Image: CBS
About This Quiz
"Leave It To Beaver" was left behind and "The Partridge Family" was out the door. The 1980s were ready to bring us bigger and better television in every way possible. Suddenly our action heroes were flawed. They swore and drank and didn't have perfect lives. The comedy we saw was crude and honest. It didn't tell us our families had to be perfect, and not everything had to be resolved at the end of a 30-minute spot. Alright, maybe there were still a few shows that did that in the 1980s, but it was clear that American television was going through a transition period, and the masses responded by watching more and more.
If you couldn't get to your TV on time, you could always set your VCR to record the shows you wanted to watch. This gave people the freedom they needed to watch what they wanted. If you were lucky enough to grow up during this time, or if you love to go back and watch those low-definition, high impact shows, this quiz is for you. We are going to give you three clues, and we want you to tell us which show we're talking about. Do you think you have what it takes to answer our questions correctly?
"Cagney & Lacey"
When a working mother and a career-oriented woman team up as detectives in New York City, nothing can stop them ... except for poor ratings. However, this show didn't have that, so it lasted seven years throughout the 1980s.
"Moonlighting"
"Hill Street Blues"
"Law & Order"
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"Mr. Belvidere"
"Moonlighting"
"Diff'rent Strokes"
If you've ever heard the catchphrase "Whatchyou talkin' 'bout Willis?" you know enough about "Diff'rent Strokes" to get by. This show ran for eight seasons and tackled issues of race, social class and money.
"The Jeffersons"
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"Alien Nation"
"Family Ties"
"Miami Vice"
"ALF"
There is nothing like seeing a little ugly alien trying to eat cats. Now that we think about it, it sounds like a terrible premise for a show, but "ALF" really worked, and the show even spawned a cartoon series.
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"MacGyver"
"Quantum Leap"
"Quantum Leap" (1989-93) was a show that proved that time travel was possible, as long as you didn't consider the fact that you had to jump into other people's bodies. It made a lot of sense if you ignored science completely, but it was still a great show.
"Small Wonder"
"The Fall Guy"
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"Airwolf"
"Dynasty"
The Carringtons and the Colbys were our favorite crazy families to watch. Even if their shoulder pads made for interesting shots, this show was pretty much everyone's favorite from 1981 to 1989.
"Hill Street Blues"
"The Fall Guy"
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"The Love Boat"
"Happy Days"
After the first episode of "Happy Days" (1974-1984), people realized that they had something. It was a special something that mixed nostalgia with wholesomeness with the Fonz, the Cunninghams and a cast of characters right out of the 1950's playbook.
"Roseanne"
"Murphy Brown"
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"Dynasty"
"Murphy Brown"
"Designing Women"
"The Fall Guy"
"The Fall Guy" (1981-1986) was all about one man's journey to make more money. The Hollywood stuntman worked on a team with his cousin (who wasn't much help) and his costar to capture those who skipped their bail.
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"Knight Rider"
"Cagney & Lacey"
"The Dukes of Hazzard"
When adorable cousins Bo and Luke Duke meet up, they do their best to find trouble (or maybe trouble finds them). It's a good thing that they have an awesome car to help them escape the police.
"Three's Company"
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"Moonlighting"
"Airwolf"
"MacGyver"
If you lived in the mid-1980s and you didn't watch "MacGyver" (1985-1992), you either didn't have a television or you were working the night it aired. This show was fantastic and the previews for it were always along the lines of "MacGyver is trapped in a well, with only a ballpoint pen to save him." It was outstanding!
"Dynasty"
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"Dallas"
"The Love Boat"
If you were even alive from 1974 to 1990, you had some knowledge of "The Love Boat." It was a show that just kept going. Not only did it offer fun and drama, but there were also dozens of high-end guest stars coming in and out every week.
"Growing Pains"
"The Facts of Life"
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"Roseanne"
"The Simpsons"
"The Facts of Life"
"Married... With Children"
Sitcoms of the 1980s changed a little bit, and you could clearly see the transition from wholesome family fun and laughter to brutal honesty about social classes, and "Married... With Children" (1987-1997) delivered just that ... in the best way possible.
