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In the new Hulu comedy-drama “Quiz Lady,” the shy Anne (Awkwafina) has found solace since childhood from her irresponsible mother, Mia father and her boring job watching a “Jeopardy”-esque game show every weeknight. And she even envisions the host (Will Ferrell) as a father figure. Though game show fans don’t usually have such high drama in their lives, most of the contestants on “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” are literally lifelong aficionados. But not every quiz or game show is a “Jeopardy!” “Wheel of Fortune” or even a “Family Feud.”

There have been a lot of quiz and game show series that were offbeat, short-lived or downright hideous, like CBS’ “You’re in the Picture,” which premiered Jan. 20, 1961, the same night as President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. The show was hosted by none other than Jackie Gleason, who was one of the biggest stars on the Tiffany...

Pat Cooper, an acerbic stand-up comedian who later had a career acting in films and TV series including Analyze This, Seinfeld and the original Charlie’s Angels and was a favorite of Howard Stern, died Tuesday at his home in Las Vegas. He was 93.

His wife, Emily Connor, announced the news.

Born Pasquale Caputo on July 31, 1929, in Brooklyn, he tried to join multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces but was rejected and turned to comedy. He adopted his stage name during an early-’60s stint doing stand-up, which further angered the Italian family he often roasted in his act.

Cooper became estranged from his parents while focusing on his insult-heavy comedy career. His angry onstage persona led to multiple firings from stints opening for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. By the mid-’60s, he was being booked on many of the era’s most popular variety...

Philip Bruns, the veteran character actor whose main claim to fame was originating the role of Jerry Seinfeld's dad in the first season of Seinfeld, has passed away. He was 80. According to Playbill, Bruns died of natural causes on Wednesday in Los Angeles. During his five-decade career, the actor was a television mainstay. After making his tube debut on an episode of The Robert Herridge Theater, Bruns appeared in such classic series as Car 54 Where Are You? and Jackie Gleason's variety show, Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine, in addition to roles in Route 66 and Here's Lucy. In the 1970s and 1980s he seemed to be everywhere. Bruns played the father of the title...