Pick: What would you watch on TV in 1988?

Would you tune in for ALF, Pee-wee, Balki or Matlock?

 
In March of 1988, the Writers Guild of America went on strike for nearly half a year. This had a profound effect on television, as the fall premieres for shows were delayed, and new productions were scratched. Networks turned to old ideas (like Mission: Impossible) for new shows.

But this is not to say that network television was a wasteland in 1988. Far from it. Looking over the schedule for that year, you can find dozens of beloved series that continue to fuel reruns and reboots today. There was even a new player — Fox — getting off the ground on Sunday nights in its second year. 

So, the big question is — what would watch if you held the remote in 1988? Here are some interesting matchups in the lineup. See how your selections rate against the others!
  1. It's Sunday night, 8PM, and now there are four options. Pick one.
     Image: CBS Television Distribution
  2. Before football kicks off, what would you watch on Mondays at 8PM?
  3. It's now Tuesday at 8PM. Are you looking for laughs or mysteries — both fictional and real?
  4. It's Hump Day, Wednesday at 9PM. Would you like a dose of nostalgia, action or legal yuks?
     Image: 20th Television
  5. In the summertime, it may be nice out, but it's also "Must-See TV" on NBC, Thursday at 9PM. Or is it?
  6. It wasn't just ABC saying "TGIF" on Fridays at 8PM. Sci-fi fans had some cult favorites, too.
  7. Before playing a ton of Nintendo, pick something to get your Saturday morning started at 10AM.
     Image: CBS Television Distribution
  8. What's on the tube on a hot Saturday at 9PM?
  9. Finally, it's a weekday. Better yet, it's a national holiday. After sleeping in, turn on the TV for something at 11AM.

Pick: What would you watch on TV in 1988?

Your Result...

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13 Comments

WandaBaker 34 months ago
48 % similar. I'm always different. 😔
DerekBird 34 months ago
44% similar
44% similar to the most popular responses
For #7 since I wasn't left with a choice that I liked I had to choose stupid Alf because it was the lesser offensive of the three choices. even though I thought that all three were pieces of garbage.
RobChapman 34 months ago
METV needs to remember first run syndication became a big thing in the late 80's. You know what I was watching in 1988? Star Trek The Next Generation. It aired on Monday nights.
WandaBaker 45 months ago
Wow, I am an oddball...44% similar.
ttenchantr 45 months ago
I have no idea what Ohara was, but anything would be better than the Golden Girls.
DerekBird ttenchantr 34 months ago
Ohara was a show about an unconventional Japanese-American Police Lieutenant played by (and co-created) by Pat Morita and Kevin Conroy (Who would become THE voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Many videos and Animated TV shows like Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League/Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond to name a few).

The series focuses on an unconventional Los Angeles-based Japanese American police lieutenant named Ohara (Pat Morita) who uses spirituality methods such as meditation in his home shrine to solve crimes without the use of a gun or a partner, although he would use martial arts if necessary. He often talked in the form of epigrams. He was later paired with a partner named Lt. George Shaver (Robert Clohessy) who was a more conventional cop.
Notable guest stars
Brandon Lee appeared in the Season 2 episode "What's in a Name" which first aired on January 23, 1988 as Kenji, the evil son of a yakuza godfather. This was Lee's first and only appearance in a television series and his only acting role as a villain, although in Kung Fu: The Movie, his character was possessed and forced to be evil for most of the movie.
Other guest stars in the series included Michael Des Barres, Nana Visitor, Mitch Pileggi and Benicio del Toro.

It ran for 30 episodes over 2 seasons from January 17, 1987–May 7, 1988.
Runeshaper 62 months ago
66% similar
66% similar to the most popular responses
Amalthea 68 months ago
(35%) #6 just about killed me; I loved all 3 of those shows! I had the hardest time deciding, but went for "Beauty & the Beast".
ndebrabant 68 months ago

56% similar
56% similar to the most popular responses
RedSamRackham ndebrabant 45 months ago
* Sometimes I went with least of 3 evils choice! ☺
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