Wait! Is That Animal Actually Talking? Quiz

Answer:

"Mister Ed": This is a classic comedy from 1961 about an architect named Wilbur Post and his smart horse named Mister Ed. The catch of the show is that Ed can talk perfectly fine, but he completely refuses to speak to anyone except Wilbur because he feels Wilbur is the only human worthy of this action. Ed acts like a witty friend and routinely dispenses sarcastic advice, blunt truths, and clever schemes to help (or accidentally complicate) Wilbur's life.

"BoJack Horseman": This is a dark comedy adult animated series set in a world where humans and animals live together. The show, which premiered on Netflix in 2014, follows BoJack, a horse who was the famous star of a beloved sitcom in the past. Decades later, BoJack (now a bitter curmudgeon) is trying to launch a career comeback. He delivers brutally honest truths and cynical statements such as "The universe is a cruel, uncaring void".

"Family Guy": This animated sitcom, which centers on the dysfunctional Griffin family, premiered in 1999 on the Fox channel. The family has a dog named Brian Griffin who is a white Labrador retriever. Brian doesn't just talk but also walks on his hind legs, drives a car, drinks martinis, and hopes to be a novelist. The comedy of Brian also comes from the fact that he is treated entirely as a regular human member of society by the townspeople, yet he still occasionally succumbs to hilarious, involuntary dog behaviors like barking at the mailman or chasing balls.

"Pinky and the Brain": The animated series premiered on Kids' WB in 1995 and follows two genetically altered laboratory mice who live at Acme Labs. The show centers on their nightly elaborate attempts to take over the world. The talking mice are two very different characters. The Brain is an evil genius while Pinky is his goofy and cheerful sidekick who speaks in nonsensical catchphrases.

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch": This is a live-action fantasy sitcom (premiering on ABC in 1996) about a high school girl who discovers that she possesses magical powers. The talking animal in the household is Salem Saberhagen, a black cat. Salem is a powerful wizard who was sentenced by a witches' council to spend 100 years as a regular house cat as punishment for trying to take over the world. Salem retains his human intellect (including sarcasm) and adult cravings (like a passion for latte), all while being trapped in a cute feline body.

"The Muppet Show": This variety show (in the style of old-fashioned vaudeville acts) was created by Jim Henson (premiering in 1976) and stars a beloved cast of puppet characters. Instead of standard pets, the talking animals are performers who act at the Muppet Theater. Kermit the Frog serves as the exhausted studio manager trying to keep order; Miss Piggy is the glamorous, karate-chopping diva obsessed with stardom (and Kermit); and Fozzie Bear is the corny stand-up comic. ("Why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it wasn't peeling well!) The show relies on these animals to impart a sense of joyful, slapstick chaos, showing a world where talking bears, frogs, and dogs are just trying to make it in showbiz.

"Dinosaurs": This sitcom, premiering on ABC in 1991, uses animatronic puppets to follow the Sinclairs, a family of suburban, working-class dinosaurs living in the year 60,000,003 BC. The talking animals live exactly like a modern television family. There is the blue-collar working father (Earl, a Megalosaurus), a homemaker mom (Fran, an Allosaurus), three kids, and a TV in the living room. The show uses this prehistoric setting to deliver satirical commentary on modern human society, covering topics like corporate greed, environmentalism, and family dynamics, all while poking fun at the fact that they are giant reptiles.

"Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!": This is the legendary Hanna-Barbera animated comedy (premiering in 1979 on CBS) that follows four human teenage detectives (Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy) and their lovable dog, Scooby-Doo. The group often stumbles upon supposedly haunted locations, only to investigate and reveal that the "ghosts" are just greedy humans in costumes. Scooby is a lovable, cowardly pet who can speak English, though he pronounces almost every word as if it starts with the letter "R." He gives a wonderful sense of comedic relief, acting as the perfect, easily frightened companion to his best friend, Shaggy.

"Arthur": This is an animated educational television series based on the books by Marc Brown. Premiering on PBS in 1996, the show follows the daily lives of 8-year-old Arthur Read (an aardvark), his family, and his diverse group of classmates in Elwood City. Nearly every character in the show is a talking animal (from Buster the bunny to Francine the monkey), but they live entirely human lives, going to school, dealing with childhood anxieties, and building friendships.

"SpongeBob SquarePants": This is an animated series (premiering in 1999 on Nickelodeon) that follows the nautical adventures of an optimistic sea sponge who lives in a pineapple at the bottom of the ocean in the city of Bikini Bottom. The show features a cast of talking aquatic animals who populate this underwater society. This ranges from SpongeBob's sea star best friend, Patrick, to his cynical squid neighbor, Squidward, and his crab boss, Mr. Krabs. These sea creatures create a world where sea sponges fry up burgers and squirrels wear astronaut suits to live underwater.

The other shows listed have animals in the series, but the creatures do not speak a human language.