The 80s were an incredible decade for television. DVR was still years away from changing how audiences watched TV, so with a packed programming schedule, every night offered tough choices for viewers. Network television still controlled the airwaves with comedy hits like Cheers and game-changing dramas like Hill Street Blues, and cable television made itself known with exciting new options in the form of channels like MTV.
During the 80s, it felt like every year a new iconic show debuted, boasted memorable characters and storylines that are still remembered fondly today. The following 80s television classics made every evening an entertaining one, giving couch potatoes plenty of laughs, tears, and thrills.
10
‘The A-Team’ (1983–1987)
Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo
If ever someone was in trouble, The A-Team was there with a plan to save the day. The action series followed the exploits of a team of skilled soldiers who were unjustly arrested for a crime they didn’t commit. Using their combined abilities, the soldiers break out of prison and stay on the move to avoid returning to the cells they don’t belong in. While on the run, the A-Team will use their training to help those in need, one elaborate plan at a time.
Modern adult audiences will hold a deeper appreciation for the campy action set pieces now, but in its heyday, The A-Team held the attention of a younger audience, enraptured with the live-action cartoon the show could lean towards being. The larger-than-life characters and over-the-top missions made for a fun example of silly adventure that didn’t strive to be realistic as long as it was entertaining.
9
‘Magnum, P.I.’ (1980–1988)
Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson
No mystery went unsolved in the paradise of Hawaii as long as Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) was on the case in Magnum P.I. While working out of the guest house of a beautiful estate in Hawaii, Magnum worked as a private investigator, using his charm and military training to crack unsolvable cases. From tracking down missing people to solving murders, Magnum never came across a mystery he couldn’t unravel while driving around in his shiny, borrowed, red Ferrari.
Selleck’s star-making performance elevated Magnum P.I. from a great show to an iconic example of 80s television, adding a roguish charm that also exuded intelligence and wit. Magnum P.I. was the type of well-balanced detective show that everyone in the household could agree on, offering humor, mystery, action, and sex appeal in a format that was easy to jump into at any time.
- Release Date
-
1980 – 1988-00-00
- Network
-
CBS
-
Linda Ryan
Candice Wingate
-
Michael Spilotro
Uncredited
-
-
8
‘Matlock’ (1986–1995)
Created by Dean Hargrove
After charming audiences for years as Andy Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show, Andy Griffith returned to television as the lovable defense attorney Ben Matlock in Matlock. The majority of Matlock episodes would see the attorney take the defense in a murder case in his private practice. Using folksy charm that disarmed those around him, Matlock would give his client an ironclad defense by finding the actual murderer.
Many actors are lucky to have one defining role in their careers, but Griffith gained a second with his laid-back portrayal of Matlock. A key factor in Matlock’s success was merging the popular legal drama genre with a murder mystery aspect that gave viewers an easy entry point to start watching. Griffith’s easy-going charisma played well against the intrigue of murder cases to create the ultimate in easily accessible comfort programming.
7
‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992)
Created by Susan Harris
Retirement is the beginning of the story for four mature women in Miami in the hit sitcom, The Golden Girls. The series followed characters Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Rose (Betty White), and Sophia (Estelle Getty) as they share their lives and a home in sunny Miami. Episodes would see the four pursue love lives and personal fulfillment while relying on one another for support.
The Golden Girls has not only endured over the years, but it seems to have thrived as new generations discover the sitcom and speak its praises. It’s not surprising because all four women who made up the cast were comedic powerhouses, and their talents were only amplified by having one another as scene partners. Between the talent of the stars and the expertly written scripts, The Golden Girls will remain an addictively rewatchable comedy.
6
‘The Cosby Show’ (1984–1992)
Created by Michael Leeson
One of the most important shows of the 1980s was the family sitcom The Cosby Show. Following the lives of the Huxtable family in Brooklyn, New York, the sitcom chronicled the day-to-day life of Cliff (Bill Cosby) and Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) as they raised their children Sondra (Sabrina Le Beauf), Denise (Lisa Bonet), Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe), and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam).
The star of the show will forever be mired in controversy, but that will hopefully not permanently undermine the efforts of the sizeable cast and crew that worked on the show. Television audiences were presented with an affluent Black family that challenged racial stereotypes and gave NBC a hit show that stayed number one for five seasons in a row. NBC would piggyback off the success to emerge as a dominant network with hits like Seinfeld and Friends securing their market share after The Cosby Show concluded its run.
