Secrets Of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Dick Van Dyke Launched Her Career

Mary Tyler Moore broke new ground with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which she was given following her success on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Her role on the show as Laura Petrie from 1961 to 1966 is one of the most popular of all time. After she reprised this role on the TV special Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman, CBS offered Moore her own show. After initial apprehension, she accepted the role.

Dick Van Dyke

Moore’s Pregnant Debut/post_page_title]

Years before she rose to stardom with Dick Van Dyke, Moore made her TV debut at the age of 17 in 1955 as a mascot for Hotpoint home appliance company in commercials that aired ahead of the Ozzie and Harriet Show. She was paid $6,000 for 39 short segments over the course of five days. Wearing a gray leotard and corset as she promoted Hotpoint, you would never guess that she was actually pregnant at the time with her only child, Richard Meeker Jr.

Pilot Almost Failed

TV shows have only one pilot, usually, but The Mary Tyler Moore Show had two different pilot episodes for the show. When it was initially shown to a studio audience, producers expected them to find it funnier. They polled the audience and discovered that the audience thought Rhoda was too nasty. The show’s creators rewrote the script so that the audience would respond better. After the second screening, the audience gave producers the thumbs up they needed — and the rest is history.

Pilot Almost Failed

She Wore A Wig

If you pay close attention throughout the show, you will notice something very odd: Mary is wearing a wig during the first season of her show. This was apparently done as a bid to make Mary look less like Laurie Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show, distancing herself from that character. Later, the wig was ditched and Mary’s hair was noticeably different. At no point did any of the other characters mention that she changed her hair. How rude!

She Wore A Wig

Lyrics To The Song Changed

Another thing in plain sight that you may have missed would be the changing lyrics to the intro song. The first season concentrates on how Mary is able to overcome the hurdle of being an independent, single woman. The lyrics reflect this, saying, “You might just make it after all.” Later seasons reflected a different Mary by changing the lyrics to “you’re going to make it after all.” As you can expect, this was after her character marked a string of successes.

Intro Song Lyrics Changed

Unwitting Extra’s 15 Minutes

In the show’s famous opening sequence, in which Mary memorably throws her hat in the air, features Hazel Frederick, a Minnesotan who happened to be walking by when the scene was shot. She was just minding her own business and doing her shopping. Unexpectedly, she became famous as that lady from the opening credits. Later, Frederick attended a tour in support of one of Moore’s books. Moore addressed her as her “co-host” when she discovered who she was.

Unwitting Extra’s 15 Minutes

Mary’s Still There

That same sequence featuring Frederick is so iconic that the exact location where the scene was shot — the corner of 7th Street and Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis — had a statue erected in 2002 commemorating the famous scene of Moore throwing her hat in the air. TV Land commissioned the artwork to be placed at that exact spot. The statue Mary is, in fact, oriented toward the direction opposite from where Mary is looking  in the show.

Mirror Image Mary

Donaldson’s Building From Credits Burnt Down

Besides the iconic hat toss by Mary, downtown Minneapolis is shown in the opening credits in a way it can no longer be seen. This is because many of the buildings in the background burned down in a fire in the ’80s. The statue erected is in commemoration of these buildings, the most iconic of which may be the Donaldson’s building. This used to be a warehouse that took up half a block. Today, there is a Macy’s there.

Building In Opening Credits Burnt Down

Moore & Elvis

Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner appeared together previously in Change of Habit, Elvis Presley’s last movie. When they met, Elvis admitted off the bat to Moore that he had had a crush on her ever since The Dick Van Dyke Show. Mary later noted: “I was his last leading lady. The King would slyly say later on, ‘I slept with every one of my leading ladies but one.’ I don’t want to bust anyone’s cover, but I know who the ‘one’ is.”

Mary Tyler Moore & Edward Asner’s Connection To Elvis

“Mr. Grant”

While almost all of the characters on the show address Lou Grant by his first name, Mary is one of only two who does not. The other character is Bess, which makes sense as she is a small child. Although this choice was likely thought out well, today it appears to alienate some would-be fans who find issue with the fact that a strong and independent career woman is the only adult who doesn’t call her boss by his first name.

