Chain Letters: Sitcoms Revisited Multiple Choice Quiz | Television

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This sitcom ran for eleven seasons, from 1972 to '83, but its stories were set within a three-year historical period. Its title?

Answer: M*A*S*H

The series takes place during the Korean War, which lasted from June of 1950 to July of '53. All those story lines supposedly took place over that short a period. More Christmases were celebrated on "M*A*S*H" than the troops had during the Korean War.

2. This series ran from 1974 to '84 and two of its cast members starred in "American Graffiti". It even used that movie's opening theme for one season. What was its title?

Answer: Happy Days

Writer and director George Lucas used Ron Howard's appearance in the pilot episode to cast him in "American Graffiti," (two years before the series even debuted) and its opening theme was Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock". The series even used two of the movie's actors, Ron Howard and Cindy Williams, although they didn't play the same characters.

After season one, The theme became "Happy Days" ("Sunday, Monday, happy days," etc.) "All in the Family" was the American version of a Britcom called "'Til Death Do Us Part." The "M*A*S*H" movie was made in 1970, and the movie "The Odd Couple" in 1968. "Happy Days" itself was inspired by an episode of "Love, American Style".

3. This series debuted in 1996 and took its last bow in 2003. Two clues: 1. one of the characters was a talking animal; and 2. talk show cutie Caroline Rhea was a regular in the earlier seasons.

Answer: Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Salem the Cat is the talking critter. He's actually warlock Salem Saberhagen who was transformed into a cat by the Witches' Council as his punishment for trying to take over the world. He was voiced by Nick Bakay. Caroline played Aunt Hilda. Melissa Joan Hart was Sabrina. Don't try to look up "Pet Shop Follies." I just made that one up. I'm also pretty sure there's no "The New Mister Ed."

4. A servant was one of the main characters of this sixties sitcom. What was it called?

Answer: Hazel

The other three were seventies/eighties shows. "Hazel" ran from 1961 to 1965 on NBC, then, with a somewhat revamped cast, from 1965 to '66 on CBS. Oscar-winning actress Shirley Booth played Hazel the maid. She called her boss, Mr. Baxter, "Mister B." He was played by Don Defore.

5. Shotz Brewery and lots of blouses/sweaters with large a "L" were earmarks of this 1976-1983 situation comedy. Its title?

Answer: Laverne and Shirley

Of course, Laverne was the one who wore the "L's" on her clothes, and the girls worked on the assembly line at the brewery in Milwaukee. The show was a spin-off of "Happy Days." Two of the funniest guys on TV were Michael McKean as Lenny and David Lander as Squiggy, goofy neighbors of the two girls. "Schlemiel. Schlemazel. Hassenpfeffer incorporated!" What's the difference between a schlemiel and a schlemazel? A schlemiel is a guy who spills the soup.

A schlemazel is the guy whose lap the soup gets spilled in!

6. This is one of the most obscure sitcoms ever. It was done live and ran from 1951 to 1952. It was about a high school boy who had just graduated and was trying to make up his mind what he would do with his life. Its title?

Answer: Young Mister Bobbin

Since it was a live show, this series probably exists only in the memories of the few who saw it and are still alive to remember. Jackie Kelk played the title role.

7. This sitcom ran from 1999 to 2001. The main character was a former hockey player. It starred a one-time SNLer and an ex-"Roseanne" cast member. Its title?

Answer: Norm

"Norm" was also known as "The Norm Show." Norm McDonald played former hockey jock Norm Henderson, (did I mention enough "Norms" here?) who was sentenced to community service in a social work agency. Laurie Metcalf, formerly Roseanne's sister, played social worker Laurie. (Who'da thunk?)

8. This series ran from 1953-64 and was about a family where Dad was an entertainer. He had two wives, but not at the same time. Title?

Answer: Make Room for Daddy

This was also known as "The Danny Thomas Show." Danny was a nightclub singer. His first wife was played by Jean Hagen of "Singin' in the Rain" fame. Then she was dumped for Marjorie Lord, and the plot gimmick was that Mom One had died. There's an upbeat moment! Two standouts were Rusty Hamer as Rusty (!), who seemed to have all the funny lines, and Uncle Tonoose (Hans Conreid) who was from Lebanon and was also "Strong like bull." He had whatever funny lines Rusty didn't care for.

9. "Sergeant Bilko" was the name most viewers used for this show, and in fact in syndication it was known by that title. But its original title was . . .?

Answer: You'll Never Get Rich

This show ran from 1955 to 1959. Silvers was Sergeant Ernie Bilko of the peacetime army. He was always trying to make money through some get-rich-quick-scheme or scam of some kind, but, as the title says, his schemes didn't work. Paul Ford played the much-put-upon Colonel Hall. A not-very-successful movie version was made starring Steve Martin.

10. This sitcom ran from 1992 to '95. Its male lead was a former star of a show where he had two female co-star roommates and also would be the star of a sitcom debuting in 2002 where his co-star played a female relative. What was this nineties starring vehicle for this accomplished comedy star?

Answer: Hearts Afire

This show dealt with people involved with Washington, D.C. politics. Its star was John Ritter, and co-stars were Markie Post and none other than Billy Bob Thornton (who played a guy named (can you guess?) Right! Billy Bob!) Thornton would later team with Ritter for the movie "Slingblade," which was far from being a comedy. Ritter, son of country music star Tex Ritter, first starred in "Three's Company" and later led the cast in "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," which may sound weird, but they weren't rules for him! I hope you enjoyed my quiz, and I hope the Chain Letters format helped you with some of the tougher ones. See ya next time! Mickey. Fantastic source: sitcomsonline and its many links. Also got help from imdb.com.

Source: Author mickeygreeneyes

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Chain Letters: Sitcoms Revisited Quiz

In a Chain Letters quiz, the first letter of each answer (except number one) is the last letter of the previous answer. For example, if the first answer is Smith, the second answer can't be Jones but can be Howard. This time: another look at sitcoms.

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