The Rabbit-Ears Quiz (10 of 12)-The Jetsons

Today, we continue our Rabbit's Ear Quiz with a look at "The Jetsons," the highly popular American cartoon which did not actually air in the 1970s, when I watched the show as a child. I also saw the show in Turkey on the TRT (Turkish Radio Television) and it was called "Jetgiller."

The show has 75 episodes in syndication even though its initial run was a surprisingly short one. The show takes place in the 2062, and it featured many unique characters.

These included George Jetson, 34 (that's his age according to Wikipedia, which actually makes him a bit too young to have a teenage daughter). George was actually voiced by an actor named George as Geogrge O"Hanlon (1912-1989), an actor who played a supporting character on "I Love Lucy" provided the voice for the space-age dad.

Jane Jetson, 33, was voiced by Penny Singleton (1908-2005) who played the comic strip character Blondie on film and television. Other characters included the nightmare boss Cosmo Spacely, owner of Spacely Sprockets, who was voiced by the great Mel Blanc (1908-1989) who was the voice of lots of Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny.

The Jetson kids included Elroy, age 6 and a half, and Judy, age 16. Janet Waldo, now age 88, voiced Judy Jetson and she is the only surviving member of the cast. Elroy Jetson was voiced by another cartoon voice legend Daws Butler (1916-1988) who also provided the voice for Huckleberry Hound.

And, lastly, there was Rosie the Robot and Astro the Dog, (pictured here).

Today, we ask just which year did "The Jetsons" debut on ABC?

Was it:

A) 1962

B) 1963

C) 1964

D) 1965

Thanks to those of you visiting us from Dubai, of all places, today. 

The Rabbit Ear Test_ (8 out of 12)_ "The Time Tunnel"

Last time around, we featured "The Love Boat," which was produced by the late Aaron Spelling, who also gave the tv world such shows as "Charlie's Angels," "Fantasy Island" and "Dynasty." Today, we go with a producer known not for glossy tv shows, but rather science-fiction show which still have loyal cult followings to this day.

Irwin Allen (1916-1991), who also produced adventure and disaster movies, produced four tv shows in the 1960s. While the other three shows "Lost in Space" (1966-68), "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964-68) and "Land of the Giants" (1968-70) were relative hits, "The Time Tunnel" was not even though it received widespread critical acclaim.

I show "The Time Tunnel," which aired in 1966 in the United States, a full decade after it was on American television when it aired on the TRT (Turkish Radio and Television) during the two years that we lived in Turkey from 1977-79. In Turkey, the show was called "Zaman Tuneli," which literally means time tunnel.

"The Time Tunnel" starred James Darren, now 74, who would also team with another '60s science-fiction tv series star William Shatner of "Star Trek" in the cop show "T.J. Hooker," which debuted in 1982.

The show also used props, such as guns and computers, that had also been used on other Allen-produced shows as well as "Batman" (which Allen did not produce).

"The Time Tunnel," like all Allen vehicles, was considered expensive for its time. And, the show was known for unique plots, including ones where Darren's character Dr. Anthony Newman (Tony) finds himself on board the Titanic during its fatal voyage (he escapes, of course) and on Pearl Harbor right before its attack.

In the 1960s, continuity was not a major concern as it is today, so according to Wikipedia, in one episode Tony says he was born in 1938, and then a few episodes later he states that he was seven years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked (that took place on Dec. 7, 1941).

John Williams, who would later collaborate with Steven Spielberg as music composer for virtually all of his films, including "Jaws," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "E.T." composed the theme for "The Time Tunnel."

So, today, for our quiz, and we hope to remember to provide the answer in the coming entries, we ask just how many episodes were made of this show, which alas didn't last as long as it should have.

Is the answer?:

A) 24 shows

B) 28 shows

C) 30 shows

D) 32 shows