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About This Quiz
Americans have been gathering around the television to laugh, learn, and cry for generations. See if you can place some of the most famous shows of all time with this HowStuffWorks quiz!
When did "M*A*S*H" start?
1940s
1980s
2010s
1970s
This massively popular show aired from 1972-1983 and is part of a media franchise including books, a movie and plays. In the series, the staff of a US Army hospital uses humor to survive the horrors of the Korean War.
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During which decade did "Friends" air?
1990s
"Friends" is an iconic '90s show that aired from 1994-2004 on NBC. This show launched the careers of some of its stars, including Jennifer Aniston.
1940s
1950s
1980s
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During which decade did "I Love Lucy" air?
1950s
"I Love Lucy" aired from 1951-1957. Lucille Ball plays the wacky wife of Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo, played by Desi Arnaz, who gets into all sorts of misadventures in NYC.
1990s
2000s
1970s
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When did "The Beverly Hillbillies" originally air?
1950s
1960s
This sitcom aired for over a decade, starting in 1962, and even had a spinoff TV show and film. It followed the lives of a hillbilly family who become millionaires after striking oil and move to Beverly Hills, where they wreak havoc.
1980s
2000s
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"Boy Meets World" was on air during which decade?
1970s
2010s
1990s
This coming-of-age sitcom aired on ABC from 1993-2000. It follows Corey Matthews and his friends from junior high until their college years.
1950s
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During which decade did "The X-Files" air?
1990s
"The X-Files" was a Sci-fi phenomenon which ran from 1993-2002 on Fox. Vince Gilligan and Bryan Cranston, who would later go on to work on "Breaking Bad," met on this iconic show.
1950s
1970s
1940s
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"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" began during which decade?
1960s
1950s
1980s
2000s
This dark comedy sitcom about a group of deeply dysfunctional friends aired for the first time in 2005. The group own and work in Paddy's Pub, an unpopular Philadelphia bar.
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When did "The Twilight Zone" air originally?
2000s
1970s
1960s
"The Twilight Zone" was created by Rod Serling, who wrote over half of its initial run of more than 150 episodes. This mixed genre anthology series that wasn't afraid of the dark, existential or strange ran from 1959-1964.
1990s
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"Cheers" initially aired during the __________.
2000s
1980s
"Cheers" aired from 1982-1993 on NBC. There are 275 episodes of this show about the wacky characters who spend their time in a cozy Boston bar.
1970s
1950s
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When did "Bewitched" originally air?
1940s
1960s
An NYC ad exec accidentally marries a powerful witch in this longrunning ABC sitcom. This show aired originally from 1964-1972.
1980s
1990s
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"Seinfeld" aired during which decade?
1990s
This iconic show about nothing ran from 1989-1998 on NBC. Created and co-written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the show centers around the lives of four criminally careless wacky friends getting into absurd day-to-day situations in NYC.
2010s
1970s
1950s
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"Mad Men" began in which decade?
2000s
Created by Matthew Weiner, this award-winning exquisitely crafted show aired on AMC from 2007-2015. It chronicles the struggles of Don Draper to balance his family responsibilities and life working in the high-pressure world of NYC advertising firms.
1980s
1960s
1970s
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During which decade did "Gilligan's Island" initially air?
1940s
1960s
"Gilligan's Island" showed the misadventures of a group of kooky characters trying and failing to escape a deserted island. It initially aired from 1964-1967 on CBS.
2000s
1980s
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When was "Twin Peaks" on TV?
1950s
1990s
This surreal crime drama aired from 1990-1991. It was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost.
1970s
2000s
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When did "The Munsters" originally air?
1940s
1990s
1960s
This CBS sitcom about a family of friendly monsters ran from 1964-1966. In August 2017, it was announced that Seth Meyers is developing a modern-day reboot that will take place in Brooklyn.
2010s
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During which decade was "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" on TV first?
1950s
1970s
2000s
1990s
This NBC sitcom in which Will Smith plays himself aired from 1990-1996. Its theme song is as well-remembered and loved as the show itself.
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During which decade was the initial run of "The A-Team" on air?