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"The Wonder Years"
Let's face it, '80s and '90s kids remember "The Wonder Years" (1988-93) as the show that made them feel good, but when you look back at it, you realize that Kevin Arnold was kind of a jerkface. He was mean and rude.
"Family Ties"
"Who's the Boss?"
"Knight Rider"
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"Moonlighting"
"Law & Order"
"Night Court"
"Night Court" (1984-1992) was a situation comedy about what happens when you get arrested at night. It involved minor cases and very little suspense, and the show focused mainly on the characters, not the defendants.
"Full House"
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"Full House"
"The Facts of Life"
"Punky Brewster"
When an orphan girl meets up with a stern and child-hating photographer, there is bound to be something funny that happens. Apparently, this show wasn't all that bad as it ran for four seasons.
"Who's the Boss?"
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"Quantum Leap"
"Murder, She Wrote"
There were dozens of random murders and a plethora of crime in the small town where Jessica Fletcher decided to become an amateur detective. Luckily for Jessica, it gave her a lot of material to write her crime novels.
"L.A. Law"
"Dallas"
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"Dallas"
"Dynasty"
"L.A. Law"
Not only did "L.A. Law" (1986-1994) give us the drama we were looking for in prime time television, it also gave us a glimpse into the law profession and some eye candy to go along with it. The show lasted eight years because it always delivered.
"Designing Women"
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"Designing Women"
"Dynasty"
"Moonlighting"
"Taxi"
"Taxi" (1978-1983) gave us some great comedy and featured some of the best comedians of our time. From Andy Kaufman to Danny DeVito, we were able to watch our favorites every week for five seasons.
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"Step By Step"
"Perfect Strangers"
"Perfect Strangers" (1986-1993) was a show that basically defined sitcom. Two people put into an odd situation and having to figure it out was the best way to bring comedy into our living rooms every week.
"Growing Pains"
"Who's the Boss?"
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"Bosom Buddies"
While we may think that Tom Hanks can do no wrong, we have to remember "Bosom Buddies" (1980-1982). The show had a funny premise, but it really couldn't sustain its run long enough with the storylines it provided.
"Punky Brewster"
"WKRP in Cincinnati"
"Taxi"
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"Punky Brewster"
"Webster"
"Webster" (1983-1989) was the story of a young orphan who is taken in by his godparents. The saddest episode was when Webster's dad tells George that he's going to name his baby Georgia if it's a girl. They really were best friends.
"Designing Women"
"The Simpsons"
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"Airwolf"
"Airwolf" (1984-1987) had a little bit of everything as well as a ton of action. Not only could you watch someone fly a helicopter, but you could also get the drama of what it was like working for a shady government agency.
"The Fall Guy"
"MacGyver"
"Knight Rider"
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"Futurama"
"The Simpsons"
While creators of "The Simpsons" tried to end the show in the late 1990s, fans wouldn't have it. They began sending in scripts and possible plots to keep the show going. It is still running, 30 years after it first began airing.
"Scooby Doo"
"Beetlejuice"
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"Designing Women"
"Designing Women" (1986-1993) took us to a place where women in the workforce weren't just there to wear shoulder pads, they could also run their own businesses. It was about empowerment and hilarity, and it did not disappoint.
"WKRP in Cincinnati"
"The Jeffersons"
"Murder, She Wrote"
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"Small Wonder"
Everyone loved robots in the 1980s, so why not make a show about a little robot girl who was incredibly strong. The best part about this premise was they had to keep VICKI a secret from everyone, including the nosy neighbor.
"Growing Pains"
"Silver Spoons"
"Happy Days"
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"Dallas"
"The A-Team"
Mr. T was all the rage in the 1980s. His distinct voice and somehow not-punk mohawk showed us that being bad was actually really cool, and his role on "The A-Team" just made us love him more.
"Airwolf"
"Knight Rider"
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"Dynasty"
"Designing Women"
"Dallas"
"Dallas" (1978-1991) was all about the drama. People loved to tune in every week just to see what antics the rich people of Texas were going to get into next. When J.R. was shot during a season-ending episode, people lost their minds (well, not literally, but audiences of the times couldn't stop asking, "Who shot J.R.?").
