The Average Person Can’t Name All These TV Shows From Just One Hint
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
We're in what is being referred to as a "Golden Age" of television right now. There were hints that it was on its way when the likes of Tony Soprano and Omar Little were soaking up the airwaves of HBO with their sumptuous and dark crime dramas. But this "Golden Age" was truly ushered in when a mild mannered chemistry teacher named Walter White became the crime lord of Albuquerque and began referring to himself as "Heisenberg." Ever since then, the television landscape has just been moving from strength to strength.
The streaming services have been producing their own original content and winning boatloads of awards for it, releasing entire seasons of shows every couple of days. Now, there are women wrestling in the '80s and zombies walking the Earth and kids stuck in a place called "the Upside Down" and Kristen Bell is in the afterlife. It can be impossible to keep up and to watch all of these shows that are being recommended to us. Only a dedicated TV buff will have seen enough shows (as well as having gotten to know all of their characters and settings and storylines and catchphrases) to be able to name all of these series from just one little hint.
What show is this swarm of the undead from?
This show combines multiple different genres in an adaptation of Robert Kirkman's comic book series about the zombie apocalypse. It stars Andrew Lincoln and it's about to go into its ninth season. It was, at one point, the highest rated show on television; not just the highest rated show on cable or the highest rated drama series, it was literally the highest rated show on all of television to date. What is the title of this popular AMC zombie series?
Bazinga!
This sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady about a group of scientists who live in Pasadena and have research jobs at a local university is one of the most popular TV series of all time. It has been on the air on the CBS network for more than a decade now and it is about to come to an end as the final season airs. Which hit CBS sitcom features the catchphrase "Bazinga!" uttered by the character Sheldon Cooper?
Which science fiction series features this monster?
This Netflix drama series also brings in elements of the science fiction and fantasy and horror genres as it takes influence from filmmakers and writers like Steven Spielberg and Stephen King and John Carpenter. The show, which was created and mostly written by the Duffer brothers, currently has two seasons under its belt and it is planned to go up to around season 4 or season 5 before rounding off with a finale episode. Which science fiction series features this monster?
Which crime drama has this drawing as a plot point?
Bryan Cranston made his name as a sitcom dad in the show Malcolm in the Middle, but Vince Gilligan remembered his dramatic role in an episode of The X Files, and that's what won him the role of Walter White in this series. This show is now considered to be quite possibly the greatest television show ever made. In the show, this drawing of "Heisenberg" is a major plot point. Which crime drama has this drawing as a plot point?
Hollywoo
This animated series has been praised by critics as a pitch perfect satire of Hollywood and a deep and melancholic dramedy. A few seasons back in this show, one character stole the D from the Hollywood sign in the way of a romantic gesture to somebody, but that throwaway gag has become a huge part of the show's mythology as it has been known as "Hollywoo" ever since. Which satire of the film industry is set in a version of Hollywood that has been renamed "Hollywoo"?
What mockumentary comedy series is set in Pawnee?
In the aftermath of the massive success of the US remake of The Office, a bunch of other mockumentary comedy series in the same style have followed. This one is a workplace comedy show in the vein of The Office, whereas Modern Family is different in that it's a show about domestic life. This one is set in the fictional Indiana town of Pawnee and it stars Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, and Nick Offerman. What mockumentary comedy series is set in Pawnee?
San Junipero
Created and written by Charlie Brooker, this show has been compared to a modern day version of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, with takes on the social issue of today wrapped up in its storylines. The episode "San Junipero" from the third season, which was the first season that Netflix had produced and released after acquiring the rights to the show from BBC network Channel 4. Which anthology sci-fi TV show had an episode set in the world of San Junipero?
Ad executives in the '60s
The creator of this series, Matthew Weiner, has a new show called The Romanoffs coming out soon on Amazon Prime. But no matter how great that show might turn out to be, this is the show that he will always be remembered for. The story of Don Draper ran for seven seasons on AMC and was acclaimed by legions of critics and fans the whole time. Which AMC drama series is about a team of ad executives in the '60s?
