Television has been around for decades and is a staple in many homes. From sitcoms to dramas to reality shows, television provides entertainment for people of all ages. Here are 85 riddles about different aspects of television for you to ponder and try to solve.
TV Show Riddles
Let’s start with some riddles about popular TV shows from over the years.
Q: What show features a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin?
A: Breaking Bad
Q: What medical drama is set in Seattle and features McDreamy and Meredith Grey?
A: Grey’s Anatomy
Q: What show follows the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in early 20th century England?
A: Downton Abbey
Q: What show revolves around the employees of a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
A: The Office
Q: What HBO show is about advertising executives in 1960s New York City?
A: Mad Men
Q: What crime drama stars a writer who helps the NYPD solve murders?
A: Castle
Q: What show features the yellow and blue animated characters of Springfield?
A: The Simpsons
Q: What musical comedy-drama is set at a high school in Ohio?
A: Glee
Q: What show follows the lives of four women living in Miami?
A: Golden Girls
Q: What show stars a professor who makes meth with a former student?
A: Breaking Bad
Q: What show revolves around survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island?
A: Lost
Q: What comedy is about a group of friends living in New York City?
A: Friends
Q: What crime show stars a writer helping the NYPD solve murders?
A: Castle
Q: What medical drama follows doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital?
A: Grey’s Anatomy
Q: What show follows the Brady family and their maid Alice?
A: The Brady Bunch
Q: What show is about the employees of a paper company in Scranton?
A: The Office
Q: What show features the McCallister family and a bungling pair of burglars?
A: Home Alone
Q: What animated show features Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa?
A: The Simpsons
Q: What show revolves around friends hanging out at a cafe in New York?
A: Friends
Q: What show featured a professor turning to drug kingpin?
A: Breaking Bad
Q: What musical comedy-drama was set at a high school in Ohio?
A: Glee
Q: What comedy followed four older women living in Miami?
A: Golden Girls
Children’s TV Riddles
Let’s move on to some riddles about classic children’s television shows and characters.
Q: What show features an aardvark named Arthur who lives in Elwood City?
A: Arthur
Q: What show is about four reptilian brothers who are trained in ninjutsu?
A: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Q: What show follows the adventures of young bear Ted and his friends?
A: The Berenstain Bears
Q: What show features a boy genius named Dexter and his secret laboratory?
A: Dexter’s Laboratory
Q: What animated show is about Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents?
A: The Fairly OddParents
Q: What show revolves around Tommy Pickles and his baby friends?
A: Rugrats
Q: What show stars three bear brothers who solve mysteries?
A: The Three Bear Bros
Q: What show features magical ponies in the land of Equestria?
A: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Q: What show follows the adventures of a boy named Arnold who lives with his grandparents?
A: Hey Arnold!
Q: What educational show starred Big Bird, Snuffleupagus and Elmo?
A: Sesame Street
Q: What show featured four brothers trained as ninjas?
A: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Q: What show followed the adventures of bear brothers?
A: The Berenstain Bears
Q: What animated series starred Dexter and his secret lab?
A: Dexter’s Laboratory
Q: What show revolved around a boy named Arnold and his friends?
A: Hey Arnold!
Q: What series featured ponies in the land of Equestria?
A: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Q: What educational show features Big Bird and Elmo?
A: Sesame Street
Q: What show stars Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents?
A: The Fairly OddParents
Q: What show followed the adventures of baby Tommy Pickles?
A: Rugrats
Q: What series starred the aardvark Arthur in Elwood City?
A: Arthur
Reality Show Riddles
How about some riddles relating to popular reality television shows?
Q: What singing competition show features aspiring talents and diva judges?
A: American Idol
Q: What show sends strangers to work together in harsh conditions?
A: Survivor
Q: What modeling competition series says “You’re either in or you’re out”?
A: America’s Next Top Model
Q: What show follows the lives of Orange County housewives?
A: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Q: What dance competition showcases the talents of professional hoofer and TV personalities?
A: Dancing with the Stars
Q: What show drops contestants into the wilderness to survive and find food?
A: Naked and Afraid
Q: What show features amateur bakers competing to be best in the kitchen?
A: The Great British Baking Show
Q: What modeling show uses the catchphrase “You’re either in or you’re out”?
A: America’s Next Top Model
Q: What reality show sends strangers to harsh environments?
A: Survivor
Q: What baking show features amateur cooks competing?
A: The Great British Baking Show
Q: What dance show teams up celebrities and professional dancers?
A: Dancing with the Stars
Q: What show follows Orange County housewives?
A: The Real Housewives of Orange County
Q: What singing show features amateur talents and judges?
