Quiz Answers (Not Including Quiz 2)

D

What was significant about the 1965 NBC primetime schedule?

A. A majority of NBC shows were classified as fantasy, science fiction, or horror, marking an unprecedented level of genre commitment in TV history.

B. For the first time, most NBC shows were performed live, with no pre-recorded footage used in any of the episodes.

C. Boasting hits like The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Perry Mason, NBC dominated the Nielsen ratings, which allowed the network to successfully brand itself as “Must See TV.”

D. Nearly all NBC primetime shows were broadcast in color, which forced ABC and CBS to make color TV shows to compete.

C

Which of the following was an inventor who first demonstrated the technology of television?

A. Red Skelton

B. Raymond Knight

C. John Logie Baird

D. Burr Tillstrom

C

Speaking about “Devil in the Dark” - the episode of Star Trek you watched for homework - Gene Roddenberry said that if you can learn to feel for this character, “You may also be learning to understand and feel for other humans of different colors, ways, and beliefs.” To which character is Roddenberry referring?

A. Spock

B. Kirk

C. The Horta

D. Khan

B

Offered the chance to play 007 before Sean Connery, the star of this espionage turned down the role, objecting to James Bond’s womanizing and gunplay.

A. Mission Impossible

B. The Prisoner

C. Get Smart

D. I Spy

C

What advantage did ABC, NBC, and CBS have over DuMont and other potential competitors in the Golden Age of Television?

A. Each network mass manufactured television equipment that could advertise their programming.

B. Each network had an executive on the Federal Communications Commission.

C. They were already radio networks with many talented performers already under contract.

D. The “Big Three” networks held a collective monopoly on the kinescope and that made it nearly impossible for any other networks to compete.

C

The Golden Age of TV led directly to:

A. World War II

B. The birth of the sitcom

C. The end of the Golden Age of Radio

D. All of the above

D

The star of which 1950s television show helped put Star Trek on the air?

A. Father Knows Best

B. The Honeymooners

C. Your Show of Shows

D. I Love Lucy

B

What’s the first animated series made specifically for TV?

A. Rocky & Bullwinkle

B. Crusader Rabbit

C. Felix the Cat

D. The Flintstones

C

Pitching her agent on the show that would become That Girl, actress Marlo Thomas pointed out the popularity of a book by Betty Friedan. What’s the name of this best-selling nonfiction title of 1964?

A. The Bell Jar

B. The Woman Warrior

C. The Feminine Mystique

D. Women Who Run with the Wolves

D

Which of the following was NOT a contribution of TV pioneer Allen B. DuMont?

A. He started the DuMont TV Network.

B. He helped create the Public Broadcasting System (PBS)

C. He invented the cathode ray tube that could last for 1,000 hours.

D. He sent the first transatlantic TV signal.

C

What does Mel Brooks have in common with Gene Roddenberry and Rod Serling?

A. They each got their start on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows.

B. Each of them was fired by CBS.

C. They’re all WWII veterans.

D. All of the above

A

The Addams Family and The Munsters were decidedly unconventional and eccentric TV families but they served a deeper purpose beyond entertainment. In an indirect, allegorical fashion, what problem did they address?

A. The lack of diversity on network shows.

B. The overemphasis on commercialization and product placement.

C. The over-reliance on formulaic plotlines.

D. The excessive use of laugh tracks in sitcoms.

D

Tremendously influential on the TV sitcom, which Golden Age of Television star invented the rerun?

A. Gertrude Berg

B. Jackie Gleason

C. Phil Silvers

D. Desi Arnaz

D

Which of these Golden Age TV shows went mostly unscripted?

A. Your Show of Shows

B. The Goldbergs

C. Mary Kay and Johnny

D. Kukla, Fran and Ollie

C

What’s the first TV sitcom?

A. Texaco Star Theater

B. I Love Lucy

C. Pinwright’s Progress

D. The Honeymooners

A

What’s the first hour long regular TV drama?

A. Perry Mason

B. Dragnet

C. Playhouse 90

D. Alfred Hitchcock Presents

C

What did Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling consider “the singular evil of our time?”

