Television in the 1970s ... Remember? Quiz

Answer: Upstairs, Downstairs

The highly acclaimed, award winning series, "Upstairs, Downstairs", was the hit British drama series that broadcast 68 episodes over its five season run (1971-1975). The series centered around a wealthy family, the Bellamys, who lived in a large townhouse in Edwardian London, England. Their affluent lifestyle represented the "upstairs" portion of the house. The "downstairs" of the household represented the servant staff who were hired to attend to the needs of the Bellamy family. The series focused on the lives and activities of the family and the hired staff.

Through the run of the series, it earned a total of 16 Primetime Emmy nominations. The series won seven Emmy Awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" in 1974, 1975, and 1977.

"Marcus Welby, M.D." (1969) won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" in 1970.

"The Waltons" (1972) won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" in 1973.

"Lou Grant" (1977) won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series" in 1978.

Other winners of the award during the decade were, "The Bold Ones: The Senator" (1970) in 1971, "Elizabeth R" (1971) in 1972, "Police Story" (1973) in 1976, and "The Rockford Files" (1974) in 1979.

Answer: Sam

Vivian Vance made her last television appearance in the sixth episode of the NBC series, "Sam", which aired on Tuesday, April 18, 1978.
Vivian Vance passed away the following year on August 17, 1979.

"Sam" (1978) was a short-lived series, produced by Jack Webb, starring Mark Harmon as Officer Mike Breen and Len Wayland as Captain Tom Clagett.
The series centered around a Los Angeles Police Officer (Breen) and his canine partner, Sam, a yellow Labrador Retriever, trained for police work. In this 30 minute drama series, each episode was divided into four segments, each segment with a different situation to be resolved.
The series ran for less that a full season airing only seven episodes.

"Sam" was also the last television series to be produced by Jack Webb. Throughout his career, Jack Webb created and produced 14 television series, including, "Dragnet" (1951) and (1967), "General Electric True" (1963), "Adam-12" (1968), "Hec Ramsey" (1972), "Emergency!" (1972) and "Project: U.F.O." (1978).

Answer: The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour

"The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" aired for four seasons from 1971 through 1974. This weekly show hosted by the singing team of Sonny Bono and his wife, Cher, presented viewers with an assortment of celebrity guest stars, performances by popular musical talent of the day, and comedy skits, usually including the hosts and guest stars, along with a cast of regular series performers. Regular performers on the series included Ted Ziegler, Peter Cullen, Freeman King, Murray Langston, and Teri Garr.

"The Richard Pryor Show" ran for one season in 1977. Hosted by comedian Richard Pryor, weekly shows featured guest stars, performances by the popular music talent of the day, and comedy skits, many of which were based on characters created by Pryor in his stand-up comedy routines. Regular cast performers who assisted Pryor and guest with the comedy skits included Robin Williams, Sandra Bernhard, Tim Reid, and Edie Williams.
The series received two Primetime Emmy nominations during its short run, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Art Direction for a Comedy-Variety or Music Series.

"The Captain and Tennille" starred the married singing duo of Daryl Dragon (Captain) and his wife, Toni Tennille, and aired for one season in 1977. In additional to the "standard" variety show fare, They performed many of their hit songs, and used their signature hit, "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975) as the theme song for the series. Dragon, usually seated at his piano, wearing his trademark sailing skippers cap played while Toni Tennille sang. Assisting them and their celebrity guest stars in comedy routines and skits were a cast of regular performers including, Loretta Swit, Gabe Kaplan, and John Byner.
The show was nominated foe a Primetime Emmy Award in 1978.

"The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour" premiered on the ABC Television Network in 1977, and aired for one season. The show featured both celebrity and musical guest stars each week as well as Foxx's bold attempt to present a G-rated version of his nightclub act and routines, which were considered much too "racy" for prime time television. Foxx was assisted with his routines by a cast of series regular performers that included Andy Kaufman, Billy Barty, Hal Smith who played Otis the town drunk on "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960), Jo Marie Payton who played Harriet Winslow on the series "Family Matters" (1989), and featured the initial on screen appearance of series writer,Bob Einstein (Super Dave Osborne). Foxx was also joined by his long time comedy partner, Slappy White.
One of the weekly routines performed at the start of each show was Redd Foxx announcing to the audience, a list of top celebrity stars, who would NOT be appearing on that weeks show.

