Welcome back to My 70s TV Childhood and to Quiz #77.
This week we are marking a rather special anniversary. The Muppet Show first aired fifty years ago in September 1976, and Round One is dedicated entirely to the show. Five questions about Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Dr Bunsen Honeydew and the rest of the gang. And here is something that often surprises people: the show was actually made right here in the UK. After that, it is our regular Marathon/Fil Rouge round, the Wheel of Fate landing on 1979 for Name That Tune, and the TV Times general trivia round. Have a go, keep score, and let us know how you get on.
Before we start, a quick reminder that the My 70s TV Childhood Theme Tune Game is launching very soon. It is a nostalgic family game based on the classic British TV theme tunes we all remember, designed to be played around the table with family and friends. The perfect gift for anyone who grew up with 1970s British television.
If you would like to hear more, pop your name and email address below and we will keep you updated.
Let’s Go!
Round 1: 50 Years of the Muppet Show
Five questions to mark the fiftieth anniversary of one of the most beloved variety shows in television history. It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights.
Question 1: Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in September 2026, The Muppet Show was actually made in the UK. Which ITV company produced the show?
Question 2: Dr Bunsen Honeydew ran the Muppet Labs science spot on the show. What was the name of his assistant who usually ended up coming off worse from their experiments?
Question 3: What was the name of the song sung by Kermit the Frog’s nephew Robin on the show, which reached number 7 in the UK singles chart in 1977?
Question 4: Bruce Forsyth appeared on the show in January 1977. With which Muppet did he do a stand-up comedy double act?
Question 5: What was the name of the house band on The Muppet Show?
Round 2: Marathon/Fil Rouge
Named in honour of the recurring rounds in It’s a Knockout and Jeux Sans Frontieres, these questions all refer to things covered in previous episodes of the podcast. If you are a regular listener, you may have a slight advantage, though I would not count on it.
Question 1: In January 2025 we featured the US animated sitcom Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. What was the name of the communist-obsessed next-door neighbour in the show?
Question 2: Secret Army featured in March 2023 alongside the wartime-set Colditz. In which city was Secret Army set?
Question 3: US magical comedy Bewitched featured in February 2022. Who played glamorous suburban witch Samantha in the show?
Question 4: Last month, August, saw an episode on Fawlty Towers. Where was the hotel-based sitcom set?
Question 5: In March 2024 we looked back at Wacky Races. Who were the drivers of car number 10, The Buzzwagon?
Round 3: Name That Tune, 1979
The Wheel of Fate has landed on 1979 this week. Five theme tunes from shows first broadcast on UK TV in 1979. You will need to tune into the podcast to play this round.
Round 4: TV Times
Our general 70s TV trivia round. No particular theme this week, just five questions covering the full breadth of what British television had to offer in the 1970s.
Question 1: What was the name of the long-running variety show featuring music hall-type acts on stage at the City Varieties Theatre in Leeds?
Question 2: What was the name of the incompetent and probably corrupt sheriff of Hazzard County in the US show The Dukes of Hazzard?
Question 3: In the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series Captain Caveman, the title character helped three young women, Dee Dee, Taffy and Brenda to solve various mysteries. They were also an all-girl pop group. What was the group’s name?
Question 4: There were two regular hosts of Crackerjack during the 1970s. Who were they?
Question 5: In The Return of the Saint starring Ian Ogilvy, what type of car did The Saint drive with the number plate ST1?
Bonus Question
Last week I asked you: like many families, Oliver’s rented their television from Radio Rentals for many years. What was the brand name of the television sets the company provided?
The answer will be revealed with this week’s full answers. Well done if you got it.
This Week’s Bonus Question
In the cartoon show Battle of the Planets, UK audiences got quite a few scenes where a robot called 7 Zark 7 gave narrative updates of the plot and told the odd joke. These scenes were not included in the Japanese original. Why were they added to the US and UK version? Drop me a line at quiz@my70stvchildhood.com if you know the answer.
Want the answers now?
If you want to check your answers against this week’s full set of answers straight away, simply pop your name and email address into the box below and we will send you directly to the answers.
If you would rather wait, the answers will be revealed here on Friday.
Either way, I would love to know how you got on. Drop your score to quiz@my70stvchildhood.com or leave a comment on any of our social media pages. I read every single one.
We are back next week with a regular episode and in a fortnight with Quiz 78. Until then, thank you for playing.
Take care,
Oliver
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