TD 310 -- TELEVISION (FINAL RESULTS REVEALED)
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 3:32 pm
Hello, JBoarders. Welcome to Think Different 310. The new television season is upon us. In years past, the much-coveted "Fall Preview" issue of TV Guide hit the stands (until they figured out they could stretch the thing out to four weekly issues, each with 8 different covers, and the whole thing blew crazy up.) In any event, one hit per fall is good, two is above average, and three is spectacular.
THE RULES:
1. The object of this game is to provide the correct answer you think will be the least popular. The lower your total score, the better.
2. You may only use the information stored in your brain. Intentional outside research (like Googling, Binging, Yahooing, and even visiting the Museum of Television and Radio) is not allowed, and cheaters will be flagged by the NSA and could face prosecution under the Espionage Act.
3. The score for a correct answer is the number of players who give that answer.
4. The score for an incorrect answer is the CAUCUS aka SHEEP score—that is, the most popular correct answer for that question--plus 5 points.
5. There are two lifelines.
a. You may drop one question
b. You may sheep one question, in which case you will earn the sheep/caucus score.
6. Unless stated otherwise, Wikipedia.com is the final authority for what responses are correct. Spelling is not important as long as you're close, and I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. However, you’ll help your cause by spelling your answers as close to correctly as you can.
7. Ties will be broken only for the top three positions. In case of a tie, the entry that comes closest to the correct answer for the TIE-BREAKER is the winner. If there’s still a tie after the tie-breaker is applied (and TD is such weird game that it might happen), the earliest submission wins.
8. The deadline for entering this game is 11:59 pm (CDT) on Monday, September 5, which is Labor Day. Please reply by PM; don’t post your answers in the thread.
On with the TD.
1. WHO AM I? In a television cast, each member has two names: their own and that of the character they play. Both are important for students of television trivia. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. Character played by Isobel Sanford who lived in a dee-luxe apartment
B. Character played by Jm J. Bullock on "Too Close for Comfort"
C. Character played by Frank Sutton on "Gomer Pyle USMC"
D. Alias used by Dr. Richard Kimble in the first episode of "The Fugitive"
E. Actress who played Charlene on "Diff'rent Strokes"
F. Name of Mary's boss on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"
G. Character played by Joseph Kearns on "Dennis the Menace"
H Played Sophie on "2 Broke Girls"
I. Name paired with Lutz in the title of a short-lived lawyer series
J. Star of "The Blue Knight," 1970s cop show
K. Historical figure portrayed by Lizzy Caplan on a Showtime series
L. Star of "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock"
M. Family "Home Improvement" was centered on
N. Actor who played Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey's Anatomy"
BONUS - What do those answers have in common? (-1 point)
2. WHERE WILL YOU FIND ME? Ever since TV began, series have been set vaguely in NYC or L.A., or in Anytown, USA. Others have been given a setting with a sense of purpose. Pick one of these and identify the city in which these long-running series were set. Remember to specify the letter.
A. The Practice
B. Law & Order
C. thirtysomething
D. The Drew Carey Show
E. Hawthorne (not long running but whatever)
F. Designing Women
G. ER
H. The John Larroquette Show
I. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
J. Malcolm and Eddie
K. Walker, Texas Ranger
L. Suddenly Susan
BONUS: What do those cities (and only those cities) have in common? (-3 points)
3. THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE. Many short-lived series have been retooled and needed to change their names, or change their casts, or change their formats, or most often, just go away altogether. Surprisingly, many long-running and successful series have also needed to change their names, perhaps only for syndication. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What late 80s/early 90s NBC sitcom had its name changed three times due to a contract dispute with the original star? (any of the four names is OK)
B. What syndicated program ran for over 20 years and was also syndicated under the names "Western Star Theater," "Trails West," "Frontier Adventure," "The Pioneers," & "Call of the West."
C. What 1950s radio and TV classic was revived in the 1960s and had the current year appended to its name to prevent its confusion with the black and white reruns?
D. What 1970s drama starring Lance Kerwin got a new title beginning with the episode in which Lance's character had sex for the first time?
E. What western that ran for fourteen seasons was syndicated under the title "Ponderosa"?
F. What was the original two-word title of SNL?
G. What groundbreaking sitcom was originally called "These Friends of Mine"?
H. What eponymous variety show was called "Toast of the Town" for over a decade?
I. What was the original title of the short-lived "Kate Loves a Mystery," referencing its origin from a long-running detective series?
J. At the start of its 10th season, the number one series of the early 1970s was given a new name, and one of its co-stars was mercilessly killed off. Give either name for the series.
