Can You Name These '80s TV Dramas?

By: Becky Stigall
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name These '80s TV Dramas?
Image: CBS

About This Quiz

The 1980s were the era of television soap operas. From "Dallas" to "Dynasty," these shows ruled the airwaves. How well do you remember these great TV dramas?
Which show featured Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs fighting crime?
Moonlighting
Miami Vice
The A-Team
Charlie's Angels
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs were played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, respectively.

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Which show highlighted the beauty of Hawaii?
Magnum P.I.
Miami Vice
St. Elsewhere
The Wonder Years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Thomas Magnum was a private investigator based in Hawaii. The character was played by Tom Selleck.

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Which show featured the adventures of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital?
M*A*S*H
St. Elsewhere
Magnum P.I.
Chicago Hope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"M*A*S*H" was based on the movie of the same name. The theme song for the show was "Suicide Is Painless."

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Which show featured two female police officers fighting crime in New York City?
St. Elsewhere
Chicago Hope
Cagney & Lacey
Miami Vice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Christine Cagney and Mary Beth Lacey were played by Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly, respectively. The show ran from 1981-1988.

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Which television drama took place at St. Eligius Hospital?
Chicago Hope
Grey's Anatomy
St. Elsewhere
General Hospital
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

St. Eligius Hospital was a fictional hospital in Boston. Interestingly, Saint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths.

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Which show was all about fighting crime in school?
Chicago Hope
Cagney and Lacey
21 Jump Street
St. Elsewhere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"21 Jump Street" starred Johnny Depp as Tom Hanson. Brad Pitt once guest starred on the show.

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Detective Jessica Fletcher solved crimes on what show?
Chicago Hope
General Hospital
Cagney & Lacey
Murder, She Wrote
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The character of Jessica Fletcher was played by Angela Lansbury. The character was a writer and an amateur sleuth.

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Which show followed the exploits of the Carrington and Colby families?
Dynasty
Chicago Hope
Texas
Cagney & Lacey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Dynasty" starred such acting greats as John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins. Oh, the shoulder pads!

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Which show featured the law firm of McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak?
Chicago Hope
St. Elsewhere
Moonlighting
L.A. Law
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"L.A. Law" gave a start to the careers of such actors as Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Tambor, Kathy Bates, David Schwimmer, Bryan Cranston, Kevin Spacey, Richard Schiff, Carrie-Anne Moss, William H. Macy, Christian Slater, and Lucy Liu.

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What show featured Nurse Colleen McMurphy?
General Hospital
China Beach
M*A*S*H
Chicago Hope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"China Beach" ran from 1988 to 1991 and starred Dana Delany as Nurse Colleen McMurphy. The show also starred Marg Helgenberger, who went on to work on "CSI."

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Which show has Rick and A.J. Simon fighting crime in San Diego?
Simon & Simon
Chicago Hope
Miami Vice
Grey's Anatomy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Simon & Simon" starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as crime fighting brothers.

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What undercover detective was thought by his family to be a mobster?
Chicago Hope
Miami Vice
Wiseguy
Moonlighting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ken Wahl played Vinnie Terranova, who was actually an undercover FBI agent. The show ran from 1987 to 1990.

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What long-running drama was a "Dallas" spinoff?
Dynasty
China Beach
Knots Landing
Chicago Hope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Knots Landing" ran from 1979-1993. The show starred such notables as Donna Mills, Kevin Dobson, Alec Baldwin, William Devane and Lisa Hartman.

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Which '80s show started each episode with "the plane, the plane"?
Dynasty
Chicago Hope
Fantasy Island
L.A. Law
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Fantasy Island" starred Ricardo Montalbán and Hervé Villechaize. The show ran from 1977-1984.

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Which "Star Trek" series aired from 1987-1994?
Star Trek: The New World
Star Trek: Atlantis
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Original Series
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" was preceded by "Star Trek: The Animated Series" and followed by "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

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Which dramedy featured Neil Patrick Harris as a teenage doctor?
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Chicago Hope
St. Elsewhere
Grey's Anatomy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Doogie Howser, M.D." ran on ABC for 97 episodes. Doogie's parents were played by James B. Sikking and Belinda Montgomery.

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In what show did William Shatner star as a cop?
Magnum P.I.
The A-Team
T.J. Hooker
Dallas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The show ran from 1982-1986 and also starred Heather Locklear and Adrian Zmed.

