TV Truths (and Big Fat Lies)
1 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Henry Winkler, who later starred as Fonzie on TV's Happy Days, auditioned for The Monkees.
Micky Dolenz of The Monkees later auditioned for the role of Fonzie on TV's Happy Days.
ANSWER: )
(Dolenz and Winkler were both born in 1945; Micky is not quite six months older than Henry. )
(Dolenz and Winkler were both born in 1945; Micky is not quite six months older than Henry.
(Dolenz and Winkler were both born in 1945; Micky is not quite six months older than Henry. )
(Dolenz and Winkler were both born in 1945; Micky is not quite six months older than Henry.
2 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Dick York, who portrayed the first Darrin on Bewitched, left the show after too many pratfalls resulted in chronic back pain that made it impossible for him to continue.
Wilson, the neighbor on Home Improvement, kept the lower half of his face obscured because actor Earl Hindman had a visible cleft palate surgery scar.
ANSWER:
ANSWER: )
It was just a sight-gag related to Tim Allen's childhood memories of his neighbor, who usually appeared to the youngster as eyes and a nose peering over a fence. )
It was just a sight-gag related to Tim Allen's childhood memories of his neighbor, who usually appeared to the youngster as eyes and a nose peering over a fence.
It was just a sight-gag related to Tim Allen's childhood memories of his neighbor, who usually appeared to the youngster as eyes and a nose peering over a fence. )
It was just a sight-gag related to Tim Allen's childhood memories of his neighbor, who usually appeared to the youngster as eyes and a nose peering over a fence.
3 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Bob Keeshan, best known in the title role of Captain Kangaroo, won a Purple Heart when his shoulder was injured during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Russell Johnson, best known as the Professor on TV's Gilligan's Island, won a Purple Heart after his plane was shot down over the Philippines during World War II.
ANSWER: )
While Keeshan did join the U.S. Marines, he never saw combat action. )
While Keeshan did join the U.S. Marines, he never saw combat action.
While Keeshan did join the U.S. Marines, he never saw combat action. )
While Keeshan did join the U.S. Marines, he never saw combat action.
4 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Kathie Lee Gifford launched her TV career as a singer on the game show Name That Tune
Meredith Vieira launched her TV career as a card-flipping model on the game show Card Sharks.
ANSWER: )
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host kicked off her TV career as a news reporter for a Chicago station. )
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host kicked off her TV career as a news reporter for a Chicago station.
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host kicked off her TV career as a news reporter for a Chicago station. )
The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? host kicked off her TV career as a news reporter for a Chicago station.
5 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Diahann Carroll was the first African-American woman to win an Emmy.
Bill Cosby was the first African-American actor to appear on the cover of TV Guide.
ANSWER: )
This honor actually went to Cicely Tyson for her role in the made-for-TV film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. )
This honor actually went to Cicely Tyson for her role in the made-for-TV film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
This honor actually went to Cicely Tyson for her role in the made-for-TV film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. )
This honor actually went to Cicely Tyson for her role in the made-for-TV film The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
6 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Despite being known for her geeky inability to dance on the sitcom Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus attended Northwestern University on a ballet scholarship.
On I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball's character was rarely allowed to be in her husband's show due to her lack of talent, but in real life, Ball was a trained singer and dancer who'd previously performed on Broadway and in feature films.
ANSWER: )
(Her sister once hinted in an interview that Julia's entire family dances in that odd fashion. )
(Her sister once hinted in an interview that Julia's entire family dances in that odd fashion.
(Her sister once hinted in an interview that Julia's entire family dances in that odd fashion. )
(Her sister once hinted in an interview that Julia's entire family dances in that odd fashion.
7 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
On TV's Roseanne, the Conners' youngest child (born in Season 8) was named Jerry in tribute to the late Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead.
On TV's Roseanne, the Conners' third child was known as 'D.J.' because he was named "Dan Junior" after his father.
ANSWER: )
(It was revealed early on in the series that D.J.'s full name was David Jacob Conner. )
(It was revealed early on in the series that D.J.'s full name was David Jacob Conner.
(It was revealed early on in the series that D.J.'s full name was David Jacob Conner. )
(It was revealed early on in the series that D.J.'s full name was David Jacob Conner.
8 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Nancy Reagan became the first First Lady to appear on a sitcom when she made a 1983 appearance on Diff'rent Strokes
Betty Ford became the first First Lady to appear on a sitcom when she made a 1976 appearance on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
ANSWER: )
(Nancy Reagan's "anti-drug" message got more press, of course. Bonus trivia tidbit: Bill Clinton's brother, Roger, played the Sheffields' next-door neighbor on a few episodes of The Nanny. )
(Nancy Reagan's "anti-drug" message got more press, of course. Bonus trivia tidbit: Bill Clinton's brother, Roger, played the Sheffields' next-door neighbor on a few episodes of The Nanny.
(Nancy Reagan's "anti-drug" message got more press, of course. Bonus trivia tidbit: Bill Clinton's brother, Roger, played the Sheffields' next-door neighbor on a few episodes of The Nanny. )
(Nancy Reagan's "anti-drug" message got more press, of course. Bonus trivia tidbit: Bill Clinton's brother, Roger, played the Sheffields' next-door neighbor on a few episodes of The Nanny.
9 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
For the very first pay-per-view TV concert ever aired, viewers coughed up $1.50 to see The Kingston Trio in 1962.
The first pay-per-view TV movie ever shown was the X-rated Oscar-winning film Midnight Cowboy, offered for $2 in 1972.
ANSWER: A)
(lthough this is untrue, the X-rated movie industry embraced the idea of pay-per-view and offered much of its content that way in the years that followed. A)
(lthough this is untrue, the X-rated movie industry embraced the idea of pay-per-view and offered much of its content that way in the years that followed.
(lthough this is untrue, the X-rated movie industry embraced the idea of pay-per-view and offered much of its content that way in the years that followed. A)
(lthough this is untrue, the X-rated movie industry embraced the idea of pay-per-view and offered much of its content that way in the years that followed.
10 of 10
Which of these is a BIG FAT LIE?
Saturday Night Live was so popular in 1976 that NBC cut away from a World Series game (with the Cincinnati Reds leading 6-1) to allow the comedy sketch program to air live.
The first Super Bowl game in 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs was broadcast on two TV networks: CBS and NBC.
ANSWER: )
After the infamous "Heidi game" on NBC back in 1968, the network knew better than to preempt any major sporting event. )
After the infamous "Heidi game" on NBC back in 1968, the network knew better than to preempt any major sporting event.
After the infamous "Heidi game" on NBC back in 1968, the network knew better than to preempt any major sporting event. )
After the infamous "Heidi game" on NBC back in 1968, the network knew better than to preempt any major sporting event.