Spinoffs of spinoffs

“All in the Family” yielded the spinoffs “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” and a short-lived 1994 show called “704 Hauser.” Spinoffs of the spinoffs include “Gloria,” from “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “Checking In,” starring Marla Gibbs in her role as Florence the maid from “The Jeffersons,” and “Good Times,” starring Esther Rolle, who played Florida Evans (also a maid) on “Maude.” Keeping it all in the family (as it were), Ja’Net DuBois costarred on “Good Times” and co-wrote and sang “Movin’ on Up,” theme song of “The Jeffersons.” Trivia question: Whose early career included ensemble roles in “Good Times,” “Diff’rent Strokes” and the TV series “Fame”? A) Halle Berry B) Brandy C) Janet Jackson D) Marisa Tomei

Even if the closest you’ve been to Hawaii is watching “Lilo & Stitch” or an old Elvis film, you’ve heard the song “Aloha ‘Oe.” What you might not know is that it was written by Queen Liliuokalani, last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The bittersweet song, whose English title is “Farewell to Thee,” was said to be inspired by two lovers parting, but it took on a more poignant meaning when the United States deposed the queen and annexed Hawaii in 1898, ending Hawaii’s history as an independent nation.

If you had to conjure up just one mental image of Marilyn Monroe in the movies, chances are you’d think of her in “The Seven Year Itch” wearing that pleated halter dress and standing over the subway grate. You remember “The Seven Year Itch.” That’s the one with Tom Ewell as Richard Sherman and Monroe as... What was her character’s name? Oh, that’s right. She didn’t have one. Despite the fact that Monroe received top billing for the role, the character is known merely as “The Girl.”

There’s a landmark in Key West, Fla., at the southernmost point in the continental United States. “90 Miles to Cuba,” it says. Cuba’s close, but not close enough to be the closest foreign island to the U.S. mainland. That distinction belongs to Bimini, the westernmost island in the Bahamas, roughly 50 miles from Miami. For visitors, it’s a quick trip by ferry. More intrepid travelers do it by personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Skis and Wave Runners). The fittest of all have been known to swim the distance.

You might be aware that American-born Meghan Markle recently married into the British royal family. (If you haven’t heard this, where have you been?) Inevitable comparisons were made between her and American-born Grace Kelly, whom arried Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. But before both of them, there was Louisiana-born Alice Heine, wife of Prince Albert I of Monaco. Their 1889 marriage wasn’t the happiest union, but if you’re counting American “princesses,” Her Serene Highness Princess Alice of Monaco was the first.

If you’ve ever had to arrange a wedding seating chart to accommodate squabbling relatives, you can sympathize with Averell Harriman. In 1968, Harriman was chief U.S. negotiator at the talks that led to the Paris Peace Accords, which ended the Vietnam War. Before the talks could start, the governments of North and South Vietnam had to agree on what shape the meeting room table should be. It took days until they settled on a round table flanked by square tables, where eventually everyone took a seat and negotiations began. Trivia answer: Janet Jackson’s early career included ensemble roles in “Good Times,” “Diff’rent Strokes” and the TV series “Fame.”