# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/61 "2001-01-24T19:53:53Z")
I’ll go with “Meet the Press” as the longest running show. As for longest running drama, I’d say that Gunsmoke has to be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/62 "2001-01-24T20:04:05Z")
1. What is the longest running nationally televised TV progam (hint: it is still on the air)? **Meet The Press (40+ years and counting)** 1. What was the longest running sit-com? **The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (14 years)** 1. What was the longest running drama? **Gunsmoke (26 years)** ---
**Author:** ![WIGGUM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WIGGUM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WIGGUM)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/63 "2001-01-24T20:29:27Z")
#35 I don’t agree with Ozzie and Harriet although I could be wrong. I always though **Married With Children** was the longest running sitcom and according to this website: [http://website.lineone.net/~al\_bundy/index.html](http://website.lineone.net/~al_bundy/index.html), it is. ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/64 "2001-01-24T20:44:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Southpaw \* > \*\*Here are some easy questions: > > 1. What is the longest running nationally televised TV progam (hint: it is still on the air)? \*\* I want to say that it’s The Guilding Light. I know it started as a radio soap opera, and not long after came over to TV. If not GL, then another soap maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/65 "2001-01-24T21:38:12Z")
**WIGGUM** : > [@](#): > > #35 I don’t agree with Ozzie and Harriet although I could be wrong. I always though **Married With Children** was the longest running sitcom and according to this website: [http://website.lineone.net/~al\_bundy/index.html](http://website.lineone.net/~al_bundy/index.html), it is. I don’t know what that website’s sources are, but according to Internet Movie Database _Ozzie and Harriet_ ran from 1952-1966, 14 years (plus, it was on radio from 1944-1952). _Married With Children_ was on from 1987-1997, 10-11 years, which not only isn’t a record, it just ties it with such other workhorses as _M_A_S_H\*, _The Jeffersons_ and _Cheers_. **TruePisces** , _The Guiding Light_ began its TV run in 1952 (again according to IMDB), while _Meet The Press_ debuted on TV in 1947. Both began on radio, but that’s not what the thread title wants. _Gunsmoke_ ran only 20 years (1955-1975), not 26 as I said before. But I still think it was the longest-running drama. ---
**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 24, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/66 "2001-01-24T22:17:54Z")
Some more questions: 40. What (current) sitcom star does the voice for a character on _The Simpsons?_ (Name the character if you can.) 🙂 41. Name a _former_ sitcom star who does a voice on _The Simpsons._ (Ditto.) 42. Which of these game shows has Drew Carey _not_ appeared on: _Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Jeopardy, Hollywood Squares, Wheel of Fortune?_ 43. What happened to Dan Rather, on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in 1968, that outraged millions of viewers (including his colleague Walter Cronkite)? 44. What was the name of the Italian shoemaker who won a big cash award on _The $64,000 Question?_ 45. What added feature appeared at 9 p.m. on a TV network from 1974 through 1976? 46. What problem did the members of the A-Team have that made it difficult for them to enforce laws and bring bad guys to justice? 47. How did the producers of _Dallas_ account for the reappearance of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) in the last season? 48. Which cast member of _Hogan’s Heroes_ actually was in a POW camp in Germany during World War II? ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/67 "2001-01-24T22:27:23Z")
1. How did the producers of Dallas account for the reappearance of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) in the last season? The whole previous season was a dream! (I knew if I waited long enough there’d be one that I actually knew and have a chance at answering near first!!! 😃 ) ---
**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 24, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/68 "2001-01-24T22:52:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The whole previous season was a dream! (I knew if I waited long enough there’d be one that I actually knew and have a chance at answering near first!!!:D) You’re quite entitled, TruePisces. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/69 "2001-01-24T23:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > **Some more questions: > 40. What (current) sitcom star does the voice for a character on _The Simpsons?_ (Name the character if you can.) 🙂** Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson) and Hank Azaria (just about everybody else) are both on other comedies besides the Simpsons. > [@](#): > > **41. Name a _former_ sitcom star who does a voice on _The Simpsons._ (Ditto.)