TV Trivia — 80 Television Questions & Answers

1951 — I Love Lucy debuted on CBS on October 15, 1951, and quickly became one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history.

Cheers — The sitcom was set in a Boston bar named Cheers, "where everybody knows your name," and ran on NBC from 1982 to 1993.

Rod Serling — Rod Serling created and hosted The Twilight Zone, which originally aired from 1959 to 1964, becoming one of the most influential series in TV history.

The Korean War — MASH followed a mobile Army surgical hospital unit during the Korean War, though its anti-war themes resonated with Vietnam-era audiences.

Tiger — Tiger was the Brady family's dog in the early seasons of The Brady Bunch, which aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974.

James Arness — James Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon for all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke, making it one of the longest-running primetime live-action series in U.S. TV history.

It had no official name — Gilligan's Island was simply referred to as "the island" on the show, though fans often call it Gilligan's Island. The sitcom aired on CBS from 1964 to 1967.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Happy Days was set in Milwaukee and followed the Cunningham family and their friends, including the iconic character Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli.

Dick Van Dyke — Dick Van Dyke played Rob Petrie, a comedy writer for the fictional Alan Brady Show, from 1961 to 1966 on CBS.

All in the Family — All in the Family starred Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker and became one of the most groundbreaking and socially relevant sitcoms in television history.

Minneapolis, Minnesota — Mary Richards worked at WJM-TV in Minneapolis. The show aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977 and was praised for portraying an independent single working woman.

Bonanza — Bonanza aired on NBC from 1959 to 1973 and followed the Cartwright family on their Ponderosa Ranch near Virginia City, Nevada.

Central Perk — Central Perk was the iconic coffee shop where the six friends spent much of their free time. Friends aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004.

Dunder Mifflin — Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. was the Scranton, Pennsylvania-based workplace of the NBC sitcom that ran from 2005 to 2013.

Nothing — Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David pitched the show as being "about nothing," focusing on the mundane everyday lives of its characters in New York City.

The Simpsons — The Simpsons premiered in 1989 and has aired over 750 episodes, becoming the longest-running American scripted primetime television series.

Pawnee — Leslie Knope served as deputy director of the Parks Department in Pawnee, Indiana on the NBC sitcom that ran from 2009 to 2015.

Comet — Comet was the golden retriever who appeared on Full House, which aired on ABC from 1987 to 1995 and centered on a widowed father raising three daughters.

Brooklyn — The show follows the detectives of the fictional 99th Precinct in Brooklyn, starring Andy Samberg as Detective Jake Peralta.

Paddy's Pub — Paddy's Pub is the rundown Irish bar owned and operated by "The Gang" on the FX sitcom that premiered in 2005 and became the longest-running live-action sitcom in TV history.

Cheers — Kelsey Grammer played Frasier Crane on Cheers from 1984 to 1993 before starring in the spin-off Frasier, which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004.

Bob's Burgers — Bob's Burgers is the family-run restaurant on Ocean Avenue, the setting for the animated sitcom that premiered on Fox in 2011.

The Odd Couple — The Odd Couple, based on Neil Simon's play, followed Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, two divorced men sharing a New York apartment.

Bayside High School — Saved by the Bell followed a group of friends at Bayside High School in California and became a defining teen sitcom of the early 1990s.

Methamphetamine — Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer, turns to cooking crystal meth to secure his family's financial future.

The DiMeo crime family — The Sopranos follows Tony Soprano, who struggles to balance his family life with his role as a mob boss in New Jersey. It aired on HBO from 1999 to 2007.

George R.R. Martin — The series is based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The HBO show ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019.

Sterling Cooper (later Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce) — Mad Men follows Don Draper and the world of 1960s Madison Avenue advertising. It aired on AMC from 2007 to 2015.

Baltimore, Maryland — The Wire examined Baltimore's institutions, including the police department, drug trade, schools, and political system across five seasons on HBO.

Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (formerly Seattle Grace Hospital) — Grey's Anatomy premiered in 2005 and became one of the longest-running medical dramas in television history.

James Gandolfini — James Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano earned him three Emmy Awards and is widely regarded as one of television's greatest performances.

Pablo Escobar — Narcos chronicles the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel during the 1980s and early 1990s.

The United Kingdom — The Crown follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, beginning in the 1940s, and explores major historical events of the British monarchy.

A mysterious island — Lost follows survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 after their plane crashes on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. The ABC drama aired from 2004 to 2010.

Survivor — Survivor premiered in the United States in 2000 and is credited with launching the modern reality TV competition boom. It was created by Charlie Parsons.

Alex Trebek — Alex Trebek hosted Jeopardy! for 37 seasons, becoming one of the most iconic game show hosts in television history.

"I'd like to buy a vowel" or "I'd like to solve the puzzle" — Wheel of Fortune has been a primetime staple since 1975, hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White for most of its run.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians — The series premiered on E! in 2007 and ran for 20 seasons, becoming one of the most influential reality TV shows in pop culture history.

Regis Philbin — Regis Philbin hosted the ABC primetime version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire when it debuted in 1999 and became a cultural phenomenon.

Hell's Kitchen — Hell's Kitchen, hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, premiered in 2005 and follows aspiring chefs competing for a head chef position.

COPS — COPS premiered in 1989 and became one of the longest-running reality television series in the United States, following police officers during patrols.

Both showcases combined (often over $50,000 in prizes) — A contestant who bids within $250 of their showcase's actual retail price without going over wins both showcases.

