# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/21 "2001-01-22T14:31:04Z")
**Kid\_Gilligan** : > [@](#): > > 1. Who was the host of the Original “Saturday Night Live”? Howard Cosell. The ABC prime-time variety series _Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell_ debuted shortly before Lorne Michaels’s famous late-night comedy show, and claimed the name. Michaels’s show was originally _NBC’s Saturday Night_. After Cosell’s show was cancelled, Michaels changed the title of his. 1. The only unusual thing I can thing of about Miles Silverberg was, as **Kinseyp** said, that he was about half the age of his reporters. 2. Jim Davis (not the _Garfield_ creator) played paterfamilias Jock Ewing on _Dallas_. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/22 "2001-01-22T20:09:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*16. 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? > \*\* Not sure if she was the first, but Kathy Griffith did it with **Suddenly Susan** and **News Radio** ---
**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/23 "2001-01-22T20:25:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > > \*\*16. 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? > > \*\* > > Not sure if she was the first, but Kathy Griffith did it with **Suddenly Susan** and **News Radio** \*\* FWIW, News Radio and Suddenly Susan were both NBC programs. It would have been impossible for them to be on at the same time, same day. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/24 "2001-01-22T22:03:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > > \*\*16. 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? > > \*\* > > Not sure if she was the first, but Kathy Griffith did it with **Suddenly Susan** and **News Radio** \*\* Vicki Lewis was the one on **NewsRadio** , not Kathy Griffin. To confuse things even more, Kathy Griffin’s character’s name on **Suddenly Susan** was Vicki. Similar type, though…skinny smart-mouth redheads. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/25 "2001-01-22T22:15:21Z")
1. I don’t know if this is what you were looking for, **RealityChuck** , but William Daniels played Dr. Mark Craig on _St. Elsewhere_ during some of the same years he was the voice of KITT on _Knight Rider_. I’m not sure if the two shows were on the same night, or even if they were different networks. Then, there’s that word “appeared,” all of which, taken together, make me wonder if you’re looking for a different answer. Also, **xizor** , it’s Kathy Griffin, not Griffith. And also again, apropos of nothing, she sucks. I can’t stand her work. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/26 "2001-01-23T01:52:25Z")
1. What actor has played the same role in three TV shows - a minor role in one, a more major role in another, and one of the principles in the third? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/27 "2001-01-23T01:59:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*22. What actor has played the same role in three TV shows - a minor role in one, a more major role in another, and one of the principles in the third? \*\* Kelsey Grammer, as Frasier? ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/28 "2001-01-23T02:00:02Z")
1. Richard Belzer, as Munch …he appeared in an episode of “The X-Files”, has been on “Law and Order”, “Homicide” and “Law and Order-Special Victims Unit” Keith ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/29 "2001-01-23T02:22:00Z")
Ok, Richard Belzer is right, but so is my answer. He played Frasier Crane on _Cheers_, played Frasier on a guest spot on _Wings_, and now plays him again on _Frasier_ ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/30 "2001-01-23T14:25:33Z")
**Kinsey** , **Odieman** , I’m pretty sure **iampunha** is looking for an actor who played the same role _as a regular_ on three different shows. Not someone whose character did a walk-on guest spot as a ratings stunt, as Kelsey Grammer and Richard Belzer did in your two examples. If we counted those then there are probably a jillion different shows where Bob Denver came in as Gilligan in a dream sequence or something like that. No, I have the answer **iampunha** is looking for: Frank Cady, who played general store proprietor Sam Drucker in _The Beverly Hillbillies_ (minor role), _Green Acres_ (more major role), and _Petticoat Junction_ (one of the principles). ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/31 "2001-01-23T15:53:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kinsey \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by xizor \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > > > \*\*16. 