Can You Name these 80s TV Shows from a single sentence summary?

J.P. Naomi

Set in a Boston bar where everybody knows your name, regulars talk about their lives while drinking and working.

One of the longest running TV shows of the 80s, "Cheers" ran for 271 episodes, from 1982 - 1993. Each episode was 22 minutes long.

This show featured a Hawaii-based private investigator with a mustache.

Premiering in 1980, "Magnum, P.I." ran for 158 episodes until 1988. The show starred actor Tom Selleck as Magnum, P.I.

A furry alien wiseguy comes to live with an Earth family after crashing into their garage.

ALF ran for 103 episodes, from 1986 - 1990. It was created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco.

After Captain Kirk's five-year mission, a new generation of officers sets off on their own mission.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" premiered in 1987 and ran for 176 episodes until 1994. It was created by Gene Roddenberry.

This is the story of four older women living together in Miami.

"The Golden Girls" was a 30-minute comedy that aired for 177 episodes from 1985 - 1992. The four women were all previously married, but now single.

A lone crime-fighter battles the forces of evil with the help of an indestructible and artificially-intelligent super car.

Featuring David Hasselhoff, "Knight Rider" premiered in 1982. It was created by Glen Larson.

A teenager deals with everyday teenage problems, except that he's a licensed physician.

Doogie Howser was portrayed by actor Neil Patrick Harris. The show aired from 1989 - 1993.

Young-looking police officers specializing in youth crime go undercover as high school students.

"21 Jump Street" premiered in 1987 and ran 102 episodes through 1991. It was created by Stephen Cannell and Patrick Hasburgh.

This was a comedy about an English housekeeper working for an American family.

"Mr. Belvedere" aired for 117 episodes from 1985 - 1990. It was created by Frank Dungan and Jeff Stein.

A scientist trapped in time uses the bodies of different people to travel to different time periods.

"Quantum Leap" premiered in 1989 and ran 97 episodes until 1993. It was created by Donald Bellisario and featured Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett.

A probationary angel is sent back to earth and teams up with an ex-cop to help people.

"Highway to Heaven" aired from 1984 - 1989. It starred Michael Landon, Victor French and James Troesh.

Jessica Fletcher uses her smarts and charm to uncover the truth behind every crime she encounters.

"Murder, She Wrote" aired from 1984 - 1996 for 264 episodes! Angela Lansbury played the lead role of Jessica Fletcher.

Corky has Down syndrome and attends an ordinary school.

"Life Goes On" was an hour-long television show which premiered in 1989. It was created by Michael Braverman.

A laid back teacher provides guidance about life for a special class of exceptional students.

Created by Michael Elias and Rich Eustis, "Head of the Class" aired for 114 episodes from 1986 - 1990. Each episode was 30 minutes long.

This show focused on the cases and adventures of the police department in Sparta, Mississippi.

Created by James Lee Barrett, "In the Heat of the Night" ran for 146 episodes, from 1988 - 1995!

In search of his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.

"Airwolf "was an hour-long television show that ran for 55 episodes from 1984 - 1986. It featured Jan-Michael Vincent, Alex Cord and Ernest Borgnine.

A girl and her dog are adopted by a man named Henry Warnimont.

"Punky Brewster" aired from 1984 - 1988. Punky was abandoned by her mother in a supermarket.

A man's cousin comes to America to live with him.

"Perfect Strangers" featured Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker. The show, which ran from 1986 - 1993, was created by Dale McRaven.

This was a show about six students at Bayside High School in Palisades, California.

Created by Sam Bobrick, "Saved by the Bell" aired from 1989 - 1992. Each of the 86 episodes was 30 minutes long.

A college student works as a live-in housekeeper for a family.

Charles was portrayed by actor Scott Baio. The show ran from 1984 - 1990.

Two undercover detectives make their way through the streets of Miami with music, fashion and good vibes.

"Miami Vice" aired from 1984 - 1990. Each episode was 48 minutes long and featured Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.

This show featured the Keatons - Steven, Elyse, Alex, Mallory and Jennifer.

From 1982 - 1989, Michael J. Fox starred in "Family Ties." The show was created by Gary David Goldberg.

This show followed the adventures of a secret agent armed with almost infinite scientific resourcefulness.

"MacGyver" ran from 1985 - 1992 with 139 episodes. The title role was played by actor Richard Dean Anderson.

A group of students at a black university struggle to make it through college.

"A Different World" premiered on September 24, 1987. It was filmed at Universal Studios in California.

This show was set in the 60s and featured a family with two growing sons.

"The Wonder Years" was a popular show from 1988 - 1993. It was created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens and featured Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold.

Four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help the innocent while on the run from the military.

The "A-Team" ran from 1983 - 1987. It was created by Stephen Cannell and Frank Lupo.

A retired baseball player becomes the housekeeper of a New York advertising executive.

"Who's the Boss?" aired from 1984 - 1992. With 196 episodes in total, the show starred Tony Danza as Tony Micelli.

Harry Weston is a widowed pediatrician with two daughters.

Featuring Richard Mulligan, "Empty Nest" aired from 1988 - 1995. It ran for 170 episodes.

Based on a Robert Parker novel series, this show featured a private investigator in Boston who tried to solve murder mysteries.

Starring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks, "Spenser: For Hire" was based on the "Spenser" novels written by Robert Parker. The show lasted 65 episodes, from 1985 - 1988.

A desk-bound cop fights crime as the test pilot for a prototype combat motorcycle.

Starring Rex Smith, "Street Hawk" was popular in 1985 but lasted only 13 episodes. It was an hour-long television show.

This show portrayed the adventures of the various inhabitants of an underground civilization.

"Fraggle Rock" was created by Jim Henson and featured many of the Muppet characters. It aired from 1983 - 1987.

Ted Lawson creates a robot who lives with his family.

"Small Wonder" aired from 1985 - 1989. It was created by Howard Leeds.

This show focused on an elite special missions force that fought against the terrorist forces of Cobra.

"G.I. Joe" premiered in 1985. It produced 85 episodes over the course of two years.

This show featured a family whose father owned a home-based business and a mother who was a journalist.

"Growing Pains" aired from 1985 - 1992 over the course of 167 episodes. It was created by Neal Marlens and featured Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns.

An ex-cop is hired by the US office of a large Japanese company to investigate suspicious insurance claims.

"Booker" premiered on September 24, 1989. Actor Richard Grieco starred as lead character, Dennis Booker.

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About This Quiz

"Come and knock on our door!" Rather than answering the door, answer the questions in this quiz! The 1980s as a decade that was big on sitcoms. From Cheers to The Wonder Years, can you name these '80s TV shows from a single sentence summary?

The 1980s was a big decade for the family sitcom. Viewers everywhere were settling down to watch Family Ties, Growing Pains, and The Cosby Show. When you weren't settling down for the Keaton or Seaver family, you might've been watching a group of friends in Cheers or Three's Company. The decade also included the popular medical drama M*A*S*H and the Tom Selleck crime drama of Magnum, P.I. Not only were these some of the most iconic shows of the decade, but they're still remembered thirty years later. How well do you remember them?

After Captain Kirk, can you remember the new series that showed the continuation of a space odyssey? What about the popular TV show turned film about two cops who go undercover as high school students? Do you remember the late 1980s newcomer about six students attending Bayside High School in California? If you can remember all of these '80s TV shows, you're in luck! From the star-studded cast of Full House to the wit and laughs behind The Golden Girls, let's see if you can name these 80s TV shows from a single sentence summary.

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