Neil Simon's "Odd Couple" was originally on TV from 1970 through 1975. Jack Klugman played sportswriter Oscar Madison (the slob) while Tony Randall played the finicky Felix Unger. Both men had been thrown out of their respective houses by their wives and wound up cohabitating. In 2015, TV viewers were offered a remake of this classic sitcom. In my opinion, it pales next to the original.
2. Kate McCardle
Answer: Allie Lowell
"Kate and Allie" (1984-1989) is yet another sitcom of divorced people who wind up living with each other - this time the new 'couple' are women, i.e., Kate McCardle and Allie Lowell, played by Susan St. James and Jane Curtin. The new wrinkle in this show is the addition of their kids; Kate has a daughter, while Allie has a son and daughter. I'm sure you can see the possibilities for comic interactions.
3. Sam Beckett
Answer: Al Calavicci
According to the narrator of the show: "Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished...leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home". The quote is from the show "Quantum Leap" (1989-1993). Scott Bakula was the life-jumping Sam Beckett, while former child actor Dean Stockwell played Al Calavicci, his guide. I loved this show!
4. Richie Cunningham
Answer: Potsie Weber
I thought this one was pretty much a 'no-brainer'. "Happy Days" (1974-1984) featured High Schooler Richie Cunningham and his friend Potsie Weber as they faced the problems of adolescence in the 1950s and 1960s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - sort of a pre-"That 70s Show". The show was a break-out hit, with bad boy 'Fonzie' (Henry Winkler) becoming the unexpected star. "Ayyy!"
It spawned "Laverne and Shirley", "Mork and Mindy", "Joanie Loves Chachi" and two others (not worth mentioning).
5. Shirley Feeney
Answer: Laverne DeFazio
"Laverne and Shirley" (1976-1983) was a 'spin-off' of two characters who first appeared on "Happy Days". Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney were blue collar workers who were employed as bottle cappers at Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the late 1950s. Laverne wore a big script "L" on all her sweaters and liked to "vo-dio-doe-doe", while Shirley was more prim and proper.
They were sort of a female "Odd Couple" with kookie friends. Laverne was Penny Marshall and Shirley was played by Cindy Williams.
6. Jon Baker
Answer: Frank Poncherello
Remember those California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers Ponch and Jon, i.e., Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Frank Poncherello (Erik Estrada)? They rode the Los Angeles freeways on "CHIPs" (1977-1983). The twosome helped citizens in trouble and occasionally solved crimes, all the while having personal lives on their off-duty hours. Sidenote: In 2016, Erik Estrada was sworn in as a real life reserve officer in the tiny town of St. Anthony, Idaho.
He's still one 'hot potato'; sorry, I couldn't resist.
7. Ben Casey
Answer: David Zorba
The medical drama "Ben Casey" (1961-1966) opened with a chalkboard, with a hand drawing the symbols "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity". The words were spoken by Sam Jaffe who played Dr. David Zorba, mentor for the 'hunky' young resident surgeon Ben Casey, played by Vince Edwards.
They worked in a metropolitan hospital and, what distinguished this from earlier medical shows, was the gritty reality and the controversial subjects they dealt with.
8. Harvey Specter
Answer: Mike Ross
I thought this question might be difficult for some because the legal drama "Suits" (premiered in 2011) originated on the USA Cable Network. Harvey Specter is a brilliant corporate attorney who works for a prestigious Manhattan firm, a firm which only hires Harvard graduates. Enter Mike Ross, a legal prodigy and "out-of-the-box" thinker, but a college drop-out. Harvey eventually finds out Mike's secret and instead of firing him, keeps him on.
The secret is finally revealed and...watch it for yourself if you're interested.
9. Benjamin Franklin Pierce
Answer: John McIntyre
Did I fool you by using their full names instead of 'Hawkeye' and 'Trapper John'? Played by Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers, they were doctors and captains on "M*A*S*H (1972-1983). Set in a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War, this show was able to brilliantly mix comedy with the horror and pathos of war.
Despite cast changes, e.g., Sherman Potter for Henry Blake and B.J. Hunnicut for Trapper John, the quality of the scripts remained high. And the final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", drew a total of 105.97 million viewers - more than that year's Super Bowl and the "Roots" miniseries.
10. Will Truman
Answer: Jack McFarland
"Will and Grace" (1998-2006) was a ground-breaking show casting one of the lead characters, Will Truman, as a gay man. Will (Eric McCormack) was an attorney who lived with his straight best friend, designer Grace Adler (Debra Messing). A great deal of the comedy was provided by Will's flamboyant friend, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) and Grace's 'assistant', Karen Walker (Megan Mullally).
The sitcom appeared one year after Ellen DeGeneres 'came out', and it set the standard for the LGBT characters and shows which followed.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Gamemaster1967 before going online.
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