If You Can Name All These Family Shows, You're Way Too Wholesome

Not that long ago, there were countless series designed specifically so audiences of all ages and maturity levels could watch them as a family. However, as online streaming services gradually take over the world, the idea of a family sitting around their TV set and enjoying a show together has largely disappeared. There’s no need to compromise on a show the entire household can watch when everyone can just as well take their laptop into another room and enjoy something just for them.

Of course, this isn’t to say those sitcoms and family dramas of the past weren’t without their merit, as some are still extremely fun to watch to this day. It’s also not like family shows have been phased out entirely, as there are handful of series on the air today that lovingly document the adventures of two parents and their children. The difference is how many people are watching them, and the sort of audiences they attract.

In the past, people watched family shows so no one would feel left out, while nowadays they’re pretty much just for the pure, wholesome crowds that think cable is a little bit too edgy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but the point is the sort of television we watch can often speaks volumes about who we are. To test your own purity, keep reading to take our quiz on family TV shows that only the most wholesome viewers will be able to pass.

Question 1

What series introduced America’s favorite yellow family?

After more than 600 episodes and 30+ years on television, the show about this particular family isn’t really about the people whose name is in the title anymore. By now, every one of their thousands of neighbors can get just as involved in the plot, making it arguable “Springfield” would be a better title. Then again, the antics of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and even little Maggie remain the funniest of anyone in town, so it makes sense they would get the focus for all these years. What’s their show called?

Question 2

Which sitcom is about the Johnson family?

Gentrification and assimilation are two concepts growing in importance in the modern age, with many people rejecting the idea of “the great American melting pot” in favor of cultural pride and personal identity. Of course, not everyone is equally interested in this, and younger generations especially sometimes have trouble seeing the point whatsoever. This is a big problem to Dre Johnson, who worries his kids Zoey, Andre, Jr., and Jack are forgetting where they came from, if they ever knew in the first place.

Question 3

What drama catalogues the lives of the Pearson family?

If a person is lucky, their family will never leave them no matter how old they grow. Randall Pearson knows both sides of this coin, abandoned by his biological parents as a baby only to be raised by Jack and Rebecca after finding him in the hospital the same day they gave birth to twins. This meant Randall also got Kate and Kevin as siblings, giving him a bigger family than an abandoned baby would ever expect. Do you know what the show about their lives is called?

Question 4

Which posh British drama is about the Crawley dynasty?

Truth be told, there are lots of characters on TV living well above the means of most people watching them. Especially close to the 1% is the massive Crawley dynasty, early 20th century aristocrats of the Edwardian era who nonetheless experience countless problems and situations modern audiences can still relate with to this day. Of course, our understanding of the Titanic disaster or Teapot Dome scandal are probably a bit different than that of Violet Crawler, Dowager Countess of Grantham, and her expansive batch of successors.

Question 5

What series is based on the creator’s actual family home movies?

Plenty of kids made home movies when they were younger, but few were able to turn them into major network sitcoms. Somehow, a young kid in the ‘80s named Adam managed to live this dream, using his real parents Murray and Beverly along with actual siblings Barry and Erica as the key characters in his self-named sitcom. In fairness, this modern family sitcom is a whole lot less wholesome than most others, with the characters freely swearing and arguing regardless of their age. What’s it called?

Question 6

What sitcom introduced viewers to the Matthews family?

By the time this series was over, Cory Matthews had moved away from his parents Amy and Alan to start his own life elsewhere with his childhood sweetheart turned wife Topanga Lawrence. He was still hanging out with his brother Eric a whole lot, though, and it’s not like they abandoned their folks altogether. Even when busy with college, Cory would still go back to mom and dad for advice now and again—and he’d ask for help from Mr. Feeney a whole lot more than that.

Question 7

What cartoon was about a futuristic family that lived in the sky?

There’s no way of knowing whether or not the distant future will actually include flying cars of houses thousands of feet above the clouds, but we can probably assume the idea of “family” will survive for a long time coming. For that reason, even though 90% of the technology in George’s life with wife Jane, daughter Judy, and his boy Elroy are literally unbelievable, the series about them remains a huge hit with audiences of all ages to this in the year 2018, just like it was when created way back in 1962. What’s it called?

