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The Queens of Comedy Trivia Quiz

How well do you know these comediennes who have graced television screens since the medium began?

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
brewster76

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
346,543

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
6878

Awards
Editor's Choice

Last 3 plays: Guest 173 (10/10), Guest 203 (2/10), Guest 71 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Let's start with a question about one of television's comedy pioneers. Which funny lady starred in "Your Show of Shows" from 1950-53, but is perhaps better known to younger audiences as Aunt Edna, who Chevy Chase strapped to the top of the station wagon in 1983's "National Lampoon Vacation"? Hint

Martha Raye

Vivian Vance

Imogene Coca

Gracie Allen

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. In 1961 Mary Tyler Moore was cast in her first major comedic role in "The Dick Van Dyke Show." What was her character's name? Hint

Mary Richards

Samantha Stevens

Laura Petrie

June Cleaver

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which comedienne won her first Emmy for her leading role in "Life With Elizabeth" in 1952, and was still killing audiences 58 years later when she hosted "Saturday Night Live" following a grassroots campaign on Facebook? Hint

Marlo Thomas

Betty White

Elizabeth Montgomery

Barbara Eden

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Question 4 of 10

4. Before she landed the role of Dorothy Zbornak in "The Golden Girls", actress Bea Arthur premiered in 1972 as "Maude." What often repeated phrase would Maude say to her husband when they were arguing? Hint

"God'll getcha for that, Walter."

"Stifle yourself."

"What you see is what you get."

"The devil made me do it."

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which television show is said to have launched the careers of comedy heavyweights Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn? Hint

"Saturday Night Live"

"Rowan and Martin's Laugh In"

"The Flip Wilson Show"

"The Carol Burnett Show"

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Question 6 of 10

6. Comic great Gilda Radner's character Roseanne Roseannadanna ended each of her "SNL" editorial segments by saying "It just goes to show you, ____________." Hint

"It's..oh, that's something completely different. Never mind"

"It's neither here nor there"

"It's so funny I forgot to laugh"

"It's always something"

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. This lady won an Emmy as "Weezy", the wife of a successful dry cleaning magnate in Manhattan who was "movin on up, to the dee-luxe apartment in the sky." Name her. Hint

Valerie Harper

Phylicia Rashad

Nell Carter

Isabel Sanford

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Question 8 of 10

8. On this comedy series that premiered in 1998, Megan Mullally starred as Karen Walker, a booze swilling, pill popping socialite and assistant to an interior designer, who zinged one-liners like this: "Like the 'Bible' says, I felt bad when I had no shoes, then I saw someone with really bad shoes." Hint

"Mad About You"

"Sex and the City"

"3rd Rock From the Sun"

"Will and Grace"

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. AskMen.com ranked this "Saturday Night Live" skit featuring "NPR ladies" Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon interviewing Alec Baldwin as the 4th best sketch in the show's history, and the only one in the top 10 to star women. Can you spot it? Hint

"Schweddy Balls"

"More Cowbell"

"Mother Lover"

"Chippendale's Auditions"

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which breakout star of 2011's "Bridesmaids" was a surprise winner of the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Emmy for her role in "Mike and Molly"? Hint

Kristen Wiig

Melissa McCarthy

Zooey Deschanel

Jane Lynch

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 18 2024 : Guest 173: 10/10
Apr 17 2024 : Guest 203: 2/10
Apr 17 2024 : Guest 71: 8/10
Apr 15 2024 : triviabore: 9/10
Apr 14 2024 : Guest 35: 9/10
Apr 13 2024 : Guest 73: 10/10
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 205: 10/10
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 12: 10/10
Apr 09 2024 : Guest 66: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Imogene Coca

Imogene Coca won an Emmy in 1951 for her work with Sid Caesar on "Your Show of Shows." As Aunt Edna, Coca died while en route to Wally World with the Griswolds and her rigor mortis stricken corpse was unceremoniously dumped in the back yard of her son.

2. In 1961 Mary Tyler Moore was cast in her first major comedic role in "The Dick Van Dyke Show." What was her character's name?

Answer: Laura Petrie

MTM won her first Emmy award in the role of Laura Petrie. A trained dancer with "great gams" according to Van Dyke, Moore was frequently clad in Capri pants on the show, contributing to their becoming a fashion fad in Kennedy-era America.

Answer: Betty White

Ms. White will be forever linked to her role of Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls", which held the distinction in 2010 as the television show with the most Emmy nominations for comedy actresses.
Betty White met her late husband Allen Ludden when she was a guest on the game show "Password", which he hosted. Her legal name is Betty White Ludden.

Answer: "God'll getcha for that, Walter."

Bea Arthur won a Tony award in 1966 for her portrayal of Vera Charles in the Broadway production of "Mame." She hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1979 with musical guest the Roches. Arthur was married to noted Broadway director Gene Saks; they had two sons.

5. Which television show is said to have launched the careers of comedy heavyweights Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn?

Answer: "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In"

"Laugh In" ran from 1968 to 1973. Hawn won a best supporting actress Oscar for her first major movie role in "Cactus Flower" (1969) just a few years after premiering on "Laugh In." In 1977, Tomlin was the first woman to have her own solo show on Broadway, the same year Time magazine featured her on the cover as "America's New Queen of Comedy."

6. Comic great Gilda Radner's character Roseanne Roseannadanna ended each of her "SNL" editorial segments by saying "It just goes to show you, ____________."

Answer: "It's always something"

Gilda Radner was the first cast member hired for "Saturday Night Live" - without an audition. In 1972, Ms. Radner had her first paid acting gig alongside future stars Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Victor Garber and Andrea Martin in the musical "Godspell" in Toronto. "It's Always Something" is the title of Radner's 1989 autobiography and a 2002 television movie about her life starring Jami Gertz.

7. This lady won an Emmy as "Weezy", the wife of a successful dry cleaning magnate in Manhattan who was "movin on up, to the dee-luxe apartment in the sky." Name her.

Answer: Isabel Sanford

Ms. Sanford won an Emmy as Outstanding Actress in a Comedy in 1981, the first African-American actress to do so. She co-starred with Sherman Hemsley as Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, first on "All in the Family" then on "The Jeffersons", from 1971 to 1985. She died in 2004.

Answer: "Will and Grace"

Megan Mullally starred in the 1994 Broadway revival of "Grease" as Marty with Rosie O'Donnell as Rizzo. She made her movie debut in "Risky Business." While in high school, Mullally studied with George Balanchine at the American Ballet.

Answer: "Schweddy Balls"

Baldwin was candy maker Pete Schweddy on SNL's NPR spoof "Delicious Dish" to share his special recipe for holiday rum balls in 1998. The skit was re-formulated as "Dusty Muffin" for guest host Betty White in 2010.

10. Which breakout star of 2011's "Bridesmaids" was a surprise winner of the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Emmy for her role in "Mike and Molly"?

Answer: Melissa McCarthy

Following stints as a stand-up comic at noted comedy clubs such as the Improv, McCarthy studied at the Actors Studio in New York. She portrayed innkeeper Sookie St. James in "Gilmore Girls" from 2000 - 2007 and is a cousin of former "Playboy" Playmate Jenny McCarthy.

Source: Author brewster76

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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