TV Trios/Sitcoms Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Dick Van Dyke Show

Sally Rogers was a female comedy writer (groundbreaking in its time) for the "Alan Brady Show" on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-1966). She was played by Rose Marie.

Buddy Sorrell was a co-writer with Sally and Rob. He was married to the elusive "Pickles". He was played by Morey Amsterdam.

Mel Cooley was the poorly treated brother-in-law of Alan Brady (Carl Reiner). Mel was a comic foil, played wonderfully by Richard Deacon.

Answer: Friends

Marcel was a pet capuchin monkey owned by paleontologist Ross Geller in first season of "Friends" (1994-2004).

Janice Litman Goralnik (nee Hosenstein) was, perhaps, one of the most annoying characters on TV. She was brilliantly played by Maggie Wheeler.

Gunther (his last name was never established) was the manager of the gang's hangout, i.e., Central Perk. He was played by James Michael Tyler.

Answer: Frasier

Maris Crane was the unseen wife of Frasier's brother Niles on "Frasier" (1993-2004). "Frasier" was one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, having won 37 Emmy Awards, with 108 nominations.

Daphne Moon, played by Jane Leeves, was Martin Crane's physical therapist. Niles had a crush on her from day one.

Roz Doyle was the manager of Frasier's radio show on station KACL. She was witty and, coming from Wisconsin, always had a cheese joke handy.

Answer: Home Improvement

Tim Allen played Tim Taylor on "Home Improvement" (1991-1999) and the show within in the show, "Tool Time". Tim was a home improvement specialist without a clue.

Tim "The Toolman" Taylor and his wife Jill had three sons. They were Brad, the oldest, Randy (the middle) and Mark, the youngest.

The sons were played by Zachery Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith, respectively. The show also featured the partially seen neighbor, Wilson.

Answer: Murphy Brown

"Murphy Brown" (1988-1998) was a sitcom about a TV news journalist and her colleagues. Miles Silverberg, played by Grant Shaud, was the young, insecure executive producer of "FYI", the show within the show.

Candice Bergen played the back-from-Betty-Ford newswoman with an acerbic comment for every situation. Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and Frank Fontana (Joe Reagalbuto) were Murphy's co-reporters.

The other reporter on the show, the anchor, was Jim Dial played by Charles Kimbrough.

Answer: The Wonder Years

"What would you think if I sang out of tune?" I might think you were watching "The Wonder Years" (1988-1993). Set in the 1960s, the show was a lovely "coming-of-age" story about Kevin Arnold, played by Fred Savage.

Norma (Alley Mills) and Jack Arnold were Kevin's parents. Wayne and Karen (Olivia d'Abo) were Kevin's siblings.

Paul Pfeiffer was Wayne's bespeckled, nerdy best friend - sort of a pre-Simpson's Milhouse Van Houten.

Answer: Everybody Loves Raymond

Ally Barone was the eldest child and only daughter of Ray and Debra on "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996-2005). She was played by Madylin Sweetin whose younger twin brothers played her younger twin brothers.

Amy MacDougall was Robert Barone's prim, long-suffering girlfriend, and later his wife. She was played by Monica Horan.

I also threw in a tough one, i.e., Warren Whelan. He was Debra's father and Raymond's father-in-law. He was played by Robert Culp.

Answer: The Nanny

Did you recognize the names of the characters from "The Nanny" (1993-1999)? Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) was a Jewish cosmetics salesperson from Flushing (Queens), New York, until she became nanny to Maxwell Sheffield's three kids.

Maxwell was a Broadway producer who was living with his children, i.e., Maggie, Brighton and Grace.

To add to the mix, there was the requisite sarcastic British butler named Niles (a first or last name or both) who was well played by Daniel Davis.

Answer: Mad About You

On the comedy show "Mad About You" (1992-1999), Murray, the Buchman's dog, was a collie mix whose real name was Maui.

The plot centered on the newly married, urban couple Paul and Jamie Buchman. They were coping with jobs, family and their own relationship in the "Big Apple".

Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt played the Buchmans...with all their flaws and imperfections, and their love and understanding.

Answer: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will Smith plays...Will Smith on "The Fresh Price of Bel-Air" (1990-1996). It's about how his "life got flipped, turned upside down" when he moved from Philadelphia, PA, to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air, CA.

Vivian Banks was his aunt and she was played by both Janet Hubert and, later, by Daphne Reid. Vivian and Philip Banks had three children.

The Banks' kids were Carlton, played by Alfonso Ribeiro, Ashley, played by Tatyana Ali, and Hilary (Karyn Parsons).

Answer: Coach

Hayden Fox was the football coach for the Minnesota State University "Screaming Eagles" on the sitcom "Coach" (1989-1997). Hayden was played by Craig T. Nelson.

He had two not-too-bright assistants, i.e., Dauber Dybinski (Bill Fagerbakke) and Assistant Coach Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke).

Hayden's girlfriend (and later wife) was reporter Christine Armstrong, played by Shelley Fabares (who was also Mary Stone and the singer of "Johnny Angel").

Answer: That '70s Show

Eric Forman is the protagonist on the comedy show "That '70s Show" (1998-2006). Set in the 1970s (duh!), it centers around a group of teens from Wisconsin who hang out in the Formans' basement.

Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) and Red Forman are Eric's parents. His circle of friends includes Donna Pinciotti, played by Laura Prepon and Fez, the foreign exchange student, played by Wilmer Valderrama.

Also in the cast were Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.

Answer: King of Queens

Kevin James played delivery man Doug Heffernan on "The King of Queens" (1998-2007). His wife was Carrie, played by Leah Remini.

Among Doug's friends were his neighbor Deacon Palmer (Victor Williams) and Spence Olchin, played by Patton Oswalt.

Then there was Doug's annoying father-in-law, Arthur Spooner, who wound up living in the Heffernan's basement. Arthur was played to the hilt by Jerry Stiller.

Answer: King of the Hill

Unless you watch animated prime time shows, you may be unfamiliar with the characters on "King of the Hill" (1997-2010), Mike Judges' comedy about life in Arlen, Texas.

Hank Hill is the protagonist, a lover of all things Texan and all things propane. Hank's wife Peggy is a substitute Spanish teacher. Hank and Peggy have a preteen son named Bobby.

Luanne Platter is the niece of Hank and Peggy. Luanne's mother was jailed for stabbing her father with a fork, so Luanne now lives with the Hills.

Answer: Futurama

Bender Bending Rodriguez, i.e., Bending Unit 22, is a fictional robot from Matt Groening's animated sitcom, "Futurama" (1999-2013). Bender is course and rude and known for the phrase "You can bite my shiny metal ---".

Bender, Leela (aka Turanga Leela) and Hermes Conrad (the accountant) are employees of Planet Express, a delivery service in the year 3000.

The somewhat senile Professor Farnsworth owns the operation and also employs Fry, Amy and Dr. Zoidberg.