Mary One Of Two Who Call Lou Mr Grant

Mary Wanted Moore

When critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning The Mary Tyler Moore show was canceled, it had seven spectacular seasons under its belt. Moore apparently loved doing it so much she wanted to continue, but the writers decided the timing was perfect to end it. Most notable among them was writer-producer James L. Brooks. Incidentally, Brooks would continue on to the spin-off, Lou Grant, from 1977 to 1982. He appears in the picture on the far right holding a cup and wearing a pin.

Mary Wanted “Moore” Seasons

Nannette Fabray’s Disappointment

Actress Nannette Fabray appeared on two episodes of the show as Mary’s mother. In an Emmy TV Legends interview, she said that she regretted not being asked to stay on for more episodes and becoming a regular. She wrongly assumed from the start that this was the case, later hoping that the producers would change their minds. She even raised her concerns with Mary. Despite not becoming a regular on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she would be cast regularly as a TV mom in One Day at a Time.

Mary No To Nannette Fabray as Regular Guest

Tonsillectomy Originally Tattoo Removal

In one episode of the show, Mary gets her tonsils removed. The original idea for the episode had Mary getting a tattoo removal. Moore, however, refused this, as it went against her “good Catholic girl” image. She didn’t want her name to be associated with someone who would get a tattoo, even though she was going to get it removed. Instead of this, the writers capitulated to Moore’s demands and changed tattoo removal to a tonsillectomy instead.

Tonsillectomy Originally Tattoo Removal

Mary’s Phone Number

This is a tidbit of information that only die-hard fans will know — OK, maybe only those super-duper, hard-core fans: it’s 555-2312. This was mentioned by Ted Baxter, who was played by Ted Knight, in an episode of the fourth season. You might think that, because it’s a 555 number, it isn’t valid when, in fact, only the numbers between 555-0100 and 555-0199 are reserved for TV and movie use. There are a number of area codes where 555 numbers are valid, so if you call Mary, someone might still answer!

Mary’s Phone Number

Progressive Mary

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was progressive for its day. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine what our TV today would look like without it. For example, Moore’s show is the first TV show in history to use “gay” to refer to a homosexual in the episode “My Brother’s Keeper.” At the end of this episode, Rhoda reveals to Phyllis that her brother is gay, solidifying the show’s place in the history books. In addition, intimate acts are frequently discussed in a casual, adult manner throughout the show. It also mentions the pill.

Progressive Mary

More Progress

From the start, the show pushed boundaries, as Mary Richards was originally meant to be a 30-year-old divorcée. Divorce was still considered a taboo subject for TV. Although the producers felt the time was right to introduce it on network TV, Mary didn’t want it to seem like she had divorced from Dick Van Dyke’s Rob Petrie. She was so identified with that role that she was afraid to damage its image. They instead opted to introduce a Mary who arrived in the city after a broken-off engagement.

Make Mary Divorced? — No, Broken Off Engagement

Can’t Hold In The Chuckles

Chuckles the Clown sadly dies in the episode Chuckles Bites The Dust. Despite the fact that Mary’s character is greatly saddened by his passing, the male employees in her newsroom crack jokes about his peculiar death, which involved a parade, an elephant, and a clown dressed as a peanut. Mary reportedly struggled to keep the giggles in after certain jokes and not ruin the scene. She succeeded in this by biting her cheeks so that her guffaws stayed secret.

Can’t Stop The Chuckles

Never Been Late?

Although the writers did a phenomenal job making the TV show hilarious and relevant episode after episode, there are some mistakes and mishaps. One of the most notable happened in an episode of season seven, when Mary boasts that she’s never been late or missed a day of work during her time at the news channel. But Mary had arrived late due to her chatty neighbor, Phyllis, holding her up at home while she really needed to be getting to work.

Plot Mistake: Job

Another Plot Mistake

The writers got other things wrong, as serious fans will doubtless spot the contradictions. In episode 17 of season 7, Lou mentions that Mary applied for a job as an associate producer. In fact, Mary originally applied to be a secretary. This job was already filled, but they were looking for an associate producer. She later made note that the previous person in her position was a man paid significantly more than her. This was because, as Lou nonchalantly explained: “He was a man.” What a different time!

