Professionally Speaking Trivia Quiz

Answer: Carla Espinosa

Both characters were nurses on medical shows. Working at Chicago's County General Hospital, Nurse Carol Hathaway was played by Julianna Margulies on the drama series "E.R." which ran from 1994 through 2009. Carol wound up marrying hunky Dr. Doug Ross, played by George Clooney.

On the lighter side, we have the medical sitcom "Scrubs" which aired from 2001 to 2010. Judy Reyes portrayed Nurse Carla Espinosa at Sacred Heart Hospital, and had a continuing relationship with Dr. Christopher Turk (Donald Faison).

Answer: Philip Banks

Eccentric Judge Harry Stone, played by Harry Anderson, presided over "Night Court". The sitcom included a bunch of wacky legal people, e.g., attorneys (John Larroquette as Dan Fielding) and bailiffs (Richard Moll as Bull Shannon) and some even quirkier defendants. The show was on from 1984 to 1992.

On a less judicial and more familial note, we have Judge Philip Banks or Uncle Phil (James Avery), as his nephew Will Smith called him, on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-1996). Anyone notice that the judge had two different wives?

Answer: Monica Geller

Two different sitcoms featured chefs as protagonists. The premise for "Three's Company" (1976-1984) had one man, Jack Tripper (the chef), living with two women, and the misadventures that ensued. Jack was played by the wonderful John Ritter.

The very successful comedy "Friends" (1994-2004) depicted the trials and tribulations of six friends living in Manhattan, and spending a great deal of time hanging out at Central Perk. Monica Geller was the obsessive, neat freak who became a chef. She was played by Courteney Cox.

Answer: Walter White

High school science teachers are the common denominator between Hubert Givens and Walter White. Mr. Givens, played by Brian Stepanek, is given the task of instructing the young genius, Sheldon Cooper, on "Young Sheldon", which first aired in 2017. It is a spin-off of the hit show "The Big Bang Theory".

Walter White is the chemistry teacher who turns to dealing meth on the wonderful drama "Breaking Bad", The drama ran from 2008 through 2013. Walter White ("Heisenberg") is played by the talented Bryan Cranston.

Answer: Bob Hartley

Therapists abound on network television, from Dr. Jennifer Melfi to Frasier Crane. I have chosen Dr. Charles Kroger, Adrian Monk's therapist on "Monk" which ran from 2002 to 2009. Dr. Kroger was played by Stanley Kamel who died in 2008 and was replaced (reluctantly) by Dr. Neven Bell (Hector Elizondo).

I couldn't leave out one of my favorites, i.e., Chicago therapist, Dr. Bob Hartley on "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-1978) played by, you guessed it, Bob Newhart. His patients were comically wacky, and the show had one of the best finales in television history.

Answer: Glenn Quagmire

While T.C. Calvin and Glenn Quagmire are both pilots, the shows on which they appear couldn't be more different. Theodore "T.C." Calvin was the owner of Island Hoppers sky transport, and Magnum's Vietnam buddy on the crime drama "Magnum, P.I." (1980-1988). He was played by Roger E. Mosley.

Glenn Quagmire is the sexually voracious pilot on the animated comedy "Family Guy" which began airing in 1999. The show is the creation of Seth MacFarlane who also does the voice for Quagmire. It depicts a dysfunctional Rhode Island family.

Answer: Corky Sherwood

Reporters and journalists have always been a staple of prime time television. "The Simpsons", which first began airing in 1989, gives us Kent Brockman, the Springfield local news anchor for Channel 6. A self-centered curmudgeon, he is voiced by Harry Shearer.

"Murphy Brown", created by Diane English, was a show about a news show, i.e. "FYI". The sitcom first aired in 1988, ran for eleven years, and was rebooted in 2018. Corky Sherwood, played by Faith Ford, reported the 'fluff pieces'.

