A Nickelodeon Quiz
1 of 10
In 1979, Nickelodeon launched a Sesame Street-esque children's variety show that filled a mind-boggling five hours of programming time per day. What was the name of the show?
Pinwheel
Turkey Television
Big House Blues
Calliope
ANSWER: Much like Sesame Street, the show employed the "puppets interacting with people" trope, and included various education-themed animated shorts to occupy children's time. I recall staying home sick from school and watching Pinwheel for a substantial portion of the day. After one day of that, I was more than ready to go back to school. [Source: Nick.com.] Much like Sesame Street, the show employed the "puppets interacting with people" trope, and included various education-themed animated shorts to occupy children's time. I recall staying home sick from school and watching Pinwheel for a substantial portion of the day. After one day of that, I was more than ready to go back to school. [Source: Nick.com.]
2 of 10
In 1988, a late-night style Nickelodeon showed called Don't Just Sit There helped catapult which of the following music acts to nearly-unimaginable heights of super-stardom?
New Kids on the Block
Debbie Gibson
Vanilla Ice
Boys II Men
ANSWER: New Kids on the Block. Seriously. [Image courtesy of John Norris Brown's Classic Nick Online.] New Kids on the Block. Seriously. [Image courtesy of John Norris Brown's Classic Nick Online.]
3 of 10
In 1983, Nickelodeon presented Mr. Wizard's World to children across the nation, reanimating a long-latent interest in science among youngsters. What was Mr. Wizard's real name?
Don Herbert
Don Imus
Don Ames
Don Knotts
4 of 10
What was the name of the grossly caricatured "Soviet" newscaster on the early-80s Nickelodeon show Turkey Television?
Dmitri Spinewsky
Ivan Tellalie
Fyodor Distortsky
Nicoli Volkoff
ANSWER: I don't remember Turkey Television...but man I wish I did after reading the following plot summary on IMDB.com: "A series comprised entirely of short (several per episode) comedy sketches. Recurring bits included "Kentucky Boys," a pair of stereotypical hicks discussing life; "Ivan Tellalie," Soviet newscaster (and Hero of Soviet Union, 23rd Class) and animated sequences involving the turkey that created TV. The show also included clips from Monty Python and other classic comedy." Wow—lots going on there. [Image courtesy of RetroJunk.] I don't remember Turkey Television...but man I wish I did after reading the following plot summary on IMDB.com: "A series comprised entirely of short (several per episode) comedy sketches. Recurring bits included "Kentucky Boys," a pair of stereotypical hicks discussing life; "Ivan Tellalie," Soviet newscaster (and Hero of Soviet Union, 23rd Class) and animated sequences involving the turkey that created TV. The show also included clips from Monty Python and other classic comedy." Wow—lots going on there. [Image courtesy of RetroJunk.]
5 of 10
Which female rocker was BY FAR the most successful You Can't Do That on Television alumnus?
Sheryl Crow
Toni Braxton
Alanis Morissette
Mary J. Blige
ANSWER: The wily little Canuck was so successful that she managed to make the cut for a recent Jason Plautz quiz on Grammy Winners. Her former lover—and purported inspiration for her most vitriolic lyric-writing—Dave Coulier was a cast member of the short-lived Nickelodeon show Out of Control. [Not even Snopes can determine who the "You Oughta Know" mystery man is. Image courtesy of YCDTOT.com.] The wily little Canuck was so successful that she managed to make the cut for a recent Jason Plautz quiz on Grammy Winners. Her former lover—and purported inspiration for her most vitriolic lyric-writing—Dave Coulier was a cast member of the short-lived Nickelodeon show Out of Control. [Not even Snopes can determine who the "You Oughta Know" mystery man is. Image courtesy of YCDTOT.com.]
6 of 10
If you were a cast member of You Can't Do That On Television, you had to be ever-leery and vigilant of which two things being dumped on your head?
Green slime and water
Green paint and water
Green slime and red paint
Green slime and blue paint
ANSWER: Saying the words "I don't know" would get you "slimed," while asking for water would get you a bucket of water on the head. Treacherous working conditions those. Cast members were paid an additional $50 for each episode in which they were slimed. There is no mention of financial remuneration for water-related frivolity. [Image courtesy of RetroJunk.] Saying the words "I don't know" would get you "slimed," while asking for water would get you a bucket of water on the head. Treacherous working conditions those. Cast members were paid an additional $50 for each episode in which they were slimed. There is no mention of financial remuneration for water-related frivolity. [Image courtesy of RetroJunk.]
7 of 10
From 1987-1989 the Nickelodeon Network ran a flimsily conceived "game show" that had children first figuring out picture puzzles, then rifling through messy rooms in search of a key. What was the name of the show?
Scavenger Hunt
Clever Cleaners
A Shot in the Dark
Finders Keepers
ANSWER: My neighbor Kate Mulcahy appeared on the show with fellow schoolmate Walter Mould. It was the only time I've ever seen someone I know on television. Their team did not win, but Kate commanded the screen with her obvious stage presence. My neighbor Kate Mulcahy appeared on the show with fellow schoolmate Walter Mould. It was the only time I've ever seen someone I know on television. Their team did not win, but Kate commanded the screen with her obvious stage presence.
8 of 10
The Nickelodeon Network, perhaps in a commendable bid to get children interested in issues of law and justice, created a show called Kid's Court. On the show, how was the final verdict rendered?
A CGI hologram prefect
A teacher
Applause-O-Meter
A giant eagle-puppet judge
ANSWER: IMDB.com itself is unaware of how many seasons the show ran, and precisely what years it officially enjoyed as programming on the Network. Paul Provenza—who memorably played Dr. Phillip Capra in several episodes of Northern Exposure—hosted the show. IMDB.com itself is unaware of how many seasons the show ran, and precisely what years it officially enjoyed as programming on the Network. Paul Provenza—who memorably played Dr. Phillip Capra in several episodes of Northern Exposure—hosted the show.
9 of 10
The show referenced in the previous question featured a recurring skit where Bill Cosby would draw simple pictures on a board with a pen that made strange noises. What was the name of the skit?
Kids Draw the Darndest Things
Picture Pages
Daily Draw
Feel Art Again
ANSWER: Official Picture Pages pens and drawing books were available for purchase by order so children could follow along with Dr. Cosby. Official Picture Pages pens and drawing books were available for purchase by order so children could follow along with Dr. Cosby.
10 of 10
Double Dare, the show responsible for making the phrase "physical challenge" part of the national lexicon, was anchored by which host-extraordinaire?
Tom Bergeron
Shadoe Stevens
Chuck Woolery
Marc Summers
ANSWER: Interesting fact concerning Mr. Summers. His birth name is Berkowitz...which he changed in order to avoid any setbacks resulting from the media attention surrounding "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz. Interesting fact concerning Mr. Summers. His birth name is Berkowitz...which he changed in order to avoid any setbacks resulting from the media attention surrounding "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz.