A. Capitalism

B. Communism

C. Prejudice

D. Boomers

D

Elinor Donahue, who played Betty on Father Knows Best, also portrayed the character Elli Walker on The Andy Griffith Show. What was notable about Ellie Walker?

A. She was the first divorced sitcom character.

B. She was the first African American character to get a speaking line on The Andy Griffith Show.

C. She wore Capri pants at a time when most adult female characters wore dresses.

D. She worked as a pharmacist at a time when most adult female characters were either housewives or worked traditionally female jobs.

C

The Television Ghost was a horror anthology show from 1931. Why can’t we watch it now?

A. The Television Ghost was recorded on highly flammable nitrate film.

B. The Television Ghost was considered “indecent” by Herbert Hoover’s FCC, who ordered all copies to be destroyed.

C. The Television Ghost was broadcast live and not recorded.

D. Recordings of The Television Ghost were erased to make room for new programming, as the cost of storing and maintaining the tapes was considered too high.

A

Invented in 1947, what did the kinescope finally allow TV networks to do?

A. Record TV shows

B. Display the images received from a TV signal

C. Merge picture and sound into a TV signal

D. Separate the vertical frim-frams from the horizontal froo-froos

D

What’s the “influence” in A Woman Under the Influence?

A. Mental illness

B. Societal expectations

C. Alcohol

D. All of the above

A

What is an exploitation film?

A. A film that exploits a popular trend.

B. A film that exploits its investors.

C. A film that exploits its actors.

D. A film that exploits its audience.

D

Which of the following was the very first home video game console?

A. The Atari 2600

B. The Sega Genesis

C. The Nintendo Entertainment System

D. The Magnavox Odyssey

B

When the time came to release Jaws to the public, Universal made several unorthodox decisions about its release. Which of the following was NOT true of the film’s release strategy?

A. Advertising featuring talk show appearances and a teaser trailer was highly utilized.

B. The film was released at Christmas to distinguish it from other blockbusters that were typically released during the summer.

C. The marketing of the film included toys, games, ice cream, and a re-release of the novel with new cover art.

D. The film was released in hundreds of theaters simultaneously to create “event viewing.”

C

Film professor Carol Clover coined a term to describe female characters who unexpectedly survive horror films, often due to their purity, intelligence, or other traits which contrast from their less-fortunate peers. What is this term?

A. A Laurie Strode

B. A Marie Sue

C. A Final Girl

D. A Lazy Susan

D

After creating Computer Space, which was generally regarded as a clone of Spacewar!, Atari founders Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney created which other popular video game that was likewise considered a copy of a pre-existing game?

A. Pac-Man

B. Asteroid

C. Colossal Cave

D. Pong

C

To revise the screenplay for Jaws, Spielberg turned to writer Carl Gottlieb for help. Gottlieb was an unconventional choice to take on the script. Why?

A. Gottlieb was a marine biologist but knew very little about screenwriting.

B. Gottlieb was a popular German screenwriter but spoke very little English.

C. Gottlieb was primarily a television comedy writer.

D. Spielberg and Gottlieb had a major falling out years earlier and vowed to never work together again.

A

Before creating the beloved video game Space Invaders, Tomohiro Nishikado created another important game: Gun Fight. Why was Gun Fight notable?

A. It was the first video game to feature guns and human-on-human violence.

B. It was the first video game to utilize sound effects.

C. It was the first video game to make the jump from arcades to consoles.

D. All of the above.

A

In Shaft (1971), private detective John Shaft is hired by local gangster Bumpy at the start of the film. What does Bumpy want Shaft to do?

A. Someone kidnapped Bumpy’s daughter and he wants Shaft to find her.

B. Someone killed Bumpy’s brother and he wants Shaft to find the guilty party.

C. Someone is trying to kill Bumpy and he wants Shaft to find out who it is.

D. Someone has framed Bumpy for murder and he wants Shaft to find the real killer.A

C

What name is given to Italian slasher films with sexploitation, psychological, and sometimes supernatural elements, like Dario Argento’s Suspiria?