Question 8

Which sitcom tells the struggles of the Heck family?

Life with three kids isn’t exactly easy, and that goes triple if you don’t happen to have a lot of money when they’re born. For Frankie and Mike Heck, things only increase in difficulty as kids Axl, Sue, and Brick all get older and start creating their own financial mistakes. On the plus side, life in Orson, Indiana is at least simple enough they can somehow manage despite their lack of funding. Also, the kids are almost done with college themselves, so their parents might not need to take care of them much longer.

Question 9

What classic series rocked around the clock with the Cunningham family?

Put your glad rags on and join the Cunningham’s as they rock around the clock in the original throwback TV show. This 1950s slice of life debuted in the mid ‘70s, revealing just how far back the nostalgia trend began. Freewheeling audiences at the time were thrilled by the comically straight laced life of Ritchie Cunningham and his all too wholesome family, including Marion, Howard, and daughter Joanie. They also loved it when the friendly greaser neighbor Fonzie came along and mixed things up. What was the show called?

Question 10

Which show dug up the Fisher family drama?

Death and dying is one area that even the closest families can have trouble discussing, but there are always exceptions to the rule. For example, a family that has run funeral homes for multiple generations are probably a little bit easier with the subject. This explains who Nate Fisher reacts so calmly when his father passes away and leaves him with the family business. Brother David also helped make the transition easier for him, while mother Ruth and sister Claire all did their part, as well.

Question 11

What series gives fans a glimpse of the Braverman’s lives?

The older people get, the bigger their families can potentially become, growing exponentially larger each time a child gets married and has children of their own. For Zeek and Camille Braverman, this means four kids and somewhere around a dozen grandchildren. With this many people involved, it can be almost impossible for the family to tell all their stories in a few hours or less, which is why the 1989 film it was based on eventually expanded to over 100 episodes of family drama.

Question 12

What family sitcom is about the Seaver’s?

When Dr. Jason Seaver’s wife Maggie informs him she’s tired of the maternal life and wants to go back to work, he immediately decides to move his psychiatric practice home to support her dreams. This means taking on the primary burden of raising kids Mike, Ben, and Carol, and finding a way to reconcile their divergent personalities with one another. Later on, a fourth child enters the mix, only for Maggie to head straight back to work after the pregnancy and give Jason even more to deal with, not that he necessarily minds.

Question 13

Which classic series is about the depressing life of the Bundy family?

For most of the characters featured on shows in this quiz, love and marriage truly do go together like a horse and carriage. Ironically, a series that had Frank Sinatra belt out those lyrics during the theme song didn’t quite live up to the expression. Not that Peggy Bundy was the worst thing about Al’s life, as the many women he met at his shoe store made her look like an angel. Too bad their kids Bud and Kelly brought him back down to earth, as did the constant meddling of neighbor Marcy D’Arcy.

Question 14

What monstrous sitcom featured a patriarch named Gomez?

Creepy, kooky, mysterious, and ooky, let’s face it, Gomez and his family are altogether spooky. Matching this reputation, they choose to live in a museum where people come to see them, admiring the macabre sensibilities of Gomez’s wife Morticia, and the dark humor of their children Pugsley and Wednesday. That’s not even mentioning their gigantic manservant Lurch, who terrifies and entertains at the same time with his booming voice and servile attitude. Uncle Fester, Cousin Itt, and The Thing are all pretty darn weird, too. What’s the show about their dynasty called?

Question 15

What show is a story all about how the Banks family’s life got flip turned upside down?

In west Philadelphia, Will Smith was born and raised, and it was on the playground where he spent most of his days. Unfortunately, the chilling, maxing, and relaxing he experienced on the b-ball courts came to an end after one little fight that made his mom scared, forcing him to move in with Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv in Bel Air. These two were nice enough, but Will had a bit more trouble fitting in with cousins Carlton, Hilary, and Ashley, although they all eventually learned to get along quite well.

Question 16

What sitcom sees the Taylor family try and keep it together?

