Match the Supporting Actor with the Show - 1980s Quiz

Answer: John Hillerman

"Magnum P.I." ran from 1980 to 1988 and featured Tom Selleck as private detective Thomas Magnum who worked as the live-in security guard on the Hawaiian estate of a reclusive author. John Hillerman portrayed Jonathon Quayle Higgins III, a British WWII veteran who worked as the majordomo of the estate. Higgins was both Magnum's foil and eventual friend; he ran the estate by the book, which frequently caused problems for Magnum.

Although he portrayed a traditional British military officer, Hillerman was actually a Texan.

He was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show in 1984-1987, winning the award in 1987.

Answer: Woody Harrelson

"Cheers" debuted in 1982 and lasted eleven seasons until 1993. The show took place in a Boston bar where the staff and regular customers made up the cast. Woody Harrelson joined the show as naive bartender Woody Boyd in 1985 following the death of Nicholas Colasanto who portrayed the original bartender, Coach. Harrelson received Emmy nominations for his work on the show in 1987-1991, winning in 1989.

Other actors to pick up Supporting Actor Emmy nods for the show included Nicholas Colasanto (1983-1985), George Wendt (1984-1989), John Ratzenberger (1985-1986), Kelsey Grammer (1988 and 1990) and Harvey Fierstein (1992), the latter being for a guest appearance before a separate category was created for it.

Incidentally, Christopher Lloyd did appear in a couple episodes of "Cheers" but he wasn't a regular cast member.

Answer: Michael Conrad

Credited as one of the best "Cop Shows" of all time by "TV Guide", "Hill Street Blues" ran from 1981 to 1987. A 2014 "CNN" article declared it to be the "most influential TV show ever" because of its use of interwoven plot lines that extended over multiple episodes, one of the first TV shows to do so. Michael Conrad portrayed Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on the show until 1983 when the actor died from cancer. Esterhaus was known for his post-briefing comment to his officers: "Let's be careful out there". For his work on the show, Conrad was nominated for Emmy awards in 1981-1984, winning in 1981 and 1982. "Hill Street Blues" was well rewarded at the Emmys.

Besides Conrad, six other actors received Supporting Actor nods during its run: Charles Haid (1981-1982), Taurean Blacque (1982), Michael Warren (1982), Joe Spano (1983), James B. Sikking (1984), and Bruce Weitz (1981-1986).

Besides Conrad, only Weitz picked up the award, winning in 1984. Incidentally, Edward James Olmos did appear in a few episodes of "Hill Street Blues" portraying Joe Bustamonte and Judge Cruz, but he wasn't a regular cast member.

Answer: Jimmy Smits

Co-created by Stephen Bochco (with Terry Fisher) after his departure from "Hill Street Blues", "L.A. Law" ran from 1986 to 1994. "L.A. Law" was similar in design to "Hill Street Blues" in that it featured a large ensemble cast, interwoven plot lines and story lines that mirrored events in the real world. Jimmy Smits portrayed Victor Sifuentes, a partner in the firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak, and he appeared on the show for the first five seasons and part of the sixth season. Smits received Emmy nominations for his work on the show in 1987-1992, winning in 1990. Co-stars Michael Tucker, Alan Rachins, Richard Dysart, and Larry Drake also received Supporting Actor Emmy nods for their work on the show - Tucker in 1987, Rachins in 1988, Dysart in 1989-1992, and Drake in 1988-1990 with Drake winning in 1988 and 1989, and Dysart winning in 1992.

Answer: Ed Begley, Jr.

The medical drama "St. Elsewhere" ran from 1982 to 1988 and followed the staff at a Boston teaching hospital called St. Eligius. The series used the same ensemble cast formula as "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law", so much so that one critic referred to "St. Elsewhere" as "'Hill Street Blues' in a hospital". Ed Begley, Jr. portrayed Dr. Victor Ehrlich, a quirky but gifted surgeon who matured over the life of the series.

Other famous names who were cast members on the series included Denzel Washington, Howie Mandel, Mark Harmon and Helen Hunt. Begley, Jr. was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show for six consecutive years 1983-1988 but never won. James Coco was also nominated and won the Supporting Actor award in 1983, but he actually won for a guest appearance before a separate category was created for those awards.

Answer: John Larroquette

The legal sitcom "Night Court" ran from 1984 to 1992 and took place during the night shift at a New York criminal court led by Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson). On the show, John Larroquette portrayed obnoxious, womanizing prosecutor Dan Fielding, who was obsessed with money and himself. For his work on the show, Larroquette received Emmy nominations and won the award for four straight years, 1985-1988, before removing himself from consideration for the award.

He claimed he did so because he believed the quality of his work on the show had declined with the departure of creator Reinhold Weege and because he didn't want to be typecast as a sleazy lawyer.

Answer: Edward James Olmos

The police drama "Miami Vice" debuted in 1984 and ran until 1989. Developed during the "MTV" era, the show featured pop music, and some of the artists who contributed songs to the show also appeared onscreen, including Phil Collins and Glenn Frey. On the series, Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas portrayed undercover vice detectives Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs. Edward James Olmos portrayed their taciturn boss, Lieutenant Martin Castillo. Olmos received Emmy nominations for his work on the show in 1985 and 1986, winning the award in 1985.

Incidentally, Jimmy Smits appeared in the premiere episode of "Miami Vice" as Sonny Crockett's original partner who was killed during an operation, but he only appeared in that one episode.

Answer: Tom Poston

The sitcom "Newhart" ran from 1982 to 1990 and featured comedian Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon, the owner of a Vermont inn and host of a local TV talk show. Much of the comedy of the show dealt with the odd assortment of townsfolk including the quirky trio of Larry, Daryl and Daryl, and the show is perhaps best known for its finale that tied the show to Newhart's 1970s sitcom, "The Bob Newhart Show". On "Newhart", Tom Poston portrayed George Utley, the bumbling handyman at the inn. Poston was a long-time friend of Newhart's and had a recurring role on "The Bob Newhart Show" as Bob's old college roommate. Poston was nominated for an Emmy for his work on "Newhart" in 1984 and 1986-1987 but didn't win. Co-star Peter Scolari also picked up Supporting Actor Emmy nods in 1987-1989 but didn't win.

Answer: Timothy Busfield

The baby boomer drama "thirtysomething" ran from 1987 to 1991 and was influenced by the 1983 film "The Big Chill". Like the film, the show focused on a group of friends who had been part of the hippie counterculture and had now settled into family life.

The show featured an ensemble cast that revolved around husband and wife Michael Steadman (Ken Olin) and Hope Murdoch (Mel Harris). Timothy Busfield portrayed Elliot Weston, Steadman's immature business partner. Busfield received Emmy nominations for his work on the show in 1988-1991, winning the award in 1991. Co-star David Clennon also received a Supporting Actor Emmy nod in 1991.

The title of the series was always completely lowercase.

Answer: Christopher Lloyd

The sitcom "Taxi" ran from 1978 to 1983 and focused on the employees of the Sunshine Cab Company. Judd Hirsch led the cast, portraying sensible cab driver Alex Rieger. The ensemble cast included Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, Andy Kaufman, Carol Kane and Danny DeVito, who portrayed the dispatcher Louie De Palma. Christopher Lloyd joined the cast in 1979, portraying the eccentric Reverend Jim Ignatowski, who gave up his upper class life after sampling a spiked brownie. Lloyd received Emmy nominations for his work on the show in 1982 and 1983, winning in both years. Danny DeVito also received Supporting Actor nominations in 1979, 1981-1983, winning in 1981.