Tim Allen ("The Santa Clause", "Last Man Standing" and Buzz Lightyear) starred as Tim Taylor on "Home Improvement" from 1991 to 1999. On the show-within-a-show, Taylor was the unhandy handyman on "Tool Time". "Home Improvement" also focused on his 'macho' machinations at home in Detroit, Michigan, with his wife Jill, three sons, and his partially-seen neighbor Wilson.
2. The Partridge Family
Answer: 1970s
Who could forget the singing Partridge family on "The Partridge Family" from 1970 to 1974? Here widowed Shirley Partridge, played by Shirley Jones, took her talented singing family of five kids (including real life step-son David Cassidy) on the road in their multi-colored bus and urged us to "Come on Get Happy". The show was based, in part, on the singing Cowsills.
3. Veep
Answer: 2010s
The wonderful Julia Louis-Dreyfus starred in one of the more recent shows, i.e., the comedy "Veep", from 2012 to 2019. She moved up from Elaine Benes and Christine Campbell to play Selina Meyer who rises from senator to become vice president of the United States. Selina learns that the job is more difficult than she anticipated, requiring her to put out political fires and try to get along with the nation's chief executive.
4. Hill Street Blues
Answer: 1980s
"Hill Street Blues" was a gritty police show which took place in an undisclosed urban setting. The show ran from 1981 to 1987. Led by Captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti), the cops kept the city safe from gangs, thieves and murderers, as Sgt. Esterhaus (Michael Conrad) implored them to "be careful out there".
The show was a hit for its creator, Steven Bochco, and had a great instrumental theme song by composer Mike Post.
5. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Answer: 1960s
Traveling back in the WABAC machine (oops! wrong show), we return to the early 1960s where we are introduced to comedy writer Rob Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". We meet his lovely wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), who took off the June Cleaver pearls and high heels for capri pants, their son Richie, and the quirky characters from Rob's office. Also included was Rob's boss, Alan Brady, played by the very talented Carl Reiner. The show aired from 1961 to 1966.
6. The Wire
Answer: 2000s
If you're taking about gritty shows, you must include "The Wire" (2002-2008).
The show, set in Baltimore, Maryland, gave us a first-hand look at the narcotics scene in a major urban city, i.e., the drug dealers, the drug users, and the officers who try to keep the streets safe. It went beyond the scope of many cop shows by including the effects of the bureaucracy and the media on crime and its prevention. The show was created by David Simon, a former police reporter.
7. The Honeymooners
Answer: 1950s
"The Honeymooners" (1955-1956) was an early television comedy and the predecessor of those to come. Filmed live before a studio audience, we meet blue collar bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason), his wife Alice and their neighbors Ed and Trixie Norton. Although occasionally set outside, most of the scenes took place in the sparse kitchen of the Kramden's Brooklyn apartment, and featured a blustering Ralph, his big mouth, and his ever-forgiving wife.
8. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Answer: 1990s
By the 1990s, diversity started creeping into television sitcoms. Will Smith, from the hip-hop duo of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, moved on from his Philadelphia roots to star on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" from 1990 to 1996. The show's theme song describes how his mother made him move from his tough neighborhood to live with his rich uncle in Bel-Air, California. The family included Uncle Phil Banks, Aunt Viv (two of them) and their stuck-up kids, Carlton and Hillary.
9. The Americans
Answer: 2010s
The premise of the show "The Americans" (2013-2018) was a scary one. Set during the Cold War, it featured two Russian agents (and their kids), posing as a typical American family in Washington, D.C. (to enhance the irony). The show starred Keri Russell (remember "Felicity"?) as Elizabeth Jennings, with Matthew Rhys as her husband Philip, and complete with a son and daughter. The couple posed as travel agents by day, while trying to undermine the nation at night.
10. Knight Rider
Answer: 1980s
It was the 1980s so I guess a show which featured a souped-up, intelligent, bullet-proof, fire-proof, talking car was inevitable. In his pre-"Baywatch" days, David Hasselhoff stars in "Knight Rider" as Michael Long who is shot in the face and reborn as Michael Knight (sort of "The Six Million Dollar Man" meets "Batman"). With the help of his Pontiac Firebird, 'K.I.T.T.', he becomes a crime-fighter and a crusader for justice. The show ran from 1982 to 1986.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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