1980s TV Shows: One-Sentence Summary II Quiz

Answer: Blackadder

Created by comedic geniuses Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, "Blackadder" ran for four series between 1983 and 1989, and spawned several special episodes and reboots. The first season, called "The Black Adder", was set during the 15th century and featured Atkinson as the bumbling Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh, who calls himself the Black Adder.

The next three seasons covered the Elizabethan, Georgian, and World War I time periods respectively. During these seasons, Atkinson's character became less clueless and more sarcastic, while the opposite happened to his servant/sidekick, Baldrick.

They also starred Sir Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, and Miranda Richardson in recurring characters throughout the years.

Answer: The A-Team

"The A-Team" ran for five very successful series between 1983 and 1987. Starring George Peppard, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz, and Dirk Benedict, the show followed members of an elite military unit who had been tried and sentenced for crimes that they didn't commit. Escaping from a top-security prison, the members of the A-Team fought to clear their names while fighting crime and evading recapture.

In 2010, a feature film was made, also called "The A-Team", and starred Liam Neeson.

Answer: Knight Rider

"Knight Rider" follows the story of Michael Knight, a man who fights crime with the help of his super-intelligent, practically indestructible car, named KITT. It ran for four seasons between 1982 and 1986, and was created by Glen A. Larson, the man behind many hit TV shows such as "Battlestar Galactica" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century".

It also spawned two other TV series, "Team Knight Rider" (1997-1998), and "Knight Rider" (2008-2009), as well as many video games and several feature films. David Hasselhoff starred in the original series as Knight.

Answer: Silver Spoons

"Silver Spoons" was about Ricky Stratton, the rich son of the wealthy playboy Edward Stratton III. Edward is unaware of his son's existence until the pilot episode, when Ricky comes to live with his father. Despite being rich, though, Ricky's life still had the usual problems that kids and teenagers face.

"Silver Spoons" ran for five seasons between 1982 and 1987. It starred Ricky Schroder, Erin Gray, Leonard Lightfoot, and Joel Higgins.

Answer: Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister

"Yes Minister" ran for three seasons between 1980 and 1984, while its sequel, "Yes Prime Minster" ran for two seasons between 1986 and 1988. It starred Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds.

"Yes Minister" followed the story of Jim Hatcher, who has recently been elected to the position of Minister of Ministerial Affairs. He tries to do his job well, but is frequently hampered by the representative of the Civil Service, Sir Humphrey Appleby. In "Yes Prime Minister", Hatcher is promoted to Prime Minister.

Answer: Falcon Crest

In "Falcon Crest", a family, made up of the Giobertis and the Channings, divide into factions over the California wine industry, particularly the Falcon Crest Winery, which is run by Angela Channing (Jane Wyman). The series also starred Robert Foxworth, Susan Sullivan, Lorenzo Lamas, and David Selby, among others.

A popular soap opera, "Falcon Crest" ran for nine seasons between 1981 and 1990. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., the author of "Spencer's Mountain" (1961) who had also created the hit TV series "The Waltons" (1972-1981).

Answer: Family Ties

What happens when two ex-hippies want to raise a family? A popular sitcom, of course! "Family Ties" follows the story of Steven and Elyse Keaton, raising their children in the 1980s, and the problems that develop as they face a culture divide and a generation gap. Starring Meredith Baxter, Michael Gross, Michael J. Fox, and Justine Bateman, the TV show won numerous awards, including three Emmy Awards for the young Michael J. Fox.

"Family Ties" ran from 1982 to 1989, and lasted for seven seasons.

Answer: WKRP in Cincinnati

"WKRP in Cincinnati" chronicled the story of a low-budget radio station in Cincinnati, and its quest to boost its number of listeners by switching from playing easy-listening music to hard rock. New DJs are hired and the hilarity begins!

Starring Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders, and Tim Reid, "WKRP in Cincinnati" lasted for four seasons between 1978 and 1981.

Answer: Night Court

"Night Court" ran for a whopping nine seasons between 1984 and 1992. It starred Harry Anderson, Markie Post, John Larroquette, and Charles Robinson, among others. A revival series was also begun in 2023.

"Night Court" focuses on the young judge Harry T. Stone, a lover of classic music and films and an amateur magician, who presides over the night shift of a Manhattan Criminal Court. The series has a cast of recurring characters and many hilarious episodes.

Answer: 21 Jump Street

In "21 Jump Street", young-looking police officers go undercover to investigate youth crime. This usually takes the form of them investigating cases in schools and other youth hangouts throughout an episode. The address in the title is the headquarters of the police unit.

"21 Jump Street" ran for five seasons, lasting from 1987 to 1991. A spin-off series, "Booker", was broadcast for one season in 1989-1990, while a film "21 Jump Street" was made in 2012. The TV series "21 Jump Street" starred Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson, Peter DeLuise, Dustin Nguyen, and Richard Grieco, who also starred in "Booker".