Tag Archives: Movie Quiz

Spot that teenage angst TV show!


Ha, love this theme myself. As a gay boy growing up I had angst galore, so I was lucky to grow up in the 90’s as this was the era of slow paced, grunge or retro style teenage voice-overed TV  shows about kids growing up with issues bigger then themselves. Yes, I watched a LOT of TV! But the nineties also brought us upbeat and sassy sitcoms with a plot. You know, a warning (don’t drink.. ever… at all.. or you’ll die) and a joke to mark the end.
Either way, it was comforting to see that at least writers of TV shows knew a bit about what I was facing every day. Oh, and in case you wonder; I grew up being perfectly happy.

 

See how much you guys watched. In style with my other quizes, I will give you a few images of a TV show house, and with a small hint, ask you to come up with the name of the show.

First one, maybe not quite fitting the theme per se, but the title of this sitcom says it all. It hurts growing up.

Mystery House 1

Mystery House 1

The next house featured in a show with a girl named after the process all teenage girls go through as they grow into womanhood. She shared the house with her dad, and I believe two brothers. Being a girl, growing up in an all men family is tough. A fast talking friend named somewhere between 1 and 10 did help though.

Mystery House 2

Mystery House 2

Next one up is a classic story. Poor kid, growing up in rich household. Where Will Smith moved to Bel Air, the guy in this show moves to another posh greater LA area. It aired for four seasons before it was pulled because of deteriorating ratings.

Mystery House 3

Mystery House 3

I guess a hint could be that the love interest of the main character, his skinny neighbour girl, has the same surname as the love interest of the main character in the show from the next house.

That next house is this.

 

Mystery House 3

Mystery House 4

A typical suburban 1940’s bungalow. The show was set a decade or two after is was built and featured a young David Schwimmer as the older sister’s love interest. Only for an episode or three, so not sure if that counts as a hint…Like I said though, the main character’s love interest shares a surname with the love interest of the show before this one.

Oh, another hint might be that rumour has it that the side kick of the main character was played by the later to become shock rocker  Marilyn Manson… This is so far from the truth it is not even funny anymore.

Mystery House 4

Mystery House 5

The last house was featured in a show that changed teenage drama according to many TV critics. It dealt with issues such as same sex parenting, homophobia, drug abuse and best friends stabbing you in the back. The show was devoid of all the obligatory happy endings which made it a bit more real and would often even leave you feeling a bit unsettled after watching it.

The main character tries to balance her life between the expectations of her parents, her former best friend, and her much cooler new best friend. Her much cooler best friend ends up kissing the boy she herself lusts after all throughout the series. And her geeky neighbour captures a lot of her life on camera. I personally can’t help but think that this inspired the creator of American Beauty to invent the character of Ricky Fitts.

OK, five TV shows dealing with teenagers growing up in various era’s and sometimes all’s well, ends well, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Spot more TV shows!


Ok, Ok, I like this the best I reckon, and I know many of you do too, pop culture quizes involving famous TV and movie homes.

This time, it’s all TV again, no movies. And it’s randomness galore as the era’s these shows aired are all over the place. However, I will try to cross reference you through the entire thing, as Hollywood is and always will be a world where 6 degrees of separation is a waste of time. To give you a bit of a first hint; I added some Italian spices as all shows feature one or more characters of Italian descent.

I want the names of the show, and the name of at least one of the characters of Italian descent.

Starting with house, or rather, building number 1. An all time favorite. This is the building where a couple of buddies, mates, chums or pals lived in this long running successful series. The clue is in the word I so desperately try to avoid.

Mystery TV home #1

Mystery TV home #1

House number 2 is set in a suburb not far from building number 1. It’s a suburb in new Jersey to be precise. The organisation of American-Italians criticized the show for stereotyping Italians. To be fair, the lead character has an almost Oedipus-esque relationship with his mother, who in turn has the hots for his uncle, who actually tried to get him whacked! And they eat a lot. But I have been to Italy plenty of times, lived there even, and that is what they do!

Mystery TV home #2

Mystery TV home #2

From the Jersey shores to the Florida beaches. Plenty a pensioner has done it. So did the characters in the show featuring this house.
Mystery TV show House #3

Mystery TV show home #3

TV critics actually compared this show with the much later airing HBO hit Sex and the City. Mind you, SATC features women at least half the age of the characters in the show I am looking for, but yes…four women, dating various men….one of them slutty…… I totally see it.
 
Talking of SATC.. one of the girls in that show had a part in the show I am looking for next. We set sail for the West Coast for building number 4. This building featured in a spin off show, spun off a popular show named after a famous zip-code. Not far from that zip-code was where this show was set. It all revolved around several people in the beginning of their careers living together in one place. Each with their own amenities by the way. They only shared a pool.
Mystery TV home #5

Mystery TV home #4

From this place, it’s a small step to the next house. If only because surprisingly many people from the previous show made their entry in this fictitious suburban street. That’s all the clues you’re getting by the way. I think this one is a bit of a giveaway…..
Mystery TV home #5

Mystery TV home #5

For the next, and final house, we take a step back. Both geographically and in time.  We lay down our hat in Milwaukee, and jump back a decade or 5, yes, those were the days.
To be honest, the fact that this show was set in Milwaukee is a little known one. The state is mentioned like, never, in the show. A better clue would be to tell you that one of the lead characters later made fame as director even picking up a few Oscars on the way. But as that might still be leaving a few of you clueless, one more clue. The Italian character in this show is called Arthur, but is more commonly known by his nickname. In fact, the only person allowed to call him Arthur, was the lady of the house in the picture.
Mystery TV home #6

Mystery TV home #6

 

 

That’s it, good luck! And as usual, the winner gets my ever lasting respect.