What's Wrong With This Sitcom? Quiz

Answer: The central character's name was Ray Barone

The series "Everybody Loves Raymond" was based on the comedy of Ray Ramano. In fact, several of the shows that aired on CBS were actual events that happened to Ray or a member of the cast or crew. To help with the comedy in the show were Ray's wife Debra, his police officer brother, Robert, and his nosy parents/neighbors, Marie and Frank.

When "Everybody Loves Raymond" appeared in 1996, Ray Ramano didn't like the title, but by the series premiere he couldn't change it.

Answer: The show was about a football coach; not baseball coach

"Coach" aired on CBS from 1989 to 1997 with 200 episodes. The series revolved around Minnesota football coach Hayden Fox and the antics of his family and friends. The show's creator, Barry Kemp, based Hayden Fox on real life football coach Hayden Fry from the University of Iowa. In fact, any outdoor campus scenes were shot on the University of Iowa campus.

Answer: The series was called "Will and Grace"

"Will and Grace" appeared in the fall of 1998 to 2006 with 193 episodes. Eric McCormack played a gay lawyer named Will Truman and Debra Messing played his best friend, interior designer Grace Adler. They shared the responsibility of taking care of their two friends, Jack and Karen played respectively by Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally.

This was the first sitcom to have half the cast as gay characters. When the show premiered in 1998, Megan Mulalley had been offered the role of Carrie on "The King of Queens". Alexis Arquette auditioned for the role of Jack McFarland, but lost out to Sean Hayes.

Answer: "Wings" didn't air on CBS

"Wings" was a hit show for NBC during 1990 to 1997 with 172 episodes. Brian and Joe Hackett were brothers that owned a one airplane business called Sandpiper air while their best friend Helen ran the lunch counter. Notable guest stars for the series were Kelsey Grammer, John Ritter, and Bebe Neurwith.

Answer: The show took place in Hooterville, USA

Along with a hilarious supporting cast of characters and a pig, "Green Acres" was a comedy success for NBC. The series aired from 1965 to 1971 with 170 episodes. The series theme song was the first to be sung by the characters in the series. The only actor to win an award during the run of the series was Arnold Ziffel, the pig. He won the Patsy award for best animal performance in 1967.

Answer: Lucy's husband was Cuban; not Italian

"I Love Lucy" was a comedy hit for CBS, but behind the scenes Lucille Ball was a no-nonsense actress while her husband was the cut-up. The address of Lucy and Ricky's home in New York would have actually put them in middle of the East River. On the night that little Ricky Ricardo birth aired on "I Love Lucy", Lucille Ball gave birth to son Desi Arnez, Jr.

Answer: The show didn't air until 1982

"Cheers" ran from 1982 to 1993 with 275 episodes. Sam Malone played by Ted Danson was a former baseball pitcher who ran a Boston bar called Cheers. The entire first season took place in the bar. Any outside location shots for the show were filmed at Bull and Finch Pub in Boston. "Cheers" gave viewers the character of Dr. Frasier Crane who went on to be the longest running television character thanks to his self-titled spin-off. Every cast member from Shelley Long to Rhea Pearlman were honored with Emmy nominations.

In the final scene of the series finale, James Barrow, the show's co-creator, was the man that knocked on the door and was told the bar was closed.

Answer: It was "Hogan's Heroes"; not "Crane's Heroes"

"Hogan's Heroes" aired from 1965 to 1971 with 168 episodes. The series took place in a Nazi prison camp that several of the prisoners tried weekly to escape from. Bob Crane starred as the title role Bob Hogan. The infamous leather jacket he wore throughout the series was the same jacket Frank Sinatra wore in the movie "Von Ryan's Express".

Answer: ABC turned down the series; NBC picked it up

ABC rejected the series "Get Smart" so NBC picked up the show. It ran from 1965 to 1970 with 138 episodes. The series was known for some of the best catch phrases repeated on TV today. Agent 99 was played superbly by former model Barbara Feldon and her true name was never revealed. Barbara was taller than her co-star Don Adams and had to wear flats or slouch when she had scenes with him.

Answer: TGIF was on ABC; not NBC

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" was the theme song for "Perfect Strangers" written by Jesse Frederick and Bennet Salvay. Balki Bartokomous was from a fictional island called Mypos while Larry Appleton was from Wisconsin. The show lasted from 1986 to 1993 with 150 episodes.

The first and last season only contained six episodes each. "Perfect Strangers" opened the door for the spin-off "Family Matters".

Answer: The family was named Sheffield

"The Nanny" aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999 with 146 episodes. The show's theme song told the story of Fran's firing at a wedding boutique to her hiring as the nanny for the Sheffield family. As did "Will and Grace", the secondary characters on the series at time provided more comic relief for the series than the principal characters.

The idea for the show happened when Fran Drescher accompanied Twiggy on a trip to Britain. The idea of a New York girl in Britain made Fran think about a clash of classes.

When the show first aired in Britain, viewers were appalled by Charles Shaughnessy's fake accent. The viewers wanted him to take lessons from Daniel Davis (Niles). Ironically, Daniel Davis was born in Arkansas and used a fake accent. Charles Shaughnessy (Mr.

Sheffield) was born in England and his accent was real.

Answer: Cliff was a doctor; not a lawyer

"The Cosby Show" aired on NBC from 1984 to 1992 with 200 episodes. Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable was an OBGYN that lived in Brooklyn with his lawyer wife Claire and their five children. "The Cosby Show" was number one in the ratings for five years in a row.

Although the show listed the Huxtable home in Brooklyn, the house footage was shot at 10 St. Luke's Place in Greenwich Village. The year "The Cosby Show" aired only 7 of the 30 shows on TV were sitcoms.

Answer: Lucille Ball didn't star in "Murphy Brown"

"Murphy Brown" starred Candice Bergen as the title character. The show aired from 1988 to 1998 with 247 episodes. When Murphy Brown decided to become a single mother, the show went head to head with Dan Quayle over family values. In the final season, Murphy Brown under went treatment for breast cancer. Again the show came under fire for Murphy's use of marijuana to combat chemotherapy symptoms; however, the rate of mammograms among women went up 30%.

Answer: Herman Munster lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane

"The Munsters" aired in 1964 to 1966 with 70 episodes. The season premiere was shot in color, but when the producers realized they could save $1,000 an episode by shooting in black and white, they switched. Lily Munster played by Yvonne DeCarlo was first named Phoebe and human niece Marilyn Munster was played by two different actresses, Beverly Owen and Pat Priest.

Answer: The title was "3rd Rock From The Sun"

In 1996, aliens once again came to TV in a thirty-minute sitcom titled "3rd Rock From The Sun". The series lasted 139 episodes on NBC. Dick, Sally, Tommy, and Harry became the Solomon family as they struggled on the planet Earth. The four aliens made for slapstick comedy as they tried to destroy Jell-O, spent hours watching the static on TV believing it was a TV station, and entered a gay bar believing it to be an alien hangout. John Lithgow received three Emmys for his portrayal as Dick Solomon in the series.