101 TV Trivia Questions and Answers: Test Your Knowledge of Television History

Discover television’s most iconic moments through this comprehensive trivia quiz.

Written by Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach
Last Updated on
Discover television’s most iconic moments through this comprehensive trivia quiz.

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Ultimate TV Trivia: 101 Questions and Answers to Challenge Any Television Fan

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Whether you grew up on black-and-white sitcoms or binge-watch the latest streaming sensations, television is a huge part of modern culture. Do you know your Seinfeld from your Stranger Things, or which show featured the first ever on-screen toilet flush? Put your small screen smarts to the test with this extensive collection of 101 TV trivia questions and answers, ranging from the easy to the diabolically difficult. From sitcoms and dramas to reality TV and animated favorites, see just how much tube trivia you really know!

How to Use These TV Trivia Questions

  • Perfect for game nights, parties, and family fun.
  • Great for pub quizzes, classroom icebreakers, or team-building events.
  • Challenge yourself or quiz your friends and see who reigns as the TV trivia champion!

General TV Trivia Questions

  1. What does “TV” stand for?
    Answer: Television
  2. Who famously declared, “Lucy, I’m home!”?
    Answer: Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
  3. Which show features a coffee shop called Central Perk?
    Answer: Friends
  4. What’s the longest-running animated television show in the U.S.?
    Answer: The Simpsons
  5. Who played the role of Michael Scott on The Office (U.S.)?
    Answer: Steve Carell
  6. What city is the setting for Cheers?
    Answer: Boston
  7. On which channel did The Twilight Zone originally air?
    Answer: CBS
  8. In what year did the show Friends debut?
    Answer: 1994
  9. Name the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
    Answer: “Yo Home to Bel-Air”
  10. Which variety show is known for its weekly guest host monologue?
    Answer: Saturday Night Live

Classic TV Trivia

  1. Which classic TV detective drove a Peugeot convertible?
    Answer: Columbo
  2. Who is the youngest daughter in The Brady Bunch?
    Answer: Cindy
  3. What catchphrase is Steve Urkel famous for?
    Answer: “Did I do that?” (Family Matters)
  4. Which series starred Dick Van Dyke as a crime-solving doctor?
    Answer: Diagnosis: Murder
  5. What kind of car did the Dukes of Hazzard drive?
    Answer: 1969 Dodge Charger (The General Lee)
  6. Which show featured the phrase “Book ’em, Danno”?
    Answer: Hawaii Five-O
  7. What is the name of the bar in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?
    Answer: Paddy’s Pub
  8. Who solved mysteries in Murder, She Wrote?
    Answer: Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury)
  9. What was the profession of Bob Hartley in The Bob Newhart Show?
    Answer: Psychologist
  10. Which TV series was set at the titular “Melrose Place” apartment complex?
    Answer: Melrose Place

Sitcom Trivia Questions

  1. In Parks and Recreation, what is Ron Swanson’s favorite food?
    Answer: Bacon and eggs
  2. Which sitcom is set in Pawnee, Indiana?
    Answer: Parks and Recreation
  3. Who is the mother of Bart Simpson?
    Answer: Marge Simpson
  4. Name the actor who played Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
    Answer: James Avery
  5. What was the “Catch-22” in M*A*S*H?
    Answer: Paradoxical military regulation
  6. Who served as the paper company’s receptionist in most seasons of The Office?
    Answer: Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer)
  7. In Seinfeld, what fruit makes Kramer “out of the contest”?
    Answer: Cantaloupe
  8. Where does the show Brooklyn Nine-Nine take place?
    Answer: New York City, 99th precinct
  9. Who created the mockumentary sitcom The Office?
    Answer: Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
  10. On Scrubs, what is the janitor’s real name?
    Answer: Glen Matthews (revealed in the finale, but the character is mostly just called “the Janitor”)

Reality TV & Game Show Trivia

  1. Who won the first season of Survivor?
    Answer: Richard Hatch
  2. What is the signature bake-off show that began in the UK?
    Answer: The Great British Bake Off
  3. Who is the longest-serving host of Jeopardy!?
    Answer: Alex Trebek
  4. In which reality series do contestants compete for a “rose”?
    Answer: The Bachelor/Bachelorette
  5. Which reality show follows the Kardashians?
    Answer: Keeping Up With the Kardashians
  6. Name the celebrity chef behind Hell’s Kitchen.
    Answer: Gordon Ramsay
  7. Which singing competition show launched Kelly Clarkson’s career?
    Answer: American Idol
  8. What do contestants spin on Wheel of Fortune?
    Answer: The Wheel
  9. What is the highest prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
    Answer: $1,000,000
  10. Who co-hosted The View for over two decades until 2022?
    Answer: Joy Behar