A: American Idol
Q: What survivalist show drops people naked in the wild?
A: Naked and Afraid
TV Commercial Riddles
Let’s move on to some riddles about classic TV commercials and advertising.
Q: What cereal mascot promises he will get your tastebuds totally twisted?
A: Tony the Tiger
Q: What brand claims to be the ultimate driving machine?
A: BMW
Q: What soda ad told people to “Always keep a can handy”?
A: 7up
Q: What brand used the slogan “Plop plop, fizz fizz”?
A: Alka Seltzer
Q: What cereal tells you to “follow my nose! It always knows!”?
A: Trix
Q: What brand of car promises “the thrill of driving”?
A: BMW
Q: What soda brand said “Make 7 Up yours”?
A: 7up
Q: What medicine fizzed and relieved tummy troubles?
A: Alka Seltzer
Q: What cereal mascot twists your tastebuds totally?
A: Tony the Tiger
Q: What nose should you follow for fruity cereal?
A: Trix Rabbit
Q: What antacid fizzed with “plop plop, fizz fizz”?
A: Alka Seltzer
Q: What soda said to “keep a can handy”?
A: 7up
Q: What car brand promises the ultimate driving experience?
A: BMW
TV Technology Riddles
Let’s puzzle over some riddles about television tech and equipment.
Q: What connects your TV to a cable or antenna signal?
A: Coaxial cable
Q: What projects the visuals and sound from a TV?
A: Speakers and screens
Q: What codes contain the color and brightness information for a TV picture?
A: RGB signals
Q: What technology lets you control cable channels and volume with your remote?
A: Infrared
Q: What acronym refers to over-the-air digital TV broadcasts?
A: ATSC
Q: What technology allows a remote to control the TV?
A: Infrared
Q: What type of cable connects to an antenna or cable service?
A: Coaxial cable
Q: What provides sound for a television set?
A: Speakers
Q: What signals contain color and brightness data for images?
A: RGB signals
Q: What broadcasts digital over-the-air TV signals?
A: ATSC
Q: What displays the visuals on a television?
A: Screens
Q: What lets you change channels and volume remotely?
A: Infrared technology
Q: What cable connects to an antenna or cable service?
A: Coaxial cable
TV Genres Riddles
Let’s explore riddles about popular genres of television programming.
Q: What genre features real people in competitions, conflicts or daily life?
A: Reality shows
Q: What genre focuses on stories of crime and investigation?
A: Crime dramas
Q: What genre depicts the personal and professional lives of medical staff?
A: Medical dramas
Q: What genre presents stories through song and dance?
A: Musicals
Q: What genre depicts historical events and eras?
A: Period pieces
Q: What genre follows the relationships and careers of young adults?
A: Coming-of-age
Q: What genre features real people in real situations?
A: Reality shows
Q: What genre has song, dance, and musical performances?
A: Musicals
Q: What genre focuses on crime investigations and police?
A: Crime dramas
Q: What genre explores important historical events?
A: Period pieces
Q: What genre depicts the lives of doctors and nurses?
A: Medical dramas
Q: What genre follows young adults finding their way?
A: Coming-of-age
Classic TV Riddles
Let’s go retro with riddles about classic and vintage television:
Q: What variety series featured Ed Sullivan and iconic musical acts?
A: The Ed Sullivan Show
Q: What sitcom followed the Ricardos and Mertzes in 1950s New York?
A: I Love Lucy
Q: What sci-fi anthology series had a spooky theme song?
A: The Twilight Zone
Q: What legal drama starred Raymond Burr as the wheelchair-using detective?
A: Ironside
Q: What variety show hosted The Beatles and other major acts?
A: The Ed Sullivan Show
Q: What sitcom starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz?
A: I Love Lucy
Q: What anthology had a creepy theme song?
A: The Twilight Zone
Q: What legal drama starred Raymond Burr?
A: Ironside
Q: What talk show hosted by Johnny Carson featured celebrities and comedy?
A: The Tonight Show
Q: What sitcom followed the Ricardo and Mertz couples?
A: I Love Lucy
Q: What sci-fi anthology had a spooky theme?
A: The Twilight Zone
Q: What variety hour featured major music acts?
A: The Ed Sullivan Show
TV Character Riddles
How well do you know your classic TV characters? Here are some riddles to test you:
Q: What skipper commanded the S.S. Minnow on a fateful trip?
A: Gilligan
Q: What alien lived with Agent Mulder while seeking the truth?
A: The X-Files
Q: What captain commanded the starship Enterprise?
A: Captain Kirk
Q: What sheriff kept the peace in Mayberry?
