New Discussion Time - Top 80's Sitcoms
80's televsion was kind of magical, it was the era when we stopped what we were doing and physically ran home so we wouldn't miss our favorite shows partially because TV was so compelling and partly because we didn't have a Tivo and no one could program the VCR. Anyway the TV of the era holds a big place in my heart so; here are my picks for top 10 sitcoms of the 80's in no particular order. Leave a comment and vote for one of these or add your own to the mix. At the end of the month we will crown a winner.
10. Diff'rent Strokes (NBC)
I absolutely loved Diff'rent Strokes and although the young cast has had its share of problems since the show went off the air, it was amazing while it lasted. I miss sitcoms that teach family lessons and values, and Diff'rent Strokes always had a moral and it tackled issues of race and other social issues at a time when it was previously unheard of to deal with such issues in a prime-time sitcom.
9. Family Ties (NBC)
To me this was quintessential 80's TV, a republican son and an architect mom, a dad employment by public television - it was pure 80's gold. Michael J. Fox felt like an old friend and Justine Bateman was one of my biggest childhood crushes. The chemistry of the cast was palpable, you felt like they were your family. The show was both funny and moving; I particularly remember a story arc about suicide that really hit home.
8. Alf (NBC)
Can you believe a show about a puppet alien who lives with a family and continually tries to eat their cat actually made it to prime time on NBC? It is hard to believe, but it is even harder to imagine what a huge hit it became.
7. The Wonder Years (ABC)
I loved Winnie Years..err.. I mean Wonder Years. The characters on the show during its original run were always the exact same age as I was and I really did feel like they were good roll models to me as I grew up, AND…..Winnie Cooper man, wow did I have a huge crush on Winnie.
6. The Cosby Show (NBC)
I think it was hard for us to see as kids, but the Cosby Show was not only consistently hysterical it was socially important. Cosby shattered years of horrible television stereotypes and brought the modern African American family into the homes of millions of Americans every Thursday night.
5. Night Court (NBC)
When people ask me why I became a lawyer I point them to this show because I secretly want to be a Judge in night court. I love magic and the law and Harry Anderson as Judge Harold T. Stone was a perfect combination of the two. Too bad my real life experience has been nothing like the mad capped nights in Night Court.
4. Three's Company (ABC)
John Ritter is brilliant - nuff said.
3. The Golden Girls (NBC)
My love for the Golden Girls is not something I often publicly admit, for fear of good natured ribbing, but really this was such a solid show. The dialogue between the crazy cast of retired women living as roommates in the Florida home was stellar, each member of the cast turned in some of the best comedic performances of the decade.
2) Cheers (NBC)
I think cheers tops most peoples top ten list for the 80's and how could you blame them? With a cast of Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer and Kirstie Alley/Shelley Long you really can't go wrong, plus the show was set in a freaking bar run by an AA member. I loved cheers and the cast has all gone on to do so many other funny projects that it may just be the most important comedic show of the 80s.
1) Punky Brewster (NBC)
Punky was an orphan abandoned by her mom and living with her dog on the mean streets of Chicago. She was living in a vacant apartment and was eventually found and adopted by the building's super - Henry. I must admit Soleil Moon Frye was another childhood crush and who doesn't love George Gaynes the nation's nicest police commander from his days in Police Academy. Plus, I think it is a toss up whether Madonna or Punky shaped the fashion sense of the girls for the next 20 years.
10. Diff'rent Strokes (NBC)
I absolutely loved Diff'rent Strokes and although the young cast has had its share of problems since the show went off the air, it was amazing while it lasted. I miss sitcoms that teach family lessons and values, and Diff'rent Strokes always had a moral and it tackled issues of race and other social issues at a time when it was previously unheard of to deal with such issues in a prime-time sitcom.
9. Family Ties (NBC)
To me this was quintessential 80's TV, a republican son and an architect mom, a dad employment by public television - it was pure 80's gold. Michael J. Fox felt like an old friend and Justine Bateman was one of my biggest childhood crushes. The chemistry of the cast was palpable, you felt like they were your family. The show was both funny and moving; I particularly remember a story arc about suicide that really hit home.
8. Alf (NBC)
Can you believe a show about a puppet alien who lives with a family and continually tries to eat their cat actually made it to prime time on NBC? It is hard to believe, but it is even harder to imagine what a huge hit it became.
7. The Wonder Years (ABC)
I loved Winnie Years..err.. I mean Wonder Years. The characters on the show during its original run were always the exact same age as I was and I really did feel like they were good roll models to me as I grew up, AND…..Winnie Cooper man, wow did I have a huge crush on Winnie.
6. The Cosby Show (NBC)
I think it was hard for us to see as kids, but the Cosby Show was not only consistently hysterical it was socially important. Cosby shattered years of horrible television stereotypes and brought the modern African American family into the homes of millions of Americans every Thursday night.
5. Night Court (NBC)
When people ask me why I became a lawyer I point them to this show because I secretly want to be a Judge in night court. I love magic and the law and Harry Anderson as Judge Harold T. Stone was a perfect combination of the two. Too bad my real life experience has been nothing like the mad capped nights in Night Court.
4. Three's Company (ABC)
John Ritter is brilliant - nuff said.
3. The Golden Girls (NBC)
My love for the Golden Girls is not something I often publicly admit, for fear of good natured ribbing, but really this was such a solid show. The dialogue between the crazy cast of retired women living as roommates in the Florida home was stellar, each member of the cast turned in some of the best comedic performances of the decade.
2) Cheers (NBC)
I think cheers tops most peoples top ten list for the 80's and how could you blame them? With a cast of Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer and Kirstie Alley/Shelley Long you really can't go wrong, plus the show was set in a freaking bar run by an AA member. I loved cheers and the cast has all gone on to do so many other funny projects that it may just be the most important comedic show of the 80s.
