The Show Within A Show Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vitameatavegamin

Anyone who watched (almost) any episode of "I Love Lucy" saw a zany red-headed house wife who really wanted to be in "show business". The series was filled with endless (hilarious!) situations that exemplified Lucy's determination to be a part of that industry; being "just a housewife" was never glamorous and exciting enough for Lucy.

In the episode, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial", Lucy, of course, used a bit of treachery and deceit to be cast as the model who did the taste-test and it all went crazy from there.

Many fans of the series have reviewed the Vitameatavegamin scene as one the best moments - if not THE best - of the series. It certainly show cases Lucille Ball (as Lucy Ricardo) in her comedic best!

Answer: "The Alan Brady Show"

"The Dick Van Dyke Show" ran for five seasons and TV Guide described it as: "often copied, rarely duplicated classic" (TV) that was "sharply written, warmly acted by a brilliant ensemble cast". "The Alan Brady Show" was a fictitious show within that show. Carl Reiner, who could occasionally be seen in the series playing the part of Alan Brady, was the creator and lead writer "The Dick Van Dyke Show". (Confused yet?) Carl Reiner often told that his inspiration for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" came from his own work as a writer for Sid Caesar's "Your Show Of Shows", basing its lead character (Rob Petrie) on himself and basing the Alan Brady character on Sid Caesar. (Now are you confused?)

Answer: Betty White

Betty White was regarded was a true pioneer of television; her achievements were numerous and various - particularly regarding the roles that were available to women both in front of and behind the camera. As producer of the show, "Life with Elizabeth" (a television comedy broadcast in the mid-1950s) Betty White was recognized as the first woman to have that occupation/responsibility.

In addition to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", Betty White starred in "The Golden Girls" and "Hot Cleveland". "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was often ranked among the best written television shows - even decades after it was initially broadcast.

The show featured an amazing cast. In addition to Mary Tyler Moore, cast members were: Ed Asner, Valerie Harper, Ted Knight, Cloris Leachman, Gavin MacLeod, Georgia Engel - and, as mentioned, the incredible Betty White.

In 2013 newswoman, Katie Couric, interviewed the five women featured in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (Moore, White, Harper, Leachman and Engel) for her own show, "Katie" (2012-2014); it would be the last on-screen appearance of the group together.

Answer: "Wake Up, San Francisco"

"Wake Up, San Francisco" allowed the show, "Full House", to incorporation a female persona, i.e., Rebecca "Becky" Donaldson. Predictably, she and Danny Tanner were very different yet determined to make their show work. The "show within the show" was hilarious but realistic - much like Danny's life at home with his "full house". "Full House" was first broadcast in the late 1980s, when the idea of men - and, only men - raising their family(ies) was pure comedy material.

Although, TV critics were frequently uncomplimentary of "Full House" the show was very popular; its ratings were very good, particularly after its first season.

As expected, many of the situations were about the perils of single-parenting as a working father but the show never failed to maintain high moral standards as the zany cast of characters demonstrated shows with "PG" ratings can be funny.

Answer: "FYI"

"Murphy Brown" was based in Washington, D.C. "FYI" was a fictitious program presented as a show that was a part of the actual parent company of "Murphy Brown", CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System). Occasionally, within the run of "Murphy Brown" (then) current politicians, celebrities, news people and CBS executives were mentioned - or, more likely ridiculed - which only gave the show more appeal.

As the title character, Murphy's job title was political correspondent. The character reflected the attitude of the show itself in that current topics were to be treated with realistic respect - no matter how controversial some people may have thought the issues were.

The show had a brief revival during 2018; it was canceled after only one season. Yet, we simply must love a character who can say (as Murphy Brown did): "I was waiting for the universe to dispense some justice but sometimes the universe is just too damn slow.

The effects of putting Nair in someone's styling gel, however, only take a few minutes."

Answer: Magazine

"MADtv" first aired in October of 1995 as a late-night cartoon comedy on the FOX Network. The show was inspired by (some sources even use "spun-off from", rather than "inspired by") the American humor magazine, "MAD". "MAD" magazine was first sold in the early 1950s and maintained its popularity and distribution well into the 21st century. "MADtv" was presented in comedy sketch form - much like the ever popular "Saturday Night Live" (which began broadcasting in the USA in 1975).

The sketches for "MADtv" were often found within the pages of the magazine from which it sprang.

The show within the show on "MADtv" was a long-running animated feature taken directly from the magazine called "Spy vs. Spy". Although the warring animated characters (one drawn as black, the other drawn as white) were often compared to such simplistic sparring partners as Tom and Jerry, Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner or Krazy and Ignatz, the spies dealt with much more solemn issues since their parodies were spoofs of political ideologies.

Answer: "Days of Our Lives"

Although the TV shows "Days of Our Lives" (first broadcast in 1965) and "Friends" (1994-2004) were vastly different they shared one very important common element - they were both broadcast (in the USA) by the same parent company - NBC (or, National Broadcasting Company). With a continuous run that began late in the year of 1965 and lasted well into the 21st century, "Days of Our Lives" became one of the longest-running scripted programs in the history of television. No wonder the show "Friends" was so proud to include it in its own script. For many fans of "Friends" the episode titled, "The One With Joey's New Brain", often makes the "must-see" list.

The combination of shows is fetching!

Answer: Tina Fey

Fans of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" may have gotten a feeling of déjà vu if they watched "30 Rock" and thought of the similarities of the back-stories of the two shows. As Carl Reiner (who had written for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows") claimed to have used his experiences with that show as influence and material for his show, "The Dick Van Dyke Show", Tina Fey has said she used her own experience as head writer for "Saturday Night Live" (which began broadcasting in the USA in 1975) to create "30 Rock". Tina Fey starred in "30 Rock" during its entire seven seasons.

She was recipient of numerous prestigious awards including: Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Writers Guild of America Awards. In 2010 she became youngest-ever recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Even considering all of those awards who would fail to mention her uncanny impersonation of Sarah Palin on "SNL" as their favorite Tina Fey gig?

Answer: "The Big Bang Theory"

Who would have ever thought vexillology could be so entertaining? As anyone who ever watched an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" (2007-2019) that featured that vodcast learned you can, indeed, have "Fun With Flags". "The Big Bang Theory" did relatively well in the ratings during the course of its entire run but its peak was its eleventh year (2017-2018) when it became the USA's most watched TV series for that season. During the course of its (initial) broadcast the show was nominated for the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Comedy Series" four times; and, Jim Parsons won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series" four times for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper.

Answer: Matt LeBlanc

Proving, perhaps, there was more to life than "Friends", Matt LeBlanc won a Golden Globe Award for "Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy" and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for his role - believe it or not - portraying "Matt LeBlanc" within the series "Episodes". Also proving there was good, really good, television on premium channels, "Episodes" did very well on Showtime and BBC Two.

It was well written, uniquely presented and hilariously funny. Kudos to the writing team of David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik.

After the initial run of "Episodes" ended, Matt LeBlanc was seen on television as a presenter for the BBC's show, "Top Gear" and in American sitcom, "Man with a Plan".