A: Andy Griffith
Q: What millionaire lived on an island with his wife and sidekick?
A: Mr. Howell
Q: What alien sought the truth with Agent Mulder?
A: The X-Files
Q: What sheriff enforced law in Mayberry?
A: Andy Griffith
Q: What millionaire was stranded on an island?
A: Mr. Howell
Q: What skipper captained the S.S. Minnow?
A: Gilligan
Q: What captain commanded the Enterprise?
A: Captain Kirk
Q: What first mate was stranded on an island?
A: Gilligan
Q: What sheriff kept order in Mayberry?
A: Andy Griffith
Sitcom Riddles
Let’s watch some sitcoms! Here are riddles about famous funny shows:
Q: What show stars six friends hanging out at a coffee shop?
A: Friends
Q: What show featured the Bunkers and neighbors in Queens, New York?
A: All in the Family
Q: What workplace comedy starred Tina Fey as TV writer Liz Lemon?
A: 30 Rock
Q: What show followed the Harper family in working-class Ohio?
A: Mama’s Family
Q: What series followed the Conner family after Roseanne?
A: The Conners
Q: What workplace sitcom starred Tina Fey?
A: 30 Rock
Q: What sitcom followed the Harper family?
A: Mama’s Family
Q: What show featured the Bunkers in Queens?
A: All in the Family
Q: What series picked up after Roseanne ended?
A: The Conners
Q: What sitcom had six friends at a coffee shop?
A: Friends
Q: What show starred Tina Fey as Liz Lemon?
A: 30 Rock
Q: What series followed the working-class Harper family?
A: Mama’s Family
Q: What sitcom followed the Conner family?
A: The Conners
Q: What show featured Archie Bunker in Queens?
A: All in the Family
Q: What sitcom revolved around six friends?
A: Friends
Game Show Riddles
Can you solve these riddles about classic game shows?
Q: What show challenged contestants to guess hidden phrases?
A: The $25,000 Pyramid
Q: What show featured celebrities helping contestants with silly stunts?
A: The Gong Show
Q: What show had a large wheel contestants would spin?
A: The Wheel of Fortune
Q: What show challenged people to guess prices of merchandise?
A: The Price is Right
Q: What game show made contestants guess the price of items?
A: The Price is Right
Q: What show featured silly stunts and a gong?
A: The Gong Show
Q: What game had contestants guessing hidden phrases?
A: The $25,000 Pyramid
Q: What show featured a large wheel to spin?
A: Wheel of Fortune
Q: What series had celebrities performing stunts?
A: The Gong Show
Q: What show challenged players with hidden phrases?
A: The $25,000 Pyramid
Q: What game featured a wheel to spin?
A: Wheel of Fortune
TV History Riddles
Let’s explore some riddles about the history of television:
Q: What was the first electronic TV system created in the 1920s?
A: The mechanical television
Q: What company introduced the first mass-produced TV set in 1939?
A: RCA
Q: What was the first live TV program broadcast in the 1930s?
A: A baseball game
Q: What U.S. event in 1969 was watched by the largest TV audience ever?
A: The moon landing
Q: What company sold the first mass-produced TV set?
A: RCA
Q: What 1920s system was the first electronic television?
A: The mechanical television
Q: What live event was the first TV broadcast in the 1930s?
A: A baseball game
Q: What 1969 event had the biggest TV audience ever?
A: The moon landing
Q: What early 1920s technology was the first electronic TV?
A: The mechanical television
Q: What company sold the first commercially-made TV set?
A: RCA
Q: What 1930s baseball game was the first live broadcast?
A: The first televised MLB game
Classic TV Catchphrases Riddles
Can you identify these classic TV shows by their famous catchphrases?
Q: “Dy-no-mite!”
A: Good Times
Q: “Nanu nanu”
A: Mork & Mindy
Q: “Bazinga!”
A: The Big Bang Theory
Q: “What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”
A: Diff’rent Strokes
Q: “To the moon, Alice!”
A: The Honeymooners
Q: “Live long and prosper”
A: Star Trek
Q: “How rude!”
A: Full House
Q: “Did I do that?”
A: Steve Urkel, Family Matters
Q: “Book ’em, Danno”
A: Hawaii Five-O
Q: “Yabba dabba doo!”
A: The Flintstones
Q: “D’oh!”
A: The Simpsons
Q: “Zoinks!”
A: Scooby-Doo
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed these 85 riddles spanning different television topics. How many were you able to solve? Riddles allow us to flex our mental muscles while reminiscing about favorite shows and characters. Television provides a never-ending source of pop culture trivia to draw from. Stay tuned for more riddles testing your TV knowledge!