Claim She Has Never Been Late

Mary: “What’s Done Is Done”

In addition to the divorce and homosexuality, the show also featured other subjects that have now become staples of primetime TV. One-night stands are one of those unacceptable subjects that were made acceptable thanks to the show. Lou tells Mary in one episode that he feels guilty following a one-night stand with Sue Ann. Mary asks him, “So what? What’s done is done.” Besides this one, there were other one-night stands that featured on the show…

Mary: “What’s Done Is Done”

Mary’s MGM Meow

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended with a kitten meowing, a parody of the MGM lion roaring at the beginning of their movies. This kitten is named Mimsie and appears in every single episode except for one. For episode 23 of season three, Mary appears instead of Mimsie and impersonates the iconic Porky the Pig “Th-th-th-th-that’s all, folks!” from the Warner Bros. cartoons. If you don’t remember it, do yourself a favor and check it out — it’s a pretty good impersonation!

Mary’s Parody Of The Parody

119 North Weatherly

Where Mary Richards lived — Apartment D, 119 North Weatherly — isn’t a real place, but the exterior is. It’s a Victorian home that was owned by one Paula Giese, who gave her approval for the outer façade of her home to be displayed. She thought it was for a documentary; little did she know that people would begin knocking to ask if Mary was home. She later hung a controversial politcl sign outside and the unwelcome visitations promptly ended.

119 North Weatherly

Breaking The Fourth Wall

Even though Mary Tyler Moore had said that she would have loved to have kept the show going on for a few more seasons, as has been mentioned, the writers and producers insisted on ending the show on their terms after seven seasons. On the last episode of the show, Mary Tyler Moore turned to the camera and broke the fourth wall. She introduced all of her co-stars, one by one, thanking the viewers with a last goodbye.

Breaks Fourth Wall

Pioneering Capri Pants

Sadly, Mary Tyler Moore passed away in 2017. Throughout her career, she refused to conform to what people thought she should be doing. From shooting while pregnant to challenging societal stereotypes in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, this was how she lived. One thing many don’t know about her is how she refused to conform to the expectation that women should be wearing dresses. She even sparked a capri pants fad after wearing them in The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Pioneering Capri Pants

Anger Of Activists

Although the feminist movement initially invited her to join them, Moore had issues with their not giving women’s traditional role as mothers the respect it deserved. Gloria Steinem, one of the leaders of the feminist movement at the time, has criticized the show’s main character, Mary Richards, for calling her boss Mr. Grant instead of Lou, like everybody else. In addition, she found fault with the theme song, which makes reference of a “girl,” instead of a woman.

Anger Of Activists

How Many of These ’60s and ’70s TV Characters Can You Name?

There are o many iconic characters that were created during the ’60s and ’70s! Try out these multiple-choice questions and see if you can get them all right to determine whether or not you truly know your TV from the ’60s and ’70s.

Can You Guess This 60s/70s TV Character?

While younger audiences might not be so familiar with the show, Gilligan’s Island was what everyone was watching back in the ’60s. Which of these characters from Gilligan’s Island was a movie star? Here’s a clue: it’s all in the name…

  1. The Skipper
  2. Ginger Grant
  3. Mary Ann Summers
  4. The Professor
Can You Guess This 60s/70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

Unsurprisingly, the female character from Gilligan’s Island who can be seen in the previous photo (and this one) is Ginger Grant! The talented Tina Louise played Grant, a movie star who had experience playing a variety of roles such as lab assistants, hairstylists, fortune-tellers, and singers, to name a few. A true attention seeker, Ginger always liked to recite lines from her previous roles, and prior to the shipwreck, she was convinced that she was destined for Hollywood greatness.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Did Peggy Lipton Play in Mod Squad?

Over the years, the late Peggy Lipton captured the imaginations of millions, not just with her modeling career, but also through her work as an actress. Long before her recurring role in the hit series Twin Peaks, she played one of the leads in the popular series Mod Squad. But what was the name of the character that the ex-wife of Quincy Jones once played?

  1. Della Street
  2.  Victoria Barkley
  3. Carol Brady
  4. Julie Barnes
Who Did Peggy Lipton Play in Mod Squad?

Did You Guess Right?

