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Quizzes > Movies

70s TV Trivia: Can You Name the Classics?

Quick, free 1970s TV shows quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Akeha HirabayashiUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for 1970s TV trivia quiz on a sky blue background

This 70s TV trivia quiz helps you name classic shows using quick clues about theme songs, catchphrases, and casts as you track your score. When you finish, try some 70s sitcom trivia or explore more classic tv trivia, then jump decades with 90s tv trivia.

Which show featured the character Margaret Hot Lips Houlihan?
Hogan's Heroes
China Beach
M*A*S*H
ER
Margaret Hot Lips Houlihan was a head nurse in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in the long-running series M*A*S*H. The show aired from 1972 to 1983 and blended comedy and drama against the backdrop of the Korean War. Sally Kellerman portrayed the character in the pilot, followed by Loretta Swit for the remainder of the series.
Which sitcom centered around the working-class Bunker family?
Good Times
The Jeffersons
All in the Family
Maude
All in the Family revolved around the Bunker family and tackled social issues head-on. The show aired from 1971 to 1979 and was known for its groundbreaking and controversial themes. It starred Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker, Jean Stapleton as Edith, and Rob Reiner as Michael Stivic.
Which show followed the life of TV news producer Mary Richards in Minneapolis?
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
The Bob Newhart Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Laverne & Shirley
The Mary Tyler Moore Show starred Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards, a single woman working in a Minneapolis TV newsroom from 1970 to 1977. The series was praised for its progressive portrayal of a working woman and won multiple Emmy Awards. It remains a landmark in television history.
What show featured two single roommates working in a Milwaukee brewery?
Charlie's Angels
Laverne & Shirley
One Day at a Time
Three's Company
Laverne & Shirley was a spinoff of Happy Days and followed best friends Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney living and working in a Milwaukee brewery from 1976 to 1983. The show was known for its physical comedy and catchy theme song. Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams starred in the lead roles.
Which family moved north to a rural farm and faced pioneer life?
The Partridge Family
The Brady Bunch
Little House on the Prairie
The Waltons
Little House on the Prairie depicted the life of the Ingalls family on the American frontier during the late 19th century. The series aired from 1974 to 1983 and was based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiographical books. Michael Landon starred as Charles Ingalls alongside Melissa Gilbert as Laura.
Which show featured detectives Starsky and Hutch?
The Rockford Files
Starsky & Hutch
Baretta
The Streets of San Francisco
Starsky & Hutch was a buddy-cop drama that aired from 1975 to 1979, starring David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser as undercover detectives Dave Starsky and Ken Hutchinson. The show became famous for its car chases and the iconic red Gran Torino. It remains a staple of 1970s television policing dramas.
Which sitcom catchphrase is "Dy-no-mite!"?
Laverne & Shirley
Sanford and Son
Good Times
Happy Days
The catchphrase "Dy-no-mite!" was popularized by J.J. Evans on Good Times, which aired from 1974 to 1979. Jimmie Walker's energetic delivery made it one of TV's most memorable lines. Good Times was a groundbreaking show featuring an African American family in Chicago.
Which show featured characters Alice, Flo, and Mel working at a roadside diner?
Maude
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Alice
Rhoda
Alice was a sitcom running from 1976 to 1985 about Alice Hyatt and her coworkers at Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona. The show was a spinoff of the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Linda Lavin starred as Alice, with Polly Holliday as Flo and Vic Tayback as Mel.
Which spinoff series starred Maude Findlay?
One Day at a Time
Maude
The Jeffersons
Rhoda
Maude, which aired from 1972 to 1978, was a direct spinoff of All in the Family and focused on Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker's cousin. Bea Arthur starred in the title role, addressing issues like women's rights and mental health. The series was both popular and controversial for its time.
Happy Days was set in which decade?
1940s
1960s
1950s
1970s
Although it aired in the 1970s and early 1980s, Happy Days nostalgically depicted suburban life in 1950s Milwaukee. Created by Garry Marshall, it ran from 1974 to 1984 and helped launch several spinoffs. The show remains iconic for its leather-jacketed teen Fonzie.
Who portrayed Wonder Woman in the 1970s television series?
Erin Gray
Lynda Carter
Gal Gadot
Cathy Lee Crosby
Lynda Carter famously brought Wonder Woman to life from 1975 to 1979, showcasing the Amazonian superhero's strength and grace. The series was one of the earliest live-action adaptations of a female comic-book hero. Carter's portrayal remains the definitive television Wonder Woman.