- Release Date
-
1984 – 1992
- Network
-
NBC
-
-
-
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Theo Huxtable
-
Tempestt Bledsoe
Vanessa Huxtable
5
‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)
Created by Gene Roddenberry
One of the most celebrated franchises in science fiction returned to television when Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted. The series would see Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) lead his crew aboard the USS Enterprise as they explore the galaxy in search of new discoveries. Whether they encountered danger or unexpected challenges, the crew approached each new obstacle with their mission of diplomacy in mind.
Star Trek: The Next Generation was able to satisfy fans of the original series while still expanding the lore in a way that didn’t rest on fan service alone. The sequel series was able to establish a path moving forward for future creators to keep the franchise on the air with different incarnations of Star Trek. After Star Trek: The Next Generation finished its run with a highly praised finale, the beloved characters then took their leap into films as well.
4
‘Roseanne’ (1988–1997)
Created by Roseanne Barr and Matt Williams
Family sitcoms received a brash new voice in the form of Roseanne Barr when Roseanne premiered on ABC in the late 80s. The sitcom followed Roseanne Conner (Barr) and her husband Dan (John Goodman) as they raised their three children, Becky (Alicia Goranson), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), and D.J. (Michael Fishman) in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois.
When Roseanne debuted, it was a fresh and exciting comedy that boasted a unique and underserved comedic sensibility. Roseanne wasn’t the first sitcom to explore the lives of a working-class family, but it was counterprogramming at a particular time when family sitcoms focused more on the idealization of day-to-day life than the realities people were facing. While not a fully serialized show, problems, financially or otherwise, didn’t go away at the end of the episode.
3
‘Cheers’ (1982–1993)
Created by James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles
A favorite Boston watering hole was the setting for one of television’s most revered sitcoms, Cheers. In Cheers, regular patrons like Norm (George Wendt) and Cliff (John Ratzenberger) took comfort in being served by bartender/owner Sam (Ted Danson) and surly waitress Carla (Rhea Perlman). Between personal crises and romances, the group would share insight and friendship from their favorite barstools.
Cheers did not immediately connect with viewers, and there was some skepticism from its critics that audiences wanted to see regulars at a bar week after week. However, incredibly strong writing that delivered jokes while building fully fleshed-out characters slowly built an audience that was 80 million strong by the time the finale aired. Cheers is the definition of a timeless show that is as accessible now as it was when it first premiered on NBC.
2
‘Hill Street Blues’ (1981–1987)
Created by Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll
One of the most groundbreaking shows of the 1980s was the police procedural Hill Street Blues. The series followed the beleaguered police force of the Hill Street police department as they fought crime on the streets and personal fatigue in their personal lives. Leading the precinct is Captain Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti), who attempts to guide his officers despite the stress of his position.
Unlike many police shows that came before it, where storylines wrapped up by episode’s end, Hill Street Blues featured ongoing plotlines that would span multiple episodes or, in some cases, seasons. Additionally, characters didn’t have easily defined moral values, which led to a viewing experience that challenged viewers’ perspectives on what could be considered a protagonist. Hill Street Blues was incredibly ahead of its time with these approaches, years before Tony Soprano sat down for his first therapy session.
-
Daniel J. Travanti
Frank Furillo
-
Michael Warren
Robert Hill
-
-
James B. Sikking
Howard Hunter
1
‘The Simpsons’ (1989–)
Created by James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Sam Simon
There’s a shortlist of shows that have had as much cultural impact as the animated sitcom The Simpsons. While primarily focused on the Simpsons, episodes of The Simpsons cover the lives of every citizen in the town of Springfield, where any adventure is possible. As one of the longest-running shows on television, The Simpsons are bona fide TV royalty.
While not ignoring the fact that the first year of The Simpsons was the roughest in terms of animation, and the characters were still shaping into the iconic forms they would soon be, the show was an instant sensation. Many shows are hits; The Simpsons was an entirely different beast that eclipsed its competition and upset the status quo of television programming. The Simpsons made animation in prime time possible for the decades to follow, and introduced a new style of comedy to an audience hungry for more.
- Release Date
-
December 17, 1989
- Network
-
FOX
-
-
Chris Elliott
Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)