Drama & Sci-Fi TV Trivia

  1. Who ran The X-Files alongside Dana Scully?
    Answer: Fox Mulder
  2. What is the name of the coffee shop in Twin Peaks?
    Answer: Double R Diner
  3. Which British sci-fi series features the Doctor?
    Answer: Doctor Who
  4. Name the actor who played Walter White.
    Answer: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
  5. On which show did Don Draper make advertising history?
    Answer: Mad Men
  6. What’s the name of the deadly contest on Squid Game?
    Answer: Squid Game
  7. Which series revolves around the LA law firm Cage & Fish?
    Answer: Ally McBeal
  8. Name the city where Buffy the Vampire Slayer is set.
    Answer: Sunnydale
  9. On Stranger Things, what is Eleven’s real name?
    Answer: Jane
  10. Which law enforcement drama is set in Miami and popularized the “C.S.I. thing”?
    Answer: CSI: Miami

More TV Trivia: Streaming, Cartoons, and Recent Classics

  1. What is the name of Winston’s cat in New Girl?
    Answer: Ferguson
  2. Who played Phoebe Buffay’s twin sister on Friends?
    Answer: Helen Hunt
  3. Which character’s catchphrase was “pop pop!” on Community?
    Answer: Magnitude
  4. Who pooped in the bed on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia?
    Answer: Frank Reynolds
  5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt made his breakthrough on which sitcom?
    Answer: Third Rock From the Sun
  6. What is the name of Toby’s daughter on The Office?
    Answer: Sasha
  7. In which borough of New York City do the vampires live in What We Do in the Shadows?
    Answer: Staten Island
  8. Which character filled in for Liz Lemon, then showed up wearing the same outfit as her on 30 Rock?
    Answer: Frank Rossitano
  9. Juno Temple’s Ted Lasso character is based on which of her co-stars?
    Answer: Keeley Hazell
  10. Which animated series follows four boys in Colorado?
    Answer: South Park
  11. Which animated series is famous for “Wubba Lubba Dub Dub”?
    Answer: Rick and Morty

Television Milestones and Unusual Facts

  1. Which show had the first interracial kiss on American television?
    Answer: Star Trek
  2. Who was the first host of The Tonight Show?
    Answer: Steve Allen
  3. Which actor has hosted Saturday Night Live the most times (as of 2025)?
    Answer: Alec Baldwin
  4. Which series featured the first toilet flush heard on TV?
    Answer: All In the Family
  5. Approximately how much is Jed Clampett’s fortune worth at the end of The Beverly Hillbillies, adjusted for inflation?
    Answer: $771 million
  6. What is the name of Dana Scully’s dog on The X-Files?
    Answer: Queequeg
  7. What fictional game show do contestants play in Friends?
    Answer: Bamboozled

Bonus TV Trivia Table: Fast Facts at a Glance

ShowMilestone or FactNotable Cast/Detail
I Love LucyFirst pregnancy storyline starring an actual pregnant actressLucille Ball
The SimpsonsLongest-running American sitcom and animated seriesVoices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner
M*A*S*HMost-watched finale in U.S. TV history (106 million viewers)Alan Alda
Breaking BadUniversal acclaim as the “best TV drama ever” in many listsBryan Cranston, Aaron Paul
Mister Rogers’ NeighborhoodLongest-running host (Fred Rogers, 33 years)Fred Rogers

Quick Fire: TV Themes, Catchphrases, and Cameos

  • “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” — Opening line of SNL
  • “D’oh!” — Homer Simpson’s signature exclamation
  • “How you doin’?” — Joey Tribbiani’s (Friends) memorable pick-up line
  • “What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” — Gary Coleman on Diff’rent Strokes

Trivia by the Numbers: Records & Statistics

  • Most Emmy Awards for a scripted series: Game of Thrones (59 wins)
  • Longest-running prime time drama: Law & Order: SVU
  • Animated series debut year: The Simpsons premiered in 1989
  • First show shot entirely in color: The World Is Yours (1951)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About TV Trivia

What is the best strategy for pub quiz TV rounds?

Brush up on both classic and current TV, pay special attention to showrunners and iconic moments, and include trivia about firsts and records which frequently come up in games.

Which genres are most likely to appear in trivia games?

Popular sitcoms, dramas, animated staples, and reality TV are often covered. Adding niche knowledge of cult classics, sci-fi, and recent streaming hits gives you an edge.

Why are TV “firsts” and records important for trivia?

TV “firsts,” such as first kisses or daring storylines, broke social barriers and are often referenced in quizzes. Ratings records and award wins help contextualize a show’s impact and legacy.

How many TV trivia questions are good for a party?

Twenty to thirty varied questions make a lively party game, but for true enthusiasts, a longer quiz like the 101 questions above is perfect.

What is a “must-know” show for TV trivia beginners?

Friends, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Jeopardy! are frequently referenced in general trivia and a good place to start.

References

  1. https://www.pinterest.com/ideas/tv-trivia-questions/936655364435/
  2. https://parade.com/1158778/jessicasager/valentines-day-trivia/
  3. https://parade.com/1254942/jessicasager/tv-trivia/
  4. https://parade.com/tag/trivia/page/3
  5. https://parade.com/1072705/jessicasager/thanksgiving-trivia/
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Sneha Tete
Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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