Back to the 1980s - Quiz Shows

The 1980s had a real “remix and reboot” vibe, culturally and commercially. Old ideas were updated, relaunched, or repackaged; usually with brighter colors, bigger hair, and a splash of MTV energy.

One of the best examples is Jeopardy!. The quiz show originally premiered in the 1960s, but its now-iconic syndicated version, hosted by Alex Trebek, debuted in September 1984 and quickly became a television staple.

You remember how Jeopardy! works, right?

Contestants choose a category, receive a clue, and respond in the form of a question, the famous “What is…?” or “Who is…?” format.

Example:

History:
“After more than 150 years, he’s still the tallest U.S. president in history.”
→ Who is Abraham Lincoln?

Based on what we’ve explored in previous posts, let’s play a little 1980s Jeopardy.

Olympics
These 1984 Summer Games became the first in history to turn a profit.

Music
In the UK during the 1980s, this Queen classic topped the list of most-performed karaoke songs.

Politics
This former Hollywood actor won the 1984 U.S. presidential election in a landslide, earning 525 electoral votes.

Fitness
This high-energy 1980s workout craze combined dance routines with gymnastic-style exercise.

Health
In the early 1980s, mysterious cases of rare infections and cancers led doctors to identify this immune-destroying disease.

Charity / Music
Organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, this 1984 supergroup recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief.

Technology
Short for “facsimile,” this machine sends scanned documents over telephone lines to produce a printed copy at the receiving end.

Movies
In this 1983 dance film, Jennifer Beals plays Alex, a welder who dreams of becoming a professional dancer.

History
On November 9, 1989, mass protests and a bungled government announcement led to the fall of this Cold War symbol.

Sports / Business
Introduced by Nike in 1984 and named for a rookie Chicago Bulls superstar, this line of basketball shoes became a global brand.

How did you do? I'll reveal the correct answers, or should I say "questions" in tomorrow's post.