African Americans on TV Trivia Quiz

Answer: Julia

Diahann Carroll was not only the first African American woman to be nominated for Best Actress for her role as Julia, but she was also the first African American woman to headline her own TV show as someone other than a servant.

"Julia" premiered at NBC on September 17, 1968 with 68 episodes. The character made such a huge impact on TV that Diahann Carroll's character had her own lunchbox, coloring book, and doll.

Answer: 227

The series "227" was based on a play in which Marla Gibbs once starred. Jackée Harry was initially only written into seven episodes of the first season of "227", but her character Sandra Clark became such a huge draw for the series that she was written into more episodes.

"227" first aired at NBC on September 14, 1985 with 116 episodes. Regina King played Brenda Jenkins, Mary and Lester's daughter, in her first role on television.

Answer: The Jeffersons

Helen and Tom Willis were friends with the Jeffersons. Helen was black and Tom was white. As the series developed, Helen and Tom's daughter married the Jeffersons son and later divorced in the same series. In reality, Roxie Roker was in her own interracial marriage as she was married to Sy Kravitz.

"The Jeffersons" was a successful spin-off of "All in the Family". The series aired at CBS on January 18, 1975 with 253 episodes. Marla Gibbs went on to have a defunct spin-off on CBS titled "Checking In". It lasted only four episodes and then Marla Gibbs returned to "The Jeffersons" with the story that the hotel burned down so she had to return as maid.

Answer: Ben Vereen

Will asked for Ben Vereen when the subject of who would play Will's father came up for the episode "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse". The series had always been known for its comedy, but Will Smith made this an iconic episode with his tear-filled question to his uncle, "How come he don't want me?" The scene, played out between James Avery and Will Smith, had both men in tears.

"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" began at NBC on September 10, 1990 lasting 148 episodes. The series was loosely based on the life of music executive Benny Medina. The script was changed so Will Smith could be from Philadelphia where he was raised.

Answer: Sanford

Redd Foxx played Fred Sanford who worked as a junk dealer in California. His late wife Elizabeth was someone Fred normally called out to when he thought he was having a heart attack by clutching his chest and hollering out, "I'm comin', Elizabeth". Ironically, when Redd Foxx died of a heart attack while filming a new series in 1991, people around him thought he was joking.

"Sanford and Son" was the US version of a UK TV series called, "Steptoe and Son". The series began at NBC on January 14, 1972 with 135 shows. Quincy Jones composed the popular theme song. Two spin-offs came from "Sanford and Son" but were short-lived.

Answer: Steve

Jaleel White's Steve Urkel was a mid-season addition to "Family Matters". His first appearance was in the first season episode, "Laura's First Date". With his snorting laugh, nasally voice and inappropriate questions, Steve Urkel became a hit with viewers. With the addition of Steve Urkel, the series went up 8.8% in ratings.

As a spin-off of "Perfect Strangers", "Family Matters" joined ABC's Friday night lineup on September 22, 1989 and lasted 215 episodes. The character of Steve Urkel drew so much attention he had his own lunchbox, doll, and dance. He taught Bea Arthur how to do his dance on the American Comedy Awards in 1991. Fans of "The Young & the Restless" may recognize Bryton McClure as young Richie Crawford from "Family Matters".

Answer: True

Twins Tia and Tamera Mowry starred as twins separated at birth and raised by single parents who move into the same house so the twins can be together. The first meeting of the twins happens in the first episode when Tia and Tamera run into each other at a department store and exclaim, "That girls got my face!"

"Sister, Sister" began at ABC on April 1, 1994 and had 119 episodes. The show lasted two seasons on ABC before it moved to the WB. In an interview, Tim Reid recalled meeting a young woman in Texas who had aged out of the foster system and explained to him that she watched "Sister, Sister" and took every piece of advice that Tim Reid gave to the Mowry sisters. She believed that's why she was a college graduate, artist, and engaged to be married.

Answer: Janet

Janet joined "Good Times" in the fifth season as Millicent "Penny" Gordon-Woods. Penny was abandoned by her mother and adopted by Florida's friend, Wilona Woods.

"Good Times" joined CBS on February 8, 1974 and lasted for 133 episodes. "Good Times" was a spin-off from Bea Arthur's "Maude".

Answer: A Different World

After Lisa Bonet left "A Different World", Debbie Allen (Phylicia Rashad's sister) was brought in to re-haul the series. Debbie began by adding a lighter touch to the theme song with Aretha Franklin's vocals and later Boyz II Men. Debbie brought Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy to the forefront with a college love story after Marisa Tomei and Lisa Bonet left the series and she added more social issues to the series, such as sexual harassment and the L.A. riots.

"A Different World" aired on NBC on September 24, 1987 with 144 episodes. Actors from "The Cosby Show" and "A Different World" entered each other's shows on several occasions even though the show wasn't considered a spin-off. Jasmine Guy's southern accent was based on her fifth-grade teacher.

Answer: Elementary

Quinta Brunson played a second-grade teacher named Janine Teagues whose first teaching job was at Abbott Elementary. Quinta wrote many of the episodes for the series and was only going to be a secondary character with Sheryl Lee Ralph as the driving force of the show. However, Warner Brothers told Quinta they wanted her to be more than just a secondary character in the series. "Abbott Elementary" is filmed in a documentary style similar to "The Office".

"Abbott Elementary" began at ABC on December 7, 2021. Sheryl Lee Ralph won her first Emmy playing kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard on the series. Quinta Brunson also took home her first Emmy for "Abbott Elementary". The series won a Peabody Award in 2023.