The Best TV Shows From The '80s That Everyone Still Has A Soft Spot For

Before Friends, there was Seinfeld!

Sophia

• Published in Film & TV
• July 5, 2022

The '80s were definitely one of the most fun times, and even decades later, it's still remembered for how many iconic things it has brought to this world. That decade was definitely a great time for pop culture—a lot of distinct trends, although some questionable, have emerged.

But amidst the many, many great things that the '80s has gifted us, nothing really beats the entertainment that it has provided us—in the form of movies and TV shows, which are still considered the best of all time even today. It's given us The Breakfast Club and The Princess Bride, among many other iconic ones.

The TV shows in this decade were just on a whole new level—everyone wanted to have a funky colorful wardrobe like the one in Punky Brewster, or a dumbwaiter like the one in Webster. A lot of catchphrases have made their way into the mainstream because of these TV shows, too, like “Back in St. Olaf…” from The Golden Girls and “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” from Diff’rent Strokes, and a whole lot of other trendy sayings, jokes, and mantras that were derived from these beloved TV shows.

Now, without further ado, here are some of the best and most iconic TV shows from the '80s that are still a classic and a favorite, even today:

1. MacGyver

MacGyver stars a young hero named Angus `Mac' MacGyver who always seemed to escape any sitch with just a bunch of practical tools, an impressive stock of impressive knowledge, and a skill for solving literally any kind of problem. His intelligence always saves him in life or death situations, and it has definitely kept us entertained for over 120 episodes.

2. Knight Rider

Knight Rider's protagonist, Michael Knight, together with his car called KITT is set to fight against all odds. KITT was definitely a car way ahead of its time, as it can communicate with the driver, and maneuver itself.

This action-packed show with a mythic song was definitely a series that everyone thoroughly remembers from the '80s.

3. Seinfeld

Before Friends came out, Seinfeld had a headstart as one of the best sitcoms ever. The show lasted for almost 200 episodes spanning nine seasons—following the story of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends.

This may have been called "a series about nothing," but nobody could deny it was charismatic and enjoyable enough for us to be entertained for hours.

4. Cheers

Cheers were the one most similar to Friends, but unfortunately, it's not available on any streaming platform. It's one of the most successful and memorable sitcoms of all time, set in a bar called "Cheers" owned by Bayday Malone, a baseball player.

It's about a group of friends who meet in the bar to tell their everyday happenings.

Cheers is not available on any streaming platform but at least we still have Friends, which came some years later but with a similar thematic. 

5. Alf

Alf was an "Alien Life Form" from the planet Melmac, who ate cats and got adopted by the Tanner family. It had more than a hundred episodes, and it was definitely enjoyable enough for a character who spends their day thinking about watching TV and eating.

6. Married with Children

This one is still available on Amazon Prime Video. It has eleven seasons, around 250 episodes, and was broadcast for ten years between the 1980s and 1990s on Fox.

The show was kind of a parody of a classic American family—a mother with a shopping addiction, a father obsessed with money, a teenage daughter who's beautiful but tagged as dumb, and a teenage son obsessed with girls, popularity, and their looks.

7. The A-Team

“In 1972 a commando composed of four of the best men in the American army was imprisoned for a crime they had not committed, they soon escaped from the prison in which they were held… Today, still sought by the government, they survive as fortune soldiers. If you have any problems and you find them, you may be able to hire them."

So says the intro of this iconic show, which ran for almost 100 episodes. The quartet protagonists, Hannibal, Murdock, Phoenix, and M.A were adventurers escaping from justice all while doing justice, ironically.

The '80s were definitely a monumental decade, and it didn't hold back in giving us these gems in the entertainment industry! We're still getting nostalgic over this decade (thanks to Stranger Things), and we would truly love to go back to the good ol' simpler times!

Which '80s TV show was your favorite? Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia