Glued to the TV 30 Years Ago: 1975 Emmys Quiz

Answer: Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

Hmmm. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" ruled the airwaves that year, and deservedly so. It spun off three spin-off shows ("Rhoda", "Phyllis" and "Lou Grant" - that last one giving Lou [Ed Asner] a very credible shot at getting off the curmudgeon routine and display his acting chops). "MTM" set a new standard, I think. Moore was the lead but they made sure everybody became stars. Betty White's turn at playing Sue Anne Nivens was a hoot! "The hormonal household guru"!

Answer: Dinah!

Many probably don't remember Dinah Shore. She had this welcoming prescence, could sing a song painlessly, and make us all feel totally comfortable too. It also helped that she wasn't a bit hard on the eyes. Phil Donahue stirred up morning talk later. Dinah made the coffee go down easy. She passed away of cancer in 1994.

Answer: Jack Albertson for "Chico And The Man"

How could it really not go to Albertson? He'd already won an Oscar (for "The Subject Was Roses" (1968)). He was awards waiting to happen. "Chico And The Man" was another of those sad turn of events. 'Chico' (Freddie Prinze, Sr.) decided to call it entirely quits and the show never got back up. It only ran from 1974 through 1977.

Answer: Michael Learned in "The Waltons"

As effective as she was in the part, Learned was all wrong to be Olivia Walton. Just a mere 12 years older than Richard Thomas (her eldest son John Boy in the show). But she did what any good actress does and made it work. Grace and dignity. A good mix, despite the improbabilities. Jackson was never nominated. No one ever took "Charlie's Angels" seriously, even back then.

Answer: Peter Falk in "Columbo"

The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie was interesting as a certain number of shows alternated weekly. Falk's "Columbo" was really good and fun to watch. The rumpled detective who always looked baffled. Yet he always cracked the case.

Answer: Ellen Corby in "The Waltons"

Miss Corby had a really good career, even before her eternal association to the audience as Grandma Esther Walton. She was nominated for an Oscar for her work in 1948's "I Remember Mama"! She won for her role in "The Waltons" 3 times - and deserved to. During the course of the show she suffered a massive stroke but returned to the part after recovery, bravely showing the aftermath of her health crisis. Classy lady.

She died in 1999 at 88 years of age.

Answer: Anthony Hopkins in "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case"

I confess to making this one hard. Actually, the category on the Emmys was impossible. How do you compare the two genres and pick a "best of"? I made up the Gleason and Wilson shows (neither happened) and "Henry VIII" would have been considered a series and not a special. That amazing actor who we now know as the dreadfully fascinating Hannibal Lecter won it that year, playing Bruno Hauptmann. The TV film, which I actually did see, danced around Bruno's guilt as to stealing and killing the Lindbergh tot. So has history. But Hopkins assuredly sealed his knack at looking scary and sympatico all at the same time in it.

We won the dance contest, by the way. Took no prisoners!

Answer: The $20,000 Pyramid

"Pyramid" has had staying power, that's for sure. Hosted back then by 'the fountain of youth poster boy' Dick Clark its newest version still thrives - now hosted by 'if you keep brushing those smiley white teeth you'll always look 17' Donny Osmond. I suppose the game's appeal is that you don't have to be particularly smart to play it.

As long as you can think of something that might be in one's back pocket in a few seconds, contestants were in for the prize. A prize, of course, that has gotten a bit bigger over the years.

Answer: Police Story

I must admit that I only saw "Police Story" in passing. It was good, though. It also set a standard for cop shows to come. There were really no 'leads' in it - an ensemble cast took care of the stories. Joseph Wambaugh, a notable ex-policeman, developed it. The show ran for just 4 years.

I'll bet most of you picked "The Waltons"! I sure would've!

Answer: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

C'mon now. No other to pick than "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" here. That show was a ratings/critical bulldog! Grant Tinker (Moore's husband at the time) built an empire out of it. They had a bit of a spit wondering what to make 'Mary Richards' at the time. Divorced? Single (AKA "old maid")? They settled with just letting her turn the world on with her smile. And a fine smile it was.

I hope you had some fun with this!