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Classic Television Trivia Trivia Quiz

Whether you watch the latest from the networks or the lineup of Nick At Nite or TV Land, some classic moments just stand out. Here are a few.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Oddball

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
57,915

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
15314

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: Mlawson1994 (15/20), Guest 74 (16/20), Guest 71 (17/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Which of the following did NOT host a Rankin-Bass Christmas Special? Hint

Bob Hope

Burl Ives

Jimmy Durante

Fred Astaire

NEXT>

Question 2 of 20

2. In what classic episode of 'Star Trek' does William Shatner, against his will, kisses an equally unwilling Nichelle Nichols? Hint

Plato's Stepchildren

Balance Of Terror

Whom Gods Destroy

The Enterprise Incident

NEXT>

Question 3 of 20

3. In what comedy series did a shopping mall get 'bombed' by falling live turkeys? Hint

Fernwood Tonight

SCTV

WKRP In Cincinnati

News Radio

NEXT>

Question 4 of 20

4. In a rare outing, President Richard Nixon appeared in an episode of what variety show? Hint

Rowan and Martin's Laugh In

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Saturday Night Live

The Carol Burnett Show

NEXT>

Question 5 of 20

5. In the series finale of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', everyone at station WJM is fired except for who? Hint

Lou Grant

Mary Richards

Murray Slaughter

Ted Baxter

NEXT>

Question 6 of 20

6. One of the first reality based police shows, LSD was introduced in one classic episode in the form of a strung out hippie named 'Blue Boy': Hint

Adam-12

The Rookies

The Blue Knight

Dragnet

NEXT>

Question 7 of 20

7. In what anthology series did farsighted bookworm Burgess Meredith survive a nuclear holocaust, only to drop and break his reading glasses: Hint

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Thriller

Tales from the Darkside

The Twilight Zone

NEXT>

Question 8 of 20

8. 'Pam' wakes from a dream and finds 'Bobby' in a shower, thereby negating the entire 1985-86 season of this drama: Hint

Knot's Landing

Hotel

Dallas

Dynasty

NEXT>

Question 9 of 20

9. Who won an Emmy award on the comedy series 'M*A*S*H'...BEFORE he joined the regular cast? Hint

Mike Farrell

David Ogden Stiers

Harry Morgan

Jamie Farr

NEXT>

Question 10 of 20

10. Which of the following shows was NOT created by Paul Henning? Hint

Mayberry RFD

Petticoat Junction

The Beverly Hillbillies

Green Acres

NEXT>

Question 11 of 20

11. What was the name of the older brother of Richie and Joanie Cunningham, who dissappeared after the first season of 'Happy Days'? Hint

Brock

Harold

Alan

Chuck

NEXT>

Question 12 of 20

12. 'The Simpsons' is the longest running prime time animated series in television history. What show did it beat for that honor? Hint

Scooby Doo, Where Are You

The Jetsons

Bugs Bunny

The Flintstones

NEXT>

Question 13 of 20

13. Which of the following TV occupations has NOT been used by Bob Newhart in a TV show with his name in the title? Hint

Government Employee

Psychologist

Hotel Proprieter

Comic Book Artist

NEXT>

Question 14 of 20

14. Who hosted a short-lived show called 'Saturday Night Live' at least a year before NBC's late night staple premiered? Hint

Denny Terrio

Howard Cosell

Dionne Warwick

Tim Conway

NEXT>

Question 15 of 20

15. What was the real name of 'The Virginian'? Hint

Wiley Hicks

Doc Weaver

Festus Fagin

It was never revealed

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. What movie star introduced the first episode of 'Gunsmoke'? Hint

Lee Marvin

Randolph Scott

James Stewart

John Wayne

NEXT>

Question 17 of 20

17. Which of the following went from movie-to-television, instead of television-to-movie? Hint

The Odd Couple

Get Smart

Mission: Impossible

Star Trek

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. To date, including stints on radio, what is the longest running daytime serial (soap opera) on network television? Hint

As The World Turns

The Guiding Light

One Life To Live

Days Of Our Lives

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. In 1950, the residents of Hot Springs, NM voted to rename their community after this game show: Hint

Jeopardy

Password

Concentration

Truth Or Consequences

NEXT>

Question 20 of 20

20. This should be simple...'Who shot J.R.?' Hint

Ray Krebs

Sue Ellen Ewing

Kristin Shepard

Cliff Barnes

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 17 2024 : Mlawson1994: 15/20
Dec 16 2024 : Guest 74: 16/20
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 71: 17/20
Dec 14 2024 : Guest 104: 18/20
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 207: 18/20
Dec 08 2024 : Guest 73: 19/20
Dec 06 2024 : Guest 12: 10/20
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 165: 15/20
Nov 24 2024 : Guest 68: 10/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following did NOT host a Rankin-Bass Christmas Special?

Answer: Bob Hope

Durante narrated 'Frosty The Snowman', Ives played a snowman in 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' and Astaire played a mailman in 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town'. Other narrators for Rankin-Bass included Shirley Booth, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton and Roger Miller.

2. In what classic episode of 'Star Trek' does William Shatner, against his will, kisses an equally unwilling Nichelle Nichols?