K. What series was syndicated under the title, "Robert Young, Family Doctor"?
L. What classic CBS daytime game show got a new name every January 2nd?
M. Give any of the names for the anthology series that premiered in 1955 as "Disneyland."
4. SOMETHING GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION. As the undisputed leader in exporting entertainment for the entire planet, the U.S. is gratified to see much of its television output airing all over the world. Television series have to be dubbed and/or subtitled and usually renamed. These questions mostly ask not about the foreign title specifically, but the English backtranslation of the foreign translation; they don't always work back to something recognizable. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What raunchy and raucous beach-based sitcom is aired in Japan with the title "Macaroni Rascals"?
B. What raunchy and raucous Chicago-based sitcom is aired in Croatia as "Marriage Waters"?
C. What decidedly unraunchy and unraucous 1970s series airs in Hungary as "The Farm Where We Live"?
D. What 1980s sitcom is "Parents in Blue Jeans" in Italy?
E. What long-running mystery series whose star was nominated eleven times for an Emmy but never won is called "Arabesque" in France?
F. What evening soap with a zip code in its title is known in Brazil as "Barred from the Ball"?
G. What cartoonist created the Fox series that airs in France as "Les Simpson"?
H. What vehicle for a teenaged Will Smith is known in Hungary as "I Came to California"?
I. What iconic 1970s sitcom is aired in Germany as "Three Boys and Three Girls"?
J. What classic detective series is "Two Hundred Dollars A Day Plus Expenses" in France?
K. What series featuring chemistry teacher Walter White is titled "Total Suckage" in Hungary?
L. Name any of the American hosts of the classic game show known in Poland as "Familiada"?
M. What 1980s sitcom airs in Brazil as "Dudes and Squares"?
N. What Neal Patrick Harris vehicle is called "That's How It Happened" in Portugal?
5. NEVER WATCHED IT, BUT I CAN'T GET THAT THEME OUT OF MY HEAD. A series can benefit by a catchy theme, especially one becoming a hit record; or by having a theme song that tells the backstory (like "The Beverly Hillbillies" or "Gilligan's Island"). A theme can also be an existing and well-known song that brings about some synergy or telesis or other buzz word. Pick one and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What former teen idol composed "Johnny's Theme," the opening theme for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"?
B. What film icon of the 1930s and later wrote the words to "Life Is Beautiful," the closing theme for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"?
C. Alan Thicke is best known for starring in the sitcom "Growing Pains," but what earlier sitcom did he co-write the theme for?
D. The Norman Lear black comedy soap opera "All That Glitters" ran for only 65 daily episodes. It might be best remembered for its rejected theme song, written by a famous singer-songwriter and later made famous in a duet by him and an even more famous singer. Name the composer of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."
E. What film composer wrote the edgy theme for "Mission: Impossible"?
F. What man sang "The Love Boat" theme under the opening titles?
G. What Beatles song served as the theme for "The Wonder Years"?
H. What Beatles song served as the theme for "Providence"?
I. What Beatles song served as the theme for "Life Goes On"?
J. What Billy Joel hit was used as the theme of "Bosom Buddies"?
K. What singer-songwriter from a famous musical family wrote "Thank You for Being a Friend," used as the theme of "The Golden Girls"?
L. The first song to win an Emmy award was written for the 1955 production of Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town," starring Frank Sinatra. This song became even more famous three decades later when it was used for "Married ... with Children." Name the song.
M. Who originated the theme for "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"?
N. Who starred in the series that used as its theme "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays?
6-9. I WANT THAT AWARD! Since the coming of the Emmy Awards, the industry has had a well-accepted yardstick by which to judge outstanding acting. An elite group has enjoyed repeated wins in their category.
6. Name an actor (male) who's won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series more than once. There are twelve such men, eleven famous and one infamous.
7. Name an actor (male) who's won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a comedy series more than once. There are fourteen such men.
8. Name an actress who's won the Emmy Award for lead actress in a drama series more than once. There are seventeen such women.
9. Name an actress who's won the Emmy Award for lead actress in a comedy series more than once. There are twelve such women.
BONUS - Name the person who won an Emmy for comedy and then won an Emmy for drama for playing the same character. (-2 points)
10. WHAT DO I RATE? Television ratings are an obsession not only for people in the industry but for viewers too. Low ratings invariably mean your new favorite will be gone before you've learned everyone's names. High ratings often mean your favorite has years left to run. So name a prime-time series that's been number one for the season. Do not include any sports (e.g., Monday Night Football).
