Sidekickery Part J Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tonto

Tonto first appeared in the radio version of "The Lone Ranger" in 1933. The pair has been together in radio, movie serials, feature-length motion pictures, television series, novels, comics and video games. Johnny Depp's interpretation of Tonto in the 2013 Disney movie version was bizarre and not well received. Jay Silverheels' portrayal on television (1949-1957) is definitive.

Answer: Xander

Nicholas Brendon played the role of Alexander Harris, a childhood friend of Willow and Buffy's closest male friend. After Buffy, Brendon got a part in Fox TV's "Kitchen Confidential" based on Anthony Bourdain's book; the show was cancelled after four episodes.

Answer: Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor)

The transition of Hollywood films to talkies in the 1920s was serious business (and ended a lot of careers) but it is given a light touch in "Singin' in the Rain." Dance man and comedian Cosmo Brown is Don Lockwood's best friend and supporter. O'Connor won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for this role.

Answer: Leporello

"Don Giovanni" is an opera buffa in two acts; the Italian libretto is by Lorenzo Da Ponte. The protagonist is constantly attempting to seduce one woman or another and refuses to repent his evil, which results in his being transported to Hell. His servant Leporello sings what is called the "Catalogue Aria" outlining his master's romantic indiscretions. Mozart himself conducted the premier of this opera in Prague.

Answer: Spot

Penrod changes into Hong Kong Phooey by jumping into the lower drawer of a filing cabinet, getting stuck, being assisted by his cat Spot, and then emerging from the cabinet's top drawer as the super hero. Equipped with his copy of "The Hong Kong Book of Kung Fu" which he got from a correspondence course, he needs the help of Spot to overcome the challenge in each episode.

Answer: Paul Shaffer

Canadian actor, musician and author Paul Shaffer first directed the "The World's Most Dangerous Band" on "Late Night with David Letterman" (NBC, 1982-1993) and then became the leader of the CBS Orchestra on "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS, 1993-2015). Letterman frequently explained the move from NBC to CBS occurred because NBC "fired Paul for stealing pens."

Answer: Charley Bates

Bates is a young pickpocket, part of Fagin's band of thieves. He deeply admires Dodger for his criminal accomplishments. Bill Sikes' murder of Nancy so offends Charley that he yells to disclose Sikes' location and then leaves London for the countryside where he becomes an honest shepherd.

Answer: Gromit

Wallace and Gromit are an Academy-Award winning team who are global favourites. When Wallace's fanciful inventions go haywire, Gromit steps in and saves the day. Their creator is Nick Park of Aardman Animations. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) named one of its mobile explorer robots Gromit in 2005.

Answer: Corporal Capeman

Beginning with the second season, Inspector Gadget is assisted by Corporal Capeman, who Penny calls "Capey" and who Gadget misidentifies as "Capman." In their battles against M.A.D. (the Malevolent Agency of Destruction), Capeman is no smarter than his partner Gadget. Capeman was voiced by Townsend Coleman.

Answer: Luigi

The Nintendo Mario Brothers franchise began in 1981 and has expanded ever since. Mario and his brother Luigi get themselves into and out of lots of trouble in the video games, the books, television, comics and other outlets. It all goes back to Shigeru Miyamoto, the designer of Donkey Kong. Poor Luigi started out as "player number two" and has occupied a mostly subsidiary role ever since.