Answer: Matt Lincoln

"Matt Lincoln" was primarily a medical drama series that aired for one season (1970-1971) Vince Edwards starred in the title role. Dr. Lincoln was a versatile psychiatrist, who not only managed a private practice, but also operated a free clinic that helped the needy and underprivileged with psychiatric services, and a telephone hot-line service for troubled youth. He was assisted on the help-line duties by two young assistants, Tag (played by Chelsea Brown) and Jimmy (played by Felton Perry).
Edwards is probably best remembered for his previous television doctor role as the title character on the 1961 series, "Ben Casey".
Chelsea Brown was one of the bikini clad party dancers on the award winning series, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in" (1968)
"Matt Lincoln" aired 16 episodes in its only season.

"Dan August" starred Burt Reynolds in the title role as a hard working police detective lieutenant, working on homicide cases in his home town of Santa Luisa, California.
The series ran in the 1970-1971 television season, and yielded 28 episodes.

"Barney Miller" starred Hal Linden in the title role, as the captain of the New York City Police Department's 12th precinct detective squad.
The series aired for eight seasons (1975-1982), and was the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards (1979, 1980, and 1982).

"Barnaby Jones" starred Buddy Ebsen in the title role, as a retired private investigator who returned to his former profession to solve the murder of a family member, and decides to come out of retirement after that case is solved.
Ebsen is probably best remembered to TV viewers as millionaire Jed Clampett from the popular, award winning series, "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962)
"Barnaby Jones" aired for eight seasons, from 1973 until 1980.

Answer: Police Woman

"Police Woman" aired for four seasons on the NBC Television Network, and was considered to be the first prime time drama series to feature a woman in the title role. Angie Dickinson starred as Sgt. Leanne "Pepper" Anderson, a member of the Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal Conspiracy Unit. Her partner and immediate supervisor was Sgt. William "Bill" Crowley, played by Earl Holliman. Completing the unit were officers Joe Styles (Ed Bernard) and Pete Royster (Charles Dierkop). The unit investigated a wide assortment of crimes, often with Pepper Anderson working as an undercover operative.

The series was a spin-off from an episode of the award winning anthology series, "Police Story" (1973). In the episode, "The Gamble", Dickinson played undercover police woman Lisa Beaumont, who was selected to work with Crowley, Styles, and Royster on a case. The extremely successful ratings of that episode resulted in NBC quickly producing a spin-off series. Lisa Beaumont's character name was changed to Leanne "Pepper" Anderson, and Bert Convey, who played Lt. Bill Crowley in the "Police Story" episode was replaced by Earl Holliman, as Sgt. Bill Crowley. Bernard and Dierkop continued their rolls on the spin-off series.
"Police Woman" aired a total of 92 episodes during its four season run.

Answer: My World And Welcome To It

This unique half hour comedy series incorporated live animations into the storylines. The series starred William Windom as John Monroe, a writer and cartoonist for a publication called "Manhattanite Magazine". Monroe was often seen seated behind his typewriter, creating stories and images for his articles and cartoons. Many of his thoughts were revealed through animated cartoon images on social issues, family matter, and life in general as he daydreamed.
Monroe's fantasies often included his wife, Ellen, played by Joan Hotchkis, and his brainy young daughter, Lydia, played by Lisa Gerritsen.
"My World And Welcome To It" ran only one season, from 1969 to 1970, producing 26 episodes.
In its only season, the series won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Comedy Series", and earned Windom the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series".

Answer: Michael Learned

Learned won the top honors in 1974 and 1976, for her role on "The Waltons" (1972). Learned also won the Emmy for "Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama Series-Continuing" in 1973, also for "The Waltons". Learned also received nominations for the Emmy Award in 1975, 1977, and 1978.

Glenda Jackson received the Emmy in 1972, for "Elizabeth R" (1971).
Also during the decade, Jackson won the Academy Award Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" in 1971 for "Women in Love" (1969) and in 1974 for "A Touch of Class" (1973).
Jackson also received Academy Award nominations for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" in 1972 for "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (1971) and in 1976 for "Hedda" (1975).

Sada Thomson received the Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" in 1977, 1978, and 1979, winning the award in 1978, for her role on the series, "Family" (1976).

Lindsay Wagner won the Emmy for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" portraying Jaime Summers on the action series, "The Bionic Woman" (1976) in 1977.

Answer: Emergency!

