Successful Spin-Offs Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Jeffersons

Lasting for nine seasons and 205 episodes, "All in the Family" (1971-1979) was based on the British sitcom "Till Death Us Do Part". Starring Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker and Jean Stapleton, the show touched upon hot topic issues of the day, such as racism, sexism, religion, abortion, and the Vietnam War.

"The Jeffersons" (1975-1985), a spin-off of "All in the Family", lasted for 11 seasons and 253 episodes. Like "All in the Family", "The Jeffersons" touched on several controversial issues. Sherman Hemsley starred as George Jefferson and Isabel Sanford co-starred as his wife Louise. The couple had originally appeared as neighbors of the Bunkers in Queens before moving to a luxury apartment in Manhattan.

Answer: Last of the Summer Wine

The 120 episodes of "Comedy Playhouse" (1961-1975) appeared over fifteen seasons on the BBC. It was an anthology series that introduced the pilots to several future television series such as "Till Death Us Do Part" and "Are You Being Served?" A reboot of the series began in 2014.

What could be considered the pilot of "Last of the Summer Wine" aired on "Comedy Playhouse" in early 1973. The series proper (1973-2010) had 31 seasons and 295 episodes. Set in a small town in Yorkshire, the series focused on a trio of men in late middle age (eventually elderly) who were involved in various misadventures. For much of the series run, two of the three men were Bill Owen as Compo Simmonite and Peter Sallis as Norman Clegg. The third main character and his actor changed several times during the course of the series.

Answer: The Rifleman

"Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater" (1956-1961) ran for five seasons and 149 episodes and was an anthology series that focused on Western-themed stories. Many of the early episodes were adapted from the writings of Zane Grey, but later episodes often drew from early sources. One episode, "The Sharpshooter", included characters that would be used in "The Rifleman".

Like the previous show, "The Rifleman" (1958-1963) ran for five seasons but had 168 episodes. An edited version of "The Sharpshooter" was broadcast as the premier of the series. Chuck Connors starred as Lucas McCain title titular character. The character had a modified rifle that could be fired very quickly. The series was set in New Mexico territory in the 1880s.

Answer: The Facts of Life

Lasting for eight seasons and 189 episodes, "Diff'rent Strokes" was about a pair of African-American brothers who were adopted by a wealthy white businessman. The series starred Conrad Bain as Philip Drummond and Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson. In the first two seasons Charlotte Rae appeared as housekeeper Edna Garret.

The concept of "The Facts of Life" (1979-1987) appeared in the "The Girls' School", the final first season episode for "Diff'rent Strokes". Charlotte Rae reprised the Edna Garrett character at a boarding school for girls. The series lasted for nine seasons and 209 episodes. The show was known for a drastic cast overhaul after the first season with six of the ten characters who appeared in the first episode being dropped from the cast or reset as recurring characters by the start of the second season.

Answer: Xena: Warrior Princess

"Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (1995-1999) ran for 111 episodes and six seasons. It was preceded by a set of five made-for-television movies in 1994. Kevin Sorbo starred as the titular character with Michael Hurst as Iolaus. The series originated from Greco-Roman myth but included characters and situations from many other mythos.

Lasting for 134 episodes over six seasons,, "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995-2001) starred a character who had first appeared on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". Lucy Lawless portrayed Xena with Renee O'Connor portraying Gabrielle. Like "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys", the time and place of the show's setting was somewhat fluid. The series also served as a journey of redemption for Xena, who in her earliest appearances had been an evil warlord.

Answer: NCIS

"JAG" (standing for "Judge Advocate General") (1995-2005) lasted for ten seasons and 227 episodes. The series focused on several judge advocates (lawyers) in the Navy in the Washington, DC area. David James Elliot (Harmon Rabb) and Catherine Bell (Sarah MacKenzie) were the stars of the series.

"NCIS" (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) characters such as Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) first appeared in two eighth season episodes of "JAG". In its first 17 seasons, "NCIS" (beginning 2003) aired 398 episodes. If "JAG" is about lawyers, "NCIS" is about law enforcement. The show has lasted through several cast changes and has inspired multiple spin-offs of its own.

Answer: Happy Days

Lasting for five seasons and 108 episodes, "Love, American Style" (1969-1974) was an anthology series specializing in romantic comedies. A 1972 segment called "Love and the Television Set" was set in the 1950s and starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham. In re-runs, after "Happy Days" had been picked up, the segment would be titled "Love and the Happy Days".

"Happy Days" (1974-1984) lasted for 11 seasons and 255 episodes. In additional to Ron Howard, the series also starred Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli. Over the years, the comedy became broader and the setting of the 1950s/early 1960s became less defined. In the third season, the series switched to live filming of episodes. The series was the origin of the phrase "jump the shark" (when a television series begins going downhill) when in one episode Fonzie did exactly that while waterskiing.

Answer: Family Matters

"Perfect Strangers" (1986-1993) lasted for eight seasons and 150 episodes. Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot starred as cousins Larry Appleton and Balki Bartokomous, in this fish out of water comedy. In seasons 3 and 4, Jo Marie Payton portrayed Harriet Winslow, the elevator operator in their high-rise apartment building.

Harriet Winslow was spun off into "Family Matters" (1989-1998) which ran for nine seasons and 215 episodes. Also set in Chicago, IL, the series included Reginald VelJohnson, and Jaleel White as Steve Urkel. For most of its run, the series was part of ABC's popular TGIF lineup. The series was one of the longest-running series in US television history with a primarily African-American cast.

Answer: Benson

"Soap" ran for four seasons and 93 episodes. A parody of US soap operas, the series was set in Connecticut and focused on the Tate and Campbell families. For a comedy, the show was fairly frank in its depiction of controversial issues of the day. Robert Guillaume appeared as Benson DuBois, the butler of the wealthy Tate family before transferring to his own titular show.

"Benson" (1979-1986) would last for seven seasons and 158 episodes. Benson DuBois took a position in the administration of Governor Eugene Gatling (James Noble). Over the course of the series, Benson moved up in responsibility, running for governor in the final episodes of the final season.

Answer: Avengers Assemble

Lasting for 104 episodes over four seasons, "Ultimate Spider-Man" (2012-2017) was an animated series focused on the famed webslinger. Drake Bell voiced the dual character of Spider-Man and Peter Parker. The television series was based on a comic book series of the same name. Other characters from the Marvel universe also made appearances in the series.

"Avengers Assemble" (2013-2019) last for five seasons and 126 episodes. Drake Bell voiced Spider-Man in the first two seasons although the series focused on the Avengers team of superheroes. Several episodes were told from the point of view of the Falcon, who was portrayed in the series as the newest member of the team.