Lyrical Trivia Quiz

Answer: CSI

Actually, the theme song from "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-2015) was taken from the song "Who Are You", by The Who. The original song was written by Pete Townsend, and released on August 18, 1978. Despite the multiple cast changes on the show, from Gil Grissom to D.B. Russell, the song remained the same.

Answer: Frasier

The theme song for the hit sitcom "Frasier" (1993-2004) was called "Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs". Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane) sings the song which was written especially for the show by Bruce Miller, with lyrics by Darryl Phinnesse. They were told to make it jazzy but to avoid terms like psychiatry and radio shows. With those constraints, the lyrics subtly refer to the comedy's subject, i.e., people calling in to relate their problems.

Answer: Mad About You

The quote comes from the song "Final Frontier" which was written by Paul Reiser (Paul Buchman on the show) and Don Was for the sitcom "Mad About You" (1992-1999). The show centered on the relationship between New York City newly married couple, Paul and Jamie Buchman.

It showed how their relationship grew as they lived together and got to know each other. Their story was told with wit and warmth.

Answer: Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane's animated comedy, "Family Guy", began airing in 1999. The theme song is deliberately reminiscent of the "All in the Family" theme, with the protagonists, Peter and Lois, sitting at the piano complaining about "good old-fashioned values". The song was created by composer Walter Murphy ("A Fifth of Beethoven").

Answer: 21 Jump Street

The cop show, "21 Jump Street" (1987-1991), was a crime drama where young-looking cops were part of an undercover unit which infiltrated high schools and colleges to prevent or solve crimes. The fictional setting was Metropolis, Evergreen. The theme song was written by Liam Sternberg ("Walk Like An Egyptian"), and sung by Holly Robinson Peete, with back-up vocals by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise.

Answer: Monk

The song was the theme for the "defective detective", i.e., "Monk" (2002-2009). Written and sung by popular song writer Randy Newman, the title is "It's a Jungle Out There". It mirrors perfectly the state of mind of Adrian Monk, the former San Francisco homicide detective who had both Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and an uncanny ability to solve crimes. As Monk would say: "It's a blessing and a curse".

Answer: 2 Broke Girls

"2 Broke Girls" premiered in 2011. The comedy is about a once rich debutante, whose Madoff-like father was in jail, forcing her to take a job as a waitress. The name of the theme song is, appropriately, "Second Chance". It was penned by Swedish indie pop band Peter Bjorn and John, whose members are Peter Moren, Bjorn Yttling and John Eriksson.

Answer: The Sopranos

"Woke Up This Morning" is a song by Alabama 3, released in 1997, from the album "Exiled on Coldharbour Lane". It set the ominous tone for "The Sopranos", which aired from 1997 to 2007. The cable drama focused on Tony Soprano, the head of "the Family", and dealt with his personal and professional problems. The series ended with the Journey song, "Don't Stop Believin'".

Answer: Perfect Strangers

The line above is followed by "Sometimes you just get a feeling/Like you need some kind of change." It describes how Balki Bartokomous from Mepos decided to emigrate to the United States and live with his cousin, Larry Appleton, in Chicago. "Perfect Strangers" ran from 1986 to 1993.

The theme is called "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now", and it was written by Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay.

Answer: The Partridge Family

I gave you the first line of "The Partridge Family" theme song, which was followed by the title "C'mon Get Happy". The song introduced the singing family who traveled around in their psychedelic bus. "The Partridge Family" (1970-1974) included the widowed mother (Shirley) and her five kids. They sang the theme song, which was written by Wes Farrell and Danny Janssen.