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Mary Had a Little Show Trivia Quiz

A batch of questions by a certified "MTM" fanatic. Some of the extra-info tidbits are from the invaluable "IMDB" site, some from a great book on the show called "Love is All Around" and many from my own Mary-addled brain.

A multiple-choice quiz by cheyennigans. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
cheyennigans

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
110,981

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
2144

Last 3 plays: Guest 71 (9/15), Guest 174 (8/15), Guest 35 (11/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What calamity DOESN'T befall our Mary in the episode where everything goes wrong for her, culminating in Ted being her blind date for the Teddy Awards? Hint

she's mistaken for a man

she catches a cold

she sprains her ankle

her dress for the awards show is ruined by the dry cleaners

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. What actor, with his own future as a 70's sitcoms trivia answer, played the nebbishy accountant who falls for Mary in the episode titled "1040 or Fight"? Hint

John Ritter ( of "Three's Company")

Bob Newhart (of "The Bob Newhart Show")

Paul Sand (of "Friends and Lovers")

Robin Williams (of "Mork and Mindy")

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. A classic trivia question. What future big name actress played Murray's teenaged daughter Laurie? Hint

Helen Hunt

Lara Flynn Boyle

Calista Flockhart

Jodie Foster

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda, was married to an actor who appeared in a couple of episodes of "MTM". What was his name? Hint

Richard Schaal

John Ritter

Ted Bessel

Jack Cassidy

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. What motif adorns Rhoda's mother Ida's bathrobe, seen in more than one ep? Hint

four leaf clovers

daisies

hearts

bumblebees

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. Lou's blind date (unwittingly set up for him by Mary) for the Teddy Awards one year, Mrs. Dudley, is so elderly that she was a flower girl in what famous person's wedding? Hint

Queen Victoria

Calvin Coolidge

Albert Einstein

Thomas Alva Edison

7. When Mary cuts her finger while making dinner for her father (a surgeon), she hides it. He points out that even when she was little, she wouldn't let him look at any wounds and asks her why. Mary replies:
Hint

"I was afraid you'd stitch it up!"

"You were never around"

"Our neighbor said you were a sawbones."

"You always faint at the sight of blood."

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. What is the occupation of the two gentlemen Sue Ann sets herself and Mary up with while they're at a convention in Chicago? Hint

used car salesmen

morticians

butchers

female impersonators

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. He was the original choice to play Ted Baxter; in a brilliant casting move, he did play Ted's egotistical brother in one episode. Hint

Jack Cassidy

Wink Martindale

Bert Convy

Paul Lynde

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. When Lou's stuck babysitting Phyllis' daughter Bess at Mary's apartment, he looks at her, then says, "Do whatever you want kid, just don't..." Hint

"...make any noise."

"...go outside."

"...play with matches."

"...touch me."

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. One of the many future famous faces to appear on the show on a semi-regular basis was that of Penny Marshall. Who did she play?

Hint

one of the hookers Mary shares a cell with

Mary's neighbour at the new apartment, a nurse

one of Lou's daughters

one of Ted's girlfriends

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. When Mary dates a short man, he ends up dedicating his book (about being short) to her, since one of her comments gave him the title. What was it? Hint

"Well, Napoleon Was Awfully Successful"

"Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favourite Artists"

"The Munchkins Were The Best Part"

"Just Look at Paul Williams"

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. When Phyllis is raising funds to oppose capital punishment, what does each contributor receive? Hint

an "I Love Life" pin

a miniature gallows

their own noose

a mood ring

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Sue Ann Nivens-played by Betty White-is introduced in the first show of the fourth season, and promptly embarks on an affair with a married man. Whose marriage is being rattled? Hint

Phyllis and Lars

Murray and Marie

Lou and Edie

Ted and Georgette

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. In the episode "I Love a Piano", Murray is tempted by a seductive teacher who is selling a piano. When he tries to get suave, he plays a song for her, but can't remember the lyrics--only the title, so that's what he sings, over and over and over. What's the song? Hint

"Strangers in the Night"

"That Old Black Magic"

"Feelings"

"Misty"

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Most Recent Scores

Mar 23 2024 : Guest 71: 9/15
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 174: 8/15
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 35: 11/15
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 67: 15/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What calamity DOESN'T befall our Mary in the episode where everything goes wrong for her, culminating in Ted being her blind date for the Teddy Awards?