Casterly Rock
HBO did the impossible with this series, because they made a high fantasy story seem cool to a wide audience. It is adapted from George RR Martin's novel series A Song of Ice and Fire, and only when David Benioff and DB Weiss presented their vision for the series did Martin agree to the adaptation. The show is hugely popular and has brought millions of new fans into Martin's fictional world. Which medieval fantasy drama series features Casterly Rock as a setting?
Which animated family sitcom is set in the town of Quahog?
This show was created by Seth MacFarlane, who also stars in it in several voice roles (Peter, Brian, Stewie, Quagmire, Tom Tucker etc.), and it's the show that made him a star. In the first couple of seasons, this show was called a rip off of The Simpsons, but it has since morphed into a beast of its own and developed its own style and sense of humor, which has made it one of the most popular shows on television. Which animated family sitcom is set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Quahog?
Dunder Mifflin Paper Company
This workplace comedy series is the show that made Steve Carell a star and also introduced the world to actors like BJ Novak and Rainn Wilson and Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. This show kicked off a whole wave of mockumentary comedy series that followed in the wake of its success. It's a remake of a BBC series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Which mockumentary workplace comedy series is set at the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company?
Which show got "D'oh!" entered into the dictionary?
The latest renewal of this animated comedy show about a family by the Fox network will get it up to thirty seasons, which when completed, will make it the longest running prime time series in the history of US television. The catchphrase of the show's lead character, Homer, has been given its own entry in the dictionary since the show has become hugely popular and the word has entered the common lexicon. Which show got "D'oh!" entered into the dictionary?
Which NBC comedy series is set in the afterlife?
Ted Danson, who has starred in tons of comedy series on TV over the years from Cheers to Becker to Curb Your Enthusiasm, recently missed out on an Emmy Award for his role as Michael in this series. It stars Kristen Bell as a person who is accidentally brought to the wrong part of the afterlife. But that's just the beginning, because there are a lot of plot twists that follow this initial setup. Which NBC comedy series is set in the afterlife?
What is the prequel to Breaking Bad?
Breaking Bad was so popular and successful that a spin off series was in order with this prequel series about one of the most popular secondary characters. The lead character in this series, played by Bob Odenkirk, is called Jimmy McGill, which is not the same name that he had in Breaking Bad, and so something happens between the events of this prequel series and the events of the original show to make him use an alias full time. What's the show called?
Burger of the Day
This animated family comedy series on the Fox network has been praised by critics and audiences as a spiritual successor to Mike Judge's show King of the Hill, because of its realistic situations and character based comedy and naturalistic dialogue style. This show is set in a burger restaurant that has a different "Burger of the Day" with a pun name on a blackboard behind the counter in every single episode. What is the name of this animated comedy series?
Which FX anthology crime drama series is based on a Coen brothers movie?
In the mid 1990s, the Coen brothers made a crime movie that combined elements of drama and dark comedy in a very specific sensibility that won a bunch of Academy Awards and became an instant classic. The unique sensibility of that movie was adapted by Noah Hawley into a TV series of the same name that has been an anthology show telling a new story in each season. Which FX anthology crime drama series is based on a Coen brothers movie?
What is this show about a futuristic theme park?
There are not many TV series that can combine elements of science fiction with the western genre. The show stars Thandie Newton and Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jeffrey Wright and it's about cybernetic "hosts" who roam around a theme park in the future and make the "guests" feel like they are in the Wild West. The show is based on a novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, the same author who wrote Jurassic Park. What is this HBO science fiction western drama show about a futuristic theme park?
Which Netflix show teams up the darker, grittier Marvel superheroes?
Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe expanded into the world of television with its ABC drama series Agents of SHIELD, the lesser known and darker themed characters from the Marvel Comics universe have been adapted for the small screen on Netflix. A landmark deal was made to bring four characters to the streaming service (Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones) before teaming them up for an ensemble show. Which Netflix show teams up the darker, grittier Marvel superheroes?
