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Quiz about Match the TV Plots Over 20 SeasonLong Shows

Match the TV Plots - Over 20 Season-Long Shows Quiz

These are shows that have lasted the test of time. Many are still on the air. I'll describe the basic plot, and you choose the show.

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

Author
TonyTheDad

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
28,281

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
12 / 15

Plays
8618

Last 3 plays: Guest 67 (11/15), Guest 1 (9/15), Guest 51 (6/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. A time-travelling alien (who often visits Earth) picks up companions along the way as he goes about in his time machine that is shaped like a 1960's-era British police call box. Hint

Doctor Who

Star Trek

Stargate SG-1

Time Tunnel

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. The original name of 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. Hint

Toast of the Town

Cavalcade of Stars

Here's Ed!

On Stage in New York

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. This show started as nightly updates of the Iran Hostage Crisis. Hint

ABC News Nightline

Today

20-20

The McLaughlin Group

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. The exploits of a US Marshall trying to keep the peace in the wild west town of Dodge City. Hint

Texas Rangers

Rawhide

Gunsmoke

US Marshalls

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. This morning news and information show, which went on the air in 1952, had hosts such as Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer.

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who of the following was not an anchor of the 'CBS Evening News' (which first aired in 1962)? Hint

Katie Couric

Walter Cronkite

Peter Jennings

Dan Rather

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. The soap opera, set in the town of Salem, starts with the narration 'Like sands through the hourglass...' Hint

Peyton Place

General Hospital

Days of Our Lives

Loving

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. This news and expose show began in 1968. Its 'theme music' is the ticking of a stopwatch.

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 9 of 15

9. Finish this quote from the opening narration of 'ABC's Wide World of Sports' (1961): 'The thrill of victory... and ___
___ ___
___.'

Answer: (Four Words)

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. This sketch comedy series has launched dozens of careers: Chevy Chase, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, and Julie Louis-Dreyfus, amongst others. Hint

Tomorrow

SCTV

Saturday Night Live

Fridays

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. Back to sports: this seasonal show started when one football game a week was scheduled on Monday night. Hint

Dennis Miller Rambles

N.F.L. Monday Night Football

OJ, Put Down The Knife

Howard Cosell and His Toupee

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. This soap opera, set in Pine Valley, starred Susan Lucci from its first episode aired in 1970. Hint

All My Children

General Hospital

Another World

Ryan's Hope

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Question 13 of 15

13. This soap began production in 1956 on CBS. Hint

As The World Turns

A Different World

Another World

Boy Meets World

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. This man was the king of late-night television. He hosted his stint of 'The Tonight Show' for 30 years.

Answer: (Two Words)

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. This soap, set in Port Charles, NY, is noted for the romance plot between characters Luke and Laura. Hint

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and The Restless

Port Charles

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : Guest 67: 11/15
Nov 20 2024 : Guest 1: 9/15
Nov 17 2024 : Guest 51: 6/15
Nov 05 2024 : Guest 108: 15/15
Nov 05 2024 : Guest 68: 8/15
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 73: 13/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A time-travelling alien (who often visits Earth) picks up companions along the way as he goes about in his time machine that is shaped like a 1960's-era British police call box.

Answer: Doctor Who

With seven actors who played the main character, the plot device was added that when a Time Lord was about to die, he could regenerate (up to 12 times), looking and acting quite a bit different. (1963-1989)

"Doctor Who" has been revived in a second series, begun in 2005. It has continued with the continuity of the original series, with the ninth, tenth, and eleventh Doctors, portrayed by Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith. (The eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann, was only portrayed on-screen in the 1996 made-for-TV movie.)

2. The original name of 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.

Answer: Toast of the Town

It was renamed in 1955. The show ran from 1948 to 1971.

3. This show started as nightly updates of the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Answer: ABC News Nightline

It began in 1980.

4. The exploits of a US Marshall trying to keep the peace in the wild west town of Dodge City.

Answer: Gunsmoke

It starred James Arness, brother of Peter Graves, and ran from 1955 - 1975.

5. This morning news and information show, which went on the air in 1952, had hosts such as Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer.

Answer: Today

6. Who of the following was not an anchor of the 'CBS Evening News' (which first aired in 1962)?

Answer: Peter Jennings

Walter Cronkite anchored from 1962 to 1981. Dan Rather has been at the desk from 1981 to 2005. Bob Schieffer took over in 2005 for a year. Katie Couric began in 2006.

7. The soap opera, set in the town of Salem, starts with the narration 'Like sands through the hourglass...'

Answer: Days of Our Lives

This began airing in 1965. It's also the soap opera that Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) twice had a part in on the show 'Friends'.

8. This news and expose show began in 1968. Its 'theme music' is the ticking of a stopwatch.

Answer: 60 Minutes

9. Finish this quote from the opening narration of 'ABC's Wide World of Sports' (1961): 'The thrill of victory... and ___ ___ ___ ___.'

Answer: The agony of defeat

This phrase was notably followed by a ski jumper crashing just before takeoff and tumbling out of control. If I recall correctly, this skier was a east European who didn't know his fall had become such an icon of American sports TV until years later.

10. This sketch comedy series has launched dozens of careers: Chevy Chase, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, and Julie Louis-Dreyfus, amongst others.

Answer: Saturday Night Live

This began airing in 1975.

11. Back to sports: this seasonal show started when one football game a week was scheduled on Monday night.

Answer: N.F.L. Monday Night Football

ABC began airing MNF in 1970. When ABC got the rights to the occasional game on Thursday night, the name of the show wasn't 'Thursday Night Football', but 'Monday Night Football, Thursday Edition'.

MNF aired on ABC until 2005. Starting in the 2006 season, it began airing on ESPN.

12. This soap opera, set in Pine Valley, starred Susan Lucci from its first episode aired in 1970.

Answer: All My Children

Ms. Lucci was nominated 19 times for a Daytime Emmy Award (from 1978 to 1999, almost yearly) before she finally did win one in 1999.

13. This soap began production in 1956 on CBS.

Answer: As The World Turns

'Another World' was supposed to be a spin-off of 'As The World Turns', but it got picked up by NBC. CBS therefore did not allow any stars to cross-over their roles. But after 'AW' was cancelled (after 35 years), several characters from 'AW' appeared on 'ATWT'.

14. This man was the king of late-night television. He hosted his stint of 'The Tonight Show' for 30 years.

Answer: Johnny Carson

Johnny passed away in 2005 from smoking-related causes.

15. This soap, set in Port Charles, NY, is noted for the romance plot between characters Luke and Laura.

Answer: General Hospital

Source: Author TonyTheDad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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