1950s
1980s
"The A-Team" was an action-adventure show that ran on NBC from 1983-1987. In it, a team of ex-special forces soldiers on the run from military police for a crime they didn't commit always manage to save the day.
1990s
2010s
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"Happy Days" aired when?
1960s
2010s
1990s
1970s
The iconic "Happy Days" ran for a decade on ABC starting in 1974. Largely set in the 1950s, this famous show is where the loveable greaser Fonzie comes from.
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"The Brady Bunch" began in the:
1950s
1970s
This classic American sitcom initially aired from 1969-1974 on ABC. In this show, 2 people who already have 3 kids each marry to form one large wacky family.
1990s
2000s
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"Leave It to Beaver" aired during which decade?
1950s
This sitcom about a naive boy and his family aired from 1957-1963. An iconic show which defined its era, it aired originally on CBS.
1980s
2000s
1990s
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"Miami Vice" was on air initially during the:
1960s
1980s
This dark cop show ran on NBC from 1984-1990. It's largely remembered for its slick style and visuals.
2000s
2010s
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When was "Charlie's Angels" initially on TV?
1970s
"Charlie's Angels" aired on ABC from 1976-1981. This show popularized the term "jiggle TV," which described a show that featured gratuitously scantily clad women in improbable situations.
1990s
2000s
2010s
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"Saturday Night Live" aired during which decade?
1970s
1980s
2010s
All of the Above
SNL has been airing since 1975. This Emmy Award-winning late night live sketch comedy show has featured talents like George Carlin, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Eddie Murphy, Jim Belushi and Kristen Wiig.
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When was "Full House" on air originally?
1990s
"Full House" ran on ABC from 1987-1995. This is the show where Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen got their start.
1950s
1970s
2000s
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"Gunsmoke" aired when?
1950s
1960s
1970s
All of the above
"Gunsmoke" aired for 20 seasons, from 1955 to 1975. This show about a marshal trying to stop lawlessness from swallowing Dodge City, Kansas is the second longest-running American TV show of all time.
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"How I Met Your Mother" aired during which decade?
2000s
This long-running sitcom narrated by Bob Saget aired from 2005-2014. In it, Ted tells his children the incredibly long-winded story of how he met their mother.
1980s
1960s
1950s
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"Mork & Mindy" was on during the __________.
1970s
"Mork & Mindy" was a "Happy Days" spinoff about a bumbling alien trying his best to get a handle on earth culture. The sitcom ran from 1978-1982 and was an early role for Robin Williams, who played Mork the alien.
1950s
2000s
1980s
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During which decade did "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" premiere?
1990s
1980s
1950s
This mystery and suspense anthology series was produced and hosted by famed director Alfred Hitchcock. It ran from 1955-1965.
1920s
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"The Andy Griffith Show" was on originally during the _________.
2010s
1920s
1960s
The Andy Griffith show was about a widower sheriff living in a small, almost crime-free South Carolina town. This show ran from 1960-1968.
1990s
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When did "The Golden Girls" start?
1980s
"The Golden Girls" ran on NBC from 1985-1992. It follows the lives of four sassy older women who live together in Miami.
1960s
2010s
1940s
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"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was on during which decade?
1970s
This workplace sitcom aired on CBS from 1970-1977. It starred Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, a single 30-something working for the lowest-rated local TV station in Minneapolis.
1950s
2000s
2010s
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During which decade did "All in the Family" air?
1950s
1970s
"All in the Family" aired on CBS from 1971-1979. This is the show that brought the world the hilariously ignorant Archie Bunker and his long-suffering wife, Edith.
1990s
2000s
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When did "ALF" air?
1950s
1960s
1980s
This sitcom aired on NBC from 1986-1990. In it, a wiseguy alien crashlands in a suburban family's home and they take him in.
2010s
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"Hill Street Blues" aired during which decade?
1960s
2000s
1990s
1980s
This award-winning cop drama focused on the staff of an unnamed inner city police precinct. It was a primetime show on NBC from 1981-1987.
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When did the original "Batman" air?
1960s
Despite only originally running on ABC from 1966-1968, "Batman" starring Adam West as the caped crusader has left its mark on American culture. In this classic campy superhero show, Batman and Robin teamed up against a host of kooky villains.
1990s
1970s
2000s
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You Got:
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