"Perfect Strangers"
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"Hill Street Blues"
"Airwolf"
"M*A*S*H"
"M*A*S*H*" (1972-1983) was one of the most popular shows of all time. Its series finale drew more ratings than any show that came before it. Comedy and reality were interwoven in the storylines to show audiences the reality of war.
"Quantum Leap"
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"Webster"
"Diff'rent Strokes"
"Punky Brewster"
"Silver Spoons"
If you weren't planning on watching this show, just know that the hairstyles alone should draw you to it. It screams the 1980s, as we learn that a rich business owner has a son he never knew about.
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"L.A. Law"
"Law & Order"
"Hill Street Blues"
While there have been several gritty police dramas since "Hill Street Blues" (1981-1987), fans of the were shocked by the reality of what was featured on the show each week, and they always tuned in.
"Knight Rider"
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"The Dukes of Hazzard"
"Knight Rider"
After watching this show, everyone wanted a car that could talk and help solve crimes. While modern technology has given us the former, it can still can't help with the latter as much as K.I.T.T. did during this series from the '80s.
"The A-Team"
"ALF"
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"Miami Vice"
"Miami Vice" (1984-1990) was such a well-loved show that they actually brought it back in the movies and a remake TV series. Everyone wanted Crockett and Tubbs in their lives. They were such snappy dressers (for the '80s anyway).
"L.A. Law"
"Moonlighting"
"Jake and the Fat Man"
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"Magnum, P.I."
If you need a thick mustache and a big smile, Tom Selleck will always deliver. Perhaps that is why "Magnum, P.I." (1980-1988) was such a hit. Some watched for the action; others watched for that epic 'stache.
"Knight Rider"
"Hill Street Blues"
"L.A. Law"
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"The Wonder Years"
"The Golden Girls"
Even though "The Golden Girls" ended in 1992, this show still has a cult following. Young women watch it today because the show was advanced in topics that weren't normally discussed on television in the 1980s.
"ALF"
"Designing Women"
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"8 is Enough"
"Silver Spoons"
"Who's the Boss?"
While making gender role reversal into a sitcom wasn't unheard of at the time, "Who's the Boss?" (1984-1992) made waves for several years. Tony (the main character) even went back to school once the kids were older.
"Small Wonder"
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"All in the Family"
"Webster"
"Family Ties"
Alex P. Keaton is everything a Reagan-era kid should be: ready to stimulate the world of capitalism. He studies, wants the American dream and can't wait to be a success. It's a great juxtaposition with his parents who are hippies through and through.
"The Brady Bunch"
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"ALF"
"L.A. Law"
"Mr. Belvedere"
Smart, sophisticated English butler (housekeeper), Lynn Belvedere gets a job with a tough Pittsburgh family and hilarity ensues ... because there is nothing funnier than a proper gentleman meeting up with American teens of the '80s.
"Small Wonder"
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"The Greatest American Hero"
In the 1980s, people didn't feel the same about superhero movies and television show as they do these days. It's probably because the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn't there to accompany it. Perhaps that's why "The Greatest American Hero" only lasted three seasons.
"ALF"
"Perfect Strangers"
"MacGyver"
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"Dynasty"
"Roseanne"
"Growing Pains"
"Murphy Brown"
Remember when it was big news that Vice President Dan Quayle couldn't spell potato? Murphy Brown remembers. When the vice president mentioned the show had problems because Murphy was a single mom, she struck back ... on prime time.
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"St. Elsewhere"
"E.R."
"Dallas"
"Doogie Howser, M.D."
"Doogie Howser, M.D." starred a familiar face. You may know him as Barney Stinson from "How I Met Your Mother," but Neil Patrick Harris got his start in 1989 on the famous television show featuring a teen doctor.
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"Family Ties"
"Cheers"
"Cheers" (1982-1993) spanned nearly the entire decade of the '80s and spilled over into the 1990s. It was a comedy, but it also gave us a wholesome feeling like we were at home. It made frequenting bars a totally cool thing.
"ALF"
"Miami Vice"
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You Got:
/40