The character’s name that Peggy Lipton played in Mod Squad was Julie Barnes. Julie was a flower child who runs away from home and ends up getting arrested for it. She becomes an undercover cop. Sadly, Lipton passed away in 2019, with many feeling like she still had so much more to offer the world of entertainment. Thankfully she left behind two talented daughters in Rashida and Kidada Jones, who went on to have successful careers in their own right.

Did You Guess Right?

Can You Guess This 60s/70s TV Character?

What came first, The Addams Family or The Munsters? It’s amazing to think that both shows, which centered around a spooky family, both ran at the same time. In the latter show, there was a teenager who actually wasn’t a monster and as a result, is a bit of an outcast in the family. Both Beverley Owen and Pat Priest played this character at different points of the show’s run. But what was the character’s name?

  1. Marilyn Munster
  2. Sydney Bristow
  3. Mrs. Bridges
  4. Sophia Petrill
Can You Guess This 60s/70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

’60s sitcom The Munsters was all about monsters, werewolves and vampires living normal lives. And then there was Marilyn Munster, who was outcasted by the monsters because of the fact that she was just a normal human being. It was Beverley Owen who first landed the role of Marilyn when the show was first created. However, she dropped out of the show just 13 episodes into its run. This was so that she could marry Sesame Street producer Jon Stone. At any rate, both actresses did a great job playing the character.

Did You Guess Right?

Can You Guess This ’70s TV Character?

These days, most young fans of entertainment associate Gal Gadot with the following superhero. But all the way back in 1975, it was Lynda Carter who immortalized the role, to begin with, there is no denying that this talented actress became synonymous with the role and definitely inflicted plenty of “justice” on wrongdoers across the city. Here’s another hint, she had some “super” powerful allies…

  1. Janice Rand
  2. Diana Prince
  3. Christine Chapel
  4. Donna Pinciotti
Can You Guess This ’70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

While the name Diana Prince might not ring a bell when it comes to iconic superheroes, that is because it is the name that she went by when she wasn’t dressing up as the all-powerful Wonder Woman. Lynda Carter played the Justice League member in The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, which ran from 1975 until 1979. These days, Gal Gadot is the one who is playing Wonder Woman in the current crop of DC movies, and it seems like Lynda Carter is a big fan of this new incarnation of the character.

Did You Guess Right?

Who’s Samantha Stephens’s Mother in Bewitched?

Running for eight seasons from 1964 until 1972, Bewitched is the show about (you guessed it), a witch who ended up marrying a normal guy and promises she’ll live a normal life in the suburbs. After just one season, Bewitched was already the second-rated show in the country. While Samantha Stephens was the witch of the story, her opinionated mother was always stirring things up in the show. What was her name though?

  1. Endora
  2. Kitty
  3. Sally
  4.  Frieda
Who’s Samantha Stephens’s Mother in Bewitched?

Did You Guess Right?

The mother of Samantha Stephens goes by the name of Endora. Also a witch, she despises the idea that her daughter would decide to settle for a mere mortal. Despite this, she decides to roll with the situation. This doesn’t mean that she doesn’t take her time to put spells on the guy, simply to make herself laugh. It was Agnes Moorehead who played the role of Endora and she famously would never get Darren’s name right.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Is This ’70s TV Character?

Every sitcom seems to have their own schtick and for the sitcom Taxi, which ran from 1978 until 1983, it’s pretty self-explanatory what it was for this classic show. It is mainly about the everyday lives of a bunch of taxi drivers in New York City who have to deal with an annoying dispatcher. One of the following TV characters drove cabs for the Sunshine Cab company. Which one?

  1. 1. David Banner
  2. 2. Meryl Stubing
  3. 3. Charles Ingalls
  4. 4. Tony Banta
Who Is This ’70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

It would be an understatement to say that Tony Danza was the breakout star of Taxi with his role as the similarly-named Tony Banta. A Vietnam vet who is down on his luck as an aspiring boxer, Tony resorts to being a taxi driver for the Sunshine Cab Company. The kind-hearted young man finally falls in love with Vicki, who becomes pregnant with his child in the final season. There is no denying that this role made Danza a household name.

Did You Guess Right?

Can You Guess This ’60s TV Character?

Hit show Gunsmoke just about qualifies for this list as it started off as a radio series before transitioning into TV. The likes of Doc Adams and Matt Dillon became names that were synonymous with Westerns during this time, but they weren’t the only stars of this popular ’60s show. Which one of these characters was one of the latter’s most recognizable sidekicks?