Arugh? Sorry, but abject grunts of confusion just tend to spill out whenever Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor and his family come to mind. Naturally, this is because confused grunting was Taylor’s primary catchphrase, along with manly grunting, constantly letting his primal side out whether at work or with family. Tool Time co-host Al Borland and Heidi Keppert occasionally had trouble putting up with it, but for whatever reason, wife Jill and sons Mark, Randy, and Brad somehow find it endearing. Neighbor Wilson Wilson might have even liked it, in an amused bystander sort of way.

Question 17

What adult themed cartoon is about the cantankerous Murphy clan?

Fans of stand-up comedy have long been aware the humor of Bill Burr is loud, angry, and abrasive, three things that don’t exactly paint a picture of family togetherness. Even so, it’s his leading role as Frank Murphy that provides the backdrop for his latest animated project about a particularly angry family’s life in the 1970s. He’s generally able to put up with wife Sue and daughter “Princess” Maureen, but sons Kevin and Bill constantly get on his nerves and receive seriously unfatherly advice for doing so.

Question 18

Which sitcom shows how the Connors survived poverty (and each other)?

To this day, few sitcoms truly delve into the struggles of being working-class, making this one unique and in a way important as a reminder that not every family even has the time to sit around a TV in the first place. Heck, some might not even manage to afford a television, although Roseanne, Dan, and their children Becky, D.J., and Darlene weren’t quite that bad off. They did struggle plenty, though, only able to get through it with a strong sense of humor and a resilience to the weight of the world.

Question 19

What cartoon makes viewers feel lucky there’s a Griffin family?

In contrast to the family friendly shows on this list, it seems today that all you see is violence in movies and sex on TV. Those doing well may be wondering where those good old fashioned values on which we used to rely once went. Ironically, despite the show’s theme song largely suggesting the same thoughts, people who watched the adventures of Peter Griffin, wife Lois, and kids Brian, Meg, and Stewie might have especially strong feelings of this nature. At least they can still “remember that time” TV was fun for the whole family.

Question 20

Which classic sitcom featured countless arguments between the Bunker family?

In the social media era, each passing political election of any kind feels like it only serves to further divide people on partisan party lines. Then again, this sort of behavior is hardly new, as the most popular sitcom of the 1970s reminded viewers on a daily basis. On an ideological level, Archie Bunker couldn’t have less in common with his daughter Gloria or her husband Michael, and even Archie’s wife Edith had trouble reconciling his worst moments. They all loved one another anyway, though, showing the strength of family can defeat politics.

Question 21

What iconic cartoon took fans back to the stone age to meet Fred and Wilma’s family?

Yabba dabba do. TV audiences have always loved a throwback to simpler times, but this modern stone age family really took that idea to its limits by bringing 1960s television all the way back to the B.C. era. Fred, Wilma, and their daughter Pebbles nonetheless found a way to live completely relatable lives, filled with unique dinosaur based inventions that virtually brought them into modern times. The only catch is that none of them wore shoes as they peddled their cars to the local drive-ins that sold oversized ribs. Thankfully, humanity would eventually invent shoes.

Question 22

What family comedy revolved around the Barone’s?

No matter how close one’s personal relationship with their parents happens to be, there typically hits a point when they decide to move out and live alone for a while. Unfortunately for Ray Barone, his mother Marie would never stand for this, forcing him to live directly across the street from her and father Frank well into adulthood. Not even marrying Debra and having three children of their own would help Marie realize she had to move on, nor did she worry that her other adult son who still lived with her might want some attention, as well.

Question 23

Which dynamite sitcom was centered on the Evans family?

In one way or another, most sitcoms are about the characters keeping their head above water and making a wave when they can. However, some took the idea more literally than others, and this one in particular took it to it’s greatest lengths. From the very beginning, the Evans family was dirt poor, with five people living in a small two bedroom apartment in a run down building. The only thing keeping James and wife Florida from falling apart was their love, for one another and for children J.J., Thelma, and Michael.

Question 24

What cartoon is about the Belcher family business?

