And Then You Changed the Channel! Quiz

Answer: Twin Peaks

Running from 1990-1991, "Twin Peaks" may have been one of the most unusual television programs of the decade. This David Lynch mystery drama started out looking somewhat like the average mystery drama. It did not take long for the story line to become a tangled conspiracy that touched on the double lives of every person who lived in the fictitious town of Twin Peaks, Washington. Strange things happen to everyone who comes in contact with lead character FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper. Soon the program introduced a reverse-speaking, dancing dwarf known as "The Man From Another Place", who appears to be an ally in hunting down the demonic entity known as "Killer BOB".

The confusing storyline involved alternate dimensions and evil planes of existence.

In spite of this the program had a small cult following which helped to keep it on air for two years.

Answer: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

In September of 1990, NBC introduced one of the most popular comedies of the decade. Featuring rap singer Will Smith, the show helped Smith's flagging music career, and introducing him to a whole different audience. The lead character was a street smart teenage boy who moves across the country to live with his wealthy relatives. St. Lucian-born, English actor Joseph Marcell portrayed Geoffrey, the butler.

This character was often the straight man for Smith's humor. This show was popular with all ages and was canceled in 1996.

Answer: Home Improvement

While this program was probably never described as smart or cleverly written, almost every American in the 1990's watched it at some time. This somewhat silly comedy featured comedian Tim Allen as a luckless handyman who was the host of his own home-improvement television show and his family.

Many critics stated that the show stayed on the screen due to support from teenage female fans who drooled over teen actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas who portrayed Randy, one of Allen's three sons.

Answer: False

Starring brothers Keenan and Damon Wayans, "In Living Color" was a sketch comedy show that was aimed at the younger adult and teenage population. Featuring mostly African-American comedy actors and singers, "In Living Color" was a groundbreaking television show that helped launch the careers of many actors and singers. Among those who got a start on this program include actor Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez and Tupac Shakur. Make no mistake, this was not a child's show and it would feature sketches that focused on racism, politics, gender issues.

There was nobody that was exempt from being featured in one of their sarcastic, but funny sketches.

Answer: Picket Fences

Considered by many to be one of the quirkier dramadies on the 1990's, "Picket Fences" took place in the small town of Rome, Wisconsin. The show followed the daily work of town sheriff Jimmy Brock, who was played by actor Tom Skerritt. His cases were generally outside the norm of what would be seen by the average small town sheriff. One of the more interesting characters was Jewish layer Douglas Wambaugh who was portrayed by actor Fyvush Finkel.

This rather eccentric show featured story lines that featured decapitation, shooting and spontaneous human combustion.

Answer: Robert Stack

Featuring enigmas, puzzles, and unsolved crimes, the program "Unsolved Mysteries" featured the handsome Robert Stack as the program's host. His steely voice would often have me scared even before the first enigma was featured. It featured stories, riddles and crimes that had occurred at many different times, in many different places.

It featured alien abductions, demonic possession, and Amelia Earhart all in one program. Using a documentary style, the program led the viewer down paths filled with riddles, paranormal incidents, and secret history theories. No one attempted to change the channel when this program was on knowing that their subsequent disappearance might be featured on next week's programs.

Answer: Blossom

Running from 1991-1995 child star Mayim Bialik was the star of the television show "Blossom". It was the story of a lively teenager growing up with annoying brothers and her musician father. She was portrayed in a somewhat goofy manner with odd clothing, floppy hats, and strange hairdos.

While it dealt with some of the traumatic experiences that many of us experience during our teenage years it tried to use comedy to try and teach both parents and children how to deal with these issues.

Answer: Homicide: Life on the Street

Running from 1993-1999 "Homicide: Life on the Street" was one of the most successful crime dramas of the decade. This program was not a soap-opera style crime drama but instead, one of the most realistic crime dramas of the time. The mind-numbing reality used in the show helped the public to appreciate what being in law enforcement really meant.

It dealt with the difficulties of having a relationship with anyone, the horrors seen almost daily, and the inhumanity which some people are capable of. The mental exhaustion, and the bleak, often repetitive work that is all part of the job.

It was also one of the first crime drama that showed that detectives are always working multiple cases at one time and that there is nothing unusual about cases taking years of work.

This was the first program to ever win three Peabody Awards.

Answer: No

The charmingly odd television program "Northern Exposure" was the classic fish-out-of-water story. It featured a young New York physician who was transplanted to a small town in Alaska. It shows the culture shock he faces as he watches moose walk down main street in a place that never had traffic jams.

Its cast of quirky characters helped garner this program multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Answer: Law and Order

The original "Law and Order", which debuted in 1990, ran for 20 years, and made household names out of actors Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston. This very successful program often used real cases in their episodes and attempted to offer its viewers both sides of the problem.

It started each show with the police and their end of a case, and followed with the work of the lawyers who prosecuted the case. It gave a whole new perspective to the American population as to how the criminal justice system works.

It also stayed relevant by making dramatizations of recent public cases. This may be why it became one of the most popular programs ever on television. No one ever changed the channel when this show was on.