Seventies Crime Shows Trivia Quiz

Answer: Quincy M.E.

"Quincy" debuted as a 90-minute show in rotation of the "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie" series. Because of the show's popularity it became an hour-long series that lasted until 1983. The show revolved around Medical Examiner Dr. Quincy and his assistant, lab assistant Sam Fujiyama, solving murders in a variety of ways. Jack Klugman played Dr. R. Quincy and appeared in 147 of the 148 episodes during the run of the series.
The producers of Quincy M.E. insisted on the show being realistic and employed Marc Scott Taylor, formerly of the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office, as a consultant.
"Prime Suspect" premiered in 2011. "Cracker" and "Foyle's War" were British crime dramas.

Answer: Columbo

"Columbo" featured shows in which the viewer was aware of who the killer was and the manner in which Lieutenant Columbo solved the cases. Bing Crosby and Lee J. Cobb were originally considered for the part of the unconventional police detective but were both unavailable. The producers selected Pater Falk despite the fact they envisioned an older character.
The series originally ran until 1979 but was revived ten years later and lasted until 2003.
The dog's name was "Dog".
"Hec Ramsey" debuted in 1972 and starred Richard Boone as a former Western lawman specializing in the emerging field of forensics. Banacek also premiered in 1972 and starred George Peppard as investigator Thomas Banacek. Buddy Ebsen played a private detective who worked with his daughter-in-law (Lee Meriwether) on "Barnaby Jones" (1973).

Answer: Cannon

William Conrad starred as Frank Cannon who drove a silver Lincoln Continental Mark III and was often shot or beaten during the course of his investigations. In addition to using martial arts Cannon would occasionally knock suspects down with his large belly.
The series ran from 1971 through 1976 and featured many well known actors as guest stars. Martin Sheen had a role in the first episodes of the series as an ex-policeman named Jerry Warton.
"Michael Shayne" starred Richard Denning and lasted one season in 1961. "Madigan" was a 1968 movie that became a recurring show on "NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie" in 1972. "Longstreet" starred James Franciscus as blind insurance investigator Mike Longstreet.

Answer: David Janssen

David Janssen began working in crime dramas when he played the lead role on "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" in 1957. He went on to star in "The Fugitive" (1963) before "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury" and "Harry O".
On "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury" Janssen played a treasury investigator who was usually assigned to other government agencies and worked undercover.
In "Harry O" Janssen was a former police officer in San Diego was was disabled after taking a bullet in the back and started his own private detective agency. Farrah Fawcett-Majors has a role as his neighbor and occasional girlfriend. Ironically "Harry O" was cancelled and replaced with "Charlie's Angels" in 1976.
Martin Milner was a regular on "Adam-12". Robert Wagner starred on "It Takes A Thief" from 1968 to 1970. Lorne Greene had the title role of "Griff" for one season in 1973.

Answer: Dan August

Norman Fell played the role of Dan August's partner on "Dan August". The series was set in the fictional town of Santa Luisa, California. The series was based on a 1966 book by Harold R. Daniels titled "The House on Greenapple Road" that was made in to a television movie in 1970. "Dan August" didn't garner a sufficient audience and was not renewed but the show fared well in re-runs when Burt Reynolds' career surged during the seventies.

Answer: Kevin Dobson

After appearing in bit parts on Crime Dramas such as "Cannon", "Emergency" and "The Mod Squad" Kevin Dobson landed the role of Det. Bobby Crocker on "Kojak". Dobson stayed with the "Kojack" series for the entire run and appeared with Savalas again in 1990 as a district attorney in "Kojak: It's Always Something".

After "Kojak" wrapped in 1978 Dobson was offered the lead in "Magnum PI" which went to Tom Selleck after Dobson turned the role down. He did take the lead role of a San Francisco police officer in "Shannon".

The series didn't last an entire season in 1981. Telly's brother George Savalas played Detective Stavros. Dan Frazer played Capt. Frank McNeil and Detective Saperstein was played by Mark Russell.

Answer: New Mexico

Fess Parker was originally offered the role of the marshal from Taos, New Mexico, before the role went to Dennis Weaver. Marshal McCloud originally ended up in New York because he was transferring a prisoner. The premise of the show was loosely adapted from the 1968 Clint Eastwood film "Coogan's Bluff". During the run of the series the show was alternately changed from ninety minutes to two hours.
J. D. Cannon starred as McCloud's superior in New York City, Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford. A recurring theme was the contentious relationship between the two men. Terri Garr had a frequent role as Sgt. Phyllis Norton.
A year after the series ended Dennis Weaver had the role of trail boss R.J. Poteet in the "Centennial" miniseries.
Coincidentally Dennis Weaver died at his home in Colorado on February 24, 2006, the same day that Don Knotts passed away. They were also the same age.

Answer: Most Wanted

"Most Wanted" was a series centering around a task force created to apprehend the mayor's most wanted criminals. The task force was small, forcing the members of the unit to use strategy rather than overwhelming numbers to apprehend the fugitives.
Shelly Novack had the role of Sergeant Charlie Benson and Officer Kate Manners was played by Jo Ann Harris. Tom Selleck was originally cast to play a fourth member of the task force but the character was cut before production began.
The show lasted for 21 episodes and was not renewed for the following season.
"S.W.A.T." was a spin-off of "The Rookies" that ran for one season in 1975. "T.J. Hooker" ran from 1982 to 1986. "CHiPs" enjoyed a six year run beginning in 1977.

Answer: Rooster

Rooster was the informant played by Michael D. Roberts. Roberts' first television guest appearance was on an episode of "Good Times" (1974). After his recurring role in "Baretta" he had guest spots on many television shows.
Baratta used a variety of disguises while doing his offbeat undercover work. The series was inspired by the 1973-1974 show "Toma" about an actual New Jersey police officer named David Toma played by Tony Musante. When Musante resigned after only one season the show's concept was modified to "Baretta".
Sammy Davis, Jr. sang the show's theme song, "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow".
Fats was a detective who occasionally accompanied Baretta on stake-outs.
Huggy Bear was an underworld informant on "Starsky and Hutch" (1975) played by Antonio Fargas. Angel was an ex-con on "The Rockford Files" from 1974 to 1980.

Answer: True

Sharon Gless starred as Maggie Philbin, the receptionist at the agency where Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner worked as private eyes. Sharon was in all but three shows during the series' three-year run.
"Switch" centered around a retired police officer named Frank MacBride played by Eddie Albert and Pete Ryan, an ex-con who was MacBride's partner played by Robert Wagner. The pair solved crimes by using their skills as con-men.
Charlie Callas also had a regular role on the series. "Switch" was replaced in 1978 by "The Incredible Hulk" but came back as a summer replacement for 10 final episodes.