Those Fabulous Fathers of Television Quiz

Answer: Ben Cartwright

Ben Cartwright, portrayed by Lorne Greene, was the powerful proprietary of the enormous Ponderosa ranch in the Nevada Sierras. His sons were Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker), and Little Joe (Michael Landon). His Chinese cook Hop Sing (Victor Sen Yung) assisted in caring for the boys, especially when food was concerned. Probably his greatest advice to his sons was, "A man's never wrong doing what he thinks is right!".

"Bonanza" (1959-73) was declared as television's most significant series that depicted the western era.

Answer: Harry Weston

Dr. Harry Weston (Richard Mulligan) would leave his job and the somewhat sarcastic, southern remarks from his nurse Lavern (Park Overall), only to come home to his grown-up daughters, Carol (Dinah Manoff) and Barbara (Kristy McNichol), who bickered constantly. Dr. Weston had a younger daughter, Emily (Lisa Rieffel), who was cast in the latter episodes of, "Empty Nest" (1988-95).

Another prominent character was the family's canine companion, Dreyfuss, who occasionally joined in the girl's bickering with his barking!

Answer: Fred Sanford

Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) were antique and junk dealers in L.A. If given the opportunity, he was cunning at working his methods to make some quick cash. However, Lamont always saw to it that he kept their business clean and honest. When work was to be done, Fred would either fake the big one (heart attack) or his hands would be crippled with what he called, "Arthur-itis".

"Sanford and Son" (1972-77) was listed in the 2007 publication of "Time" magazine as, "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".

Answer: Tom Wedloe

Dennis Weaver was featured as the father in the childhood favorite series, "Gentle Ben" (1967-69). His role depicted a game warden in the Florida Everglades at Bear River Game Reserve. His eight-year-old son Mark (Clint Howard-brother of Ron Howard) had befriended a bear and became distressed when he overheard their notorious neighbor discussing that he was going to kill it.

He persuaded his dad to buy Ben (Bruno the Bear) for him, and the two became inseparable.

Answer: Rick Marshall

On the Saturday morning cartoon, "Land of the Lost" (1974-76), Rick Marshall (Spencer Milligan) and his children, Will (Wesley Eure) and Holly ( Kathy Coleman), were carried through a portal and over a colossal, thousand-foot waterfall. This is how they came to be in the land of dinosaurs and sleestaks. Rick secluded his two kids in a cave from the perils that lurked around them.

He constructed necessary, life-saving devices, and provisions for their sheer survival. His principal ambition was to seek a way out and return his family back into their own world.

Answer: Deacon Ernest Frye

Sherman Hemsley played on the series, "Amen" (1990), as a good-hearted, but greedy deacon who implemented his authority at the First Community Church. Deacon Frye cared for his adult daughter Thelma (Anna Maria Horsford), after the loss of his wife. She fell head over heels in love with the church's pastor, Reverend Rueben Gregory (Clifton Davis), whom she later married and had a son. Deacon Frye began to date Roxanne (Jackée Harry) and the couple became engaged. Given the manners in which Roxanne conducted, Thelma promptly put an end to that correlation, claiming that she was doing nothing but using her father.

Answer: Hank Hill

Mike Judge, creator of "King of the Hill" (1997-2008), voiced the main character of the average, middle-class dad. Hank Hill was a southern-born and southern-bred guy who had high hopes of his thirteen-year old son Bobby (Pamela Adlon) inheriting his red-neck qualities when he grew up. The Methodist family lived on Rainey Street in Arlen, Texas where Hank could usually be found drinking beer and shooting the bull with his buddies, Bill, Dale, and Jeff. He was the proud assistant manager of Strickland Propane and its propane accessories, and the doting master of an old bloodhound dog named, Ladybird.

The animated series won two Emmy Awards. Fox announced the cancellation of the show on October 30, 2008.

Answer: Edward Stratton III

Joel Higgins featured Edward Stratton III, whose marriage only lasted for approximately one week. He was astonished when he was informed that the union had produced him a son. After his mother remarried, she boarded Ricky (Ricky Schroder) off to military school. Shortly afterwards, he went to live with the father he had never met in his multi-million dollar mansion. Being a youthful kid as well, the wealthy Edward had his great room set up to resemble a video arcade with a model train running through the adjoining rooms. His private associate, Kate Summers (Erin Gray), matured the eldest Stratton from his playful behaviors when the pair began to date and later married.

"Silver Spoons" originally ran on NBC network from 1982 to 1987.

Answer: Willie Tanner

Max Wright portrayed the middle-class dad on the sitcom, "Alf" (1986-90). He was a social worker in Riverside, California, where the family resided. His children included Lynn (Andrea Elson) and Brian (Benji Gregory). All was well at the Tanner house, that is, until Gordon Shumway appeared! He was a sociable extraterrestrial they called Alf (Paul Fusco), for Alien Life Form. Due to his many shenanigans, the entire family did their best to keep the furry, little creature hid, especially from their nosy neighbors.

They found themselves more than once having to intervene in keeping Alf from making a meal of the family pet cat, Lucky. His suspicious, sardonic, and problematic nature kept Willie always on edge and very uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say, with Alf around, no one in the Tanner house rested!

Answer: Dick Solomon

John Lithgow was highlighted as the leader and provider of an alien research expedition. Dick Solomon, who acquired the clan's surname from the side of a truck, was egotistical, grouchy, and blatantly idiotic. While he was a dim-witted physics professor at a university, his juvenile son Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), was a superior student at high school. The four member, imposter family who lived in a loft apartment in Rutherford, Ohio, became more interested in human behavior than they did in their studies of society as a whole.

The science fiction comedy, "3rd Rock from the Sun" (1996-2001), won the most Emmy awards for a television series.

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