Northern Exposure Trivia

This week, we pay tribute to the late Valerie Mahaffey, who passed away on May 30, 2025, at the age of 71. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Eve in what is arguably my all-time favorite TV series, Northern Exposure. You might recall that I expressed my admiration for Northern Exposure in my July 24, 2024 newsletter titled Return to Roslyn, Washington .

Eve was among my beloved characters in Northern Exposure. She portrayed the hypochondriac spouse of Adam, and every interaction between the two was a highlight. While they were both strong characters individually, the magic of their on-screen chemistry contributed significantly to the show's brilliance.

Although Valerie has already secured a special place in my heart, her role as Victoria MacElroy in another beloved series, Young Sheldon, only adds to my appreciation for her talents. To honor her legacy, this week I present a trivia challenge themed around Northern Exposure. But first, as is our weekly custom, let's dive into a logic puzzle.

Logic Puzzle

In a forest, a girl encounters both a lion and a unicorn. The lion tells lies on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and he’s truthful on the remaining days. The unicorn, on the other hand, is dishonest on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, revealing the truth on all other days. The lion claimed to the girl, 'Yesterday, I was lying.' The unicorn responded, 'I was lying too.' Can you determine what day it is?

Questions:

1. What kind of poster did Dr. Fleischman display on his office door?
2. Which two characters are based on a real-life mother-daughter duo?
3. Where were the outdoor scenes set in the fictional town of Cicely actually filmed?
4. What were the call signs of the radio station featured in the show? It was known as KBHR.
5. Which character relied on crutches for several episodes due to a genuine horse riding accident?
6. What were the names of Joel's parents?
7. Which animal developed feelings for Maggie?
8. What was the name given to Adam and Eve's offspring?
9. What two objects did Chris launch from his trebuchet?
10. What was the name bestowed upon Holing and Shelly's child?
11. What creature did Maggie suspect Rick had been reincarnated as?
12. What did Eve use to hit Joel to prevent him from departing her home?
13. Where in Seattle did Joel come upon Marilyn?
14. What type of collection did Chris have, of which he bought one item from Maggie?
15. Where was Chris from?
16. Who was the only female character who did not respond to Chris's pheromones?
17. What game did Maurice attempt to teach Chris how to play?
18. Who did Ed fall for, prompting him to ask Chris to help write love letters?
19. What skill did Chris attempt to teach Marilyn?
20. Which specific area in New York did Joel hail from?

Answers

1. "Clicquot Club\" ginger ale
2. Marilyn and her mother.
3. Roslyn, Washington
4. KBHR
5. Maurice
6. Herb and Nadine
7. A bear
8. Aldrich
9. A piano and the dead body of his friend
10. Miranda Bliss
11. A dog
12. A skillet
13. A bench at the zoo
14. Antique mechanical coin banks
15. Wheeling, West Virginia
16. Irene the optometrist
17. Croquet
18. Lightfeather Duncan
19. Drive a car
20. Flushing (a part of Queens)

Logic Puzzle Solution

Let’s take this one step at a time, beginning with Monday.

1. • Monday: Both the lion and unicorn’s statements are untrue. The lion’s lies on Mondays, which fits, but conversely, the unicorn always tells the truth today. Therefore, it cannot possibly be Monday.
2. • Tuesday: The lion’s remark holds true, while the unicorn's is false. Yet, we would expect the reverse from both creatures. Thus, it is certainly not Tuesday.
3. • Wednesday: Same logic as Tuesday.
4. • Thursday: On this day, the lion speaks the truth, and the unicorn deceives, matching our expectations. It might seem like Thursday, but let’s examine the remaining days for confirmation.
5. • Friday: The statement from the lion is false, while the unicorn’s is true. However, this contradicts what we anticipate from both animals. So, we can rule out Friday.
6. • Saturday: Same logic as Friday.
7. • Sunday: The lion lies today while the unicorn tells the truth. Yet, the lion should be honest on Sundays. Therefore, Sunday is not the answer.

This analysis indicates that the only feasible day is Thursday.