Television Quiz: TV Nicknames: 10 Questions | Things in Common

Answer: Weezy

"The Jeffersons" was a sitcom which aired from 1975 to 1985. It was a spin-off of "All in the Family". George Jefferson, played by Sherman Hemsley, was a dry cleaner who was rich enough to move out of Archie Bunker's neighborhood in Queens. The Jefferson's were "movin' on up to East Side" (with one of the best TV theme songs!). George was married to Louise Jefferson, played to perfection by Isabel Sanford, and they had a son named Lionel who was alternatively played by Damon Evans and then by Mike Evans (no relation). George's pet name for Louise was "Weezy".

Answer: Screech

"Saved by the Bell" was a comedy about students who attended Bayside High School in California. It aired from 1989 to 1992. The show was a career-starter for young actors like Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack), Mario Lopez (A.C. Slater) and Tiffany Thiessen (Kelly Kapowski). Dustin Diamond played the role of Samuel Powers, the comic foil, whose nickname was Screech.

Unfortunately, Diamond's career did not mirror those mentioned above. Despite the fact that he was an actor, comedian and musician, in recent years he has appeared in court and in jail more often than on the small screen.

Answer: Radar

The soft-spoken and sensitive Corporal Walter O'Reilly was a character on the wonderful TV sitcom "M.A.S.H." which ran from 1972 through 1983. The show showed us the horrors of war (in this case, the Korean War) while also making us laugh - what an amazing feat! Walter was played by Gary Burghoff. Because O'Reilly seemed prescient, he was given the nickname Radar. Radar, who appeared in all the early episodes (through 1979), was known for drinking grape Nehi soda and for his teddy bear (unofficially named Tiger).

As homage to the show, Big Bird's teddy bear on "Sesame Street" is named Radar.

Answer: McSteamy

One of the doctors on the hospital drama "Grey's Anatomy" is named Mark Sloan. This is NOT the Mark Sloan played by Dick Van Dyke on "Diagnosis Murder". Since the beginning of the series in 2005, Dr. Sloan has been played by Eric Dane. The Shonda Rimes series revolves around surgical interns and their supervisors at Seattle Grace Hospital.

The cast featured Patrick Dempsey as Dr. Derek Shepherd, often called McDreamy. Dane's Dr. Sloan was nicknamed McSteamy. For a serious dramatic program with life-threatening issues,, "Grey's Anatomy" had quite a few nicknames, e.g., Ponytail McGee and Dr. Badass.

Answer: Bones

I must admit, I will miss "Bones", the crime-solving, forensics loving show which ran from 2005 to March 2017. The protagonists of the show are FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) and forensic anthropologist and author Temperance Brennan, played with dispassionate brilliance by Emily Deschanel. Because of the nature of her work at the Jeffersonian Institute, Booth gave Brennan the nickname Bones; the name stuck.

Although the show and the characters have evolved throughout the years, e.g., Booth and Brennan are now married with two kids, Hodgins and Angela have a son, etc....but Bones will be Bones!

Answer: Crab Man

"My Name Is Earl" is a sitcom about a 'neer-do-well' who winds up winning a lottery and takes that as a sign to turn his life around and make amends for all the wrong he's done. The program aired from 2005 through 2009. Earl Hickey was played by Jason Lee. Earl surrounded himself with some very odd friends, e.g., his brother Randy, wife (and ex) Joy, and Darnell Turner. Darnell, played by Eddie Steeples, had a fascinating back story, i.e., his name was really Harry Monroe before he wound up in the Witness Protection Program working as a busboy at the Crab Shack. Earl couldn't remember Darnell's name, so called him 'Crab Man'.

Answer: Skipper

How could I make a nickname quiz without including the Skipper from "Gilligan's Island"? Did you know that the Skipper, played by Alan Hale, Jr., had a 'real' name, i.e., Jonas Grumby. He and his "little buddy" Gilligan were stranded on that desert isle along with the five other survivors of the S.S. Minnow - c'mon, sing it with me..."the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the professor and Mary Ann". What I always wondered was, if the island was uncharted and deserted, how did all those other characters wind up there, and where did they all go? "Gilligan's Island" aired from 1964 to 1967.

Answer: Venus Flytrap

"WKRP in Cincinnati" was about a failing radio station where management hires a new program director who is intent on bringing the station into the current century by turning to a format of rock music. The sitcom appeared on TV from 1978 to 1982, and had some of the oddest characters on the small scene.

There was the manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson whose mother owned the station, Jennifer Marlowe, the not-so-dumb blonde receptionist, Herb Tarlek (Mr. Polyester), and d.j.s Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap (played by Tim Reid). Venus Flytrap was his nickname/stage name, but his 'real' name was Gordon Sims.

Answer: Tootie

"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have "The Facts of Life". The comedy "The Facts of Life" appeared on TV from 1979 to 1988. It was about four girls attending the Eastland School, a boarding school for girls. Their housemother and guiding hand was Edna Garrett, played by Charlotte Rae.

The students included rich girl Blair, tomboy Jo (who first showed up in the second season), rational Natalie, and perky 'Tootie' who was the youngest of the group. Tootie, who used to get around on roller skates, was actually named Dorothy Ramsey, and she was played by Kim Fields who later starred on "Living Single".

Answer: Chef

I thought this one was pretty difficult. Jerome McElroy was called Chef on "South Park". In fact, I can't remember anyone on the show ever calling him by his given name. Chef, voiced by "Shaft" singer and composer Isaac Hayes, served the school kids lunches and often provided them with the guidance they didn't seem to get from their parents.

The controversial show first aired in 1997 and featured four fourth graders, i.e., Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny ("Oh no, they killed Kenny"), as they make their way through the strange trials and tribulations they encounter in South Park, Colorado.