Bada Bing
The fictional nightclub in this show, Bada Bing, is named after a phrase that was popularized by the James Caan character from The Godfather. Interestingly enough, The Godfather is actually not one of the biggest influences on the show. David Chase was instead inspired by the humor and energy of Martin Scorsese's movie Goodfellas. Of course, the show does have influences and homages to The Godfather, since it's a mafia show, but it wasn't the primary inspiration. What show is it?
UK Monarch
Peter Morgan has written a number of movies and plays about the royalty of England in the past and they have made him a pretty big name as a writer. A couple of years ago, he wrote a drama series about those same royals for Netflix and it has since become one of their most popular original series. It has two seasons with a third on its way. Which show is a biographical drama about the life of Elizabeth II?
Which Netflix drama series is set in a women's prison?
Along with House of Cards, this show set in a women's facility was one of the very first original series ever produced by the Netflix streaming service. The fact that Netflix has gone on to find so much success in the area of original content can be attributed to the success of these two shows. This one was adapted from a memoir of a real life experience being behind bars. Which Netflix drama series is set in a women's facility?
Which comedy series has a baby adopted from Vietnam?
The pilot episode of this TV comedy introduces us to three very different families, and then the gay couple revealing their new baby adopted from Vietnam at the end of the episode is what tells us that they are all actually parts of the same family. It's a mockumentary show about a progressive family, which is what differentiates it from the other mockumentary series on television, which tend to be workplace comedies. Which comedy series has a baby adopted from Vietnam?
Casa Bonita
Casa Bonita is a very real restaurant chain that was popularized by this satirical animated sitcom. Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have admitted that they are huge fans of the restaurant and so they made a whole episode of their show that was dedicated to it. The aptly titled episode "Casa Bonita" has since become one of this hit Comedy Central series' most celebrated episodes and many fans consider it a favorite of theirs. What show is it?
Which HBO comedy series stars Larry David as himself?
Larry David was only known as one of the co creators of Jerry Seinfeld's hit self titled sitcom Seinfeld before he began starring in his own semi autobiographical sitcom in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself. It's a fair bit darker than Seinfeld, and that is saying something, because Seinfeld was sort of "the dark Friends" back in the '90s. The show is currently shooting its 10th season. Which HBO comedy series stars Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself?
Triplets
This show is a little bit like a dramatic Modern Family. It tells the big, sweeping story of a bunch of triplets and the difficult lives that they face in adulthood. It has become a huge hit with critics and has won a ton of awards, and it has also found a large audience across the world, which is unheard of in these days of streaming for a network TV show. What is the name of this drama TV series?
Which FX drama series is about a biker gang in Charming?
Kurt Sutter recently spearheaded a spin off of this show. The main plot points of the show, and many of its episode titles, were loosely inspired by the William Shakespeare play Hamlet. It gained a reputation during its seven season run for being "the biker Hamlet." It stars Charlie Hunnam in the lead role of Jax Teller and Ron Perlman as his stepdad Clay Morrow. Katey Sagal plays his mother, Gemma. Which FX drama series is about a biker gang in Charming?
Power Man
This Netflix drama series is based on a Marvel Comics character who was previously obscure and little known. Mike Colter plays him in the show. He is a superhero with super strength abilities who goes by an alias. He is sometimes known by the superhero name Power Man and his real name is Carl Lucas, but he uses neither of these in the TV show. Which of the several Netflix original series based on Marvel Comics characters is this one?
What is this Family Guy spin-off?
Generally, when a TV show is successful and has found a huge audience, the network executives will want to cash in on that by having the producers of the show create a spin off series or a sequel series or a prequel series to keep the fan base coming back to their airwaves. Family Guy once had a spin off about one of its characters. What is this spin off series based on one of the supporting characters from Family Guy?
Captain Holt
This show recently changed networks as it moved from Fox to NBC between seasons. In the first episode of the show, the precinct gets a new captain who isn't as lax as the previous one, and so he clashes with the slacker detective Jake Peralta, played by SNL star Andy Samberg. Andre Braugher has been acclaimed in the role of Captain Holt. Which sitcom set in an NYPD precinct features the straight laced and critically adored character of Captain Raymond Holt?