** This is kinda morbid, but the former Phil Hartman _was_ the actor Troy McClure (and Lionel Hutz, the laywer, BTW). You might have seen him in such situation comedies as _NewsRadio_. > [@](#): > > **46. What problem did the members of the A-Team have that made it difficult for them to enforce laws and bring bad guys to justice?** Huh… they had several! First and most obvious was that they were fugitives, hounded by the military police for escaping from a “maximum security stockade” (where they were imprisoned “for a crime they didn’t commit”). The MP’s are always one step behind them. In addition to that, “Howling Mad” Murdock spent a lot of time in mental institutions, and in several episodes the other members of the A-Team had to spring him so they could get on with that episode’ adventure. Also, B.A. Barracas had a deathly fear of flying (“I ain’t gettin’ on no plane, Hannibal!”), and that compounded the team’s travel plans on more than one occasion. * * * Pete Long time RGMWer and ardent AOLer ---
**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 25, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/70 "2001-01-25T00:04:10Z")
1. Rather was escorted off the convention floor by security guards. 2. Robert Clary did spend part of WWII in a Nazi prison – but not in a POW camp. He was in a concentration camp (Clary was Jewish). Still no right answer on the actor who first appeared on two shows on two networks in the same time slot. 1. What American prime-time science fiction TV series had the largest number of episodes produced? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/71 "2001-01-25T00:04:41Z")
**45. What added feature appeared at 9 p.m. on a TV network from 1974 through 1976?** Bicentennial Minutes? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/72 "2001-01-25T00:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > **Still no right answer on the actor who first appeared on two shows on two networks in the same time slot.** John Forsythe wasn’t right? Okay, I think we give up. What’s the answer? ---
**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 25, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/73 "2001-01-25T14:15:49Z")
_49. What American prime-time science fiction TV series had the largest number of episodes produced?_ Star Trek, The Next Generation? \*\*50. On Cheers, how many children did Carla have? How many different fathers? ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/74 "2001-01-25T14:38:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dolores Claiborne \* > \*\*\*50. On Cheers, how many children did Carla have? How many different fathers? \*\*\* Eight kids, I think. By three different men. Six by Nick Tortelli, one by the smart guy (a collegue of Frasier’s…a professor or doctor?), and one by Eddie LeBeck. IIRC, all three of Rhea Perlman’s pregnancies were written into the show. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/75 "2001-01-25T15:00:47Z")
**RealityChuck** : > [@](#): > > Still no right answer on the actor who first appeared on two shows on two networks in the same time slot. As was said, clearly we’re not going to get this. Just tell us. > [@](#): > > 1. What American prime-time science fiction TV series had the largest number of episodes produced? Has to be either _Twilight Zone_ or _The Outer Limits_. I’ll say _Twilight Zone_ ---
**Author:** ![Ivar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/76 "2001-01-25T17:28:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Five \* > \*\ ***RealityChuck** : > > > [@](#): > > > > Still no right answer on the actor who first appeared on two shows on two networks in the same time slot. > > As was said, clearly we’re not going to get this. Just tell us. > \*\* Here’s a stab Heather Locklear was on T.J. Hooker and on Dynasty, same night, same time, different networks. ---
**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 25, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/77 "2001-01-25T18:53:39Z")
Wrong on Heather. The first (and AFIK the only, but I said “first” just in case) actor to star on two TV shows on two networks in the same time slot was Jim Backus, who played Thurston Howell on Gilligan’s Island and was the voice of Mr. Magoo. Both shows were broadcast at the same time from January through August of 1965 on CBS and NBC. Also, wrong on the science fiction TV show with the most total episodes (as a matter of fact, if you combined ALL Star Trek shows, they wouldn’t add up to the number this show produced). ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/78 "2001-01-25T20:12:19Z")
Maybe an early serial like Captain Video has the most eps? ---
**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 26, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/79 "2001-01-26T00:59:32Z")
Good guess, lurker. Captain Video ran five days a week for most of its six-year run. Even counting for reruns (and I’m not sure how often they had them), that’s a lot of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064/80 "2001-01-26T14:43:21Z")
**RealityChuck** : > [@](#): > > Good guess, lurker. Captain Video ran five days a week for most of its six-year run. Even counting for reruns (and I’m not sure how often they had them), that’s a lot of episodes. Good guess, yes…but was he correct? You didn’t say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-tv-trivia-questions/51064.md?page=5)