TV Shows

Here is a list of some of the top sitcoms of the 1980’s, in alphabetical order.

The A Team
At the end of their stint in Viet Nam, Col. John “Hannibal” Smith and his team were framed for robbing the Bank of Hanoi (which they had done, but under orders), and sent to a US military prison. They escaped and went on the run, pursued first by Col. Lynch and later by Col. Decker. While on the lam, they became heroes for hire, working as good-guy vigilantes around the US or the world. Hannibal was their leader and an expert at disguises. Face was the team’s con artist and lady’s man. BA (officially “Bad Attitude”) was their mechanic, but also took care of mayhem and intimidation. The final member of the Team, “Howling Mad” Murdock, was an expert pilot, and a certified lunatic–they broke him out of a mental hospital whenever they needed him for a mission.

Alf (NBC)

The Tanner family is an average American family. One day, they discover that they have a visitor. He’s small, he’s furry, he’s arrogant, and he’s an alien from the planet Melmac. Unsure what to do, they name him ALF: Alien Life Form. Alf soon decides that as much as he misses his home planet, there’s a lot to be said for Earth: the Tanners are willing to concede anything as long as he doesn’t announce his presence. Oh yeah, the the Tanners also have a cat, which looks rather tasty.

Charles in Charge (USA)
Charles, a college student, moves in with the Powell family as the housekeeper, baby-sitter, and friend to the children. Along with his best friend, Buddy, Charles attempts to manage his life, especially college and girls, as well as tend to the family.

Cheers (NBC)

Sam Malone, a former baseball star, is the head of a nice little bar where Norm, Cliff, Dr. Frasier and all the other regular customers spend together a few hours every day, talking about their problems, laughing at each other’s flaws, trying to be there when someone else needs them. “Cheers” is the place where everybody knows your name.

The Cosby Show (NBC)

Doctor Heathcliff Huxtable and Clair Huxtable, a happily married couple, are raising their children (Sondra, Denise, Theodore, Vanessa, and Rudy). The two oldest daughters eventually live successful adult lives and get married (Sondra to Elvin and Denise to Martin). As the children get older, the family gets larger and, to the chagrin of Cliff, keep on coming back home when he wants them to move out and live on their own for good.

Diff’rent Strokes (NBC)

Phillip Drummond, a widowed Manhattan millionaire and president of the mega-firm Trans Allied Inc., adopts two orphaned black brothers from Harlem 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis. Drummond had made a promise to their dying mother and his housekeeper that he would care for the Arnold and Willis after she passes on; their father had died years earlier. The boys, whom Drummond always introduced as his two sons, went from rags to riches literally overnight. At first, Willis was a bit skeptical of their newfound wealth, but eventually, both he and Arnold felt right at home in their newfound surroundings. Also part of the family were Drummond’s beautiful daughter, 13-year-old Kimberly; and his current housekeeper, Edna Garrett.

Dukes of Hazzard

Bo and Luke Duke were handsome and honest hotshots and cousins living with their Uncle Jesse and sexy short-shorts-wearin’ cousin Daisy on a farm in Hazzard County located somewhere in the Southern United States. While mostly interested in minding their own business (and driving at very high speeds in their souped-up Dodge Charger [nicknamed the General Lee]), the Duke boys sometimes fell prey to the greedy schemes of corrupt town leader Boss Hogg and his dimwitted flunky Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. Sometimes serving as “Robin Hood” types (replete with bows and flaming arrows), the Dukes attempted to help out their friends and neighbors in distress and avoid being jailed by the unscrupulous Hogg.

The Facts of Life

A group of girls attending a boarding school experience the joys and the trials of adolescence under the guiding hand of housemother Edna Garrett. Later in the series, Mrs. Garrett is promoted to school dietician, and four of the girls move into new quarters above the cafeteria. Eventually she leaves the school and opens her own business, with help from her girls.

Family Ties (NBC)

A couple who were ardently leftwing political activists in the sixties face the problems of raising a family with children who have strongly conservative views, especially in the case of oldest son Alex (Michael J. Fox). Family Ties, which was based in Columbus, explored the relationship between Steven (a public television station manager) and Elyse (an architect) and their three children, Alex, Mallory and Jennifer.

Full House

When Danny Tanner’s wife dies unexpectantly, he is left with three young daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle, and no one to help him raise them into young women. In steps Jesse Katsopolis, Danny’s brother-in-law and Joey Gladstone, friend of Danny and caring guardians to the girls. Jesse, a rock-’n-roll biker, and Joey, a fun-loving comedian, prove to be terrific role models and parental figures to the girls. In addition to the three men, Rebecca Donaldson, Jesse’s girlfriend and later wife is always there for the girls as they are growing up.