TIE-BREAKER: What was the average rating (in percentage) of "I Love Lucy" during its six seasons?
THE RULES:
1. The object of this game is to provide the correct answer you think will be the least popular. The lower your total score, the better.
2. You may only use the information stored in your brain. Intentional outside research (like Googling, Binging, Yahooing, and even visiting the Museum of Television and Radio) is not allowed, and cheaters will be flagged by the NSA and could face prosecution under the Espionage Act.
3. The score for a correct answer is the number of players who give that answer.
4. The score for an incorrect answer is the CAUCUS aka SHEEP score—that is, the most popular correct answer for that question--plus 5 points.
5. There are two lifelines.
a. You may drop one question
b. You may sheep one question, in which case you will earn the sheep/caucus score.
6. Unless stated otherwise, Wikipedia.com is the final authority for what responses are correct. Spelling is not important as long as you're close, and I want to give you the benefit of the doubt. However, you’ll help your cause by spelling your answers as close to correctly as you can.
7. Ties will be broken only for the top three positions. In case of a tie, the entry that comes closest to the correct answer for the TIE-BREAKER is the winner. If there’s still a tie after the tie-breaker is applied (and TD is such weird game that it might happen), the earliest submission wins.
8. The deadline for entering this game is 11:59 pm (CDT) on Monday, September 5, which is Labor Day. Please reply by PM; don’t post your answers in the thread.
On with the TD.
1. WHO AM I? In a television cast, each member has two names: their own and that of the character they play. Both are important for students of television trivia. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. Character played by Isobel Sanford who lived in a dee-luxe apartment
B. Character played by Jm J. Bullock on "Too Close for Comfort"
C. Character played by Frank Sutton on "Gomer Pyle USMC"
D. Alias used by Dr. Richard Kimble in the first episode of "The Fugitive"
E. Actress who played Charlene on "Diff'rent Strokes"
F. Name of Mary's boss on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"
G. Character played by Joseph Kearns on "Dennis the Menace"
H Played Sophie on "2 Broke Girls"
I. Name paired with Lutz in the title of a short-lived lawyer series
J. Star of "The Blue Knight," 1970s cop show
K. Historical figure portrayed by Lizzy Caplan on a Showtime series
L. Star of "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock"
M. Family "Home Improvement" was centered on
N. Actor who played Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey's Anatomy"
BONUS - What do those answers have in common? (-1 point)
2. WHERE WILL YOU FIND ME? Ever since TV began, series have been set vaguely in NYC or L.A., or in Anytown, USA. Others have been given a setting with a sense of purpose. Pick one of these and identify the city in which these long-running series were set. Remember to specify the letter.
A. The Practice
B. Law & Order
C. thirtysomething
D. The Drew Carey Show
E. Hawthorne (not long running but whatever)
F. Designing Women
G. ER
H. The John Larroquette Show
I. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
J. Malcolm and Eddie
K. Walker, Texas Ranger
L. Suddenly Susan
BONUS: What do those cities (and only those cities) have in common? (-3 points)
3. THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE. Many short-lived series have been retooled and needed to change their names, or change their casts, or change their formats, or most often, just go away altogether. Surprisingly, many long-running and successful series have also needed to change their names, perhaps only for syndication. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What late 80s/early 90s NBC sitcom had its name changed three times due to a contract dispute with the original star? (any of the four names is OK)
B. What syndicated program ran for over 20 years and was also syndicated under the names "Western Star Theater," "Trails West," "Frontier Adventure," "The Pioneers," & "Call of the West."
C. What 1950s radio and TV classic was revived in the 1960s and had the current year appended to its name to prevent its confusion with the black and white reruns?
D. What 1970s drama starring Lance Kerwin got a new title beginning with the episode in which Lance's character had sex for the first time?
E. What western that ran for fourteen seasons was syndicated under the title "Ponderosa"?
F. What was the original two-word title of SNL?
G. What groundbreaking sitcom was originally called "These Friends of Mine"?
H. What eponymous variety show was called "Toast of the Town" for over a decade?
I. What was the original title of the short-lived "Kate Loves a Mystery," referencing its origin from a long-running detective series?
J. At the start of its 10th season, the number one series of the early 1970s was given a new name, and one of its co-stars was mercilessly killed off. Give either name for the series.