A. Mondo film

B. Nudie cuties

C. Giallo film

D. Spaghetti horror

D

Which of the following statements about Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971) and its director, Melvin Van Peebles, is FALSE?

A. While working on a PhD in Astronomy, Van Peebles was invited by Henri Langlois to come to France, which he did. Van Peebles became a prolific writer and director there.

B. Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song received an X rating, in part because it features many sex scenes, some of which were unsimulated.

C. In order to produce Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, Van Peebles received a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby.

D. After directing Watermelon Man (1970), Van Peebles was offered a three picture deal by Columbia Pictures, which he eagerly accepted.

B

Which of the following statements about Steven Spielberg’s early career is true?

A. After a successful television career, Spielberg was offered the opportunity to direct The Duelists, which would mark his first collaboration with composer John Barry.

B. After screening his first theatrically released short film, Spielberg was offered a seven-year contract with Universal Television and was the youngest filmmaker at the time to receive such a deal.

C. Spielberg’s first professional directing role was on George Romero’s Tales from the Darkside and he would later direct an episode of Perry Mason.

D. Spielberg graduated at the top of his class from USC’s prestigious film school and was considered by his professors to be one of their most talented pupils.

A

Who was the first African American filmmaker to direct a film for a major American film studio, and what film did they direct?

A. Gordon Parks; The Learning Tree

B. Melvin Van Peebles; Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song

C. William Crain; Blacula

D. Jim Kelly; Black Belt Jones

C

Which of the following films is credited with launching a Blaxploitation subgenre focused on horror films?

A. The Prophecy

B. The Exorcist

C. Blacula

D. Abby

A

When Francis Ford Coppola was approached to direct The Godfather (1972), he agreed mostly because his production company American Zoetrope was in financial trouble due a failed filmmaking endeavor between Coppola and which other filmmaker?

A. George Lucas

B. Sergio Leone

C. Ridley Scott

D. Steven Spielberg

D

Charles Burnett, who directed Killer of Sheep, was part of a group of filmmakers at UCLA known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers, the Black Independent Movement, or the UCLA Rebellion. What was the group’s stated goal in making their films?

A. To serve as proof of concept for a TV network like ABC in hopes that they could create a television series based on their lives as film students at UCLA.

B. To cash in on the Blaxploitation movement and earn high-paying positions in Hollywood.

C. To show the world what a good job California Governor Pat Brown had done in ending systemic racism following civil unrest in the Watts neighborhood.

D. To contrast the depiction of African Americans in mainstream films and tell stories that showed the lives of real people of color and their communities.

B

Which of the following was NOT a trend for horror films of the 1970s?

A. The slasher film

B. Found footage horror

C. Supernatural horror

D. Body horror

D

Which statement describes the distinguishing characteristics of the lower budget critically acclaimed New Hollywood films of the 1970s?

A. These films explored controversial topics and were often produced independently or with limited studio involvement.

B. These films were typically innovative, unconventional, and/or experimental reactions against the traditional Hollywood studio system.

C. These films often explored themes of disillusionment, alienation, and isolation, reflecting Americans’ misgivings about Watergate and the Vietnam War.

D. All of the statements are true.

D

Which filmmaker mortgaged their house and raise $500,000 from a friend to finance their production, and personally called theater owners to distribute the film after not finding a studio willing to do so?

A. Gordon Parks

B. Martin Scorsese

C. George Lucas

D. John Cassavetes

C

In Enter the Dragon (1973), Mr. Lee (Bruce Lee) enters Han’s tournament to, in part, get revenge on Han’s men who were responsible for the death of one of Lee’s family members. Which of Lee’s family members died in a confrontation with Han’s men?

A. Lee’s brother

B. Lee’s son

C. Lee’s sister

D. Lee’s father

C

Known for its quick time events (QTEs), the innovative Dragon’s Lair LaserDisc game came about through a partnership between “electronic wizard” Rick Dyer and which famed animator/director?

A. Ralph Bakshi

B. Tex Avery

C. Don Bluth

D. Chuck Jones

D

Which of the following statements about Akira (1988) is NOT true?

