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The Golden Age of Television Trivia Quiz

Answer the first nine questions correctly to reveal what these shows have in common.

A multiple-choice quiz by AlexT781. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
AlexT781

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
379,875

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
957

Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (8/10), Guest 170 (4/10), Kiwikaz (4/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. This show, airing in 1949, opened with "From Hollywood, Camel Cigarettes presents..." Another show ten years later had the same name. Hint

"The Ed Wynn Show"

"The Frost Report"

"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"

"Newlywed Game"

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Our next TV show first aired in 1970, cast Betty White as the "Happy Homemaker", and spawned several spin-offs, most of which failed. Hint

"Emergency!"

"Lou Grant"

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

"WKRP Cincinnati"

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What is the name of the TV show whose final episode, which aired in 1983, holds the record for the most watched US TV episode? Hint

"Dallas"

"M*A*S*H"

"The Fugitive"

"Sex and the City"

4. Our next program first aired in 1973, and 40 years later was still going strong even though most the original cast has long been written out. According to Nielsen, from 1988 to 2015, it was the most watched daytime television drama series. Hint

"Days of Our Lives"

"The Young and the Restless"

"As the World Turns"

"General Hospital"

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The fifth TV series on our list is tied with the "The Cosby Show" for most consecutive seasons as the most watched television series, at 5. The star of this show was also the co-star of the series "In the Heat of the Night", where he played a sheriff. Hint

"Quantum Leap"

"All in the Family"

"Sanford and Son"

"Crime Story"

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. This TV series, following the lives of a Virginia family during the Great Depression, gave us one of the most well-known TV lines ever. The series aired from 1971 to 1981, and has no relation to Sam. Hint

"Lassie"

"The Waltons"

"Leave it to Beaver"

"Good Times"

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. This next early TV show aired from 1955 to 1957, and was named after the sponsor. With many shows like it, such as "The Texaco Hour", it may be tough to guess. Think aluminum! Hint

"Masterpiece Theater"

"The Alcoa Hour"

"American Bandstand"

"The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin"

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. After starring as Maverick, James Garner went on to play a private investigator who was convicted for a crime he didn't commit. Hint

"The A-Team"

"Cold Case"

"Murder, She Wrote"

"The Rockford Files"

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Two very popular TV stars of their time, one annoying ottoman. Name the show. Hint

"Lou Grant"

"Bewitched"

"Banacek"

"Dick Van Dyke Show"

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Take the first letter of each answer (excluding "The") and the word will spell what all these shows have in common.

Answer: (Two words)

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : Guest 73: 8/10
Dec 11 2024 : Guest 170: 4/10
Nov 28 2024 : Kiwikaz: 4/10
Nov 19 2024 : Guest 75: 1/10
Nov 19 2024 : Guest 35: 10/10
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Nov 04 2024 : Lindaellen: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This show, airing in 1949, opened with "From Hollywood, Camel Cigarettes presents..." Another show ten years later had the same name.

Answer: "The Ed Wynn Show"

"The Ed Wynn Show" lasted only one season, but Ed Wynn reappeared 10 years later with another comedy show aptly enough called "The Ed Wynn Show". Supposedly, Ed Wynn found it hard to adjust to TV after many years in radio broadcasting.

2. Our next TV show first aired in 1970, cast Betty White as the "Happy Homemaker", and spawned several spin-offs, most of which failed.

Answer: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"

Starring Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, and Betty White, among others, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" aired until 1977. Interestingly, as Betty White became more and more popular on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", which was aired on CBS, NBC decided to remove her as the long-running host of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

3. What is the name of the TV show whose final episode, which aired in 1983, holds the record for the most watched US TV episode?

Answer: "M*A*S*H"

The final episode of "M*A*S*H" still holds the record for single episodes as of 2016. Counting all TV broadcasts however, the top seven places are held by the Super Bowl.

Answer: "The Young and the Restless"

"The Young and the Restless" first became Nielsen's number one rated program in 1988, when it finally beat "General Hospital". In 2013, according to Nielsen, "The Young and the Restless" was the highest rated daytime television program for 25 consecutive years.

Answer: "All in the Family"

Carroll O'Connor's most famous role is probably that of Archie Bunker. This show introduced us to characters starring in spin-offs such as "The Jeffersons".

Answer: "The Waltons"

"The Waltons" was based off of series creator Ed Hamner's real family. Each member of the Walton family was based off of Hamner's siblings, parents, and grandparents.

7. This next early TV show aired from 1955 to 1957, and was named after the sponsor. With many shows like it, such as "The Texaco Hour", it may be tough to guess. Think aluminum!

Answer: "The Alcoa Hour"

"The Alcoa Hour" was sponsored by Alcoa, founded in 1888 as the Aluminum Company of America. Until 1956, it wasn't really cost effective to include commercials within TV programs. Once technology caught up (and the revelation that sponsors were fixing game shows), program sponsorship fell by the wayside in favor of extending a 30 minute program to an hour with commercials, as we all love today.

8. After starring as Maverick, James Garner went on to play a private investigator who was convicted for a crime he didn't commit.

Answer: "The Rockford Files"

"The Rockford Files" aired from 1974 to 1980, and was one of a long list of shows created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell that dominated TV during the '70s and '80s.

9. Two very popular TV stars of their time, one annoying ottoman. Name the show.

Answer: "Dick Van Dyke Show"

During the opening montage, Dick Van Dyke walks into his house and immediately trip over the ottoman in the middle of the living room. Mary Tyler Moore was his co-star, playing Laura Petrie, and later went on to star in her own television series.

10. Take the first letter of each answer (excluding "The") and the word will spell what all these shows have in common.

Answer: Emmy Award

All of these shows have won Emmy Awards for their respective categories between 1949 and 1983.

Source: Author AlexT781

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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