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? > > > \*\* > > > > Not sure if she was the first, but Kathy Griffith did it with **Suddenly Susan** and **News Radio** \*\* > > Vicki Lewis was the one on **NewsRadio** , not Kathy Griffin. To confuse things even more, Kathy Griffin’s character’s name on **Suddenly Susan** was Vicki. Similar type, though…skinny smart-mouth redheads. \*\* OK, I had the right actress, but the wrong shows. I should have said - Not sure if she was the first, but Kathy Griffin did it with **Suddenly Susan** and **Dilbert** ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/32 "2001-01-23T16:26:30Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. \*\* [/QUOTE] Richard Kimble lived in Chicago in the film, but on TV he was from Stafford, Indiana. Here’s one, based on my all-time favorite show: On “WKRP In Cincinnati,” what is Les Nessman’s explanation to Mr. Carlson for the disastrous turkey drop? Regards, Zappo Who spends too damn much time in front of the TV ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/33 "2001-01-23T16:56:27Z")
Les thought all birds could fly, not “drop like sacks of wet cement” ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/34 "2001-01-23T17:17:16Z")
**lurkernomore** : > [@](#): > > Les thought all birds could fly, not “drop like sacks of wet cement” Nope. The turkey drop was all Mr. Carlson’s idea; Les had nothing to do with it beyond being the station’s on-the-spot reporter, who broadcast the horror as it was happening. When Mr. Carlson got back to the WKRP office after the debacle, he declared to all present, “As God is my witness: I thought turkeys could fly.” I have no idea what “explanation” **Zappo** is looking for from Les to Mr. Carlson. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/35 "2001-01-23T17:29:32Z")
[Johnny Fever]For those of you just tuning in, the Southside Mall is being bombed by live turkeys. Film at 11.[/Johnny Fever] ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/36 "2001-01-23T18:58:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Five \* > [Nope. The turkey drop was all Mr. Carlson’s idea; Les had nothing to do with it beyond being the station’s on-the-spot reporter, who broadcast the horror as it was happening. > > When Mr. Carlson got back to the WKRP office after the debacle, he declared to all present, “As God is my witness: I thought turkeys could fly.” > > I have no idea what “explanation” **Zappo** is looking for from Les to Mr. Carlson. \*\* **Five** , you are of course totally and completely correct. Somewhere between the brain and the fingers I added Les and mixed him up with Mr. Carlson. And I reviewed the post _twice_! :o Goes to show what happens when you don’t drink enough coffee, I guess. Apologetically bowing and scraping my way backwards out of the room, Zappo ---
**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 23, 2001, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/37 "2001-01-23T19:14:15Z")
Here are a few more. Even _I_ don’t know the answer to the first one! 25. When Joey Heatherton appeared on the dance show _Hullaballoo_ in the sixties, she performed one dance in such a way that the “network Standards and Practices office was embarrased,” according to our local TV magazine (published by the _Los Angeles Times.)_ Why? Did Joey expose herself on TV? :eek: 26. What relation to Jed Clampett, on _The Beverly Hillbillies,_ was Jethro? 27. What was Granny’s full name (same series)? 28. What stupid remark did President Gerald Ford make in the second Presidential debate with Jimmy Carter in 1976? 29. On _3rd Rock from the Sun,_ what connection does Dick Solomon have with Tommy’s girfriend? 30. What satirist wrote songs for a 1960s variety series? ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/38 "2001-01-23T19:37:15Z")
Re: the turkey drop “As God is my witness, I thought that turkeys could fly.” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/39 "2001-01-23T19:58:56Z")
1. What relation to Jed Clampett, on The Beverly Hillbillies, was Jethro? Jethro was his nephew. (woo-hoo, I got one - uh, I think) ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/40 "2001-01-23T20:18:46Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. What stupid remark did President Gerald Ford make in the second Presidential debate with Jimmy Carter in 1976? He said that Eastern Europe was not under Communist domination. D’oh! > [@](#): > > 1. What satirist wrote songs for a 1960s variety series? \*\* Tom Lehrer, who composed such hits as “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and “The Vatican Rag” wrote several songs for “That Was The Week That Was.” He’s the only one I can think of. Special super-doozy bonus question: What PBS children’s show did Tom Lehrer write at least two songs for? Extra special bonus: Name the songs! Regards, Zappo [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064.md?page=3)