Answer: Sam Malone

Jeopardy answer: Moe Szyslak, Isaac Washington and Sam Malone. Question: Who are three TV bartenders? "The Love Boat" (i.e., The Pacific Princess) ran from 1977 to 1987, and gave us love stories involving B-list celebrities. Isaac Washington, played by Ted Lange, served them the libations of their choice.

"Cheers" (1982-1993) was a sitcom about Sam Malone, a former Red Sox pitcher who became owner and bartender of the Beacon Hill bar, appropriately called "Cheers". It featured both wacky employees and patrons. Ted Danson played Sam.

Answer: Alice Hyatt

Speaking of "Cheers" (1982-1993), who could forget the acerbic waitress, Carla Tortelli, who wound up with eight kids by the time the show ended? Carla was played to perfection by Rhea Perlman, inspiring an unsuccessful spin-off, "The Tortellis", without Carla.

"Alice" (1976-1985) was based on the 1974 film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". An aspiring singer, Alice Hyatt, winds up as a waitress in a Phoenix diner called Mel's Diner. Alice was played by Linda Lavin.

Answer: Lionel Hutz

Realtors, i.e., Real Estate Agents, are not a popular profession on television. Perhaps the most famous is the amiable Phil Dunphy from "Modern Family" which first aired in 2009. Phil is played by the Emmy winning Ty Burrell.

I had to go to the animated show, "The Simpsons", to find another realtor. Since "The Simpsons" has been on since 1989, if you need to look for a weird occupation, this is the place to go. Lionel Hutz was an ambulance chasing lawyer, as well as a realtor, and was voiced by the late Phil Hartman.

Answer: Carol Kester

"WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978-1982) gave us, possibly, one of the most famous television receptionists, i.e., the beautiful Jennifer Marlowe. She provided the stability for a radio station filled with kooks. Jennifer was played by Loni Anderson.

Before she was Edna Krabappel (Bart's teacher), Marcia Wallace played Carol Kester, the receptionist for psychologist Bob Hartley on "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-1978). Carol often showed herself to be as zany as Bob's patients.

Answer: Charles Kingsfield

Dick Solomon and Charles Kingsfield are both college professors. On "3rd Rock from the Sun" (1996-2001), Dr. Richard Solomon is a physics teacher at Pendleton State University, in addition to being the High Commander for a group of aliens. He is played by the wonderful actor, John Lithgow.

On "The Paper Chase" from 1973, we have Harvard Law School Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. He is a stern, unforgiving teacher who uses the Socratic method to challenge his students. Professor Kingsfield is played by John Houseman.

Answer: Florence Johnston

Maids or housekeepers have populated television shows as far back as Louise Evans on "Make Room for Daddy". One of the earlier TV maids was Hazel Burke on "Hazel" (1961-1966). The show was based on a cartoon by Ted Key. The main character was played by the Oscar winning actress Shirley Booth.

If you ever watched the sitcom "The Jeffersons" (1975-1985), you will be familiar with Florence Johnston, the sarcastic, back-talking maid who always stood up to her employer, Mr. Jefferson. Florence was played to perfection by Marla Gibbs.

Answer: Jim Brass

Homicide detectives on television are 'a dime a dozen'. I chose the inimitable Christine Cagney from "Cagney and Lacey" (1981-1988). It was one of the first shows to feature two women as the protagonists. Played by Sharon Gless, Cagney was both tough and vulnerable.

On "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-2015), despite all the changes in personnel, Jim Brass remained the homicide detective for the Las Vegas Police Department for most of the series. He was played by Paul Guilfoyle.

Answer: Hayden Fox

Who doesn't love a good sports coach? On "White Shadow" (1978-1981) we have Ken Reeves, a former professional basketball player who takes a coaching job at an urban high school, Carver High, in Los Angeles. Played by Ken Howard, he is tough, fair and caring.

"Coach" (1989-1997) is a sitcom with Hayden Fox as the head football coach for the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles. Surrounded by ineptitude, he remains staunch in his attempts to win. Hayden is wonderfully portrayed by Craig T. Nelson