Odd One In - Television Trivia Quiz

Answer: TV DOCTORS

Dr. Phil McGraw was the mustachioed host of "Dr. Phil," a syndicated daytime talk show that ran for twenty years. Dr. Phil was a clinical psychologist who gave his guests (usually people in serious trouble) advice to fix their lives. He rose to prominence thanks to appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." So successful was he on TV that, from 2006 onwards, he stopped renewing his license to practice. (But "Phil" was a less catchy title.)

Answer: TV DOCTORS

Coming from a background as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent for America's CNN news. Gupta garnered acclaim for coverage of several notable world events, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2020 COVID pandemic. He's also anchored a few of his own programs, "Sanjay Gupta MD" among them.

Answer: TV DOCTORS

Dr. Drew Pinsky, best known as Dr. Drew, is a radio and TV personality known for hosting several call-in shows. Professionally, Dr. Drew is an addiction specialist. The radio show "Loveline" ran from 1984 to 2016, while his TV career included shows like "Dr. Drew On Call," "Sex Rehab," "Celebrity Rehab," and "Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House." His programming has run everywhere from MTV to Discovery Health.

Answer: TV DOCTORS

Dr. Travis Stork was the main host of "The Doctors," a show produced by Dr. Phil McGraw involving a panel of doctors answering viewer questions. Formerly one of the bachelors of "The Bachelor," Stork had previously worked as an ER physician. "The Doctors" ran for 14 years before being cancelled.

Answer: HBO SHOWS

In some ways, "Rome" walked so "Game of Thrones" could run. Following the exploits of such figures as Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Octavian, Pompey, Cicero, and others, the series was a critical darling - an extremely expensive critical darling.

The first season alone cost at least $100 million to produce - compared to the $60 million spent on "Game of Thrones." Planned for five seasons, it was awkwardly shortened to just two.

Answer: HBO SHOWS

"Industry" is a joint production of the BBC and HBO, focusing on the feverish competition of the investors at Pierpont & Co., a fictional London bank. Though really - "Succession" this is not - it's more similar to a soap opera, with the focus being on its enormous cast of characters and their relationships. Central performers include Marisa Abela, Ken Leung, Harry Lawtey, and Myha'la.

Answer: HBO SHOWS

"Barry" is a beloved comedy series with a pitch-black sense of humor. On one level, it's the classic story of an actor, Barry, making his way up in L.A. Separately, Barry is an ex-military killer for hire, on the lam from a gang of murderous Chechens. Being a comedy, the show focuses on Barry's sincere wish to become an actor, rather than murdering.

The show starred Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live."

Answer: HBO SHOWS

"Euphoria" is one of those high school drama series that prides itself on the basically adult writing of its characters. The actress Zendaya stars as Rue Bennett, a teenager just released from drug rehab. All the standard HBO subject matter comes in as an episodic fixture: drug deals, sex, nudity, scandal. Zendaya's performance has been especially acclaimed, winning several Emmys.

Answer: MUPPETS PUPPETEERS

Jim Henson was the puppeteer behind "The Muppets," "Sesame Street," "Fraggle Rock," "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," and "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas." He found his way onto the production staff at the local TV station by age 17, where he designed a frog puppet from a green coat and a ping-pong ball - the original Kermit.

Henson's Muppet characters (which include the puppets on "Sesame Street") have grossed over $7.5 billion in revenue, spanning primetime TV shows, animated cartoons, live-action movies, theme park rides, and one very desirable "Tickle Me" toy.

Some of his many associates make up the other answers for this category.

Answer: MUPPETS PUPPETEERS

Dave Goelz is the performer behind Gonzo and Dr. Honeydew. He impressed another Henson Associates, notably Bonnie Erickson, when he brought some of his own puppets to a "Sesame Street" taping. Goelz worked on the second of two pilots for "The Muppets Show," titled "The Muppets: Sex and Violence." He created three of Dr. Teeth's band members: Animal, Floyd Pepper, and Zoot.

Answer: MUPPETS PUPPETEERS

Caroll Spinney, who died in 2019, worked on "Sesame Street" for fifty years, from its inception until the end of his life. He is predominantly associated with two characters: Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird, which he controlled from inside the suit. As with his fellow "Sesame Street" alum Kevin Clash (subject of "Being Elmo"), Spinney featured in a behind-the-marionette documentary, "I Am Big Bird," which premiered in 2014.

Answer: MUPPETS PUPPETEERS

Jerry Nelson was one of the Henson troupe's key supporting character actors. While most of his performances lacked the star power of Kermit, Gonzo, Big Bird, or Elmo, he outdoes them by sheer quantity. Some of his better-known performances were as Kermit's nephew Robin, Gonzo's girlfriend Camilla, Gobo Fraggle, and Emmet Otter. He also performed Count von Count from 1972 to 2004.

Answer: TV DOCTORS and HBO SHOWS and MUPPETS PUPPETEERS

Dr. Mehmet Oz is a Turkish-American cardiologist and television personality. Like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz was a guest of Oprah's turned spin-off host. "The Dr. Oz Show" ran from 2009 to 2022. In addition to wellness topics, Dr. Oz is a promoter of alternative medicine; he even attempts to use "therapeutic touch" during his surgeries. He has been criticized for this during both his surgical and television careers. Oz made a failed run for U.S. Senate in 2022, but was tapped to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during Donald Trump's second presidential term.

...AS WELL AS...

Before even "The Sopranos," "Oz" was the first major success for the burgeoning HBO network, allowing it to branch into original programming. Following two false starts in "Philip Marlowe, Private Eye" and "Maximum Security," "Oz" was also set in a maximum-security prison. It openly depicted rape, racial gang violence, drug abuse, and swearing among the inmates. The reference to "The Wizard of Oz" was intentional: posters used the slogan, "It's no place like home."

...WHAT'S MORE...

Frank Oz was one of Jim Henson's closest partners throughout their careers. Oz was literally the Bert to his Ernie, the Miss Piggy to his Kermit, and the Fozzie Bear to his... Kermit. Unlike Henson, Oz did much work unrelated to the Muppets: he directed "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Death at a Funeral," and he was the voice and puppeteer for Yoda in the first three "Star Wars" movies.