From Big Screen to Small Screen Quiz

Answer: Highlander: The Series

An action/drama program, 'Highlander: The Series' followed the story of an immortal named Duncan MacLeod - who could only be truly killed by being beheaded - through his confrontations with evil entities and other immortals, and his connections to, and difficulties with, mortals. The television series also starred Alexandra Vandernoot. The series, as well as the movie, explored the concepts of immortality, social responsibility and the complexities of relationships.
The 1986 movie, titled 'Highlander', starred Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown and Roxanne Hart. Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, it also featured music by Queen.
There were two other spin-offs from the movie - 'Highlander: The Raven', and 'Highlander:The Animated Series'.

Answer: M*A*S*H

Set during the Korean war, 'M*A*S*H' ran from September 17th, 1972 until February 28th, 1983, and starred Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, and many other fine actors. Portraying a mobile surgical unit during the war, the series explored numerous issues - often with a comic touch that also had bite - including friendship, family, love, loss, strength and the brutal blindness of combat. The 1970 movie, titled 'M*A*S*H' and directed by Robert Altman, starred Donald Sutherland, Sally Kellerman, Elliot Gould and Tom Skerritt. Patrick Swayze and Leslie Nielsen also guest starred in different episodes. Four actors - Gary Burghoff, G. Wood, Tim Brown and Corey Fischer - were in both the movie and the television program.

Answer: The Odd Couple

Featuring the somewhat fractious relationship between two roommates who are polar opposites in habits, personalities and goals, 'The Odd Couple' starred Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. The comedic series, which also served up the occasional poignant moment, followed their successes and failures with work, dating and cohabitation.

Other actors who were considered for their roles were Mickey Rooney, Martin Balsam, Dean Martin and Art Carney. The movie 'The Odd Couple' starred Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, and was released on May 2nd, 1968.

It was directed by Gene Saks, who also directed 1967's 'Barefoot in the Park' and 1986's Brighton Beach Memoirs'.

Answer: Planet of the Apes

A relatively short-lived series, the program ran from September 13th, 1974 until December 20th, 1974, losing out in the ratings to the more popular 'Chico and the Man' and 'Sanford and Son'. 'Planet of the Apes' starred Roddy McDowall, Ron Harper and James Naughton, and expanded on the movie's storyline of the exploits of an astronaut thrust into a future where the ruling class on Earth is no longer human.
In 1981, several episodes were recreated into made-for-television movies.
The movie, released on February 8th, 1968, starred Charlton Heston, Kim Hunter, Roddy McDowall and Maurice Evans. Some of the more dominant themes were equality, social pressure, government control and the struggle for individualism versus conformity.
The book written by Terry Boulle is titled 'Monkey Planet', and is different in many ways from the movie and the series, although the main themes remain.

Answer: Stargate - SG1

Starring Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge - who played Teal'c - the series ran from July 27th, 1997 until March 13th, 2007. It follows the adventures of a military team who travel via ancient 'stargates' to visit distant planets. In addition to thwarting alien threats to Earth, the team encounters different, and often seemingly hopeless, situations that sidetrack their efforts and tax their commitment to their mission and their friendship.
"Stargate' opened on October 28th, 1994, and starred Kurt Russell and James Spader, and was directed by Roland Emmerich.

Answer: War of the Worlds

Created by Greg Strangis and running from October 10th, 1988 until May 14th, 1990, the series starred Jared Martin, Lynda Mason Green and Adrian Paul. In 1988, a nuclear accident revives a group of supposedly dead aliens, whose remains had been stored in drums at a secret facility. No longer Martians, as they were in the movie, the aliens are from Mortex.

They are still intent on taking over Earth, and the battle begins anew. Thematic issues such as government responsibility, conspiracy and cooperation are intermixed with personal agendas, relationships and conflicts. The 1953 movie starred Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, and was based on a novel by H.G. Wells. Actual World War II footage was used in the movie to show the destruction wreaked by the alien invasion.

Answer: Alice

Linda Lavin starred in the television series along with Polly Holliday, Vic Tayback and Beth Howland. The series ran from August 31st, 1976 until July 2nd, 1985, and followed the comic antics of a group of waitresses, and their gruff boss, working at 'Mel's Diner'. The program had a number of famous semi-regulars and guest stars including Martha Raye, Doris Roberts, Art Carney, Eve Arden, Desi Arnaz and Dave Madden. Polly 'Kiss My Grits' Holliday left the program in 1980 to star in the spin-off 'Flo'.
The movie, titled 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore', was directed by Martin Scorsese and released on December 9th, 1974. It starred Ellen Burstyn, Alfred Lutter, Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel and Vic Tayback. For her portrayal of Alice, Ellen Burstyn won an academy award for best actress.

Answer: Fame

With a plot based on the rather elite New York City's LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, the series followed the hopes, dreams, successes and failures of both the students and the faculty. The cast also included Debbie Allen, Albert Hague, Erica Gimpel, Gene Anthony Ray and Nia Peeples.
The movie opened on May 5th, 1980, and starred Debbie Allen, Irene Cara and Gene Anthony Ray. The theme song from 'Fame', with the same title, was a pop hit for Irene Cara.

Answer: McCloud

The series ran from September 16th, 1970 until April 17th, 1977. It followed the exploits of a cowboy cop working in the big city, and starred Dennis Weaver, J.D. Cannon, Ken Lynch, and Terri Garr. The last episode was titled 'McCloud Meets Dracula'.
The movie that 'McCloud' was based on was titled 'Coogan's Bluff' and opened on October 2nd, 1968. It starred Clint Eastwood, Lee J. Cobb, Susan Clark and Don Stroud.
Coogan's Bluff is an actual place, and tourist draw, in New York City. Located in Upper Manhattan, it overlooks The Polo Grounds which is the former home of the N.Y. Giants' baseball club.

Answer: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' starred Hope Lange, Edward Mulhare and Charles Nelson Reilly. Based on a movie by the same name, the story centers on the relationship between the ghost of a 19th century sea captain and the woman who rents his house. Problems and difficulties abound, in a light-hearted style, as the 'real' world interferes with their developing relationship.

The series ran from September 28th, 1968 through March 13th, 1970. Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders and Natalie Wood starred in the 1947 film.

The movie was based on a book written by R.A. Dick, which was the pseudonym of Josephine Leslie.