# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/101 "2007-02-10T03:04:01Z")
Here is a classic: Bob Loblaw. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/102 "2007-02-10T03:26:34Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] Pickles was Buddy Sorrell’s wife on the original Dick Van Dyke Show. Since nobody got my Art Donovan upthread yet, I’ll post one more clue: the character worked with Billie Newman, Joe Rossi, and Dennis Price. [/QUOTE] Lou Grant’s boss? On Lou Grant? [QUOTE=Frostillicus] Here is a classic: Bob Loblaw. [/QUOTE] Way too easy. ---
**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 10, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/103 "2007-02-10T06:10:17Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Lou Grant’s boss? On Lou Grant? Way too easy. [/QUOTE] Close enough to be correct. Art Donovan was the assistant city editor (that is, Lou’s underling) on _Lou Grant_. IIRC, Lou reported to managing editor Charlie Hume, who reported directly to Mrs. Pynchon, the publisher of the _Los Angeles Tribune_. Art joined in the daily meetings about which stories would be covered, and writers Billie and Joe would hash out who covered what, while photog Dennis (Animal) Price would go and take photos on-site. But we rarely got to see Art outside these meetings. “Way too easy”? And I’ve been asking about Art Donovan since page 1 of the thread? Even with the hints, it looks like I managed to stump a lot of people. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sneezy5660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@sneezy5660](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sneezy5660)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/104 "2007-02-10T09:10:38Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] For some reason I want to say Bewitched. It’s probably wrong though. [/QUOTE] You are correct sir or madam! He placed a microphone in Tabitha’s rattle to steal Darrin’s ad ideas. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/105 "2007-02-10T15:44:27Z")
[QUOTE=Southpaw] Gushie worked for project **Quantum Leap** Tommy Westphall dreamed of **St. Elsewhere** [/QUOTE] You got 'em. Still have **Nero** left. ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/106 "2007-02-10T20:11:56Z")
Helmut Spargel Frieda Claxton Mrs./Mr. Pommelhorst Luke Brower Virginia and Alexander Hayes ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/107 "2007-02-10T20:40:01Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] “Way too easy”? And I’ve been asking about Art Donovan since page 1 of the thread? Even with the hints, it looks like I managed to stump a lot of people. 😃 [/QUOTE] Read my post again. I said that Bob Loblaw was way too easy. I only got Art Donovan from your last hint. And even then I didn’t really get him. Was the actor who played Donovan later on The Six Million Dollar Man? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/108 "2007-02-10T20:56:14Z")
Yay! I got the Bewitched one right! [QUOTE=Bambi Hassenpfeffer] .. Mrs./Mr. Pommelhorst [/QUOTE] I believe that’s the gym teacher on The Simpson’s. By the way, I believe that someone else answered the Art Donovan question correctly a post or two before the second clue was given. Okay, I should contribute two for two right answers but I can’t think of anyone. So anyone else can post for me if they wish. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/109 "2007-02-11T02:09:59Z")
[QUOTE=Spoons] “Way too easy”? And I’ve been asking about Art Donovan since page 1 of the thread? Even with the hints, it looks like I managed to stump a lot of people. 😃 [/QUOTE] Ahem [QUOTE=Clark K"] Art Donovan was the assistant city editor on “Lou Grant.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/110 "2007-02-11T16:12:47Z")
Joe Gillis Gertie Frank Bigelow Lars Thorwald ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/111 "2007-02-11T18:07:46Z")
[QUOTE=zenith] Gertie Lars Thorwald [/QUOTE] Gertie was Perry Mason’s receptionist. AFAIK, we never saw her. You’d just hear, “Paul Drake is here to see you” and Mason would say, “Thank you, Gertie - have him come in.” Lars Thorwald was the character Raymond Burr played in “Rear Window.” Cut up his wife and put her in a trunk! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/112 "2007-02-11T18:42:37Z")
How about Vern St. Cloud? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/113 "2007-02-11T19:50:27Z")
No takers on Miss Nance yet? What about Kisa? ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/114 "2007-02-11T22:18:17Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Gertie was Perry Mason’s receptionist. AFAIK, we never saw her. You’d just hear, “Paul Drake is here to see you” and Mason would say, “Thank you, Gertie - have him come in.” Lars Thorwald was the character Raymond Burr played in “Rear Window.” Cut up his wife and put her in a trunk! [/QUOTE] Correct on both! Congrats! ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/115 "2007-02-11T22:20:13Z")
Hint on Joe Gillis. He was played by the same actor who played Max Schumacher 26 years later. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/116 "2007-02-11T23:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=Southpaw] Willie Oleson [/QUOTE] Little House on the Prarie, brother of Nellie. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/117 "2007-02-11T23:47:47Z")
Still nothing on Alice Knight John Hill Richard Baker I thought these would have been guessed right away. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/118 "2007-02-11T23:52:51Z")
Wasn’t John Hill the new owner of Melville’s, the restaurant upstairs from Cheers? He was evil to Sam and the gang in a few episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/119 "2007-02-11T23:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=zenith] Hint on Joe Gillis. He was played by the same actor who played Max Schumacher 26 years later. [/QUOTE] Hardly minor characters. Why don’t you just say he was Cmdr. Shears and be really obvious. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140/120 "2007-02-12T02:41:34Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] Gertie was Perry Mason’s receptionist. AFAIK, we never saw her. You’d just hear, “Paul Drake is here to see you” and Mason would say, “Thank you, Gertie - have him come in.” [/QUOTE] Nope, I’ve seen Gertie appear briefly in a few episodes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-trivia-challenge-name-the-show-from-the-minor-character/391140.md?page=7)