Quiz: Can You Identify These Iconic '60s and '70s TV Shows From A Screenshot?: HowStuffWorks
Can You Identify These Iconic '60s and '70s TV Shows From A Screenshot?
J. Scott Wilson
Image: CBS
When it comes to television, sometimes we think we've seen it all. Well, for this quiz, you would have to have watched lots of '60s and '70s shows to stand a shot at acing it. Television in the United States in the 1960s was a time when the Golden Age of Television was coming to an end; a time when live television production ruled the country. In the early '60s, the heads of the television world were not pleased, and for the first two years of the decade, inferior programming aired.
As time went on, more innovative concepts were developed, and telecasts and teleplays like "Cinderella" and "Peter Pan" were released. In the 1970s, TV underwent a significant change. Sitcoms that were once popular, weren't as successful any longer, forcing directors to look at newer, younger and more hip formats. Soap operas were all the rage, medical shows spiked and game shows began to dominate. Unfortunately, westerns weren't as interesting (something many attributed to permanent color TV), rurally oriented shows died, and shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" were canceled.
Television today is still very much like what it was back then, but with a bit of a twist. Do you have enough knowledge about what existed way back when to get all the answers in this quiz correct?
Do you know which show this image is from?
This stupendously popular western, led by Lorne Greene, managed to comment on a lot of modern-day social issues while delivering wholesome, aw-shucks plotlines. Over its run, it dealt with racism in various forms, government overreach, women's rights and many other topics.
What's the name of this iconic children's show?
Here's a fun fact for you: Oscar the Grouch was originally orange, not green! If you look up clips online, you can see his first performance of "I Love Trash" in vibrant orange.
Can you name the popular fish-out-of-water sitcom pictured here?
For six seasons, Eddy Albert, Eva Gabor and Arnold the Pig milked the "fish out of water" school of comedy for country-flavored laughs. It was still drawing good ratings when it was canceled, but CBS was under a lot of pressure to have more "urban" programs, so a lot of country-themed programs were canceled.
Can you match this image to the correct action series?
The spy genre was huge in the '60s and '70s, with Cold War tensions fueling the story fires. It was ripe for parody, and Don Adams' Maxwell Smart was just the laugh generator needed.
What is this sitcom that debuted in 1977?
This show was one long comedy of morals and propriety. It embraced the essence of the '70s, with an aging landlord determined to get the dirt on what he was convinced was an apartment full of swingers.
What's the name of this sitcom starring Sally Field?
The Flying Nun
My Mother the Car
We really, really liked Sally Field as Sister Bertrille, who was able to fly thanks to her huge starched cornette and slight build. The show ran for three seasons, but never cracked the top 30 in the Nielsen ratings.
What is the title of this beloved long-running show?
Buffalo Bob
Bob Keeshan's "Captain Kangaroo" was the king of live-action kid's TV for nearly three decades. Keeshan put on the Captain's suit more than 9,000 times over the show's run!
What is the rags-to-riches sitcom shown here?
One thing that's missing from most of today's shows is a catchy theme song. "The Beverly Hillbillies'" song is still one of the most-recognized theme songs ever written!
What is this '70s drama about rural life?
Based on the book series, this series was a slice of wholesome frontier life. Star Michael Landon was like a surrogate father to the kids on the set, and the show still thrives in reruns.
Do you know which series featured this ensemble cast?
Laugh-In
The Dean Martin Show
Unlike the highly polished talk and variety shows of today, "The Dean Martin Show" did everything in one take, with Martin adopting his usual slightly boozy, freewheeling persona. However, the highball glass in his hand was frequently filled with apple juice, not liquor.
Can you pick the show that goes with this picture?
Divorce was becoming a less taboo subject when "The Brady Bunch" premiered, bringing not just divorce but a blended family into the full spotlight. From footballs to the nose to driving lessons, the show tackled just about every hilarious aspect of bringing up kids and family life.
What is the name of this 1960s fantasy sitcom?
Years before Larry Hagman chewed scenery as J.R. Ewing in "Dallas," he was married to Jeannie. Between managing her fish-out-of-water foibles and keeping her hidden, he rarely had a moment's peace.
Can you identify the '70s crime drama in this image?
Rockford Files
"Charlie's Angels" was a ratings bombshell with a bombshell cast. Rotating cast members (especially the early departure of Farrah Fawcett) drove fans away, though, and it didn't last long.
Can you remember which 1960s sitcom featured this family?
Premiering in 1960, "My Three Sons" was still steeped in the "wholesome" values of '50s TV. Over a 12-year run, it evolved considerably, dealing with shifting social issues as the three sons grew up.
CBS/Paramount
What is this Emmy-winning sitcom?
The concentration of talent on this show was amazing, like a sitcom version of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players." Christopher Lloyd, who played mechanic Reverend Jim, went on to star in the "Back to the Future" movies, as well as playing a great Klingon in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock."
CBS/Fox
Do you know which '60s sitcom this image is from?
It should come as no surprise that the same man was responsible for this show in addition to "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Green Acres." The entire genre disappeared in the mid-'70s, with a move toward more "urban" shows.
What is this hugely popular comedy-drama series?
F Troop
Setting a comedy in a military field hospital might seem like a silly idea, but it worked first for a movie, then for the long-running series. The series finale is still the highest-rated non-sports show of all time.
Can you name the goofy '70s series in this photo?
