Sidekickery Part M Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jimmy Olsen

Cub reporter and press photographer Jimmy Olsen first appeared in the Superman comic books in 1938, on the Superman radio programme in 1940 and on the television series (1952-1958). He also had his own comic book series (1954-1974). Olsen looks up to Clark and Lois as role models and to Perry White as a father figure. White accepts the role except when Olsen calls him "Chief."

Answer: John Bosley

All we ever knew about Charlie Townsend was the sound of his voice on the Western Electric Speakerphone. John Forsythe provided his voice and no more to the role. Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jacklyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts were, at one time or another in the series, aided by David Doyle's character Bosley.

Answer: Pedro Sanchez

Pedro is a Mexican transfer student in an Idaho high school. He stands out. Napoleon Dynamite is not himself cool but he busts many cool dance moves when Pedro needs to put on a skit as part of his campaign to become school president. Efren Ramirez plays well opposite Jon Heder.

The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. The cult following explains the occasional "Vote for Pedro" T-shirt seen in the wild. The Idaho state legislature adopted a resolution (2005) commending the production because it promoted the culture and economy of Idaho (where it was both set and shot).

Answer: Stinger

Bill Cosby created the "Cosby Kids" (1979-1984) and voiced The Brown Hornet as the star of a television show watched by Fat Albert and the rest of the gang. The African-American superhero flew around outer space, dressed in a cape and a mask, with his sidekick Stinger, in a rocket ship shaped like a hornet. They would confront and conquer evil, using the Hornet's super powers, and teach the kids watching a moral lesson in the process. Stinger was voiced by Lou Scheimer.

Answer: Hardy Har Har

Hardy Har Har is ironically named in that he never laughs and almost never smiles. He is always the victim of Lippy's cock-eyed schemes. The pair started on an ensemble Hanna-Barbera TV show with Wally Gator and Touché Turtle. Mel Blanc voiced Hardy using a voice he had used previously on "Burns and Allen" on the radio. Lippy and Hardy had their own show for a single season in 1971.

Answer: Charles Enright

"McMillan & Wife" ran 1971-1977. It was a serio-comic police procedural. Commissioner McMillan and his goofy wife required frequent protection/rescue by the solid, serious Sergeant Charles Enright, played by John Schuck. The other regular supporting character in their household was Mildred, their alcoholic housekeeper, played by Nancy Walker.

Answer: Helen Burns

Helen is Jane's best friend, a pious, patient and intelligent girl, who dies of tuberculosis part way through the novel. Despite being tormented by a harpy on the faculty, Helen is tolerant and does not respond in kind. Helen and Jane are both orphans.

Answer: Adso of Melk

On one level, "The Name of the Rose" is a medieval murder mystery. The similarities with Sherlock Holmes are many. The elder monk is named William of Baskerville which is a reference to Arthur Conon Doyle's "Hound of the Baskervilles." Young Adso describes his mentor much as Watson describes Holmes in "A Study in Scarlet." The name "Adso" can be understood as "Watson" without the initial W and the final N.

Answer: Dr. Kildare

Frederick Schiller Faust wrote a story for a magazine about a young doctor using the pen name Max Brand. From that beginning, a series of movies, novels, short stories, radio programmes, comic books and two television programmes emerged. In all of them, young doctor James Kildare was guided by the irascible Dr. Gillespie, played by a variety of actors but played best by Lionel Barrymore.

Answer: Tenzing Norgay

Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa mountaineer, was honoured by Edmund Hillary who asked him to be his climbing partner rather than his porter on this Everest expedition. The two were friends and remained so after their success. At the summit, Hilary left a small Christian cross and Norgay a Buddhist offering of chocolates. Hillary was knighted and was also the first person to reach the North Pole, the South Pole and the top of Mount Everest, all three.