American Idol — American Idol premiered on Fox in 2002 and became one of the most-watched shows in American television history, launching the careers of numerous music stars.

The Bachelor — The Bachelor premiered on ABC in 2002 and spawned an entire franchise including The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise.

1966 — Star Trek premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966, created by Gene Roddenberry. Though it only ran three seasons, it spawned one of entertainment's biggest franchises.

The Doctor — The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels through time and space in the TARDIS. Doctor Who first aired in 1963 and is recognized by Guinness as the longest-running sci-fi TV series.

The Upside Down — The Upside Down is a dark, parallel dimension that serves as the primary source of supernatural threats in the Netflix series that premiered in 2016.

Data — Lieutenant Commander Data, played by Brent Spiner, was an android who served as the second officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D. The series ran from 1987 to 1994.

Paranormal and unsolved cases — Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigated cases involving aliens, monsters, and government conspiracies. The series originally aired on Fox from 1993 to 2002.

Sunnydale — Sunnydale, California sits on top of a Hellmouth and is the setting for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which aired on The WB and UPN from 1997 to 2003.

Firefly — Firefly was created by Joss Whedon and aired on Fox in 2002. Despite being canceled after one season, it gained a massive cult following and spawned the film Serenity.

Grogu — Grogu, referred to by fans as "Baby Yoda," is a young member of the same species as Yoda. The Mandalorian premiered on Disney+ in 2019.

Twin Peaks — Twin Peaks investigated the murder of Laura Palmer in a small Washington town. It aired on ABC and was revived for a third season on Showtime in 2017.

Westeros — Most of the series is set on the continent of Westeros, where powerful families compete for control of the Iron Throne.

The Simpsons — The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening, debuted as a series in 1989 and follows the yellow-skinned family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.

Colorado — South Park is set in the fictional mountain town of South Park, Colorado, and follows the misadventures of four grade-school boys. It premiered on Comedy Central in 1997.

Family Guy — Family Guy was created by Seth MacFarlane and premiered on Fox in 1999. It follows the Griffin family in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island.

Dexter — Dexter's Laboratory follows Dexter, a young genius with a hidden high-tech lab, and his sister Dee Dee. It was created by Genndy Tartakovsky and aired from 1996 to 2003.

SpongeBob SquarePants — SpongeBob SquarePants premiered on Nickelodeon in 1999 and became one of the longest-running and most successful animated series in television history.

Adventure Time — Adventure Time was created by Pendleton Ward and aired on Cartoon Network from 2010 to 2018, earning critical acclaim for its blend of humor and emotional storytelling.

BoJack Horseman — BoJack Horseman premiered on Netflix in 2014 and follows the anthropomorphic horse BoJack as he navigates life, addiction, and relationships in Hollywood.

The Flintstones — The Flintstones premiered on ABC in 1960 and was the first animated series to air in a primetime evening slot, paving the way for future animated sitcoms.

Ozark — Ozark stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney and follows the Byrdes as they relocate from Chicago to the Ozarks. It ran on Netflix from 2017 to 2022.

Amazon Prime Video — The Boys, a superhero satire based on the comic by Garth Ennis, premiered on Amazon Prime Video in 2019 and became one of the platform's most popular original series.

The Queen's Gambit — The Queen's Gambit, starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon, premiered in 2020 and became Netflix's most-watched limited series at the time.

Ted Lasso — Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis as an optimistic American coach hired to manage AFC Richmond. It premiered in 2020 and won multiple Emmy Awards.

Stranger Things — Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers, premiered in 2016 and became a cultural phenomenon with its blend of 1980s nostalgia, sci-fi, and horror elements.

The Mandalorian — The Mandalorian stars Pedro Din as Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter who protects a young Force-sensitive child named Grogu. It premiered in 2019.

The Crown — The Crown premiered on Netflix in 2016 and follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II across multiple decades, with different actors portraying the main characters each season.

The Handmaid's Tale — The Handmaid's Tale premiered on Hulu in 2017 and stars Elisabeth Moss as Offred in the Republic of Gilead. It became Hulu's first series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

NBC, CBS, and ABC — NBC, CBS, and ABC are known as the "Big Three" American television networks that dominated broadcasting from the 1940s through the 1980s.

Home Box Office — HBO launched in 1972 and became the first subscription cable television network, eventually revolutionizing television with acclaimed original programming.

CBS — CBS aired the first commercial color television broadcast in the United States in 1951, though widespread color broadcasting did not occur until the mid-1960s.

1953 — The FCC approved the NTSC (National Television System Committee) standard for color broadcasting in December 1953, establishing compatibility with existing black-and-white sets.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles — MTV launched at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, with "Video Killed the Radio Star," marking the beginning of the music video era.

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer — The royal wedding on July 29, 1981 was one of the most-watched television broadcasts in history at the time.

MASH — The MASH series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" aired on February 28, 1983, and was watched by an estimated 106 million viewers, a record that still stands.

1987 — Fox became the fourth major U.S. broadcast network when it launched primetime programming in April 1987, eventually competing directly with NBC, CBS, and ABC.

Roots — Roots aired over eight nights in January 1977 and was watched by approximately 130 million Americans, roughly half the U.S. population at the time.

2007 — Netflix launched its streaming service in January 2007, beginning the shift from DVD rentals to digital streaming that would transform the television industry.