Answer: she's mistaken for a man

It all begins with her getting a hair bump that won't go down. "This sort of thing doesn't usually happen to me!" exclaims our girl. I think this is my favourite episode.

2. What actor, with his own future as a 70's sitcoms trivia answer, played the nebbishy accountant who falls for Mary in the episode titled "1040 or Fight"?

Answer: Paul Sand (of "Friends and Lovers")

The adorable Paul's show about a cello player was criminally yanked before it found its audience. Some might know him from later work as Dr. Ridley from "St. Elsewhere".

3. A classic trivia question. What future big name actress played Murray's teenaged daughter Laurie?

Answer: Helen Hunt

Who knew she was Oscar-bound?

4. Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda, was married to an actor who appeared in a couple of episodes of "MTM". What was his name?

Answer: Richard Schaal

Richard played both Paul and Howard Arnell, each of whom fall for Mary (natch).

5. What motif adorns Rhoda's mother Ida's bathrobe, seen in more than one ep?

Answer: four leaf clovers

We love Ida, played by Nancy Walker. Ms. Walker, by the way, started out as an MGM singin' dancin' starlet-catch her in "That's Entertainment III". But I always picture her in that bathrobe.

6. Lou's blind date (unwittingly set up for him by Mary) for the Teddy Awards one year, Mrs. Dudley, is so elderly that she was a flower girl in what famous person's wedding?

Answer: Thomas Alva Edison

Sweet Martha Dudley--she asks Lou to pin her corsage because, "These old fingers don't always do what I tell them".

Answer: "I was afraid you'd stitch it up!"

She eventually does let him tend to it--and he bandages the wrong finger. But I picked up a valuable household tip from the show (and my childhood desire to live just like Mary)--I always keep a couple of bandages in a kitchen drawer like she does in this episode.

8. What is the occupation of the two gentlemen Sue Ann sets herself and Mary up with while they're at a convention in Chicago?

Answer: morticians

Later, an ego-bruised Sue Ann asks Mary, "Doesn't it bother you that you were the obvious favourite of men who spend all their time around dead people?"

9. He was the original choice to play Ted Baxter; in a brilliant casting move, he did play Ted's egotistical brother in one episode.

Answer: Jack Cassidy

Dear old Jack, late husband of Shirley Jones, father of both David and Shaun.

10. When Lou's stuck babysitting Phyllis' daughter Bess at Mary's apartment, he looks at her, then says, "Do whatever you want kid, just don't..."

Answer: "...play with matches."

They end up playing poker with cookies as the stakes. When Mary assesses the table, she assumes Bess won. "Nah," replies Lou, "I just ate my winnings."

11. One of the many future famous faces to appear on the show on a semi-regular basis was that of Penny Marshall. Who did she play?

Answer: Mary's neighbour at the new apartment, a nurse

You probably know that Penny was married to "All in the Family"'s Rob Reiner for many years; you may not know that she made the short list to play his wife, Gloria, on the show.

12. When Mary dates a short man, he ends up dedicating his book (about being short) to her, since one of her comments gave him the title. What was it?

Answer: "Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favourite Artists"

Hamid Hamilton Camp (as he's billed here-he's usually just Hamilton Camp) is an incredibly busy character actor whose resum� includes a ton of voice work, TV appearances and movies including last year's "Joe Dirt" and the cult classic "Eating Raoul".

13. When Phyllis is raising funds to oppose capital punishment, what does each contributor receive?

Answer: a miniature gallows

Cloris Leachman, portrayer of the fabulous Phyllis, was runner-up in the 1946 Miss America contest, is the owner of seven Emmy awards and one Oscar (Best Supporting Actress, 1971) and sometimes does Frau Blucher impressions for dinner guests.

14. Sue Ann Nivens-played by Betty White-is introduced in the first show of the fourth season, and promptly embarks on an affair with a married man. Whose marriage is being rattled?

Answer: Phyllis and Lars

Betty White and her husband Allen Ludden were good friends with Mary and her then husband (and "MTM" producer) Grant Tinker, so they knew there was more to Betty than her up-till-then sugary TV image.

Answer: "Strangers in the Night"

Hey, it can happen to anyone--it hilariously happens to an arena full of people in the movie "Canadian Bacon" when they try to sing "Born in the U.S.A."

Source: Author cheyennigans

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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