1980s TV Shows: One-Sentence Summary Quiz

Answer: Cheers

"Cheers", which ran from 1982 to 1993, shared its name with a bar that was the center of the show. Starring Ted Danson as barkeeper Sam Malone, the usual "Cheers" episode was centered mainly within the bar, where characters, both workers and customers, discussed their problems and lives. The show also featured Shelley Long and Woody Harrelson, among others.

Answer: MacGyver

Although secret agent MacGyver is normal "boy-next-door" in many ways, he can find his way out of many seemingly-impossible situations just by using his wits. A pencil, chewing gum, and many other harmless tools are used to create scientific methods to get him out of the scrapes that he encounters on his missions.

Played by Richard Dean Anderson, "MacGyver" ran from 1985 to 1992.

Answer: Magnum, P.I.

Thomas Magnum, a Vietnam war veteran, settles in Hawaii, getting a free living on the estate of his friend Robin Masters, much to the chagrin of Masters' caretaker, Johnathan Higgins. Magnum takes cases as a Private Investigator, often assisted by his friends T.C. and Rick Wright, whom he also fobs off of.

Tom Selleck is often hilarious and very likable as Magnum, while John Hillerman, Roger E. Mosley, and Larry Manetti shine as Higgins, T.C., and Rick respectively. The series lasted for 8 seasons, running from 1980 to 1988.

Answer: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Also known by fans as "TNG", "The Next Generation" aired nearly 20 years after the original "Star Trek" series. Running from 1987 to 1994, the show focused on a new USS Enterprise, one that existed nearly 100 years after the first USS Enterprise. Starring Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the series featured many memorable characters, such as Brent Spiner as Data and Johnathan Frakes as Commander William Riker.

"The Next Generation" was also created by original "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. The episodes followed a similar pattern to the earlier series', with a different adventure per episode. There were even four films made based on the series, beginning with "Star Trek Generations" (1994), which was a crossover between the original "Star Trek" series and "The Next Generation".

Answer: Growing Pains

"Growing Pains" ran for seven seasons between 1985 and 1992. Centered around the Seaver family, it chronicles the ups and downs of a psychiatrist father, a journalist mother, and their children. Starring Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns, later seasons also featured a young Leonardo DiCaprio. Two reunion films were made about "Growing Pains", in 2000 and 2004 respectively.

Answer: Golden Girls

"Golden Girls" was a sitcom that told the story of four older women, three of whom were widows and one of whom was a divorcee, who moved into a house together. Of course, they were much more than "old biddies"! Starring Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the series ran for 7 seasons from 1985 to 1992. All four leading actresses won Emmy Awards for their work in the series. Several spinoffs were created from the series, and another TV show, "The Golden Palace", followed "The Golden Girls".

Answer: Miami Vice

"Miami Vice" centered around undercover detectives, portrayed by Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas, who worked to expose crimes such as the drug trade and prostitution in 1980s Miami. The show featured both violent scenes, such as gun shootouts, and items of 1980s culture, such as a wide variety of cameo appearances by celebrities, popular music, and fashions.

It ran for five seasons between 1984 and 1989.

Answer: The Love Boat

"The Love Boat" was based on a 1976 TV movie of the same name, which was followed by two sequels. The TV series then began, running from 1977 to 1987. It was set on board the expensive cruise ship MS Pacific Princess, starring Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, and Ted Lange as the regular crew members.

The episodes featured several story lines, each about different passengers and their problems, and how they were solved while on their cruise.

Answer: Remington Steele

In "Remington Steele", private investigator Laura Holt makes up a fake male boss named Remington Steele; an ex-criminal takes over the role, however, and soon she has an all-too-real superior! Or is he really her superior?

Starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, "Remington Steele" ran for 5 seasons between 1982 and 1987.

Answer: The Dukes of Hazzard

"The Dukes of Hazzard" centered around the Duke brothers, Bo and Luke, who, after being caught bootlegging moonshine, are on a five year probation. They manage to only get into trouble rather than stay out of it, however; this is often thanks to the crooked county commissioner "Boss" Hogg, who usually has schemes of his own that the Duke boys find out about.

Starring Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle, and Sonny Shroyer, the show ran from 1979 to 1985, for a total of 7 seasons.