Before it became the show that gave us "jumped the shark" as a metaphor for sitcom failure, this show ruled the '70s. A simple tale of a high school boy with a super-cool housemate and goofy friends who hung out at the local burger joint won Emmys and made stars out of a lot of its young cast.
What sitcom about police detectives is pictured here?
The Rockford Files
This show did for cop shows what "Get Smart" did for spy shows. Over an eight-season run, it introduced us to unforgettable characters like Detective Fish (Abe Vigoda), who is now one of the most beloved internet memes.
Can you name this sitcom set during WWII?
"Hogan's Heroes" made WWII funny over its multi-season run. Endless escape attempts and a clueless camp commandant made for a rich comic landscape.
Can you name the TV series this screenshot comes from?
The Grand Old Opry
"Hee Haw" was a variety show for the burgeoning population of country music fans. With an in-house cast including the legendary Roy Clark, recurring humor bits that got quoted the next day, and everyone who was anyone in country music guest starring, it was like "Saturday Night Live" with banjos.
Which '60s or '70s classic TV show is shown here?
Rin-Tin-Tin
This show lasted 17 seasons, and made the transition from black-and-white to color. Over the course of its run, six different dogs played the title role.
Tandem Productions
What is this groundbreaking '70s sitcom?
This Emmy-winning comedy broke boundaries, tweaked stereotypes and infuriated bigots of all stripes. Carroll O'Connor made us love and hate Archie Bunker all at the same time, and made us look at our own prejudices.
NBC/ABC
Which television series featured this iconic detective?
With his ever-present cigarette, battered fedora and bedraggled raincoat, Peter Falk's Columbo was the antithesis of the clean-cut TV detective. His "just one more question" never meant good things for the object of the questioning.
Can you name this iconic variety show?
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Before "Saturday Night Live," there was "The Carol Burnett Show," featuring a cast packed with comedy superstars and the winner of more than two dozen Emmys. At the end of every episode, Burnett would pull her earlobe. That was a sign to her grandmother that all was well and she was fine.
Can you identify this sitcom that debuted in 1964?
"Bewitched" was at its heart a zany family sitcom. However, the addition of witchcraft made for much broader comic possibilities, especially with Agnes Moorhead (and Shirley MacLaine) playing the mischievous mother-in-law!
Can you name this variety show that ran for 20 years?
Red Skelton made one of the most successful transitions from radio to TV with his variety show. It ran for two decades, mostly on CBS, although it began and ended its run on NBC.
What's the name of this zany sketch comedy production?
The Benny Hill Show
Benny Hill was everyone's lewd old uncle, but he got a TV show. Every episode was a mix of sex, slapstick, sexy slapstick and a bit of political humor thrown in for good measure.
Can you name this memorable '70s sitcom?
Norman Lear continued chronicling American life in a sitcom mold with "The Jeffersons." The couple, introduced as Archie Bunker's neighbors, went on to years of TV success.
Can you name the classic comedy in this picture?
Joanie Loves Chachi
Robin Williams burst into the public consciousness with this sitcom, which barely contained his manic energy. Things got even wackier when Jonathan Winters joined as Mork and Mindy's son.
Can you name this long-running TV western?
For an astonishing 20 years, from 1955 to 1975, "Gunsmoke" ruled the TV western roost. It won a boatload of Emmys, and is still played very frequently in syndication.
Name the TV show shown here.
Ricardo Montalban brought an eerie smoothness to the role of island head honcho Mr. Roarke. A reboot in the 2000s brought Malcolm McDowell to the role, but didn't quite catch on.
Do you recognize this iconic '70s series?
The Flip Wilson Show
"Good Times" broke new TV ground by showing a working-class black family dealing with everyday trials and tribulations.
What's the name of this detective series from the '60s and '70s?
Mike Connors and his chiseled jaw played the title character in this cop drama. It ran for an amazing eight seasons, and opened the door for a host of other cop shows.
Can you name the sitcom pictured here?
Here's Lucy
After the success of her show with Ricky, Lucy struck out on her own in this sitcom. It ran for six seasons, but never quite captured the ratings or fan base of her original.
Can you name the silly series that this screenshot comes from?
"Monty Python's Flying Circus" might be the best collection of comedy talent in TV history, and it became even more popular on this side of the Atlantic than back home in Great Britain. The show, an inspired blend of slapstick, political humor and social commentary, spawned a series of movies.
ABC, Syndication
What classic cartoon series is pictured here?
Great Grape Ape
Given its impact on pop culture, it might be hard to imagine that the original run of "The Jetsons" was only two seasons. Fun fact: Renowned voice actor and voice of Bugs Bunny, Mel Blanc, voiced Cosmo Spacely, George Jetson's boss.
Can you identify the classic police drama shown here?
Police Story
The original version of "Hawaii Five-O" ran for 12 seasons, and introduced the phrase "Book 'em, Danno!" into the popular lexicon. The theme song, an infectious Hawaiian-tinged tune, is one of the top TV theme songs of all time.
Can you name this action series?
The Mod Squad
The tape might have self-destructed in a few seconds, but the show had legs. It evolved into a billions-earning movie series starring Tom "I do all my own stunts" Cruise.
Do you know which '70s program is pictured here?
Redd Foxx was already a legendary (and bawdy) stand-up comedian when this show premiered. With a mix of urban sensibility and slapstick, it ran for five seasons on NBC.
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