Music
Originally written in 1974, this song was named one of the 500 Best Pop Songs by Billboard, one of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s by Rolling Stone, and won Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 1982 Grammy Awards.
Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes
Released on June 11, 1982, and grossing nearly $800 million worldwide, this movie is the highest-grossing film of the 1980s.
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
What television show debuted on January 15, 1981, and won four consecutive Emmy Awards for Most Outstanding Drama Series between 1981-1984?
Hill Street Blues
NFL
In the 1980s, three number one overall picks in the NFL Draft have gone on to be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; defensive end Bruce Smith, and these two quarterbacks from Stanford and UCLA.
John Elway and Troy Aikman
This album was the first to be released commercially on compact disc in the United States, hitting shelves on September 21, 1984.
Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springstein
At 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, this song became the first music video to air on MTV.
Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles
In Back to the Future, the DeLorean must reach what speed to reach time travel?
88 miles per hour
DAILY DOUBLE!
On May 20, 1984, 20 million people watched Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart get married during what was the second-highest rated hour in American daytime soap opera history. On what show did Steve and Betsy’s wedding take place?
As the World Turns
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
This team defeated top-seeded Georgetown 66-64 in the 1985 NCAA Men’s Basketball national championship game to become the lowest-seeded team to ever win the national championship?
Villanova
On September 17, 1983, this woman became the first African-American to be crowned Miss America.
Vanessa Lynn Williams
In 1982, 10 musical acts reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in their careers, including John Cougar, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Survivor, and this female singer who would go on to reach number one for a second time in 1987 with (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, a duet performed with Bill Medley.
Jennifer Warnes
In January of 2024, Forbes named this movie the number one movie of the 1980s that includes, a brain ... and an athlete ... and a basket case ... a princess ... and a criminal.
The Breakfast Club
Which actor and actress hosted the inaugural MTV Video Music awards on September 14, 1984?
Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler
OLYMPICS
This sprinter made his Olympics debut 1984, where he won four gold medals, including the 100 meters and 200 meters. He was named Olympian of the Century by Sports Illustrated and retired as the most decorated American male sprinter of all-time.
Carl Lewis
DAILY DOUBLE!
This name, beginning with the letter M, was the most popular boys name of the 1980s, with more than 660,000 babies given the name during the decade.
Michael
Michael Jackson was the only artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart more than once in 1983, reaching the top spot three times with songs Billie Jean, Beat It, and this other song with former Beatle Paul McCartney?
Say Say Say
This Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress appeared in her first leading role in 1982 as Stephanie Zinone in Grease 2.
Michelle Pfeiffer
What television show featured an alien from the planet Melmac?
Alf
NBA
In the 1983 NBA Draft, three of the first five players selected have gone on to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The other two are Sam Perkins and this seven-footer from the University of Kentucky.
Sam Bowie
This iconic device was introduced by Apple in January of 1984.
Macintosh computer
In 2020, Billie Eilish became just the second artist ever to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and New Artist of the Year in the same year. The first artist to accomplish the feat was this male in 1981, following the release of his self-titled album with his hit Sailing.
Christopher Cross
DAILY DOUBLE!
Stevie Wonder won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 for this song, written and performed for the film, The Woman in Red.
I Just Called to Say I Love You
What was the name of the high school in Beverly Hills 90210?
West Beverly High
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
This Philadelphia Phillie and member of the 500-homerun club, was the only player to win three Most Valuable Player awards in the 1980s, doing so in 1980, 1981, and 1986.
Mike Schmidt
TV host David Letterman debuted his Late Night with David Letterman talk show on February 1, 1982 with this actor as his first guest, the same actor who would be his last guest during the final episode of The Late Show with David Letterman on May 20, 2015.
Bill Murray