  1. Festus Haggen
  2. Mike Brady
  3. Arthur Fonzarelli
  4. Steve McGarrett
Can You Guess This ’60s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

Fans of Gunsmoke will never forget the illiterate and cantankerous deputy that was Festus Haggen. Having appeared in over 300 episodes of the show, he was definitely one of the most iconic faces in all of Dodge. Originally arriving in town to avenge the passing of his brother, Festus struggles to fit in at first but eventually becomes a well-respected sidekick to Matt Dillon. Ken Curtis, who played Festus, certainly brought comical quality to the hit Western sitcom.

Did You Guess Right?

What Is the Name of This ’70s Character?

Balancing the fine line between comedy and drama was the hit ’70s series M*A*S*H. Originally a spinoff show from the movie of the same name, this show, created by Larry Gelbart, follows a group of doctors stationed abroad during the Korean War. It’s hard to ignore the impact that Alan Alda had on the show, especially since he starred in all 11 seasons. But what was his character’s name? The choice is yours.

  1. Detective Dave Starsky
  2. Horace Rumpole
  3. Captain Franklin Pierce
  4. Lord Brent Sinclair
What Is the Name of This 70s Character?

Did You Guess Right?

Although Donald Sutherland played the role in the movie, it was Alan Alda who immortalized the role of Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the spinoff series. What you will learn quickly into M*A*S*H is that Hawkeye humorously likes to rebel against the rules, despite often being regarded as the moral center of the show. Early on in the very first season, Pierce becomes the Chief Surgeon of the unit, moving up the ranks very quickly.

Did You Guess Right?

What Is This ’70s TV Character’s Name?

It is a show that seems to have been reinvented a million and one times since its inception as a play in the ’60s. But the sitcom remake of The Odd Couple, which ran from 1970 until 1975, had a winning formula that was difficult to break. It is about two divorced men whose personalities and lifestyles clash as they live together in a Manhattan apartment. Jack Klugman starred alongside Tony Randall, but what was the latter’s name in the show?

  1. Steve Austin
  2. Kwai Chang Caine
  3. Felix Unger
  4. Basil Fawlty
What Is This ’70s TV Character’s Name?

Did You Guess Right?

The name of Tony Randall’s character was, of course, Felix Unger. He is very worried about the smallest of details and can also be described as a hypochondriac. Then there was Klugman’s character, Oscar Madison, who is untidy and laidback in comparison. Based on a Neil Simon play, this story has been recreated many times. Of course, it was Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau who played the two characters in the 1968 film. The latter also starred in the play.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Was This ’70s TV Character?

While the late David Cassidy was one of the standouts of the ABC musical sitcom The Partridge Family, there were plenty of other characters on the show played by young, talented performers, including this young lady. The family is loosely based on the band the Cowsills, who were marketed as a musical family. This “band member” played the keyboard/piano and even sang back up at times. But what was her name?

  1. Alice
  2. Laurie
  3. Mary
  4. Sophie
Who Was This ’70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

Of course, it was Susan Day who played this talented member of The Partridge Family, Laurie Partridge. The second child of Shirley, Laurie was kind of like a jack of all trades and brought a lot of versatility to the musical family. Susan Day was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Laurie. She starred in 96 episodes of the show and would go on to also have plenty of critical success on L.A. Law a few decades later.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Was This ’70s TV Character?

Is there a family on TV more iconic than The Brady Bunch? There is no denying that this happy-go-lucky clan had strength in numbers and every family member, regardless of age or gender, brought their own unique flavor to the house. While they were always stronger as a unit, we would like to shed some light on one of the family members. Which child in this photo was the second child of Mike Brady?

  1. Jack
  2. Henry
  3.  Peter
  4. Danny
Who Was This ’70s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

The second child of Mike Brady was none other than Peter Brady, played by Christopher Knight. The third oldest child in the entire family, Peter was very much one of the main sources of comic relief on the show, often causing mischief and making jokes with his sisters Jan and Marcia. While he pretty much put his acting to one side, Christopher Knight went on to become a successful businessman but has had some sporadic TV appearances in recent times.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Is This ’60s TV Character?