1) Punky Brewster (NBC)
Punky was an orphan abandoned by her mom and living with her dog on the mean streets of Chicago. She was living in a vacant apartment and was eventually found and adopted by the building's super - Henry. I must admit Soleil Moon Frye was another childhood crush and who doesn't love George Gaynes the nation's nicest police commander from his days in Police Academy. Plus, I think it is a toss up whether Madonna or Punky shaped the fashion sense of the girls for the next 20 years.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nada on -
Wonderful choices, SFT! I loved every show mentioned and remember being hooked on a couple. The judge in Nightcourt was the kinda guy my mother wanted me to marry. We were always watching it and every week she'd say 'See, find a man with that kind of sense of humour and you will never fall out of love with him.' That is one of my favorite characters of all time. Right up there with Tony Randall in The Odd Couple
I loved (and still do love) the Wonder Years, but found (and still find...) myself jealous of Winnie.
Hmm..off to therapy on that one..
Never did understand the whole Alf thing, but enjoyed it all the same. Oh, and Three's Company is a show I could watch 48 hours straight and then some!
I'm also really into the one season hitters like Double Trouble (remember THAT one?) It aired from 1984-1985. They were big Duranies- I felt a cosmic tie to the pair of twin girls that were the double in the trouble. It was camp! Too bad it was 1 season only.
Belvedere is another favorite. For years I ate my lunch to this show. Along with Leave It To Beaver (circa NOT 1980). Very safe, family fun.
CANNOT forget Webster. That show had a lot in it. Adoption, and mixing of cultures, not to mention the moral behind each episode. Lots in it. And Webster was (and still is) an adorable little man. He appeared on The Surreal Life yet I still respect him. That's some feat!
I could go on and on so I'm gonna stop here. Cheers SFT! You took me down a little memory lane. It was sweet! Now off to IMDB to see what shows are on DVD. I must find Webster now!
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Permalink Reply by SecretFunTIme on
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Thank you Karen - Webster deserves to be in there, and I have a special place in my heart for Mr. Belvedere mostly because Milwaukee's own Bob Uecker was the dad. I forgot how they came to have a butler - does anyone remember? I never watched Double Trouble, but I did find this promo of the fall line-up which includes it:
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Permalink Reply by Nada on
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OMG SFT! The quality is obviously 1984 VCR, but holy gosh dang that was cool! Thank you xxoo
Wow, to think I actually still remember that Double Trouble episode too. The one guy ends up kissing the one twin on the eyelids and she can't stop talking about it. That's why I remember it. Kissing on the eyelids would have never occured to me (granted, I WAS only 12). Funny what memories are floating in ones head...
Before I leave, remember Punky? Punky Brewster and Little Wonder. Also what about Jim Henson and Fraggle Rock. And we cannot forget Saturday morning tv! We had quite a lot of cartoons to chose from back then (AND they were family friendly!) The Smurfs or The Snorks. Stuff like that! Still LOVE The Smurfs singing about their little toothbrush. I think I still have both Smurf records. Oh oh, my roomie is gonna think me mad when he's forced to listen to it....LOL
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Permalink Reply by Meg on -
Fraggle Rock was probably one of the coolest kid shows ever. :D I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't like it when they were a kid.
Was Inspector Gadget an 80s' show? 'Cuz that show rocked. XD
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Both Fraggle Rock and Inspector G are top choices Meg. I didn't have HBO growing up, so I missed out on the Fraggle experience and I have to say that Matthew Broderick's Inspector Gadget movie might have forever tainted the brilliant cartoon for me.
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Permalink Reply by Nada on
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If anyone remembers GI JOE you may remember the little messages they sent out to all of us kids.
Check out my newest video and perhaps you'll enjoy it as much as I have!
It's quite long though, so grab a drink or something :-)
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Totally Barbie - I love Three's Company as well but always considered it more of a 70s show then an 80s show - it ran from 77 through 84 and kicked ass in both decades so it should definitely be included!
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Oh wait a second - I did include Three's company - I am losing my mind!
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Permalink Reply by allieand on -
Mork and Mindy counts as 80s in my book....ran till 82 I believe and also thinking of it as 80s makes me feel younger! A cracking show!
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Permalink Reply by It`s me ... a problem? on -
for me my fav was : Miami Vice ! I felt in love with Don Johnson :D but I need to tell .... I was really young :D lol
You all remember " Family" is the first one I remember .
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Permalink Reply by Francesca on -
I remember double trouble!
I loved The Cosby Show. And yes, I totally aggree about the social importance of such a show- In the 70's England has awful "sitcoms" like "Love Thy Neighbour" which was responsible for the majority of racial slurs that were around at that time. I always watched The Cosby Show and loved it. I wanted Bill Cosby as MY dad! I was an only child and so only dreamed of having a load of cool siblings in stone washed jeans to hang out with like the Cosbys did! :o).
I remember watching Who's The Boss? quite a lot. Not sure why, but i remember a guy in very tight jeans as well as a rediculously young Alyssa Milano. God, it's all a faded memory....
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Permalink Reply by Heather on -
Three's Company (ofc).. all those shows are great, I remember them well ... BUT one of my all time favorites... Growing Pains!! hehe I have to say, as a young teenager Kirk Cameron was the man I was gonna marry. LOL Obviously that didn't happen but the show was awesome. Yes.. Murder she wrote ( i still love that show) Columbo? M*A*S*H was and is a favorite of mine. These are all great shows that are listed on here, I prefer the older sitcoms to the new ones, I have to say.. Man oh man tho, i'm feeling aged right now lol Great stuff
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