# General TV trivia questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064 "2001-01-20T22:23:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/1 "2001-01-20T22:23:06Z")
With a nod to Mahaloth and the M_A_S\*H: A Few Q’s thread. 🙂 Post and answer questions about _any_ TV series–network or syndicated. (And use Mahaloth’s rule for distinguishing questions by totally different numbers.) To start it off: 1. On Judge Wapner’s _People’s Court,_ what was the bailiff’s name? 2. On the original _Fugitive_ series, where did Dr. Richard Kimble live (before his wife was killed)? 3. When two thugs beat up Dan Rather, what strange phrase did one of them repeat to him? 4. What game show did Charles Van Doren secretly get the answers for? 5. What game show did Jackie Gleason host? 6. Who played Doc Adams on the original _Gunsmoke?_ ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/2 "2001-01-20T22:34:45Z")
1. Rusty Burrell 2. “What’s the frequency Kenneth?” 3. Twenty One? 4. You’re in the Picture? (the last two are guesses) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/3 "2001-01-20T22:40:34Z")
You scored 100%, Smug, even with the guesses. So you have a right to be Smug. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/4 "2001-01-20T22:41:30Z")
1. I believe the voice of Doc on the 40’s or early 50’s Gunsmoke radio show was Howard McNear. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/5 "2001-01-20T22:51:12Z")
It may have been, Smug. But on TV the actor who played Doc was Milburn Stone. Some more: 7. What did everyone–even the Sweathogs–dread about Gabe Kotter’s wife on _Welcome Back Kotter?_ 8. Who wrote the original theme song for _Grace Under Fire?_ 9. On \*The Rockford Files, where did James Garner’s character live? 10. What TV series in the early 1980s had its main character’s name changed due to a recent news event? ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/6 "2001-01-20T22:58:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > 6. Who played Doc Adams on the **original** _Gunsmoke?_ Gunsmoke was originally a radio show. 🙂 You said nothing about TV. More guesses. 1. Tuna casserole. 2. In a trailer? ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/7 "2001-01-20T22:59:25Z")
heh heh Ok - Milburn Stone. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/8 "2001-01-20T23:02:25Z")
1. The Greatest American Hero. The main character’s last name sounded similar to the last name of John Hinkley Jr.(sic), who tried to kill President Reagan ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/9 "2001-01-20T23:02:56Z")
1. In a trailer on the beach ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/10 "2001-01-20T23:12:55Z")
Onward… 11. Who delivered the “editorials” on the Smothers Brothers show? 12. What was the name of Murphy Brown’s producer, and what was unusual about him? 13. What actor played J. R.'s father on _Dallas?_ 14. Who were the _two_ announcers on _America’s Funniest Home Videos?_ 15. Where is the New Yankee Workshop? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/11 "2001-01-21T01:34:34Z")
1. Pat Paulsen 2. Miles. Don’t know what was unusual, though. 3. Who was the first actor to appear in shows on two networks at the same time, in the same time slot, and on the same day? 4. What was the original “fourth TV network”? 5. What four shows have appeard on four networks? 6. Who was the guest star of “Turn-on,” the show with the shortest run on network TV (cancelled after one show)? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/12 "2001-01-21T01:44:22Z")
1. Only the shadow knows. AFAIK, it’s a well kept secret. 2. DuMont 3. Tim Conway. BTW, it is rumored (or rumoured for out Brit friends), that there were 2 episodes of this show made. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/13 "2001-01-21T04:56:18Z")
On (19): Apparently, “Turn-on” was so bad that the Denver ABC affiliate stopped showing it halfway through the first episode. Now _that’s_ bad. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/14 "2001-01-21T04:57:57Z")
Oh, I should really add a question. Excuse me… 1. For what reason was _Saturday Night Live_ first shown on tape delay? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/15 "2001-01-21T09:08:45Z")
1. Because Richard Pryor was hosting. 2. “Kenneth, what is the frequency?”. Not “What is the frequency, Kenneth”; that’s only in the song. Damn you, Michael Stipe. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kid\_Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/16 "2001-01-21T14:19:17Z")
1. Who was the host of the Original “Saturday Night Live”? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/17 "2001-01-21T14:20:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*8. Who wrote the original theme song for _Grace Under Fire?_ > \*\* The Beatles, I guess specifically Lennon & McCartney. It was Lady Madonna. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/18 "2001-01-21T14:22:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*12. What was the name of Murphy Brown’s producer, and what was unusual about him? > > 1. Where is the New Yankee Workshop? \*\* 1. Miles Silverberg. What was unusual? Maybe that he was so much younger than Murphy? I know she talked about that at one point. 2. In Norm Abrams’ backyard? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/19 "2001-01-21T15:19:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by dougie\_monty > 9. On The Rockford Files, where did James Garner’s character live? His trailer, on the beach, was in Santa Monica, California. > [@](#): > > 1. On the original Fugitive series, where did Dr. Richard Kimble live (before his wife was killed)? In the film, it was Chicago, Ill, so that would be my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/20 "2001-01-21T21:54:42Z")
1. What may be unusual about Miles Silverberg is that constant references were made to his being Jewish, while Grant Shaud, who played him, is Irish and Catholic. Don’t know if that counts as unusual, though. That’s what actors do: portray someone nothing like themselves. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064.md?page=2)