There might not be a more iconic pig in all of TV. Arnold from Green Acres had such a huge impact on pop culture that he would go on to be referenced in various shows and movies, including Pulp Fiction! But this particular question isn’t about this beloved swine. The leading lady of this show was one half of a married couple who moved from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the peaceful countryside.

  1. Shirley Partridge
  2. Lisa Douglas
  3. Jaclyn Smith
  4. Louise Jefferson
Who Is This ’60s TV Character?

Did You Guess Right?

Of course, the correct answer is Lisa Douglas. She is the wife of Oliver. A veteran of World War II, just like her husband, Lisa has a strange view of the world and will often choose to throw plates out of the window instead of washing them. Despite being a fish out of the water, Lisa warms to the locals of Green Acres better than Oliver, mainly because of her reputation as an airhead.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Was the Third of Charlie’s Angels?

When you are a show that has been remade in what seems to be a million different other shows and film franchises, you know you are doing something right. While Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu added their own spin to the roles a few decades later, it was the likes of Jill Munroe and Sabrina Duncan who were the original Charlie’s Angels back in the ’70s, as well as this third Angel.

  1. Shirley Feeney
  2. Kris Munroe
  3. Barbara Cooper
  4. Kelly Garrett
Who Was the Third of Charlie’s Angels?

Did You Guess Right?

From 1976 to 1981, Charlie’s Angels graced American TV and shed light on the crime-fighting lives of the three stars, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, and Kelly Garrett, the latter of which was played by Jaclyn Smith. Amazingly, she was the only female lead from the original lineup who lasted the show’s entire run. Not to mention the fact that she also reprised the role in the motion picture remakes from both 2003 and 2019. Smith has also marketed her very own perfume and clothing lines.

Did You Guess Right?

Which All in the Family Member Is This?

One of the biggest sitcoms of the ’70s is, without a shadow of a doubt, All in the Family. This hit show, which had a star-studded cast, pushed the envelope when it came to what typical sitcom characters talk about. Many pressing topics at the time such as racism, religion, gender, politics, and war were discussed on the show, making it unique in that respect. This guy was arguably the breakout star of the show.

  1. Linc Hayes
  2. John McIntyre
  3. Oscar Madison
  4. Archie Bunker
Which All in the Family Member Is This?

Did You Guess Right?

Of course, the man in this image is the one and only Archibald Bunker – better known as Archie. Played by Carroll O’Connor, this conservative father/husband had a way with words and knew how to start an argument in his household. The character of Archie Bunker was so popular that an entire spinoff show dedicated to the character, Archie Bunker’s Palace, was greenlit after All in the Family came to an end. It turns out that the creator based Archie on his own father.

Did You Guess Right?

What Was Agent 86 from Get Smart’s Real Name?

After the James Bond movies burst onto the scene in the ’60s, it seemed like there were many TV shows that were trying to recreate the magic of an international spy. Get Smart was one of them and at a humorous twist to the spy genre. The main character the show, Agent 86, is a top-secret government spy who was a perfect mix of James Bond and Mel Brooks humor. But what was his actual name?

  1. Latka Gravas
  2. Maxwell Smart
  3. Jon Boy Walton
  4. Louie De Palma
What Was Agent 86 from Get Smart’s Real Name?

Did You Guess Right?

While many remember him as Agent 86, the real name of this spy was, of course, Maxwell Smart. This ripoff of James Bond and Inspector Clouseau might be the top dog in the government’s secret agency, but he is a very clumsy individual. With that said, he knows how to protect himself. He has been ranked as one of the greatest TV characters ever in many lists and it was Steve Carell who played the character in the 2008 remake.

Did You Guess Right?

Who Is This Addams Family Member?

It is a tale that seems to get remade every few years, but it was back in the ’30s when The Addams Family was first created. Fast forward 30 years and the spooky family would hit the small screen – with Gomez, Morticia, and Uncle Fester all charming viewers with their weird and hilarious antics. But there was one character who certainly developed a cult following, especially with young women.

  1. Wednesday
  2. Morticia
  3. Lurch
  4. Cousin It
Who Is This Addams Family Member?

Did You Guess Right?

