Hayden Fox, Christine Armstrong and Luther Van Dam were all characters on the sitcom "Coach", which ran from 1989 to 1997. Hayden Fox, played by Craig T. Nelson, was the college coach of the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles. Christine Armstrong, played by Shelly Fabares, was a reporter and Hayden's girlfriend. Luther Van Dam, played by Jerry Van Dyke, was one of Hayden's inept assistant coaches.
2. Phil, Joyce, Mick
Answer: Hill Street Blues
Sergeant Phil Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) gave the 'roll call' briefings on "Hill Street Blues", a crime drama which aired from 1981 to 1987. He advised the other officers, "Let's be careful out there". Joyce Davenport (Veronica Hamel) was a defense attorney who worked closely (wink! wink!) with the precinct head, Captain Frank Furillo. Sgt. Mick Belker (Bruce Weitz) was a very dedicated and emotional officer, who often growled at perpetrators.
3. Corky, Miles, Frank
Answer: Murphy Brown
"Murphy Brown", created by Diane English, was a sitcom with a political bent. The show aired from 1988 to 1998, and revolved around the fictional news show "FYI". Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) did the 'puff pieces'; Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) did the hard news stories, while Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) was the young editor in charge of the zany crew.
The wonderful actress, Candice Bergen, was the protagonist, Murphy Brown.
4. Niles, Daphne, Martin
Answer: Frasier
One of the best written sitcoms of all time, "Frasier", was on TV from 1993 to 2004. Kelsey Grammer played the eponymous radio psychiatrist, Frasier Crane. He was surrounded by great actors and characters, i.e., his ex-cop father, Martin (John Mahoney), Martin's physical therapist Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves), and Frasier's psychiatrist brother, Niles, portrayed by David Hyde Pierce. Oh, and there was the wonderful Jack Russell terrier, Eddie (played by Moose).
5. Higgins, TC, Rick
Answer: Magnum, P.I.
Donald Bellisario and Glen Larson created the private eye show, "Magnum, P.I.", set in scenic Hawaii. "Magnum, P.I." aired between 1980 and 1988, with hunky Tom Selleck playing former military man, Thomas Sullivan Magnum. Magnum lived at the estate of the never seen Robin Masters, which was overseen by the very proper Higgins (John Hillerman). Magnum was aided in his crime solving cases by his buddies, TC (Roger E. Mosley) and Orville "Rick" Wright (Larry Manetti).
6. Seth, Amos, Jessica
Answer: Murder, She Wrote
Writer and amateur sleuth, Jessica Fletcher, was the main character on the mystery show "Murder, She Wrote". The show ran from 1984 to 1996, and was set in the small town of Cabot Cove, Maine. With all the murders there, it's a wonder there was any population left. Among the occupants of Cabot Cove were Dr. Seth Hazlitt, played by William Windom (formerly on "The Farmer's Daughter", for those old enough to remember), and Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley of "Happy Days").
7. Abby, Jethro, Ducky
Answer: NCIS
"NCIS", which first aired in 2003, has been one of TV's highest rated shows. NCIS stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a governmental agency which solves crimes related to naval personnel. The protagonist is Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former Marine gunnery sergeant, played with toughness and wisdom by Mark Harmon. Aiding in the crime solving is forensic expert Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) and Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard, played by David McCallum.
8. Alex, Louie, Elaine
Answer: Taxi
Returning to the 1980s, we have the wonderful comedy "Taxi", which aired from 1978 to 1983. The plot centered around the drivers who worked for the Sunshine Cab Company, and the heartless dispatcher Louie De Palma, brilliantly played by Danny DeVito. Among the kooky cab drivers, Alex Reiger (Judd Hirsch) was the sane one, and the only one who wasn't trying for a different career.
The only major female character was Elaine Nardo (Marilu Henner) who wanted to operate an art gallery.
9. Andy, Jennifer, Les
Answer: WKRP in Cincinnati
The sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" appeared on TV from 1978 to 1982. The show was about a struggling radio station, and an attempt to change its format. New programming director Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) tries to update the station to air rock music, amidst some very nutty employees, e.g., Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) who provided the early morning news, and disc jockey, Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hessman). Receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, the buxom blonde, was Loni Anderson.
10. Walter, Paige, Happy
Answer: Scorpion
Moving to something more recent, "Scorpion", an action show about a bunch of geniuses who help save the world, first aired in 2014. The main character is the brilliant Walter O'Brien who was blessed with an IQ of 194. Walter is played by Elyes Gabel ("Interstellar" and "World War Z"). Paige Dineen (Katharine McPhee), a former waitress, is the 'normal' one, with a preteen genius son. Happy Quinn, played by Jadyn Wong, is the mechanical genius.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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