One could talk about the ‘80s as the decade of materialism and consumerism with cheap goods available for everyone, fast fashion taking the lead, and blockbuster movies happening for the first time on Earth, but we’d like to talk about this electric decade through its entertainment. But, we also know that it is better to show than to tell, so why don’t you do research on ‘80s entertainment of your own accord by examining the best ‘80s TV shows and coming up with your own thesis? And, to make the formation of that opinion that much easier, this is your supply of ‘80s TV shows!
Here are some hints - most TV series of the ‘80s are sitcoms but with an edge. They are still quite naive but more daring than ever before. Then there’s the emergence of detective series with Tom Selleck’s mustache taking the spotlight in Magnum, P.I. The ‘80s also inspired a lust for adventure in people, and that really reflected in TV shows with, for instance, the birth of such iconic series as MacGyver. Ok, no further spoilers, though!
So, get ready to go back in time through the most entertaining, heartfelt, and basically the best ‘80s TV shows. Scroll on to meet them a bit further down, and don’t forget to vote for the best series! Also, share this article with your friends who might like to accompany you on your time travels.
#1 M*A*S*H
1972 - 1983 | 11 seasons | 251 episodes
M*A*S*H - an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital - is a war comedy-drama series that graced TV screens for almost ten years, starting from 1972. It follows a team of field doctors stationed in South Korea during the Korean War (1950-1953) and their lives during wartime. M*A*S*H became so wildly popular during its run that the final episode still holds the record for the most-watched finale of any TV series. In fact, so many people watched that episode that the New York City Sanitation Department reported broken plumbing issues after seemingly everyone in NYC went to the bathroom right after the end credits. And though it might be just an urban legend, it perfectly illustrates just how captivated the audience was with M*A*S*H.
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44points
#2 Mork & Mindy
1978 - 1982 | 4 seasons | 94 episodes
Mork And Mindy supplied the vastly talented Robin Williams with a breakthrough role and, in return, gained stellar popularity, ranking at third place in the Nielsen Ratings at the time of its release. And how could it not, when you have such an ingenious (even if inexperienced) actor as Robin Williams playing an extraterrestrial from the Ork planet who came to live on Earth?
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37points
#3 Cheers
1982 - 1993 | 11 seasons | 275 episodes
After its premiere in September 1982, Cheers nearly got canceled as its ratings were at about sea bottom level. Thankfully, though, the broadcasting channel did not give up on it, and during the summer reruns of the first season, Cheers suddenly gained its audience, which proved to be an ever-growing one. A sitcom in all of its essence, Cheers follows a group of friends that meets and spends their time together at a bar called, you guessed it, Cheers. Filmed in front of a live audience, it has that signature sitcom laugh track and is often set in the same location. It's also a series that birthed probably one of the most successful spin-offs ever. If not for Cheers, we wouldn't have gotten Frasier!
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37points
#5 The A-Team
1983 - 1987 | 5 seasons | 98 episodes
This action-adventure series follows a foursome of ex-military personnel, wrongfully sentenced and imprisoned. Of course, the four of them escape to Los Angeles and become soldiers of fortune, bringing justice to the little man. Impressionable characters, cartoonish violence, and cool catchphrases are what made The A-Team an iconic series of the decade. Also, its episodic nature, where you can tune in whenever without missing essential plot details, made it very agreeable with audiences and The A-Team soon skyrocketed to the top of the ratings.
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36points
#6 Family Ties
1982 - 1989 | 7 seasons | 176 episodes
In our days, it's usually the kids that are hip and the parents that are square. Well, in Family Ties universe, it's all reversed - ex-hippie parents and conservationist '80s kids. And, that's precisely where the conflict lies, and it's never dull to follow this family in their daily lives when their views on life and politics are divided by a chasm. A brilliant depiction of actual events and culture of the decade gained this series plenty of awards and accolades.
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34points
#7 Magnum P.I.
1980 - 1988 | 8 seasons | 158 episodes
A womanizer private investigator living life to the fullest while solving heinous crimes will never go out of fashion, and Magnum, P.I. is a true classic of the crime drama series genre. And so is Tom Selleck's, a.k.a. Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV's glorious mustache, which plays a part of its own in this series. Oh, and if you love guest star appearances on series that you are watching, Magnum, P.I. had plenty of those, including but not limited to Shannen Doherty, Sharon Stone, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few.
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34points
#9 Happy Days
1974 - 1984 | 11 seasons | 255 episodes
With a sweet vision of life in the ‘50s America, quirky yet relatable characters, and a delightful sense of humor, Happy Days was everyone's favorite series for its whole ten years of existence. Besides being hugely successful, Happy Days was also the show where Robin Williams started his career, and by a lucky accident! With five spin-offs, loads of loyal fans, and time-defying production, Happy Days is probably one of the best shows aired in the '80s.
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32points
#10 Night Court
1984 - 1992 | 9 seasons | 193 episodes
As shown by many TV series, the night shift at the court is generally a gathering place for low-lives, outcasts, and criminals, often with no comedic element in their endeavors. With Night Court, though, the premise takes another turn, and the night shift proceedings, conducted by a young and very unorthodox judge Harold Stone, are usually a place for hilarious happenings and humor.
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31points
#11 MacGyver
1985 - 1992 | 7 seasons | 139 episodes
MacGyver is an action-adventure series following Angus MacGyver, a secret agent equipped with incredible resourcefulness to solve problems using simple everyday things. In fact, MacGyver is so good at what he does; his name became a term for when you fix or solve something with random stuff at hand. Though the 1985 series saw a slow start in ratings with the first season, it later proved to be a sleeper hit, gaining popularity and loyal fans as MacGyver went on.
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30points
#13 The Dukes Of Hazzard
1979 - 1985 | 7 seasons | 146 episodes
An adaptation of the 1975 Moonrunners movie, The Dukes Of Hazzard, shares a very similar premise following the no-good Duke brothers, their cousin Daisy, and the wise patriarch of the family, Uncle Jesse. Filled with comedic action and plot twists in each episode, The Dukes Of Hazzard became an iconic show. And even if you haven't seen it, you've most likely heard about Daisy's style, especially the skimpy 'Daisy Dukes' jean shorts.
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28points