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Which show starred Kate Jackson as an international spy?
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Chicago Hope
Magnum P.I.
Miami Vice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The show also starred Bruce Boxleitner as Lee Stetson, the Scarecrow. It ran from 1983 to 1987.

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Which legal drama starred Andy Griffith in the title role?
Miami Vice
CSI
Matlock
China Beach
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Griffith played Ben Matlock, a down-home defense attorney.

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Which '80s drama featured characters Michael Steadman and Hope Murdoch Steadman?
Thirtysomething
Chicago Hope
Moonlighting
Miami Vice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The show's characters also included Elliot and Nancy Krieger Weston, Melissa Steadman, and Ellyn Warren. Ken Olin and Mel Harris played Michael and Hope.

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Robert McCall is a disillusioned secret agent in what show?
Chicago Hope
Miami Vice
Magnum P.I.
The Equalizer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Equalizer" starred Edward Woodward in the title role. The show ran from 1985 to 1989.

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Prime-time soap operas were popular in the 1980s. Which one was set in California wine country?
Dallas
Chicago Hope
Falcon Crest
NYPD Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Falcon Crest" starred Jane Wyman as the head of household. Wyman was once married to former president Ronald Reagan.

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Which Southern drama starred the former Archie Bunker?
In the Heat of the Night
Miami Vice
St. Elsewhere
Chicago Hope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carroll O'Connor played a police chief in Sparta, Mississippi. The show ran from 1988 to 1995.

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Which long-running prime-time soap was set in Texas?
Dallas
Chicago Hope
NYPD Blue
L.A. Law
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Dallas" starred Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Larry Hagman, Steve Kanaly, Victoria Principal, Charlene Tilton, and many more. The show ran from 1978 to1991, plus there was a reboot which ran from 2012 to 2014,

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What medical examiner hit the airwaves in 1976?
Chicago Hope
Miami Vice
Quincy, M.E.
Magnum P.I.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The role of the crime-busting M.E. was played by Jack Klugman of "Odd Couple" fame. The show ran until 1983.

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What popular detective show ran for 13 seasons?
Columbo
Chicago Hope
St. Elsewhere
Grey's Anatomy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Columbo" starred Peter Falk as the lovable gumshoe. Falk had a glass eye because of retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer.

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Which "Mary Tyler Moore Show" character had his own self-titled show?
Rhoda
Ted Baxter
Lou Grant
Magnum P.I.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The character, played by Ed Asner, was created on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." Grant was a newspaper editor on both shows.

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Which medical drama was a spinoff of "M*A*S*H"?
Miami Vice
NYPD Blue
Trapper John, M.D.
L.A. Law
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Trapper John, M.D." starred Pernell Roberts in the title role. Wayne Rogers played the character on "M*A*S*H."

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Robert Urich played which 1980s private eye?
Spenser: for Hire
Chicago Hope
Grey's Anatomy
St. Elsewhere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mystery series was based on the novels of Robert B. Parker. The show ran 1985-1988.

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Which '80s drama featured a district attorney and a private investigator?
Chicago Hope
Thirtysomething
Grey's Anatomy
Jake and the Fatman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Jake and the Fatman" starred Joe Penny and William Conrad as Jake and... well... the Fatman, whose actual name was Jason Lochinvar McCabe.

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Which drama was an interpretation of a Disney movie?
Beauty and the Beast
Chicago Hope
St. Elsewhere
NYPD Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Beauty and the Beast" starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Hamilton starred in the "Terminator" movies, and Perlman went on to star in "Sons of Anarchy."

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Which crime drama received criticism for excessive violence?
Hunter
Chicago Hope
St. Elsewhere
Grey's Anatomy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Hunter" starred Fred Dryer in the title role. The show ran from 1984-1991.

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Which show highlighted the escapades of a judge and an ex-con race car driver?
Hardcastle and McCormick
Chicago Hope
Thirtysomething
My So Called Life
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Hardcastle and McCormick" starred Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly as the title characters. The show ran from 1983-1986.

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Which show featured Michael Landon as an angel?
NYPD Blue
Miami Vice
Magnum P.I.
Highway to Heaven
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Landon formerly had starring roles on "Little House on the Prairie" and "Bonanza." The show ran from 1984 to 1989.

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Which action drama featured a Pontiac Trans Am named KITT?
Chicago Hope
Knight Rider
Miami Vice
NYPD Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Knight Rider" starred David Hasselhoff of "Baywatch" fame as Michael Knight. The show ran from 1982 to 1986.

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