A. The plot of Akira was heavily influenced by the trauma of nuclear war.

B. With its blend of dystopian themes, futuristic technology and societal critique, Akira is considered an iconic example of the cyberpunk genre.

C. Akira was said to have been the most expensive anime production of its time.

D. Akira was recently “rediscovered” as a hidden gem, having comparatively little impact upon its release.

C

Which of these filmmakers took out a full page ad in Variety as part of a very public feud with a movie studio that was blocking the release of his film?

A. Stanley Kubrick

B. Garry Shandling

C. Terry Gilliam

D. Rob Reiner

B

Which of the following characters id generally considered a “Mary Sue?”

A. Wendy from The Shining

B. Wesley from Star Trek: The Next Generation

C. Tetsuo from Akira

D. Red from Fraggle Rock

D

Which of these science fiction movies was adapted into a video game that’s widely considered to be one of the worst games of all time?

A. Alien

B. Tron

C. Blade Runner

D. E.T.

B

Which of the following statements about the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Measure of a Man” is NOT true?

A. After a rocky start to Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Measure of a Man” was widely considered the first great episode of the series.

B. The episode’s message was reinforced by utilizing an innovative approach to writing the script, which relied heavily on AI autocomplete predictive text technology.

C. In the years since it aired, “Measure of a Man” has proven influential on the question of whether artificial intelligence should be given rights and moral standing.

D. “Measure of a Man” was written by Melissa Snodgrass, a former attorney who was hired during the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.

C

When the financing fell through for Stand by Me, which famed writer/producer put up $7.5 million of his own money?

A. Garry Marshall

B. Sid Sheinberg

C. Norman Lear

D. Sherwood Schwartz

C

Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere stood out from earlier police and medical procedurals by incorporating storytelling elements that allowed for a deeper exploration of the personal lives of characters and their relationships. What type of highly successful show served as the primary inspiration for these elements?

A. Reality TV shows

B. Game shows

C. Soap operas

D. Courtroom dramas

D

During the 1980s, cable channels grew in number and gained a rapidly growing subscriber base due to what trend?

A. The introduction of color programming

B. The rise of home video rental services

C. The FCC regulating the industry

D. The FCC deregulating the industry

B

What was the first American TV show to be broadcast in the Soviet Union?

A. Cheers

B. Fraggle Rock

C. Family Ties

D. Pee-Wee’s Playhouse

A

Which of the following was NOT a contributing factor to the fall of Atari?

A. Atari overextended itself with a leveraged buyout of Nintendo.

B. The marketplace was saturated with competitors.

C. The Atari 5200, with its subpar controllers, struggled to gain commercial success.

D. Atari eroded consumer confidence with a series of disappointing games.

C

The sitcom Family Ties was Ronald Reagan’s avowed favorite show in part because it reflected a broad cultural trend in 1980s America. What was this trend?

A. Isolationism → Globalism

B. Bow ties → Clip-ons

C. Liberalism → Conservatism

D. Nuclear families → Blended families

A

Though widely appreciated as an offbeat, entertaining show, Moonlighting is infamous for tanking its ratings in the third season. Fairly or unfairly, this drop in viewership is often blamed on a decision the writers made. What’s the lesson other TV writers have taken from that decision?

A. Having your “will they or won’t they?” protagonists actually sleep together may ruin the tension between them.

B. Breaking the 4th wall and having your protagonists speak in rhyme can make your show too silly for the audience to care.

C. Recasting a beloved character can turn the audience against your show.

D. Never introduce a mystery without first knowing whodunit and how the protagonists will solve it.

A

Gritty police/crime dramas Hill Street Blues and Wiseguy each worked to advance what trend in television storytelling?

A. Serialized multi-episode story arcs

B. Breaking the 4th wall

C. Three-act structure

D. Voice-over narration

B

Who created Akira (1988)?

A. Juzo Itami

B. Katsuhiro Otomo

C. Hayao Miyazaki

D. Ishiro Honda

B

What rule did Gene Roddenberry give his writers that made the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation challenging to write?