The American dream is different for everybody, and for Bob Belcher, it’s pretty simple. All he wants is to open up his restaurant and keep it open for more than a few days before one of his kids, Tina, Gene, or Louise does something ridiculous to mess it up. Bob’s wife Linda isn’t always all too helpful, either, generally finding ways to make things work well before they get any better. Thankfully, loyal customers like Teddy and Mort will keep Bob’s business alive despite all the madness.

Question 25

What animated series is about Hank and Peggy’s family?

Yep. Yuuuup. Mhm. These simple expressions really say it all, don’t they? Well, maybe not, but they were enough for Hank to converse with his buddies Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer, and chances are his wife Peggy and son Bobby could understand them, too. That’s just how life is down in Arlen, Texas where a man can be completely content dedicating his life to propane and propane accessories. If that weren’t enough, he could always go down to the local Mega Lo Mart and relax to the soothing tunes of Chuck Mangione.

Question 26

Which classic sitcom featured the Petrie family?

In all fairness, it might be argued this next show was only half a “family show,” if that. While a good amount of Rob Petrie’s funniest moments happened at home, hanging out with his wife Laura and son Richie, the real crux of his life took place in the writer’s room for another show-within-a-show starring Alan Brady. Along with co-writers Sally and Buddy, Rob slaved away at the office trying to make his America laugh, then ran home and kept doing the same with his family. Considering how busy his life was, no wonder he tripped on all those ottomans.

Question 27

What plus sized family comedy was about Mike and Carol’s giant clan?

Here’s the story of a lovely lady named Carol, who was bringing up three very lovely girls named Marcia, Jan, and Cindy. One day, this lady met a fellow named Mike, who happened to have three boys of his own named Greg, Peter, and Bobby. The rest, as they say, is history, with the lady and the fellow quickly realizing their connection was much more than a hunch, deciding to get married and combine their two growing factions into one big happy family.

Question 28

Which popular sitcom is about the Prichett, Dunphy, Tucker, and Delgado families?

This next family show is perhaps the most rewarded in recent history, although that might have something to do with just how expansive the very talented cast all are. With each hyphen, the Prichett-Dunphy-Tucker-Delgado clan exponentially exploded in size, to the point there are more than a dozen regular members on the series as of season 10. Fans can always debate about their favorite and who they relate to the most, but the truth is all four parts of this large whole have plenty of laughs to offer.

Question 29

What family comedy introduced fans to the Wilkerson family?

Plenty of TV parents over the years have been forceful or demanding, asking a whole lot of their fictional children, including things they’d never managed to accomplish without the power of editing. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a parent pushing their child to succeed, as long as it’s within reason. The attitude and behavior exhibited by Lois Wilkerson towards her children, Malcolm, Francis, Reese, and Dewey is borderline deplorable, steadfastly refusing to let any of them live lives of their own. She’s the same way with husband Hal, driving the poor guy crazy—and maybe to drugs.

Question 30

What show revealed the liberal Keaton parents couldn’t get along with their son?

Looking at Elyse and Steven Keaton, it would be easy for audiences to guess they’d been together for a million years. Watching them interact, a million more isn’t out of the question, either. Unless, that is, the stress of their ridiculous children ever becomes too much. Making things especially difficult is their eldest son Alex, whose conservative nature stands in direct contrast to their lifetime of liberal beliefs. Daughters Mallory and Jennifer were a bit less abrasive at least, but that just meant Alex bugged the heck out of them, too.

Question 31

Which series is about the mother-daughter relationship between Lorelei and Rory?

Thankfully for people who couldn’t follow this show because of how fast the characters were talking, this quiz can be taken at whichever speed one pleases. Leading lady Lorelei definitely knows about making choices contrary to expectation, leaving her wealthy family’s high class existence to forge a new, quieter life with daughter Rory and best friend Sookie St. James. The quirky townspeople of Star Hollow quickly help them forget their greedy relatives, until they realize nothing in life is free and need to ask for a continuing loan that brings them back together with comedic and dramatic results.

Question 32

Can you remember the sitcom about the Winslow family?