Which sitcom is about the '90s childhood of Eddie Huang?
This show about an Asian family who live in Florida in the 1990s was adapted from a memoir of the same title written by Eddie Huang based on his own life. It is one of a number of family sitcoms that has appeared on the airwaves of ABC over the past few years. Along with Black-ish and The Goldbergs, this has been a very successful hit comedy on the network. Which comedy series is about the childhood of Eddie Huang?
Which sci-fi animated sitcom features the robot Bender?
Matt Groening had already made his mark on the television landscape with The Simpsons, a critically acclaimed and universally adored show that has been showered with awards for decades and has become the longest running prime time television series in history. Still, Groening didn't stop there. He created another series, one that was inspired by the works of the science fiction genre and was set 1000 years into the future. What is the name of this science fiction animated series?
Which CW superhero series is about Oliver Queen and his alter ego?
This series has started off a whole shared universe of TV series adapted from the comic book characters of DC Comics that all air on the CW network and cross over with one another. This show is presented as a darker and grittier version of the superhero as he had appeared in the comics. For one, they dropped the word "Green" from his name. Which CW superhero series is about the rich kid socialite Oliver Queen and his alter ego as a hooded vigilante?
Sherlock Holmes in New York City
This show has been massively successful since it began airing in 2012. The show is adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. It stars Jonny Lee Miller, who was once married to Angelina Jolie, in the role of Sherlock Holmes, with Lucy Liu played a female John Watson, now called Joan Watson. What is the name of the TV drama series that tells the stories of the cases of Sherlock Holmes, but with a modern setting in New York City?
Gilead
This dystopian science fiction TV show, adapted from the novel of the same name by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood, has been praised by critics for capturing the climate of our times. Its lead actor Elisabeth Moss has been particularly praised for her lead role as Offred. The show has been released by Hulu and it's been renewed for future seasons to keep the story moving. Which science fiction series is set in a dystopian future in a place called Gilead?
"I'm Mr. Meeseeks, look at me!"
Cartoon Network had no idea what was in store for them when they commissioned a show from Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. They wanted a TV animated comedy series that would rival shows like Family Guy and South Park at the ratings. This show has become one of the most popular series on the air. Which sci fi animated comedy series on Cartoon Network has an episode where this blue character yells out the catchphrase, "I'm Mr. Meeseeks, look at me!"?
fsociety
This TV drama series about a computer hacker who gets involved with a dangerous secret society has become one of the most popular shows in recent memory. The buzz surrounding season 1 got it a season 2 renewal from the network almost immediately. Rami Malek, the star of this show, has previously appeared in the Night at the Museum films and will be seen later this year in the role of Queen front man Freddie Mercury in the biopic movie Bohemian Rhapsody. What show is it?
Which show is set in the Batman universe before Batman?
In the first episode of this TV series adapted from the DC Comics Batman stories, a young Bruce Wayne loses his parents, but then it doesn't jump forward to his days as Batman. So, this is a show about the Batman universe that doesn't have Batman in it. Rather, it is about a young James Gordon before he becomes the commissioner of the police department in Batman's city. Which show is set in the Batman universe before Batman even existed?
The Langmores and the Snells
The Netflix streaming service recently released the second season of this crime drama series, which stars Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde, an accountant who has gotten involved into a money laundering scheme and has to move to a summer resort city to take care of things. Comparisons have been drawn with Breaking Bad. At the resort town, Marty falls in with some even worse crowds. Which Netflix crime drama series features the competing crime families of the Langmores and the Snells?
What anthology crime drama series is this?
The first season of this HBO anthology crime drama series starred Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as a pair of cops who spend several decades trying to solve one case. The second season starred Vince Vaughn as a crime boss and Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams as two police officers who were on his trail. The upcoming third season is set to star Mahershala Ali in the lead role. What anthology crime drama series is this from the HBO premium cable network?
What TV show is adapted from fairy tales?