A. No recycling of episode premises from the original series

B. No interpersonal conflict among the crew

C. At least one alien must be killed or kissed in every episode

D. Captain Picard should be beyond reproach and never look bad

A

Which video game system flourished immediately after the downfall of Atari?

A. The Nintendo Entertainment System

B. The Intellivision Amico

C. The Sega Genesis

D. The Sony Playstation

B

Which of the following was NOT an objection Stephen King had to Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining?

A. He found the film cold and emotionally distant.

B. He thought there were too many jumpscares.

C. He thought Jack Nicholson was miscast.

D. He disliked how Kubrick deemphasized the struggle with alcoholism.

B

Following the success of Dragon’s Lair, Stern Electronics made their own LaserDisc video game in Cliff Hanger. Instead of commissioning an original story, Stern licensed and repurposed scenes from two existing Lupin III anime films, including The Castle of Cagliostro, an early film from which famed director?

A. Takashi Miike

B. Hayao Miyazaki

C. Osamu Tezuka

D. Akira Kurosawa

D

Cheers had a tremendously successful 11-season run but initially struggled in the ratings. How did NBC help Cheers find its audience?

A. They ran a special promotion in bars and taverns across the nation.

B. They put together a groundbreaking social media advertising campaign.

C. They aired several episodes commercial-free to make it “event viewing.”

D. They moved Cheers to Thursday nights alongside their top-rated primetime shows.

B

When the Motion Picture Production Code banned depictions of so-called “sex perversion,” openly LGBTQ characters all but disappeared from screens. As a result, “queer coding” became more popular. What is queer coding?

A. The use of subliminal messages to make audiences more tolerant of queer people.

B. Using the mannerisms, way of speaking, and attire of characters to suggest they’re queer without explicitly stating as much.

C. A special category of film which, according to the MPAA ratings system, was allowed to feature LGBTQ characters for educational purposes.

D. LGBTQ characters speaking to one another in a secret language, or code, that their straight counterparts couldn’t understand.

B

Who was the first African American woman to create her own television series?

A. Gina Prince-Bythewood

B. Yvette Lee Bowser

C. Jo Marie Payton

D. LIsa Bonet

B

In order to give the show more authenticity, this person was hired as lead director and producer of A Different World. They also directed the pilot episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Who are they?

A. Julie Dash

B. Debbie Allen

C. Albert Hughes

D. Will Smith

B

Which film is considered the first to be written, directed, and produced by Native Americans to reach a wide international audience?

A. The Last of the Mohicans

B. Smoke Signals

C. Dances With Wolves

D. Broken Arrow

A

Who was the first African American host to have their own late night talk show?

A. Arsenio Hall

B. Reginald VelJohnson

C. Eddie Murphy

D. Damon Wayans

D

This director was the first woman to win the Palme d’Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her movie The Piano. Who is she?

A. Penny Marshall

B. Amy Tan

C. Fran Kuzui

D. Jane Campion

D

In the late 1980s, Spike Lee urged Eddie Murphy to use his power to accomplish what goal?

A. To secure financing for Do The Right Thing

B. To raise awareness about climate change

C. To make socially relevant comedies

D. To make Paramount hire more actors and filmmakers of color

B

Filmmakers like Gus Van Sant and Cheryl Dunye were part of an independent film movement that sought to improve LGBTQ visibility in cinema while confronting stereotypes about gender and sexuality. What was the name of this movement?

A. Mumblecore

B. New Queer Cinema

C. LA Rebellion

D. Dogme 95

C

Which American network television show is considered the first to have featured an openly gay character?

A. The Golden Girls

B. Starsky and Hutch

C. All in the Family

D. Murder, She Wrote

C

Who is believed to be the first Native American filmmaker?

A. Sherman Alexie

B. Buffalo Bill Cody

C. James Young Deer

D. Kevin Costner

A

Which film is considered the first to be directed by an African American woman to receive theatrical distribution in the United States?

A. Daughters of the Dust

B. Love and Basketball

C. The Watermelon Woman

D. Eve’s Bayou

D

What was the highly rated comedy/variety show created by Keenan Ivory Wayans that featured a predominately Black cast and was seen as a contrast to Saturday Night Live?

