US TV Show Anagrams #7 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sesame Street

In 1969, a new world of children's television started with the commencement of 'Sesame Street'. Over forty years later, the show has won Grammy Awards and over 150 Emmys. Many of the lead characters on the show are muppets such as Bert and Ernie, The Count, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and my favourite, Grover.

They interact with the human characters on the show, all the while teaching rugrats everywhere what letters and numbers are, how to relate to others without being nasty or violent, and teaching them about life through real events on the show (e.g. a hostess' pregnancy or a character's death in real life). 'Sesame Street' started with funding from grants from the government and foundations, but these days the show raises much revenue from merchandising and is virtually self-funding.

Answer: Sex and the City

Carrie, Sam, Miranda and Charlotte were single women in New York City living their sophisticated, urban, expensive lives while trying to find their dream, be it love, marriage, children, professional success or anything else they thought would fulfil them. Based on the book by Candace Bushnell, 'Sex and the City' was a hit in many countries during its six season run from 1998 to 2004.

Answer: Little House on the Prairie

For nine seasons (didn't it seem longer?), Mike Landon played Charles Ingalls, the real life character in Laura Ingalls Wilder's books about life on a farm in the US Midwest in the 1800s. Charles and Caroline Ingalls had four daughters in their marriage and during the show, they adopted three more children.

It wasn't all sweetness and light on the show. Story lines about tough issues such as alcoholism, death, rape, racism and blindness were a part of the show as much as the happy or funny moments. Over 200 episodes were made over nine years and it still remains a favourite with many, many people.

Answer: Friday Night Lights

Set in Dillon, Texas, 'Friday Night Lights' was primarily about a high school football team's desire to make the state finals and the lives of those involved in the team. The team was integral to the town and its success or lack of it affects many of the town's citizens.

The coach, Eric Taylor, knew that how he is received in the community depended on the success of the team. His wife worked in the school, while his teenage daughter disliked Texas, football and her new baby sibling, all of which lead to rebellion.

While the coach dealt with his family and the team, the players had their own struggles to deal with. There were serious injuries, alcoholism, poor parenting, an unplanned pregnancy and the death of a parent in Iraq. Thankfully, all that trauma was spread out over 76 episodes and five seasons (2006-2011).

Answer: The Dick Van Dyke Show

Dick van Dyke played Rob Petrie while Mary Tyler Moore was his wife, Laura. Making up the family was their son, Ritchie, played by Larry Matthews. Rob worked as a writer for a television show so some of the scenes in the show were set in a studio or behind the scenes.

The other dominant part of the show was in the home. Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie (playing Maurice Sorrell and Sally Rogers respectively) were also played significant characters in the show, being writers for the same show as Rob Petrie. 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' won 15 of the 25 Primetime Emmy Awards it was nominated for over the fives seasons of the show (1961-1966).

A reunion special was made with surviving cast members in 2004, bringing the total number of episodes up to 159.

Answer: My Name is Earl

Jason Lee played Earl Hickey, a lawyer who felt the bad things happening to him in life were karma taking retribution for the bad things he had done. He vowed to right the wrongs he'd committed in his life. The show took a few twists in its four year run. There was a kidnapping (accidental), a jail sentence, the discovery that a friend was really in the witness protection programme, a car accident and a marriage. This sitcom ran for 96 episodes, ending in 2009.

Answer: NYPD Blue

For twelve years from 1993 to 2005, the detectives of the fictitious 15th precinct in Manhattan were the focus of 'NYPD Blue'. The show portrayed the working and private lives of detectives in a city that can be as tough and gritty as it is exciting and urbane. Dennis Franz was in the series for all its run, starting as an alcoholic detective whose job performance and private life were both in trouble in the first series, and rising to be the squad commander by the final season.

His character, Andy Sipowicz, was rated as one of the best fifty TV characters by 'TV Guide'. Also in 'NYPD Blue' over the years were David Caruso, Jimmy Smits, Ricky Schroder and James McDaniel.

Answer: Saturday Night Live

In 1975, the United States began having their Saturday nights livened up by a gang of talented actors and comics on 'Saturday Night Live'. This weekly show consists of comedy sketches performed by a group of repertory actors and guest stars. Each week, the show is opened by the celebrity guest with the words 'Live from New York, it's Saturday Night.' Members of the repertory company since 1975 have included Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey. Since the show's inception, its atmosphere has been accentuated by the resident band called The Saturday Night Live Band.

Answer: Columbo

'Columbo' was made between 1968 and 2003. That might surprise you as it did me! The series was made primarily between 1971 and 1977 (44 episodes), and between 1989 and 2003, a further 24 episodes or 'specials' were made. Frank Columbo was a New York born, Los Angeles detective with his own style. Unlike many police shows, the audience knew who the murderer was from the beginning of the episode.

The fascination of the show was watching how Columbo, played by Peter Falk, solved the case, using his innate intelligence and New York cunning to better his opponents who often thought themselves superior to the dishevelled detective.

His appearance was notable, but not for its elegance. He always wore a raincoat which looked at though it had seen better days, and he tended to fumble and appear to forget things.

The raincoat came from Peter Falk's own wardrobe, and the fumbling in pockets was a device used by Falk to delay and stall, hoping to confound his fellow actors and make their reactions more genuine.

Answer: Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane is the creator of 'Family Guy', an animated show featuring the Griffin family lead by Peter. Lois is his wife, while Meg, Chris and the baby, Stewie, are their children. Then there's a talking, drinking, smoking, driving, smart aleck dog (Brian) living with them, along with the evil monkey in the closet that only Chris can see. Combine the Griffin's taste for the banal and the macabre (Stewie wants to kill his mother) with flashbacks interspersed amongst the lunacy of their normal lives, and you have a very funny cartoon. 'Family Guy' premiered in 1999.