratton, a USAF test pilot

Jimmy LaMotta, a mentally-challenged young man

Billie Jean Crockett, a pregnant teenager

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. "S.W.A.T." (2017): In the pilot episode, 20 Squad of the LAPD SWAT team has a change in leadership due to this unfortunate event where Buck Spivey, the team leader, does what? Hint

has a heart attack and can't continue due to the physical requirements of the job

accidentally shoots an innocent by-stander

is shot and killed by an escaping suspect

learns that his daughter has be killed and he has a mental breakdown

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. "Jeopardy!" (1984): What was the first Final Jeopardy question? Hint

What is Arbor Day?

What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

What is Labor Day?

What is Presidents' Day?

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "Rick and Morty": Rick uses Morty to help him smuggle Mega Tree seeds. To get through intergalactic customs, where does Rick have Morty hide the seeds? Hint

his nasal cavities

his fanny pack

his lungs

his rectum

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. "Battlestar Galactica" (1978) - Who played Lt. Zac, Capt. Apollo's brother and Commander Adama's youngest son? Hint

Rick Springfield

Billy Joel

Bruce Springsteen

David Bowie

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "Taxi": Alex and his friends from the taxi company accompany him to Florida, so that he can see what relative that he hasn't seen in 15 years? Hint

His father, Hiram

His daughter, Cathy

His ex-wife, Lillian

His son, Joshua

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "How I Met Your Mother": which of the following events did NOT happen in the pilot episode, "Pilot"?

Answer: Robin and Ted slept together.

- Ted did tell Robin he loved her; but they only shook hands. A bit forward for a first date. He also missed two opportunities to kiss her, as he's bad at reading body language.

- Lily got groped by one of her kindergarten students during finger painting time. He left a blue handprint on her right breast.
- Ted stole a blue French Horn from the restaurant where he and Robin had had their first date.
- Marshall opened a bottle of champagne after proposing to Lily. Unfortunately, he didn't aim it away from her, and hit her in her left eye.

2. "Star Trek: The Next Generation": which character from the original "Star Trek" made a cameo appearance in their pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint"?

Answer: McCoy

- Admiral McCoy (137 years old) was onboard the new USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) on an inspection tour. Data escorted him to his shuttle, as the admiral has an aversion to transporters.

- Spock made an appearance in the two-part story, "Unification".
- Scotty made an appearance in the story "Relics".
- Kirk didn't appear in any "ST: TNG" episodes, but did appear in the first "TNG" movie "Star Trek: Generations".

3. "The Incredible Hulk": In the pilot episode, Dr. David Banner is investigating people who have exhibited super-human strength. He sees a correlation between their incidents and excessive gamma ray levels. He exposes himself to gamma rays, but he doesn't gain strength. He finds out that he needs to experience excessive emotion to trigger the strength. Unfortunately, he had been exposed to more gamma radiation than he thought. So when he finally gained strength, he also mutated into a large, green beast with no intellect, only rage. What event occurred that triggered Dr. Banner's first transformation into The Hulk?

Answer: He got angry when trying to change a flat tire during a heavy rainstorm.

- As he was working on removing the lug nuts from his flat tire, the wrench slipped and Dr. Banner skinned his hands painfully. This set off his first transformation.

- His co-worker, Dr. Elaina Marks, died in a fire at their lab. But this was later in the episode.
- "MAD Magazine" did a parody story of this TV show. In that spoof, Dr. Banner did indeed turn into The Hulk when the toilet he was using had no toilet paper.

4. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine": What character from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" made a cameo appearance in the pilot episode, "Emissary"?

Answer: Picard

-- Sisko's wife was killed during the Battle of Wolf 359, where Locutus of Borg led a Borg cube on its way to Earth. Locutus was the identity of Picard when he was assimilated by the Borg. Picard was not responsible for his actions as Locutus. Nonetheless, Sisko had a deep resentment towards him. So their meeting on DS9 is tense, where Picard is giving Sisko his orders regarding getting Bajor to join the Federation.

-- William Riker was never seen on DS9. However, his transporter clone Thomas Riker visited once, pretending to be his "brother". He used the deception to hijack the Defiant in an attempt to aid the Maquis.

-- Data and Dr. Bashir once collaborated on using a device to activate Data's dream procedures. This happened during an episode of "TNG", not "DS9."

-- Worf joined the staff of DS9 at the beginning of the 4th season and stayed until the end of the series.

5. "Quantum Leap" (1989): Whom did Sam Beckett leap into at the beginning of the first episode, "Genesis"?

Answer: Tom Stratton, a USAF test pilot

Though Sam had many talents (several doctorates, martial arts, music), this first leap into a test pilot was not one that he could muddle through. Fortunately, Al was a Navy pilot, and he guided Sam through the one test flight he had to do.

The other choices were also people that Sam leapt into, but in later episodes. (He actually leapt into Jimmy twice, in different seasons.)

6. "S.W.A.T." (2017): In the pilot episode, 20 Squad of the LAPD SWAT team has a change in leadership due to this unfortunate event where Buck Spivey, the team leader, does what?

Answer: accidentally shoots an innocent by-stander

The resignation of Buck leaves an opening, which Sargeant Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is promoted to fill. Since he is black, it's hoped his promotion will help quell the unrest in the neighborhood where the by-stander was shot. He remains in that position, proving his worth as a leader.

7. "Jeopardy!" (1984): What was the first Final Jeopardy question?

Answer: What is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

The answer was "The third Monday of January starting in 1986."

This is to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., a civil rights activist of the 1960s. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

8. "Rick and Morty": Rick uses Morty to help him smuggle Mega Tree seeds. To get through intergalactic customs, where does Rick have Morty hide the seeds?

Answer: his rectum

The seeds' effect on Morty makes him hyper-intelligent. This throws off his parents, who feel that he is doing fine in school when he is actually not doing well because Rick keeps pulling him out of class to go on adventures with him.

9. "Battlestar Galactica" (1978) - Who played Lt. Zac, Capt. Apollo's brother and Commander Adama's youngest son?

Answer: Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield (yes, of "Jesse's Girl" fame) played the youngest son of Commander Adama, Zac. His character is killed as he is racing to inform the fleet of the Cylons' deception and their oncoming attack.

10. "Taxi": Alex and his friends from the taxi company accompany him to Florida, so that he can see what relative that he hasn't seen in 15 years?

Answer: His daughter, Cathy

After his divorce, Alex's wife takes their daughter and moves to Brazil. Alex's trip is motivated by the fact that his daughter is going to study abroad in Portugal.

Source: Author TonyTheDad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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