A. TGIF

B. Kenan and Kel

C. Family Matters

D. In Living Color

B

Who was the first African American filmmaker - and the youngest person ever - to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director?

A. Jaleel White

B. John Singleton

C. Spike Lee

D. Keenan Ivory Wayans

A

Which cult queer filmmaker was known for his transgressive, “trashy” style and for films like Pink Flamingos and Hairspray?

A. John Waters

B. Rainer Werner Fassbinder

C. Neil Jordan

D. William Friedkin

D

“Film found me” is a quote from which filmmaker who unexpectedly found his purpose when borrowing a friend’s Super 8 camera for the summer?

A. Gus Van Sant

B. Ang Lee

C. Jonathan Demme

D. Spike Lee

C

The conservative shift in America in the 1980s resulted in a number of changes to queer representation in media, as compared to the 1970s. Which of the following statements about queer representation on film and television in the ‘80s is FALSE?

A. Queer characters disappeared from many network television shows while other shows fell back on tired cliches about queer people.

B. Independent film continued to feature authentic queer relationships and to tackle issues mainstream film would not, like the HIV/AIDS crisis.

C. High-profile mainstream actors were eager to take on queer roles in film and on television.

D. Mainstream film often needlessly featured homophobia and transphobia for the sake of cheap laughs from straight/cis audiences.

B

This early German film about homosexuality featured sympathetic gay characters and aimed to educate the public on the consequences of its criminalization. Nearly all prints were later destroyed by the Nazis. What was it?

A. Algie the Miner

B. Different from the Others

C. Manslaughter

D. Wings

D

In class, we discussed how some films about women subverted traditional genres that had mostly featured male leads. For instance, Thelma and Louise subverts the traditionally male-centric buddy movie, the road trip movie, and even the Western. Which of the following films was NOT described as subverting a traditionally male-centered genre?

A. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

B. The Silence of the Lambs

C. A League of Their Own

D. All About Eve

D

In his rise to fame, Spike Lee directed a very popular series of national advertisements where he reprised his role from She’s Gott Have It (1986). Known informally as the Spike and Mike campaign, what were the ads for and who was the “Mike” that Spike Lee played off of.

A. Brass Monkey: hip hop star Mike D

B. Pepsi: pop star Michael Jackson

C. Everlast: boxing star Mike Tyson

D. Nike: basketball star Michael Jordan

A

This director was nominated for a Student Academy Award, directed the pilot episode of Sex and the City, and directed the first American independent film to be accepted for competition in the Cannes Film Festival. Who are they?

A. Susan Seidelman

B. Nora Ephron

C. Carol Sobieski

D. Callie Khouri

C

Before his work on Homicide, The Wire and other award-winning TV shows, David Simon worked in what profession?

A. Law enforcement

B. Politics

C. Journalism

D. Education

D

Years before they made Fargo (1996), the Coen Brothers got their start in Hollywood working with which acclaimed filmmaker?

A. Quentin Tarantino

B. Tommy Wiseau

C. Barry Levinson

D. Sam Raimi

D

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about Batman: The Animated Series?

A. The show was designed to appeal to both kids and adults.

B. It introduced the character of Harley Quinn.

C. It lent gravitas and pathos to “throwaway” secondary Batman characters.

D. All the statements are true.

A

In 1989, Nintendo created a handheld 8-bit console that helped advance the idea that video games could be portable. What was this early precursor to the Nintendo Switch called?

A. The Game Boy

B. The Power Pulse

C. The Play Portal

D. The Dream Sphere

B

What was the Game Genie?

A. Sony’s private gaming subscription service?

B. A device that allowed gamers to modify their game data.

C. Nintendo’s toy robot accessory that could play NES games with you.

D. Sega’s original mascot before they settled on Sonic.

C

A highly influential animation showcase in the early 90s, Liquid Television helped pave the way for mature, surreal, and/or shocking adult animation, as you might find today on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Which network launched Liquid Television?