There is a rich history of fairy tales from the past few centuries that movies and TV shows have mined for almost a century now. Disney can be thanked for bringing those stories into the mainstream with a string of animated movies that were critically acclaimed and huge box office successes and went on to become classics of the silver screen that are still celebrated to this day. This show adapts the same fairy tales. What TV show is adapted from fairy tales?
Paddy's Pub
This show is one of the longest running live action sitcoms in television history. It is currently in its 13th season and it is renewed even further than that by the FX network. It does not have an enormous fan base like some of the other comedy series on TV, but it does have a strong cult following. The viewers who do like it really like it. Which FX dark comedy series is set in and around the Irish bar Paddy's Pub?
"Deals and dollars!"
It is astounding that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson even manages to find the time to star in this show, since he's also the biggest movie star in the world. This show is a blend of comedy and drama and it's set in the world of the NFL. Some former football players struggle financially and have to look for work. That's where the Rock's character Spencer comes in. He helps them to manage their finances and make smart investments. Which HBO sports comedy drama series stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?
Stringer Bell
David Simon's crime drama series on HBO about the city of Baltimore has been considered by many critics and viewers to be one of the greatest television series ever made. Some even say that it literally is the greatest television series of all time. Simon drew on his past as a journalist in order to capture the city and paint an accurate portrait of it. Which hugely acclaimed HBO crime drama series features Idris Elba as the character Stringer Bell?
Pied Piper
Pied Piper is the name of the fictional software for compressing files in this HBO comedy series about the founder and employees of a tech start up company. Mike Judge of King of the Hill is the creator of the series and he based the plot lines on his own experiences from working in the IT industry a few years ago. In which TV comedy series about a tech start up company do the characters created a file compression software called Pied Piper?
A look back at the '80s
The creator of this series based all of the characters and storylines in the show on his own life. The lead character, who gives voiceover narration as his older self voiced by Patton Oswalt, is even named after him. He has expressed how glad he was to be able to get Jeff Garlin to play his dad in the show, since he is a big fan of the actor from his work on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm. What show is about a Jewish family in the '80s?
In which show did a girl escape from Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne's underground bunker?
This highly critically acclaimed Netflix half hour comedy series was created and largely written by Tina Fey, who also created and wrote 30 Rock, and Robert Carlock, who was an important part of the creative team behind that show. It's about a girl who was taken as a young child and put into an underground bunker and escapes from the bunker as a grown woman. In which show did a girl escape from Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne's underground bunker?
Zoya the Destroya vs Liberty Belle
This TV series, starring Community star Alison Brie and famed comedian and podcaster Marc Maron, is one of the most popular Netflix original shows on the streaming service right now. It is set in the 1980s and it's about a women's wrestling TV show. It currently has two acclaimed seasons under its belt and a third season is on the way. Which Netflix comedy drama series features a wrestling match between the characters of Zoya the Destroya and Liberty Belle?
Teddy Perkins
Donald Glover is on a real winning streak. Not only is he an accomplished actor, comedian, and rapper (under the stage name Childish Gambino), he's also created a popular award winning TV show that he has largely written. This year, he played a young Lando Calrissian in the Ron Howard movie Solo: A Star Wars Story. He also starred in the second season of his comedy series on the FX network, which is lauded by critics as a revelation. What show is it?
Based on a Mel Gibson movie
This TV series is a buddy cop action comedy show about the cop characters of Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. Those characters have become iconic on the big screen from a blockbuster action movie franchise starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the lead roles. They did four movies that were all hugely successful and the TV series has been just as successful. What is the name of this action comedy TV show based on a Mel Gibson/Danny Glover movie?
Which Amazon Prime show is about a standup comic in the '50s?
This comedy drama series has been one of the most successful original series to show up on the Amazon Prime streaming service in the past few years. Just last month, it won a boat load of Emmys at this year's awards ceremony. It won one for Alex Borstein and even won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series, which is the highest honor for a comedy series of all. Which Amazon Prime comedy drama show is about a standup comic in the '50s?