K. What series was syndicated under the title, "Robert Young, Family Doctor"?
L. What classic CBS daytime game show got a new name every January 2nd?
M. Give any of the names for the anthology series that premiered in 1955 as "Disneyland."
4. SOMETHING GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION. As the undisputed leader in exporting entertainment for the entire planet, the U.S. is gratified to see much of its television output airing all over the world. Television series have to be dubbed and/or subtitled and usually renamed. These questions mostly ask not about the foreign title specifically, but the English backtranslation of the foreign translation; they don't always work back to something recognizable. Pick one of these and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What raunchy and raucous beach-based sitcom is aired in Japan with the title "Macaroni Rascals"?
B. What raunchy and raucous Chicago-based sitcom is aired in Croatia as "Marriage Waters"?
C. What decidedly unraunchy and unraucous 1970s series airs in Hungary as "The Farm Where We Live"?
D. What 1980s sitcom is "Parents in Blue Jeans" in Italy?
E. What long-running mystery series whose star was nominated eleven times for an Emmy but never won is called "Arabesque" in France?
F. What evening soap with a zip code in its title is known in Brazil as "Barred from the Ball"?
G. What cartoonist created the Fox series that airs in France as "Les Simpson"?
H. What vehicle for a teenaged Will Smith is known in Hungary as "I Came to California"?
I. What iconic 1970s sitcom is aired in Germany as "Three Boys and Three Girls"?
J. What classic detective series is "Two Hundred Dollars A Day Plus Expenses" in France?
K. What series featuring chemistry teacher Walter White is titled "Total Suckage" in Hungary?
L. Name any of the American hosts of the classic game show known in Poland as "Familiada"?
M. What 1980s sitcom airs in Brazil as "Dudes and Squares"?
N. What Neal Patrick Harris vehicle is called "That's How It Happened" in Portugal?
5. NEVER WATCHED IT, BUT I CAN'T GET THAT THEME OUT OF MY HEAD. A series can benefit by a catchy theme, especially one becoming a hit record; or by having a theme song that tells the backstory (like "The Beverly Hillbillies" or "Gilligan's Island"). A theme can also be an existing and well-known song that brings about some synergy or telesis or other buzz word. Pick one and answer it. Remember to specify the letter.
A. What former teen idol composed "Johnny's Theme," the opening theme for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"?
B. What film icon of the 1930s and later wrote the words to "Life Is Beautiful," the closing theme for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"?
C. Alan Thicke is best known for starring in the sitcom "Growing Pains," but what earlier sitcom did he co-write the theme for?
D. The Norman Lear black comedy soap opera "All That Glitters" ran for only 65 daily episodes. It might be best remembered for its rejected theme song, written by a famous singer-songwriter and later made famous in a duet by him and an even more famous singer. Name the composer of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."
E. What film composer wrote the edgy theme for "Mission: Impossible"?
F. What man sang "The Love Boat" theme under the opening titles?
G. What Beatles song served as the theme for "The Wonder Years"?
H. What Beatles song served as the theme for "Providence"?
I. What Beatles song served as the theme for "Life Goes On"?
J. What Billy Joel hit was used as the theme of "Bosom Buddies"?
K. What singer-songwriter from a famous musical family wrote "Thank You for Being a Friend," used as the theme of "The Golden Girls"?
L. The first song to win an Emmy award was written for the 1955 production of Thornton Wilder's play "Our Town," starring Frank Sinatra. This song became even more famous three decades later when it was used for "Married ... with Children." Name the song.
M. Who originated the theme for "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"?
N. Who starred in the series that used as its theme "For the Love of Money" by the O'Jays?
6-9. I WANT THAT AWARD! Since the coming of the Emmy Awards, the industry has had a well-accepted yardstick by which to judge outstanding acting. An elite group has enjoyed repeated wins in their category.
6. Name an actor (male) who's won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series more than once. There are twelve such men, eleven famous and one infamous.
7. Name an actor (male) who's won the Emmy Award for lead actor in a comedy series more than once. There are fourteen such men.
8. Name an actress who's won the Emmy Award for lead actress in a drama series more than once. There are seventeen such women.
9. Name an actress who's won the Emmy Award for lead actress in a comedy series more than once. There are twelve such women.
BONUS - Name the person who won an Emmy for comedy and then won an Emmy for drama for playing the same character. (-2 points)
10. WHAT DO I RATE? Television ratings are an obsession not only for people in the industry but for viewers too. Low ratings invariably mean your new favorite will be gone before you've learned everyone's names. High ratings often mean your favorite has years left to run. So name a prime-time series that's been number one for the season. Do not include any sports (e.g., Monday Night Football).
TIE-BREAKER: What was the average rating (in percentage) of "I Love Lucy" during its six seasons?