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Quiz about 1980s AllAmerican Entertainment
Quiz about 1980s AllAmerican Entertainment

1980s All-American Entertainment Quiz


How much do you remember about the decade that spawned Madonna, Preppies and the moonwalk?

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
brewster76
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
299,256
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
5756
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Godwit (4/10), Lrgindypants (6/10), Guest 62 (3/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which movie character uttered the phrase that many think sums up the go-go 80s: "Greed is good"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The autobiography of this former automobile executive has the distinction of being one of the few books (fiction or non-fiction) to top the best seller charts for two consecutive years ('84 and '85). Who is the author? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The best selling single of 1980, "Call Me" by Blondie, was the theme song for which movie? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. On November 16, 1981 an estimated 30 million people tuned in to "General Hospital" to watch the wedding of daytime television's first supercouple. What were their names? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The charity song for famine relief called "We Are the World" was recorded in 1985 by a 'supergroup' of popular musicians called "USA for Africa". Surprisingly, included in the group was an alum of "Saturday Night Live" more known for his/her comedic chops than singing ability. Who was it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This 1984 album, the recording artist's seventh, landed seven Top 10 singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Produced by (among others) Steven Van Zandt, at least two of the songs from this album have been used in presidential campaigns. Name the album. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. During the 1980s Andrew Lloyd Webber won a record-setting three Tony Awards for Best Musical. Which of the following musicals was NOT one credited to Sir Andrew? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Nina Blackwood, Alan Hunter, J. J. Jackson, Mark Goodman and Martha Quinn - what are they famous for? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. About which couple did Frances Fitzgerald of the New Yorker say in 1987 "They epitomized the excesses of the 1980s: the greed, the love of glitz, and the shamelessness, which in their case was so pure as to almost amount to a kind of innocence." Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Last but not least, who shot J.R.? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 18 2024 : Godwit: 4/10
Mar 15 2024 : Lrgindypants: 6/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 62: 3/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 205: 5/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 98: 5/10
Feb 19 2024 : Upstart3: 7/10
Feb 12 2024 : angostura: 10/10
Feb 08 2024 : spaismunky: 8/10
Feb 07 2024 : Guest 142: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which movie character uttered the phrase that many think sums up the go-go 80s: "Greed is good"?

Answer: Gordon Gekko

The quote is from 1987's "Wall Street" and reads in its entirety:

"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."

Michael Douglas won an Oscar for his portrayal of Gecko.
2. The autobiography of this former automobile executive has the distinction of being one of the few books (fiction or non-fiction) to top the best seller charts for two consecutive years ('84 and '85). Who is the author?

Answer: Lee Iacocca

The proceeds of "Iacocca: An Autobiography" are said to have been donated to diabetes research. Sales figures are from "Publisher's Weekly".
3. The best selling single of 1980, "Call Me" by Blondie, was the theme song for which movie?

Answer: "American Gigolo"

The movie also marked a turning point in the career of designer Giorgio Armani who styled the wardrobe of the film's star, Richard Gere.
4. On November 16, 1981 an estimated 30 million people tuned in to "General Hospital" to watch the wedding of daytime television's first supercouple. What were their names?

Answer: Luke and Laura

The event set a record as the most watched hour in American soap opera history.
5. The charity song for famine relief called "We Are the World" was recorded in 1985 by a 'supergroup' of popular musicians called "USA for Africa". Surprisingly, included in the group was an alum of "Saturday Night Live" more known for his/her comedic chops than singing ability. Who was it?

Answer: Dan Aykroyd

"We Are the World" was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones. Some famous faces who were asked to participate but didn't were Pat Benatar who had to miss the session due to pregnancy, Linda Ronstadt who had the flu and Prince who later provided a guitar track.

It is said that Aykroyd was asked by Quincy Jones to participate and add some comic relief to the session.
6. This 1984 album, the recording artist's seventh, landed seven Top 10 singles on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Produced by (among others) Steven Van Zandt, at least two of the songs from this album have been used in presidential campaigns. Name the album.

Answer: "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen

"Born in the USA" and "Thriller" each produced seven Top 10 singles. Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation 1814" topped them both with eight hits. Steven Van Zandt is a member of the E Street Band, The Boss' back-up group. Several politicians have used "Born in the USA" in their campaigns. During his 2004 presidential run, Senator John Kerry made another song from the album, "No Surrender" his theme song.
7. During the 1980s Andrew Lloyd Webber won a record-setting three Tony Awards for Best Musical. Which of the following musicals was NOT one credited to Sir Andrew?

Answer: "Les Miserables"

"Evita", "Cats" and "Phantom" won the Tony for Best Musical in 1980, 1983 and 1988, respectively. "Les Miz" (music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and book by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil) won the award in 1987.
8. Nina Blackwood, Alan Hunter, J. J. Jackson, Mark Goodman and Martha Quinn - what are they famous for?

Answer: The original "VJ's" on MTV in 1981

Jackson died in 2004. The other original vj's began hosting shows on Syrius Satellite Radio in 2005. MTV made a star of Weird Al Yankovic who parodied others' videos.
9. About which couple did Frances Fitzgerald of the New Yorker say in 1987 "They epitomized the excesses of the 1980s: the greed, the love of glitz, and the shamelessness, which in their case was so pure as to almost amount to a kind of innocence."

Answer: Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker

Jim and Tammy Faye Baker gained nation-wide attention in the 80s with their syndicated television program "The PTL Club" (PTL being the acronym for Priase the Lord). Tammy Faye was popular in the gay community, in no small part due to her public compassion for those suffering from AIDS, which was unusual for an evangelical Christian in the 80s.

At the time of her death in 2007 she had evolved into something of a bemusing but beloved American figure. Jim Bakker served five years in prison for defrauding hundreds of thousands of investors through the theme park and residential complex 'Heritage USA'.

He formed a new ministry which in 2008 moved into a luxurious new television studio on a 600 acre development near Branson, MO which is said to be quite similar to Heritage USA.
10. Last but not least, who shot J.R.?

Answer: His sister-in-law Kristin Shepard

The 'Who Shot J.R.' episode of "Dallas" was the most watched television show in history when it aired in November of 1980 with an estimated 83 millions viewers. Fun trivia fact: Kristin Shepard was portrayed by Mary Crosby, daughter of movie and singing legend Bing Crosby.
Source: Author brewster76

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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