Originally, this next series was very much a family show by design, focusing on the adventures of Carl Winslow as he saw his household rapidly fill up with his mother, sister-in-law, and nephew. This was in addition to Winslow’s wife Harriet and children Eddie, Judy, and Laura, giving the Chicago cop little room to breathe. And that was all before nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel wandered into their home and never seemed to leave. The shock was enough youngest daughter Judy completely disappeared, and Winslow’s life was never the same again.

Question 33

What multigenerational program was about the Walker family?

The death of a parent is always hard, even when the kids are all grown up. If that parent also happened to be the primary owner of a family business when they passed on, it can cause all sorts of unexpected financial problems for their survivors. This is a serious issue for the Walker family, as patriarch William founded Ojai Foods without deciding who would take over in the event of his death. That said, the Walkers have far more to deal with than business, as their diverging views cause regular family conflicts that only lots of wine can fix.

Question 34

Which sitcom was about how siblings Ren and Louis could never get along?

Catch them on a bad episode, and just about every pair of sitcom siblings have trouble getting along now and again. However, it’s hard to remember a single instance of Ren and Louis working together for the greater goal, no matter how much parents Steve and Eileen wish they would. If nothing else, the parents can at least take solace in the fact older brother Donnie largely stays out of their way, more concerned with himself than anyone else in the family.

Question 35

What classic series was about Sherriff Taylor and his family?

Even for a 1960s TV family TV show, life in Mayberry is remarkably simple, such to the extent the local Sherriff could regularly take his son down by the fishing hole and whistle the day away rather than look out for criminals. This is despite the fact his Deputy Barney Fife is a complete incompetent, which luckily for viewers was often hilarious to watch. Sherriff Taylor’s Aunt Bee also occupied this world, making sure life was filled with homemade love for her family.

Question 36

Which series shows the struggles of the Gallagher family?

Plenty of families on TV put the fun back in dysfunctional, yet few take it to the extremes of the extremely messed up Gallagher family. Granted, it’s hard to blame the kids all that much for falling apart, considering their only role model was the alcoholic waste case Frank. To her credit, oldest child Fiona is even doing her best to piece together the messes Frank causes, and her brothers Lip and Ian tried becoming relatively normal people as the show continued. Younger kids Debbie, Carl, and Liam still have a long way to go, though.

Question 37

What series documented the angelic Camden family?

By and large, popular TV shows avoid extreme focuses on religion in order to ensure all audiences will be able to relate to them. That’s a little hard to do when the family patriarch is a Reverend, as was the case with Eric Camden. Naturally, his wife Annie was equally pious, and the Bible played typically an integral role in how they raised their six kids, Matthew, Mary, Simon, Ruthie, Lucy, Sam, and Dave. Despite this high focus on church and all things holy, the show was one of the most popular ever to air on The WB.

Question 38

Which sitcom brought Tanner family to television?

Raising three kids is a daunting task for any single parent, especially one still reeling over the tragedy of losing their partner. Luckily for sportscaster Danny Tanner, his brother-in-law Jesse and best friend Joey were both willing to chip in and join him as he brought up Michelle, D.J., and Stephanie in a world that robbed them of a mother. Because these guys all had winning personalities, the girls were not only able to get over the loss of their mom but flourish as only sitcom characters could.

Question 39

What down home series featured the Harper family?

Originally a recurring character on The Carol Burnett Show, producers eventually decided Thelma Mae Harper was a versatile enough character to deserve her own sitcom. Unfortunately, her daughter Eunice and son-in-law Ed were only around for a handful of episodes, but the series managed to introduce dozens of new family members for Thelma to interact with in her classic southern-fried way. Despite appearances, Thelma was one of bitterest, most mean spirited grandmas on TV, but that doesn’t mean audiences couldn’t laugh at her.

Question 40

Which show documented how the wealthy Bluth family lost it all?

And now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. After learning his father George, Sr. may have committed some “light treason,” his scion Michael needs to jump into action and save the family business. Unfortunately for him, mother Lucille and siblings GOB, Lindsay, and Buster have no interest in helping, preferring to rapidly waste the little fortunes they have left while they still can. What is the show about their downfall called?

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