What Show am I Watching? Trivia Quiz

Answer: WKRP in Cincinnati

Ah! "WKRP in Cincinnati" makes sense as a title, because the show is set in a radio station in the Buckeye State. The show stars Gary Sandy as the program manager Andy Travis, Gordon Jump as the hapless Arthur Carlson ("As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."), Howard Hesseman as disc jockey Johnny Fever and Loni Anderson (I think I used to have a poster with her on it) as Jennifer Marlowe.

The show aired for 88 episodes from '78 to '82.

Answer: M*A*S*H

Oh, yeah--"M*A*S*H" is the show that was set during the Korean War, in a mobile army surgical hospital (thus the name). How could I forget Loretta Swit as "Hot Lips" Houlihan, Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce and Gary Burghoff as Radar O'Reilly? Maybe I should have remembered that the last episode of the series, that aired in 1983, was the most-watched television show of all time to that point, with 125 million viewers. And, of course, I should have known that the show ran eleven seasons while the actual Korean conflict only lasted three years.

Answer: Desperate Housewives

"Desperate Housewives", huh? I see now that it's the story of the people who live on Wisteria Lane in Fairview, and that those attractive women are played by Eva Longoria Parker, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman. It's won People's Choice awards (for Favorite New Television Drama in '05), SAG awards for casting, Emmy awards for Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Music and Outstanding Guest Actress? I guess I should maybe watch some more episodes...

Answer: The Real World

So you're saying that "The Real World" is an MTV show that's been running since 1992? Wow--all these young folks living in a house together certainly makes for some interesting dynamics. And apparently the show has been a springboard to success for some of its previous cast members--Jacinda Barrett has become a film actress, Eric Nies has become a model, Steven Hill became a radio show host and Mike Mizanin has become a professional wrestler. Nice job, reality-show peoples!

Answer: SpongeBob SquarePants

You know, I THOUGHT I recognized these characters--I've seen them on lunch boxes, beach towels and underwear (don't ask). Apparently this show came from a comic book by creator Stephen Hillenburg called "The Intertidal Zone", and since it began in 1999 it's become a worldwide phenomenon, winning all sorts of Golden Reel Awards and Kids' Choice awards, and spawning tons of merchandise, including Pez dispensers, Kellogg's cereals and Burger King kids meals.

The sponge cannot be stopped!

Answer: The Golden Girls

Okay, I knew that I'd seen Bea Arthur (who plays Dorothy Zbornak) before--she used to play Maude Findlay on "Maude". And Betty White (Rose Nylund) was on "Mary Tyler Moore". And Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux) used to be on "Mama's Family". Seeing them all together (along with Estelle Getty, playing Dorothy's mother Sophia), it's no wonder that this "Golden Girls" show was so popular--it's one of the few shows in television history in which all the main cast members won Emmys (the other two were "All in the Family" and "Will & Grace").

Answer: Married... With Children

You mean this show lasted eleven seasons? Hard to believe that a major network would stick with it for that long, considering the sexual overtones, the meanness of all the characters and the risque plotlines...but Fox believed in the show and it became their longest-running live action situation comedy.

Answer: The Andy Griffith Show

"The Andy Griffith Show" was very popular, wasn't it--running from 1960 to 1968, and never finishing below #7 in the Nielsen Ratings? That might be because of its great cast--Andy Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, little Ronnie Howard as his son Opie, Don Knotts as Deputy Barney Fife and Frances Bavier as Aunt Bee (the one with the new beau), or maybe it's because of that infuriatingly catchy theme music ("The Fishin' Hole") by Earle Hagen and Herbert W. Spencer.

In any case--what a great show!

Answer: According to Jim

Jim Belushi was in "Trading Places" (wearing a monkey suit, if I remember correctly) and "Red Heat" (co-starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger) before he landed the role of 'Jim' (I wonder how tough it was for him to remember the name?) on this series that ran from 2001 to 2009? THAT'S where I've seen him! The show seems to have been a good move--it scored decent ratings and gave another showcase to costar Courtney Thorne-Smith, who'd also appeared in "Ally McBeal" and "Melrose Place".

Answer: Bones

Ah--I've read some of Kathy Reichs' novels starring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, but the character in those books isn't quite the same character (played by Emily Deschanel) that appears on the series. I certainly don't remember all the sexual tension between her and FBI agent Seeley Booth (played by David Boreanaz)!