"Emergency!" aired on the NBC Network for six seasons, and yielded 128 hour long episodes and six made-for-TV movies. The series was co-created and produced by Jack Webb and Robert A. Cinader.
The stories followed the activities of two group of professionals, the paramedics and firefighters of Los Angeles County Fire Station 51, and the medical staff of Rampart General Hospital. The general format of the stories had fire department personnel responding to incidents ranging from fires and rescue operations to traffic accidents and heart attack victims. The fire department paramedic were linked to the hospital via a portable phone system, referred to as the Biophone 3502 Radio. Paramedics would receive information on stabilizing their patients from the doctors before transporting them to the hospital for additional medical treatment.
The series starred Randolph Mantooth as Paramedic/firefighter John Gage, and Kevin Tighe as his partner, Para-medic/firefighter Roy DeSoto. On the other end of the phone link were Dr. Kelly Brackett, played by Robert Fuller, Dr. Joe Early played by Bobby Troupe, and Head Nurse Dixie McCall, played by Julie London. Transmissions to the hospital, most time initiated by Gage started with, "Rampart base, Rescue 51". Answering the call was often Dr. Brackett, who after listening to the report on the patient "vital signs" always seem to issue the same directions, "51, start an IV with D5W TKO, administer 2 amps sodium bicarb, insert an esophageal airway, stand by on the lactated ringers, and transport as soon as possible".
Following the fire departments actions, the scene would switch to Rampart General Hospital, where the patient was treated by the medical staff.
Each episode contained several such incidents.
The exterior shots of Rampart Emergency Hospital was actually Harbor General Hospital, located in Los Angeles County, in the city of Torrance, about 25 miles South of Downtown Los Angeles.
The fire station seen during the series, where Engine 51 and Squad 51 responded from was actually Los Angeles County Fire Station 127, located a few miles East of Harbor General Hospital at 2049 E. 223rd Street in Carson, California. Ironically, the actual paramedic unit Squad 127 used Harbor General Hospital as their primary medical facility when patients they treated were taken to the hospital.
In the tradition of Jack Webb to bring authenticity to his series, the voice heard throughout the run of the series dispatching calls to fire department personnel was that of Stan Lanier, an actual dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

In 1978, by approval of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the name of Harbor General Hospital, located at 1000 W. Carson Street in Torrance, California was changed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

On May 28, 1985, two years after the death of Cinader, by unanimous vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Fire station 127 was officially renamed the Robert A Cinader Memorial Fire Station in honor of "Emergency!" co-creator and producer Robert A. Cinader.

Officials of the Los Angeles County Fire Department changed the designation of the fire station located on the grounds of Universal Studios from Station 60 to Station 51. The station now actually houses an operational, in-service Engine 51, Squad 51, and Patrol 51.
Universal Studios filmed interior shots for episodes of the series "Emergency!" in sound stages on their lot.

Answer: Robert Urich

Through the 2008 television season, Robert Urich held the record for starring or co-starring in the most regular television series. However, "The Rookies" was not among his 13 series credits.

"The Rookies" starred Georg Stanford Brown as Officer Terry Webster, Sam Melville as Officer Mike Danko, and Bruce Fairbairn as Officer Chris Owens. The series followed the exploits of three rookie police officers working on a large Southern California police department. Rounding out the cast were Gerald S. O'Loughlin as their mentor and immediate supervisor, Lt. Ed Ryker, and Kate Jackson as Jill Danko, the wife of one of the rookies.
"the Rookies" was an Aaron Spelling production, and aired 92 episodes over its four season run.
Most notably, Kate Jackson went on to star in another Aaron Spelling television production, as Sabrina Duncan on "Charlie's Angels" (1976).

Robert Urich passed away on April 16, 2002, from complications of a rare form of cancer, known as Synovial Cell Sarcoma.
Urich starring or co-starring television roles included, Bob Sanders on "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice" (1973), Officer Jim Street on "S.W.A.T." (1975), Peter Campbell on "Soap" (1977), Paul Thurston on "Tabitha" (1976), Dan Tanna on "Vega$" (1978), Robert Gavilan on "Gavilan" (1982), Spenser of "Spenser: For Hire" (1985), Tom Nash on "American Dreamer" (1990), Johnny on "Crossroads" (1992), Mitch Quinn on "It Had To Be You" (1993), Lazarus on "The Lazarus Man" (1996), Capt. Jim Kennedy III, on "The Love Boat: The Next Wave" (1998), and Jerry on "Emeril" (2001).

Answer: Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda starred as Detective Sergeant Chad Smith on the series, "The Smith Family". The series aired for two seasons on the ABC Television Network.
"The Smith Family" focused more on the home and family life of Los Angeles Police Detective Sergeant Chad Smith. In this family oriented series, Janet Blair played the wife of Chad Smith, and their three children were played by Darlene Carr (oldest daughter Cindy Smith), Michael-James Wixed (youngest family member, Brian Smith) and Ron Howard (as the oldest son, Bob).
While police work was occasionally a part of the story, the series primarily showed the police sergeant as a devoted husband and concerned family man.
The show received the approval of the Board of Police Commissioners for the Los Angeles Police Department, as was indicated in the closing credits, and received very positive reviews from the entertainment print media. Unfortunately, good reviews does not always relate to viewers and ratings, and the series was canceled after two seasons and 39 episodes for poor ratings.