# TV trivia challenge: name the show from the minor character **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 6, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140 "2007-02-06T22:40:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/21 "2007-02-07T16:53:39Z")
[QUOTE=The New and Improved Superman] Serena Benson is the mother of Det. Benson (Mariska Hartigay) on L&O:SVU. Here’s some more: Janice Wentworth Zatelli (no first name given, but he does have an official title) Elizabeth Miller Ben Scanlon Here’s a hint. All of these characters have a particular thing in common… [/QUOTE] All characters from “Barney Miller.” Wentworth was a detective played by Linda Lavin. Zatelli was the uniformed cop who did occasional clerical duties (and eventually came out as gay). Was Elizabeth Barney’s wife (Barbara Barrie)? Scanlon doesn’t ring a bell… ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/22 "2007-02-07T17:02:12Z")
**Frostillicus** , Proposition Joe is from _The Wire_. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/23 "2007-02-07T17:07:52Z")
1. Jerzei Balowski 2. John Constable 3. Alice Richards 4. Ralph Kane ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/24 "2007-02-07T17:10:46Z")
Oops, forgot to add one of my own: Zeeno ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/25 "2007-02-07T17:12:04Z")
[QUOTE=The New and Improved Superman] Serena Benson is the mother of Det. Benson (Mariska Hartigay) on L&O:SVU. Here’s some more: Janice Wentworth Zatelli (no first name given, but he does have an official title) Elizabeth Miller Ben Scanlon Here’s a hint. All of these characters have a particular thing in common… [/QUOTE] I’m guessing that Ben Scanlon is the DA from “The Green Hornet.” I do know his name was Scanlon. BTW, the actor who portrayed him, Walter Brooke, was a very, very busy actor, though I doubt he ever saw any serious paydays. He uttered one of the best known quotes in film history: “Plastics.” ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/26 "2007-02-07T17:18:18Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] Rarely seen chief engineer on WKRP. How about… Bob Barsky [/QUOTE] Allie’s sportscaster boyfriend on _Kate and Allie_ . And Captain Bass was the district commander on _NYPD Blue_ . Mine again: Steve Richards Dirk Duddleson ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/27 "2007-02-07T17:21:06Z")
[QUOTE=Fiddle Peghead] Oops, forgot to add one of my own: Zeeno [/QUOTE] Wasn’t that the placekicker Oscar Madison tried to set Myrna up with on _The Odd Couple_ ? “Keek!” “What happened to dinner?” “He ‘keeked’ it out the window!” ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/28 "2007-02-07T17:25:52Z")
Yes, **want2know**. Very good. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/29 "2007-02-07T17:32:05Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] IRL Art Donovan was a member of the old Baltimore Colts football team who made many hilarious appearances on Dave Letterman’s show, talking old school about the old days, but I don’t think that’s who you mean. [/QUOTE] No, not him. Just to avoid confusion with that Donovan, I’ll clarify: “The Art Donovan I’m thinking of was a character in an hour-long drama show.” Bit of a hint too, I guess–it rules out half-hour sitcoms. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/30 "2007-02-07T18:12:31Z")
Paolo Whitey (I had to look this one up to get the name–from a half-hour sit-com) Winnie and Nelson ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/31 "2007-02-07T18:20:00Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Whitey (I had to look this one up to get the name–from a half-hour sit-com) [/QUOTE] One of Beaver’s friends on _Leave it to Beaver_. Mine: Greedy Gretchen (sort of a character–she was never seen) ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/32 "2007-02-07T18:20:55Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Paolo Whitey (I had to look this one up to get the name–from a half-hour sit-com) Winnie and Nelson [/QUOTE] Whitey was one of Beaver’s pals on _Leave it to Beaver_ . Winnie and Nelson were Sondra and Elvin’s twins on _The Cosby Show_ . ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/33 "2007-02-07T18:55:27Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] Allie’s sportscaster boyfriend on _Kate and Allie_ . And Captain Bass was the district commander on _NYPD Blue_ . Mine again: Steve Richards Dirk Duddleson [/QUOTE] F Troop…Duddleson. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/34 "2007-02-07T19:06:42Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] Steve Richards [/QUOTE] Wow, that takes this NYPD Blue fan back a few years! Low-level snitch and hustler, with very annoying mannerisms, whose major score was a $40,000 reward for helping the detectives locate a kidnapped businessman. Yes, i’m a BIG fan. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/35 "2007-02-07T19:19:57Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] Wow, that takes this NYPD Blue fan back a few years! Low-level snitch and hustler, with very annoying mannerisms, whose major score was a $40,000 reward for helping the detectives locate a kidnapped businessman. Yes, i’m a BIG fan. [/QUOTE] Excellent, **mhendo**! And **Foxy40** is also correct on Duddleson. Just Dirk left; hint: must-seetm sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/36 "2007-02-07T19:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Paolo [/QUOTE] Paolo was the swarthy foreign guy Rachel used to bang before she hooked up with Ross on **Friends**. How about: Tino Eugene Belvin The Dregs of Humanity (band) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/37 "2007-02-07T19:36:43Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] The Dregs of Humanity (band) [/QUOTE] WAG **The Drew Carey Show**? Hint: The Whitey I was thinking of was not human. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/38 "2007-02-07T19:36:53Z")
Dr. Ellis West ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/39 "2007-02-07T19:58:25Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] All characters from “Barney Miller.” Wentworth was a detective played by Linda Lavin. Zatelli was the uniformed cop who did occasional clerical duties (and eventually came out as gay). Was Elizabeth Barney’s wife (Barbara Barrie)? Scanlon doesn’t ring a bell… [/QUOTE] Yep. Barbara Barrie was “Elizabeth.” Det. Scanlon was a recurring character from (I think) Internal Affairs with a grudge against the precinct and showed up occasionally to harass them. Here’s some more, Mike Yates John Benton Lytton (no first name given) Sabalom Glitz ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/40 "2007-02-07T20:06:14Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] The Dregs of Humanity (band) [/QUOTE] My GOD, that’s familiar! I don’t know it and it’s going to bug me until I figure it out. _Silver Spoons_, maybe?? As long as we’re doing bands, I’ve got a relatively easy one: The Zit Remedy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140.md?page=3)