The young daughter of the Addams Family goes by the name of Wednesday Addams. The daughter of Morticia and Gomez is one of the quintessential moody TV characters. Her name is based on the nursery rhyme line, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” Of course, it was Christina Ricci who would eventually bring the character of Wednesday to a newer audience in the ’90s movies, but it was Lisa Loring who originally brought the moody daughter of this iconic family into the public consciousness.

Did You Guess Right?

What Was John Travolta’s Character Called?

Welcome Back, Kotter was a popular sitcom that ran from 1975 to 1979 and was recorded in front of a live audience. It stars Gabe Kaplan as a high school teacher who is in charge of an extremely diverse class of students. As you can see, it was the legendary John Travolta who first burst onto the scene in sitcom form, playing the following character who happened to be the “unofficial official” leader of the Sweathogs. But what was the name of this guy?

  1. Dan Rowan
  2. Vinnie Barbarino
  3. James West
  4. Daniel Briggs
What Was John Travolta’s Character Called?

Did You Guess Right?

The Italian-American guy who is the leader of the Sweathogs goes by the name of Vinnie Barbarino. It was one of John Travolta who landed the role back in the ’70s and is certainly springboarded him into the limelight. Arguably the most famous name on this list, John Travolta has come a long way since his times as Vinnie Barbarino. He has since gone on to star in huge blockbuster movies such as Grease, Pulp Fiction, and Face/Off, to name a few.

Did You Guess Right?

What Was The Bionic Woman’s Name?

Lindsay Wagner certainty had a successful time in the world of TV. However, there is no denying that her finest hour came in the show The Six Million Dollar Man. As a matter of fact, her character ended up landing her very own show, The Bionic Woman. The latter aired from 1976 until 1978 and Wagner’s titular character took part in many high-risk missions with her super bionic powers. But what was her real name?

  1. Jaime Sommers
  2. Sabrina Duncan
  3. Alice Hyatt
  4. Mary Richards
What Was The Bionic Woman’s Name?

Did You Guess Right?

It seems like viewers couldn’t get enough of Jaime Sommers, who was one of the main stars of the Six Million Dollar Man. After a sky diving accident, she ends up becoming a cyborg with superhuman powers. Lindsay Wagner’s character was so popular that she ended up getting her very own spinoff series, as well as a number of reunion TV films. Jaime can do all sorts of cool things such as running at extremely fast speeds and detecting sounds from far away.

Did You Guess Right?

Which Bonzanza Character Did Dan Blocker Play?

During it’s peak, Bonanza was the very best Western series that TV had to offer. And it featured some great actors who were perfect of the leads of the series. These include Dan Blocker, whose previous acting experience mainly revolved around other Western shows and movies. This begs the question, which of the main characters did he play? One thing’s for sure, it certainly made him a wealthy man in the long run.

  1. Tony Nelson
  2. Captain Parmenter
  3. Hoss Cartwright
  4. Jed Clampett
Which Bonzanza Character Did Dan Blocker Play?

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Arguably the most popular character on the show, Eric Warren Cartwright, also known colloquially as “Hoss,” was a standout character on Bonanza. Dan Blocker played the big man for a staggering 400+ episodes until his passing in 1972. Hoss is a gentle giant, which is exactly the quality that the crew saw in Blocker at the time. They described him as the “least actor-ish as well as the most likable” cast member. “Over the years he gave me the least amount of trouble,” producer David Dortort said.

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What Was the Name of This Beloved TV Genie?

It was Barbara Eden who starred in the following show about a 2,000-year-old genie who ends up getting discovered by an astronaut, of all people. Of course, Eden had already been on TV for a few years prior to this role, having starred in shows such as How to Marry a Millionaire, amongst others. But what was the name of this mystical character that everyone seemed to be dreaming about?

  1. Julie
  2. Margaret
  3.  Jeannie
  4.  Laurie
What Was the Name of This Beloved TV Genie?

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Of course, the name of the genie was quite fittingly, Jeannie! I Dream of Jeannie saw Eden play the titular character, who ends up becoming subservient and eventually falling in love with an astronaut called Larry Hagman. The show ran for five seasons and 139 episodes. Amazingly, even as she approaches her ’90s, Barbara Eden is still doing it until this very day, having most recently starred in stage productions such as Social Security and Love Letters.

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