In The Jeffersons, what type of business did George Jefferson own?
Shoe repair
Car dealership
Grocery store
Dry cleaning
George Jefferson, played by Sherman Hemsley, owned a successful dry-cleaning business in the sitcom The Jeffersons, which ran from 1975 to 1985. His rise from working-class roots to wealth was a central theme. The series was one of the longest-running spinoffs in TV history.
Who played private investigator Jim Rockford on The Rockford Files?
Jack Lord
Peter Falk
James Garner
Robert Blake
James Garner starred as Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, which aired from 1974 to 1980. His portrayal of a witty, down-on-his-luck private eye living on a houseboat won critical acclaim. The show combined procedural drama with character-driven stories.
In One Day at a Time, the Anderson family lived in which city?
Los Angeles
Chicago
New York
Indianapolis
One Day at a Time was set in Indianapolis and aired from 1975 to 1984. It followed a divorced mother raising two daughters and was ahead of its time in addressing social issues like feminism and single parenthood. The sitcom was created by Norman Lear.
Charlie's Angels premiered in what year?
1976
1974
1977
1975
Charlie's Angels debuted in September 1976 and ran until 1981. The crime drama featured three women working as private detectives for the mysterious Charlie Townsend. It was a ratings hit and cultural phenomenon of the late 1970s.
In Charlie's Angels, what was the name of the agency the Angels worked for?
Angel Investigations
Townsend Agency
Cagney Agency
Continental Detectives
The Angels worked for the Townsend Agency, a private detective firm run by the unseen Charlie Townsend. The series used his mysterious voice-over to communicate with the Angels via speakerphone. It became a signature element of the show.
What was the original title of the All in the Family pilot?
Meet the Bunkers
Family Matters
All Together Now
Justice for All
The pilot for All in the Family was originally titled Justice for All when it was first tested with audiences in 1968. After revisions and another pilot, it premiered under its final title in 1971. The change reflected the show's broader scope beyond courtroom humor.
Which 1970s show featured Detective Theo Kojak wielding a lollipop?
Starsky & Hutch
Columbo
Baretta
Kojak
Kojak starred Telly Savalas as the bald, tough-talking NYPD detective known for chewing on lollipops. It aired from 1973 to 1978 and made the catchphrase "Who loves ya, baby?" famous. The candy was introduced on the show when Savalas's dentist recommended it for dry mouth.
Columbo's trademark coat was what kind of garment?
A leather jacket
A pea coat
A raincoat
A rumpled trench coat
Lieutenant Columbo, played by Peter Falk, was known for his disheveled appearance, especially his well-worn trench coat. The coat became a visual shorthand for his unassuming investigative style. Columbo aired originally from 1971 to 1978.
The theme song "Movin' On Up" is from which 1970s sitcom?
The Jeffersons
All in the Family
Welcome Back, Kotter
Good Times
"Movin' On Up" served as the uplifting theme song for The Jeffersons, reflecting George Jefferson's mantra of upward mobility. Performed by Ja'net DuBois, it became one of television's most recognizable themes. The show ran from 1975 to 1985.
What was Steve Austin's occupation before becoming the Six Million Dollar Man?
Scientist
Soldier
Astronaut
Test pilot
In The Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin was an astronaut whose bionics were installed after a catastrophic crash. The series aired from 1974 to 1978. His space agency background played a significant role in how he received his bionic abilities.
Who starred as the Bionic Woman, Jaime Sommers, in the 1970s series?
Jaclyn Smith
Farrah Fawcett
Kate Jackson
Lindsay Wagner
Lindsay Wagner played Jaime Sommers in The Bionic Woman, which aired from 1976 to 1978. The character was introduced in a telefilm before getting her own series. Wagner won an Emmy for her performance.
Which network originally aired The Mary Tyler Moore Show?
CBS
ABC
FOX
NBC
The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS in 1970 and ran until 1977. CBS was known for its strong slate of 1970s comedies, including All in the Family and The Bob Newhart Show. MTM Productions was founded by Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker, and their logo appeared at the end of each episode.
In The Rockford Files, what type of floating home did Jim Rockford live on?
A houseboat
A motorhome
A cabin cruiser
A yacht
Jim Rockford famously lived on a run-down houseboat on Los Angeles Harbor in The Rockford Files. It was part of his blue-collar, everyman appeal. The houseboat became an iconic symbol of the character.
In Starsky & Hutch, what was the make and model of their iconic red car?
1973 Chevrolet Camaro
1976 Dodge Charger
1974 Pontiac GTO
1975 Ford Gran Torino
Starsky & Hutch's famous red car was a 1975 Ford Gran Torino with a white vector stripe. The car became almost as iconic as the detectives themselves. It was chosen for its performance and distinctive look.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Series -

