To Live or Die in America in 2005-2006 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The NBC network had a particularly rough TV season for 2005-2006. Which of these NBC shows, starring Jason Lee, made it through its entire first season, airing twenty-four episodes?

Answer: My Name is Earl

Earl Hickey was not always the most moral of men. Then, after getting hit by a car, Earl decides to make amends for his past misdeeds. Jason Lee played Earl.
"Celebrity Cooking Showdown" was set to air five episodes in April 2006, but did not quite make it. After only three episodes, the show was pulled off the air. "Heist" suffered the same fate, airing only five episodes. "Joey" debuted in 2004 to good reviews and decent ratings. It faltered mid-season one, and never recovered. After 38 aired episodes, "Joey" was taken off of NBC in March 2006.

2. One of ABC's failures was the remake of "Night Stalker". Portrayed by Stuart Townsend, who was the main character of the series?

Answer: Carl Kolchak

As in the original, Carl was a reporter on the trail of whatever murdered his wife. "Night Stalker" aired six of ten episodes in 2005, and starred Gabrielle Union ("Bring It On") as fellow reporter Perri Reed. Darren McGavin played the original Carl. He died in 2006 at the age of 83, but did appear in one last role in the "Pilot" episode of the "Night Stalker" remake.

3. Another success story for the season, CBS's "Criminal Minds" starred Mandy Patinkin, Shemar Moore, and Thomas Gibson as FBI profilers. What was the name of their division?

Answer: BAU- Behavioral Analysis Unit

The BAU deal mostly with an "un-sub", or unknown subject. They take what they know about the crime on hand, and compare it what they've learned in the past. The team is lead by Jason Gideon, who's joined by Elle Greenaway, Dr. Spencer Reid, JJ Jareau, Garcia, Aaron Hotchner, and Derek Morgan.
Season one aired 22 episodes, and was renewed for a season two.

4. Shaun Cassidy created a new show, born from Hurricane Eve. It debuted after the smash ABC hit "Lost" in 2005. Airing 22 episodes in its debut season, what was the name of this Eddie Cibrian hit?

Answer: Invasion

In the first episode, a hurricane hits Homestead/Florida City and brings with it a secret. An invasive species falls from the sky and into the Everglades, bringing with it the ability to replicate human beings. Eddie Cibrian starred as park ranger Russell Veron. Eddie also starred as Jimmy Doherty in NBC's "Third Watch", but I first saw him playing Matt on the soap "Young and the Restless".
"Invasion" was passed over for a second season by ABC.

5. Ex "Alias" star Bradley Cooper started a series for Fox in 2005. "Kitchen Confidential" aired four episodes before being canceled in December. Which actor/actress did NOT star in this Fox series?

Answer: Seth Green

Nicholas Brendon played the lovable Xander Harris for seven seasons on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". In this series he played a bakery specialist named Seth Klein. Also from "Alias", Michael Vartan guest starred in the last aired episode of "Kitchen Confidential".
Seth Green played Oz on "Buffy" as well as starring in many movies, including "Austin Powers", "Without a Paddle", and "The Italian Job".

6. Can we say "almost, but no go"? ABC seemed to have a hit on its hands with the series about the first female US President. "Commander in Chief" starred Geena Davis and Donald Sutherland, but failed to captivate its audience for the long haul. It aired 15 episodes before taking a hiatus, and then aired the final three. What was the name of the fictional president, that Geena Davis' character takes over for after his death?

Answer: Teddy Bridges

With only three episodes left of its debut season, ABC pulled "Commander in Chief" off the air and replaced it with a tabloid news program called "Primetime". Geena Davis starred as the strong, moral, former Vice-President Mackenzie Allen. She stepped up to the plate, against the many nay sayers, to replace her president Teddy Bridges when he died.

Then, the final three episodes aired on Wednesdays from May 31 to June 14, 2006.

7. CBS grabbed sitcom audiences with a new hit in 2005, about a man's quest to find his wife. The showed debuted with the voice of Bob Saget telling the story of this quest to his teenaged children. Though the kids vanished after most of the first season had aired, who played Ted's children in "How I Met Your Mother"?

Answer: Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie

I first saw Lyndsy playing a teenaged Colleen on "Young and the Restless". After her short stint on "How I Met Your Mother", I saw her appear on the HBO drama "Big Love". David Henrie played Larry on a few episodes of "That's So Raven".
"How I Met Your Mother" stars Josh Radnor as Ted and Alyson Hannigan as Lily.

8. The creator of this Fox Network smash hit never expected it to last all the way through season one. Follow the plot and pick the series. Michael helped design Fox River. He used the knowledge to plan the escape of he and his brother Lincoln, to prevent Lincoln from being executed for a crime he did not commit. In this adventure, Michael faked diabetes, lost a toe, built the Taj Mahal, and was severely burned. Which Fox series does this describe?

Answer: Prison Break

I assumed this one would be a no brainer! While "Prison Break" was forced into a four month hiatus for "American Idol", it came back strong in March 2006. "24" was a long established Fox hit by 2005 and the other two choices appeared on different networks. "Weeds" was a Showtime hit and "The 4400" was a hit for USA Network. "The 4400" will start a third season in June 2006. Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, and Stacy Keach starred in season one of "Prison Break".

9. While one "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alum failed to strike a hit in their 2005-2006 TV season, two had great success. Which former Sunnydale resident found a home on the Fox hit "Bones", along side Emily Deschanel?

Answer: David Boreanaz who played Angel

David found a perfect fit in FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth. Its debut season found "Bones" being time/day shifted a bit, but for once this did not kill a great series. Season one starred Emily as Dr. Temperance Brennen, Jonathan Adams as Dr. Daniel Goodman, Michaela Conlin as Angela Montenegro, Eric Millegan as Zack Addy, and TJ Thyne as Dr. Jack Hodgins. "Bones" was renewed for a season two before season one was even over! It was Alyson Hannigan, who played Willow on "Buffy", that also found success on "How I Met Your Mother". Nicholas Brendon's "Kitchen Confidential", also covered in this quiz, did not catch on.

10. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Aisha Tyler, and David Conrad found their lives full of spooks and spirits in a 2005-2006 CBS hit. Also one renewed for a Sophomore season before the first one was over, what is the name of this series about antiques dealer Melinda Gordon and her EMT hubby Jim Clancy?

Answer: Ghost Whisperer

"Ghost Whisperer" ended season one with 22 episodes on May 5, 2006. Jennifer played a woman who could see and hear ghosts. They'd come to her, sometimes unwillingly, because they had unfinished business to take care before they crossed over. Aisha played Melinda's business partner, and friend, Andrea.

They opened a store together called The Same as it Never Was. In the first season finale, Melinda found herself overwhelmed when an airliner crashed near her town. She was presented with over 200 ghosts, who did not really know what had happened to them, not to mention a dark presence who did not want her to interfere with his work.

In a tragic twist, Melinda's business partner believed her brother was on the flight. Even more sadly, it was Andrea herself that was killed when the plane came down on her vehicle. You do not find this out until the final moments of the season finale.

Source: Author Gamemaster1967

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Many shows began clawing their way through the 2005-2006 American TV season. Some had an easy time of it, and some were not able to prove themselves. The answers can only be shows that debuted in 2005 or 2006, so be careful with answering!

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>