Dramatic Dramas: A Dram of the Dramatic Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named this TV series as the best-written TV series of all time. It ran for six seasons 1999-2007. According to the Writer Guild, the initial concept of the show was a feature film about "a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother." What was the name of the show?

Answer: The Sopranos

'The Sopranos' revolved around Tony Soprano who spent the six series trying to reconcile his role as a father with his "occupation" as a mobster. James Gandolfini was lauded with many awards for his role as Tony Soprano but he sadly passed away in June 2013, aged 54.

2. In "The Wire", a police procedural drama, written by a crime reporter and an ex-homicide detective over five seasons (2002-2008) the city the series is set in is almost a character itself. Each of the five seasons portrays a different aspect of the city. Which city was portrayed?

Answer: Baltimore

Whilst "The Wire" only achieved modest success in the TV ratings, it has been one of the most critically acclaimed TV series. Each of the five seasons has a different aspect of Baltimore life depicted. These themes were, the illegal drug trade, the dockside, the local government/political systems, the school system and the media.

3. This television drama is probably Australia's best known series for children as it was shown throughout the world. What is the name of this 1960s show that featured Australia's best loved fauna animal as its main star?

Answer: Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

"Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" was set in Waratah National Park, exposing the viewer to the flora and fauna of Australia. The cast included Matt Hammond (Ed Deveraux) as Head Ranger, Sonny Hammond (Gary Pankhurst), his young son and Skippy's 'friend' and Flight Ranger Jerry King (Tony Bonner). Of course we can't forget the star of the show, an Eastern Grey Kangaroo (and part of our team's name!).

4. One of my favourite shows was about a medical examiner from Los Angeles. Jack Klugman played the title role in 'Quincy M.E.', but who portrayed his hard-working lab assistant, Sam Fujiyama?

Answer: Robert Ito

'Quincy' was a very interesting forensic examiner show, and could probably be considered as a precursor to programmes like 'NCIS' and 'CSI'. Quince was very, very painstaking, usually frustrating his boss and the police, but he usually came out smelling like roses at the end of the show.

Sam was Quincy's sidekick for the entire series, and although he sometimes did not agree with his boss's reasoning, he was very loyal to him. After the show finished in 1983, Ito did a lot of voice work, with diverse parts including 'What's New, Scooby-Doo' and 'Star Trek: Voyager' to guest spots on 'The X-Files' and 'The Commish'.

George Takei played Sulu in 'Star Trek', Jet Li is better known for martial arts-type roles, and Devon Aoki is a female model.

5. This police drama was based in the Philadelphia Police Department where the main characters Lily Rush and Scotty Valens solved murder crimes. What TV show was this?

Answer: Cold Case

'Cold Case' ran for seven series solving murders in the Philadelphia area. The cases usually had a new piece of evidence come to light and the team would review the original investigation and re-interview witness and suspects. The episode would end with the killer being arrested and handcuffed while the spirit of the victim looked on.

6. There are so many lifestyle programs on TV these days covering all aspects of living, from architecture, property buying and selling, cooking, design and renovating and the like. What British comedy drama managed to have an antiques dealer as its main character?

Answer: Lovejoy

The concept of the show was that Lovejoy, played by Ian McShane, was an instinctive antiques dealer able to spot a bargain and differentiate the fakes from the real thing. The show always had Lovejoy directly speaking to the camera and audience to reveal an insight otherwise might have been missed.

7. During the 1990s, 'The X-Files' was one of the highest-rated shows on television. David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully had that certain chemistry that made the show work. They played FBI agents who were assigned all the weird and wacky cases. For the first five seasons, where was most of the show shot?

Answer: Vancouver

Mulder was a very strange character with some rather out-there ideas on how things worked. He believed in spaceships, ghosts, aliens and other paranormal stuff. Scully is the more sensible of the pair, and tries to explain Mulder's observations with science and logic. She does not always succeed...

The Canadian city of Vancouver was chosen because of the supposedly 'spookier' locations surrounding it, but production moved to Los Angeles in 1999.

Don't forget- 'The truth is out there'.

8. In the 2009 movie "State of Play", the plot centred around the interface between journalism and politics and starred Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams, the latter as Della Frye. This movie was based on a 2003 BBC television mini-series by the same name. In the television which actress played Della (called Della Smith in this production)? She was already well known from her role in "Trainspotting" (1996) and more recently as an independent Irish mother on " Boardwalk Empire" (2010-2013).

Answer: Kelly McDonald

The role of Della is crucial to both stories as Della essentially solves the mystery that her more fancied male journalists did not. This was probably the TV series that make Kelly McDonald a star. Other notable productions where she seems to specialise in cast against type roles include "No Country for Old Men" (2008) and "Nanny McPhee" (2009).
Helen Mirren stars in the movie as Cameron reprising Bill Nighy's role in the TV series.

9. The 1990/1 television serial drama "Twin Peaks" details the investigation of FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) into the murder of a young woman, Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Which well known American director (along with Mark Frost) created this off-beat, surrealistic series?

Answer: David Lynch

"Twin Peaks" only ran for two seasons but developed a cult following and critical acclaim. The 1992 film, "Twin Peaks: Walk Fire with Me", was created by Lynch as a prequel to the television series. He is also known for the acclaimed films "Eraserhead", "Blue Velvet" and "The Elephant Man".

10. 'Bodyline' was a mini-series aired in 1984, starring Hugo Weaving and Gary Sweet. It was about a particularly nasty period in international sports. What sport was 'Bodyline' about?

Answer: Cricket

It was the story of the 1932/33 series when Australia played England in England. Australia had Don Bradman, the best batsman in the world, in their team, and bodyline was a tactic used to stem the huge scores that he was making. Simply put, it involved bowling very fast, aiming at the head and upper body of the batsmen. International relationships were strained, quite a few players were badly injured and the tactic was banned shortly after. The English captain, Douglas Jardine, became the most hated man in Australia, and retired from international cricket shortly after the series.

The mini-series was extremely popular and allowed the Ten Network to dominate ratings for a week.

Source: Author ozzz2002

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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