    Identify and name classic 1970s TV shows from popular sitcoms and dramas based on memorable scenes and characters.

  2. Recognize Catchphrases -

    Match famous catchphrases to their respective shows and characters, reinforcing your understanding of television trivia.

  3. Categorize TV Genres -

    Differentiate between sitcoms, dramas, and other genres of old 70 TV shows to deepen your knowledge of the era.

  4. Track Quiz Performance -

    Score points, monitor your progress on the leaderboard, and set personal bests to gauge your mastery of 70s quiz questions.

  5. Challenge and Engage -

    Apply your trivia skills in friendly competitions or trivia nights, showcasing your expertise in 1970s TV trivia.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Iconic Sitcom Catchphrases -

    70s sitcoms coined memorable catchphrases like "Dy-no-mite!" on Good Times and "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" on Diff'rent Strokes. A simple mnemonic "DY-WH" helps link Dy-no-mite to Good Times and WH to Diff'rent Strokes. According to the Paley Center for Media, these signature lines boosted audience engagement and show recognition.

  2. Groundbreaking Social Dramas -

    All in the Family broke new ground by tackling race, gender, and class head-on in episodes like "Edith's Problem." Create flashcards listing each episode's central issue to see how 70s TV mirrored societal debates. The UCLA Film & Television Archive highlights this series as a pivotal moment in prime-time drama realism.

  3. Memorable Theme Music -

    Theme songs such as "Movin' On Up" for The Jeffersons and Quincy Jones's instrumental for Sanford and Son set the tone before the opening credits. Hum a snippet of each tune to reinforce show-to-theme matching in your mind. The Library of Congress archives emphasize these scores as early examples of TV theme songwriting mastery.

  4. Evolution through Spin-offs -

    Maude and The Jeffersons both spun off from All in the Family, expanding its universe and character roster. Sketch a family-tree diagram showing character origins and spin-off links to solidify these relationships. A Journal of Popular Film and Television study identifies spin-offs as a key strategy for audience retention and franchise growth.

  5. 70s Aesthetic & Tech Trends -

    Series like Starsky & Hutch featured flared trousers and the iconic Ford Gran Torino, reflecting 70s fashion and automotive culture. Compare show screenshots with period style guides in a side-by-side chart to memorize these visual hallmarks. The Smithsonian Institution's online exhibits note how TV sets doubled as windows into contemporary style and technology.

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