A. Nickelodeon

B. HBO

C. MTV

D. FOX

D

ABC executives saw dollar signs in the driving question of Twin Peaks - “Who Killed Laura Palmer?” - in part because a pervious show rode a similar mystery to become the top-rated program on TV. What was that show?

A. Moonlighting

B. Columbo

C. Homicide

D. Dallas

B

Before Sony went into the console business with their Sony PlayStation, they partnered up with another entertainment company, with the idea that they would provide CD-Rom technology. Ultimately this company would break their partnership, instead working with Sony’s rival, Philips. Which company was this?

A. Atari

B. Nintendo

C. Sega

D. Microsoft

C

What was the first show to be broadcast on FOX when they launched in 1986?

A. The X-Files

B. The Simpsons

C. The Late Show with Joan Rivers

D. Beverly Hills 90210

C

To take on Nintendo in the Console Wars, Sega executive Tom Kalinske developed a five-point plan. What was NOT one of the points of his plan?

A. Create a character who would compete with Mario

B. Lower the price of the Sega Genesis

C. Upgrade to 8-bit processors

D. Make fun of Nintendo

B

Which of the following 90s shows is known for its innovative use of serialization, building upon the X-Files model while incorporating techniques from Hill St. Blues, St. Elsewhere, and Wiseguy?

A. Freaks and Geeks

B. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

C. Aeon Flux

D. The Simpsons

A

Which of the following crime films is recognized for its effective use of controlled improvisation?

A. Goodfellas (1990)

B. Bound (1996)

C. Fargo (1996)

D. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

B

Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures creator Ralph Bakshi is an acclaimed animator and director. Nevertheless, in 1987 he seemed like an unlikely fit for a Saturday morning cartoon show. Why?

A. Bakshi was a Seventh Day Adventist and thus unable to work on Saturdays.

B. Bakshi was known for adult animation and Saturday cartoons were for kids.

C. Bakshi often referred to television as “the idiot’s lantern,” expressing his disdain for the medium.

D. All of the above.

D

Created by an animator from Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures, this irreverent, controversial and influential 1991 cartoon paved the way for shows like Beavis & Butt-Head and SpongeBob SquarePants.

A. Animaniacs

B. Daria

C. Tiny Toon Adventures

D. Ren & Stimpy

C

Which of the following TV characters is credited with inspiring women to focus on STEM education?

A. Josie Packard

B. Tracy Ullman

C. Dana Scully

D. Laura Palmer

A

Along with controversial video games Doom and Night Trap, which fighting game alarmed parents to the point that congressional hearings were required?

A. Mortal Kombat

B. Tekken

C. Street Fighter II

D. Dead or Alive

B

Shows like Eerie, Indiana and My So-Called Life feature prominent use of voiceover. Which acclaimed coming-of-age show set this trend, winning a Peabody award for “pushing the boundaries of the sitcom format and using new modes of storytelling?”

A. Freaks and Geeks

B. The Wonder Years

C. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

D. Saved by the Bell

D

While seeking financial backing for their feature film, Bound (1996), the Wachowskis were told by a studio that higher funding for the project could happen if a certain element was changed. What did the studio want?

A. They wanted to set the film in Los Angeles instead of its original setting of Chicago.

B. They wanted to eliminate the “potentially confusing” flashback structure.

C. They wanted the protagonists to escape with the money, avoiding the heartbreaking “downer” ending that the Wachowskis had envisioned.

D. They wanted a heterosexual love story rather than a love story between two women.

B

Surreal, experimental, and unsettling, Twin Peaks is most closely identified with auteur filmmaker David Lynch. But in co-creating the show, Mark Frost brought a valuable skill set that Lynch lacked. What was it?

A. Frost grew up in a small Washington State timber town, which gave him a great feel for the kinds of characters who would populate Twin Peaks.

B. Frost has previously worked on Hill Street Blues and thus had experience writing serialized TV drama with an ensemble cast.

C. Frost had worked for three years as an FBI violent crimes investigator.

D. Frost claimed he was from another dimension and often spoke backward.

D

What staple of cop shows did the makers of Homicide all but eliminate from their series?

A. Arresting suspects

B. Interrogations

C. Investigations

D. Car chases and shootouts