Answer: Plato's Stepchildren

Despite the notoriety, it was not televisions's first foray into interracial kissing, nor was it Shatner's. He also locked lips with Vietnamese actress France Nuyen in 'Elaan of Troyus', an earlier ST episode. The first real interracial kiss on U.S. television was between Sammy Davis Jr. and Nancy Sinatra on her variety show in 1967. Davis, of course, would also plant one on the cheek of Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) on an episode of 'All In The Family'.

3. In what comedy series did a shopping mall get 'bombed' by falling live turkeys?

Answer: WKRP In Cincinnati

Richard Sanders (as Les Nessman) reports on his own station's idea of a Thanksgiving promotion, the brainchild of manager Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump). Carlson's defense was, 'As God is my witness...I thought turkeys could fly'.

4. In a rare outing, President Richard Nixon appeared in an episode of what variety show?

Answer: Rowan and Martin's Laugh In

Nixon actually appeared Sept.16, 1968, before his election to his first term as president.

5. In the series finale of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', everyone at station WJM is fired except for who?

Answer: Ted Baxter

From 1970 to 1977, this show remained one of the top rated programs on television and spawned three spinoffs, 'Rhoda', 'Phyllis' and 'Lou Grant'.

6. One of the first reality based police shows, LSD was introduced in one classic episode in the form of a strung out hippie named 'Blue Boy':

Answer: Dragnet

Aired in January, 1967, Michael Burns as Benji 'Blue Boy' Carver presented a dilemma to stars Jack Webb and Harry Morgan.

7. In what anthology series did farsighted bookworm Burgess Meredith survive a nuclear holocaust, only to drop and break his reading glasses:

Answer: The Twilight Zone

The episode, 'Time Enough At Last' stands out from one of the most original series ever on television from the mind of Rod Serling.

8. 'Pam' wakes from a dream and finds 'Bobby' in a shower, thereby negating the entire 1985-86 season of this drama:

Answer: Dallas

The 'resurrection' of Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing, following a seemingly inescapable death from a car crash, was only one of many traits that endeared fans to this prime time soap.

9. Who won an Emmy award on the comedy series 'M*A*S*H'...BEFORE he joined the regular cast?

Answer: Harry Morgan

In the third season episode 'The General Flipped At Dawn', Morgan, as Gen. Bartford Hamilton Steele, drove the members of the 4077th crazy with his rules. Along with the Emmy, this role also earned Morgan his more permanent role as Sherman Potter the following season.

10. Which of the following shows was NOT created by Paul Henning?

Answer: Mayberry RFD

Henning's world consisted Bugtussel (where the Clampetts hailed from), near Hooterville (where the Shady Rest Hotel is located), outside which Oliver and Lisa Douglass live on the old Haney farm.

11. What was the name of the older brother of Richie and Joanie Cunningham, who dissappeared after the first season of 'Happy Days'?

Answer: Chuck

Chuck was actually played by two actors, Gavin O'Herlihy and Randolph Roberts, respectively. First seen on the anthology series 'Love American Style', 'Happy Days' spawned shows of its own, including 'Laverne and Shirley', 'Joanie Loves Chachi' and 'Mork And Mindy'.

12. 'The Simpsons' is the longest running prime time animated series in television history. What show did it beat for that honor?

Answer: The Flintstones

'The Flintstones' was an ABC prime time program from 1960-66.

13. Which of the following TV occupations has NOT been used by Bob Newhart in a TV show with his name in the title?

Answer: Government Employee

Newhart portrayed a psychologist in 'The Bob Newhart Show', managed the Stratford Inn in 'Newhart' and the created the superhero Mad-Dog in 'Bob'.

14. Who hosted a short-lived show called 'Saturday Night Live' at least a year before NBC's late night staple premiered?

Answer: Howard Cosell

ABC gave this late night variety program as a reward to Cosell for his work on 'Monday Night Football'. It didn't last the season.

15. What was the real name of 'The Virginian'?

Answer: It was never revealed

This classic western with Lee J. Cobb, Doug McClure and James Drury in the never-named title role, was the first network program to run for 90 minutes from 1962-71.

16. What movie star introduced the first episode of 'Gunsmoke'?

Answer: John Wayne

Despite rumors, Wayne was never offered the role of Sheriff Matt Dillon, which eventually went to James Arness. He considered TV below his stature as an actor.

17. Which of the following went from movie-to-television, instead of television-to-movie?

Answer: The Odd Couple

The movie with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon premiered in 1968, two years before the TV series with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman.

18. To date, including stints on radio, what is the longest running daytime serial (soap opera) on network television?

Answer: The Guiding Light

Beginning on radio in 1937, 'The Guiding Light' introduced the inhabitants of Springfield to the small screen in 1952.

19. In 1950, the residents of Hot Springs, NM voted to rename their community after this game show:

Answer: Truth Or Consequences

At the request of 'ToC' host Ralph Edwards as a publicity stunt, the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce held a special election that renamed the city. Subsequent elections to return to the original name have been defeated on several occasions.

20. This should be simple...'Who shot J.R.?'

Answer: Kristin Shepard

Certainly one of the big topics of this long running show was the shooting of this nasty villain (Larry Hagman) by Kristin (Mary Crosby, daughter of crooner Bing Crosby).

Source: Author Oddball

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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