Throughout the history of television, we’ve been able to relate to some actors/actresses by their character names on our favorite shows, but as all good things come to an end, all of our favorite shows either have, or will end at some time. Many of those performers aren’t always ready to retire from their craft, and so some smart casting directors of new shows might give those veteran, newly unemployed stars a call (or text, or tweet, or whatever) and ask them if they might want to audition for a role in the new show being developed for the small screen.

In years of watching television, I’ve come across many of my favorite performers who’ve spent many years as one person, then came back to assume the role of someone else. In the genre of the television industry, they led double lives.

Someone recently told me there hasn’t been a test of memory from the keyboard of the VFTB for a long while, so maybe it’s time we do it again.

This latest challenge will be to take the character name in each example, and come up with the double life character the actor who played both roles portrayed. Not looking for the actor’s/actress’s name, but the role of the second character they made famous on television. To make it even more challenging, you won’t receive the actor’s/actress’s name, or the either of the programs they made famous, so memories will be put to test even more.

Answers will follow as has been the habit, so get as many as you can and Good Luck!

1. Oscar Madison

2. Adam Cartwright

3. Andy Taylor

4. Elaine Benes

5. Jim Anderson

6. Little Joe Cartwright

7. Perry Mason

8. Bret Maverick

9. Jed Clampett

10. James Kirk

11. Maude Findlay

12. Sue Ann Nivens

13. Murray Slaughter

14. Archie Bunker

15. Capt. Anthony Nelson

16. Laura Petrie

17. Dan Briggs

18. Dr. Robert Caldwell

19. Lucy Ricardo

20. Thomas Magnum

21. Alex P. Keaton

22. Fred Mertz

23. Barney Fife

24. Sam Malone

25. Robert Hartley

26. Bill Gannon

27. Maynard G. Krebs

28. Howard Cunningham

29. Chester Goode

30. Tod Stiles

31. Rex Randolph

32. Heath Barkley

33. Audra Barkley

There’s the quiz…maybe a bit tougher than some, but I believe you all still did exceptional on this one. Score 3 points for each correct answer (numbers 1 through 32), 4 points (number 33.)

Answers: (Okay, I’ll give you the shows, too)

1. Dr. R. Quincy – The Odd Couple and Quincy M.E.

2. John McIntyre- Bonanza and Trapper John M. D.

3. Ben Matlock – Andy Griffith Show and Matlock

4. Christine Campbell – Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine

5. Marcus Welby – Father Knows Best and Marcus Welby M. D.

6. Charles Ingalls – Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie

7. Robert Ironside – Perry Mason and Ironside

8. Jim Rockford – Maverick and The Rockford Files

9. Barnaby Jones – The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones

10. Denny Crane – Star Trek and Boston Public

11. Dorothy Zbornak – Maude and The Golden Girls

12. Rose Nylund – The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls

13. Merrill Stubing – The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat (McHale’s Navy too)

14. Chief Bill Gillespie – All in the Family and In the Heat of the Night

15. J. R. Ewing – I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas

16. Mary Richards – The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show

17. Adam Schiff – Mission Impossible and Law and Order

18. Leroy Jethro Gibbs – St. Elsewhere and N.C.I.S.

19. Lucy Carmichael – I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show (Here’s Lucy too)

20. Frank Reagan – Magnum P. I. and Blue Bloods

21. Mike Flaherty – Family Ties and Spin City

22. William Michael Francis Aloysius “Bub” O’Casey – I Love Lucy and My Three Sons

23. Ralph Furley – The Andy Griffith Show and Three’s Company

24. John Becker – Cheers and Becker

25. Dick Loudon – The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart

26. Sherman T. Potter – Dragnet and M*A*S*H* (Pete & Gladys too)

27. Gilligan – Dobie Gillis and Gilligan’s Island

28. Father Dowling – Happy Days and The Father Dowling Mysteries

29. Sam McCloud – Gunsmoke and McCloud

30. Pete Malloy – Route 66 and Adam-12

31. Jarrod Barkley – 77 Sunset Strip and The Big Valley

32. Steve Austin – The Big Valley and The Six Million Dollar Man

33. Krystle Carrington – The Big Valley and Dynasty

Hope you all did well on this one! Have a great week!