Chain Letters: Sitcoms Trivia Quiz

Answer: Father Knows Best

"The typical American family" (the kitchen decor was red, white, and blue, although it showed as shades of gray on B/W TV) consisted of thirties/forties movie stars Robert Young as Jim Anderson and Jane Wyatt as Margaret Anderson, along with their three kids: Elinor Donahue as Betty, Billy Gray as Bud, and Lauren Chapin as Kathy.
The show ran from 1954 to '63.

Answer: The Flying Nun

Puerto Rico's fictitious Convent San Tanco was the scene of this not-quite-realistic story of a young nun who flew when the wind lifted her by her big, sail-like wimple. Sally Field played Sister Bertrille. Her first starring role was as Gidget, of course.

She later won the 1979 Lead Actress Oscar as Norma Rae, and deservedly so. Field was only 18 when she played Gidget in 1965, 20 when "Nun" premiered in 1967.

Answer: Newhart

This was the series where Bob owned a bed and breakfast in Vermont. Tony Papenfuss and John Voldstad played the Darryls. Other featured actors were Mary Frann as Bob's wife, plus Tom Poston and Peter Scolari. The show ran from 1982 to 1990.

Answer: The Jeffersons

Singer/guitarist Lenny is the son of NBC producer Sy Kravitz and actress Roxie Roker, who played the Jeffersons' neighbor Helen Willis, Tom's wife. The series, a spin-off of "All in the Family," ran from 1975 to 1985.

Answer: Sanford and Son

"Rhoda" took place in NYC, "Roc" in Baltimore, and "Roseanne" in the fictitious Lanford, Illinois. Fred Sanford was played by veteran stand-up comedian Redd Foxx, who had been known for his risque material, at least risque for that time. Son Lamont was played by the very able Demond Wilson. And who could ever forget the inimitable LaWanda page as Aunt Esther? The show was the American version of the Britcom "Steptoe and Son." The series ran from 1972 to '77.

Answer: News Radio

That's Maura Tierney as Lisa Miller, Dave Foley as Dave Nelson, Phil Hartman as Bill McNeal, and Jon Lovitz as Max Lewis. Lovitz's character was intended as a replacement for Hartman after his untimely death. Their station was WNYX in the Big Apple. Show's run was from 1995 to 1999.

Answer: One Day at a Time

After her divorce, Ann went back to using her maiden name. Her daughters' last name was Cooper, after their dad Ed (Joe Campanella). Pat Harrington played the inimitable Dwayne Schneider, handyman extraordinare, who got into the girls' family affairs at every turn. A great show, from 1975 to '84.

Answer: Everybody Loves Raymond

These Long Island dwellers include sportswriter Ray Barone (Ray Romano), about 6' 3", policeman brother Robert (Brad Garrett), 6' 8", and father Frank (Peter Boyle), also about 6' 3". The juxtaposition between these three and their not-so-tall ladies sometimes is hilarious. Mom Marie is played by Doris Roberts, and wife Debra by Patricia Heaton. Boyle is best known for playing the title role as the right-wing hardhat in the movie "Joe" and as the unforgettable monster in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein." Boyle's greatest moment was the musical number he did with Gene Wilder, "Puttin' on the Ritz," or, as Boyle sang it, "oo ih awww uh itz."

Answer: Diff'rent Strokes

This show starred Conrad Bain as Philip Drummond, Gary Coleman as Arnold, Todd Bridges as Willis, Dana Plato as Kimberly, and Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Garrett. "The Facts of Life" and "Hello, Larry" were spin-offs of "Diff'rent Strokes."

Answer: Seinfeld

Not much can be said about this brilliant, crazy series that hasn't already been said, but I'll throw in a few random thoughts. In the pilot: 1. there was no Elaine 2. Jerry lived in a different apartment in a different building 3. Kramer had only a small part and seemed to live in his bathrobe 4. there was only one plot line, unlike the multiples that most TV comedies and dramas are based on, and that "Seinfeld" had soon afterward.

Other stuff: The first time we saw Jerry's father, he was played by a different actor (Phil Bruns, not Barney Martin). Two of Jason Alexander's movie roles were as the ticked-off hardware store clerk in the Harrison Ford movie "The Mosquito Coast" and Edward's lawyer Phil Stuckey in "Pretty Woman." Liz Sheridan (Jerry's mom Helen) was one of James Dean's girlfriends (in real life), and she played a juror in the Redford/Winger movie "Legal Eagles." Morty Seinfeld hates velcro. Jerry Stiller (Frank Costanza) was once a member of the comedy team of Stiller and Meara.

He was married to Ann Meara and they have a son named Ben. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a regular on SNL from 1982 to '85. Series co-founder Larry David later started his own terrific series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO. I am forever indebted to sitcomsonline.com and its linked sites. That's all, folks! Hope you enjoyed my quiz. See ya next time! Mickey.