Growing Pains (ABC)

It’s hard enough to raise a kid nowadays but when you have to cope with THESE kids, things tend to get out of hand! Dr Seaver, a psychologist and his wife Maggie Seaver, a journalist, try to do their best raising their family and although their kids, Mike, Ben, Carol and Crissie, cause them endless problems, they manage to keep the family close together. As long as they got each other, nothing else matters

Hey Dude!
The antics of a colorful group working at the Bar None, a dude ranch. It is owned by Mr. Ernst, a sometimes-too-enthusiastic, but well meaning boss. The staff include sweet Melody, the lifeguard, Brad, the rich horse instructor, Danny, a Native American, Ted, the good-looking but always into trouble Zack Morris type, and Mr. Ernst’s young son Buddy. There’s also a wise ranchhand named Lucy and later the group expands to include Jake and Kyle

The Jeffersons

This television sitcom stars George Jefferson, who has become wealthy and successful in the dry-cleaning business. This affords him the opportunity to move into a ritzy high-rise in New York City. George is stingy, but means well, while his wife Louise (Weezy) is kind and generous. The show also features the Jefferson’s wise-cracking maid, their interesting neighbors, and the building’s officious doorman.

The Love Boat

Love is in the air…Well, not only in the air but also in the sea! Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship traveling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the “Love Boat” where Gopher, Dr.Adam, Isaac, Julie and Captain Stubing try their best to please them and sometimes help them fall in love. Things are not always so easy but in the end love wins and everybody leaves the dreamboat satisfied.

MacGyver (USA)
Angus Macgyver is a secret agent with a difference. He is quiet, mild mannered, deeply principled and refuses to carry a gun on his missions. Fortunately, the last detail is unimportant when compared to his astounding mind. Drawing on a vast practical knowledge of science, Macgyver is able to make use of any mundane materials around him to create unorthodox solutions to any problem he faces. The enemies of world peace and justice continually learn that underestimating this man is a fatal mistake for their plans.

Magnum, P.I. (USA)
Thomas Magnum is employed on the Hawaiian estate of a wealthy absentee owner name Robin Masters. The estate is run by Jonathan Higgins who mostly tolerates Magnum’s presence as head of security on the estate. Magnum is also a private detective whose cases frequently have a humorous overtone and always just enough danger.

Married… with Children

The Bundys are a stereotypical “white trash” American family. Al is a shoe salesman who is fond of frequently reliving his doubtful 15 seconds of fame on the football field. Al is terrified of the all-to-frequent amorous advances his ditsy wife Peggy, a woman who must spend most of Al’s wages at the salon and the mall. They have two children: Kelly, the stunning but superficial party animal, and Bud, who is too wrapped up in himself to realize his goal of “scoring” with a girl.

Matlock

Ben Matlock is a Georgia bred, Harvard educated defense attorney. His fee is $100,000 but he’s worth every cent of it as he defends his clients all over the country. He is cantankerous and gruff and often uses colorful language, but beneath it all he has a heart of gold. He is assisted in his work by his daughters Charlene and Leanne.

Miami Vice (USA)
Detective James “Sonny” Crockett and detective Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, of the Miami-Dade police department’s organized crime bureau vice unit, work deep undercover as seedy criminals to infiltrate and bring down the various criminal enterprises of southern Florida.

Mork & Mindy

Mork is a bumbling alien from the planet Ork sent to Earth, in his egg, to study it’s inhabitants. He will report to his unseen superior, Orson, until reassigned. On Earth, he meets Mindy McConnell, an average woman who takes him in and shelters him. On befriending Mork, she signs herself up for some wacky adventures as Mork learns about human life, acting (and looking) very eccentric along the way. In addition to spouting “nanoo, nanoo”, Mork had an uncanny ability to impersonate celebrity voices. Eventually, the relationship between Mork and Mindy jumped from a strong friendship to romance, and they married, eventually bearing a son, Mearth from Earth, who aged backwards like his father.

Murphy Brown

Murphy Brown is a very selfish, stubborn, extremely hot-tempered but also talented, resourceful, clever and caring middle-aged reporter who works for FYI News Network and at the same time tries to raise her child as an unmarried, working woman. Her friends and co-workers, Corky, Jim, Frank and Miles, try to balance between her outbursts of anger and her family, personality or even financial crises. It’s a difficult life for Murphy but she’s got the guts to live it.

Night Court (NBC)

Judge Harold T. Stone presides over “Night Court”, a court which deals with petty crimes which can be dealt with in a dime-a-dozen manner. Invariably, the cases appearing before the court are bizarre, but that’s ok because Judge Stone is not your regular judge. He’s assisted by a motley crew of clerks and District Attorneys who often create as much chaos as the criminals they bring in for trial.

Perfect Strangers (ABC)

Balki Bartokomous, a sheepherder from the small Mediterranean Greek-like island of Mypos, travels to the United States in search of his relatives. He finds his cousin, Larry Appleton - who has recently ‘escaped’ from his large-sized family and is reveling in the unaccustomed luxury of having his own room to himself. They end up sharing accommodation in Larry’s apartment - even though the two cousins could not be more dissimilar. For, while Larry is panicky, hyperventilative, business-like and mercenary - Balki is placid, unharried, sunny-natured and idealistic.

Roseanne

‘Roseanne’ is the story of a working class family struggling with life’s essential problems: Marriage, Children, Money and Parent’s in Law. A classic sitcom, the story circles around the Connor family - a family of five (DJ, Darlene, Becky, Roseanne and Dan). The household’s mother, Roseanne, is being accompanied in her quest to keep the family together by her sister Jackie and various friends over the years.

Three’s Company (ABC)

Janet and Chrissy are two girls who live with another girl but when she leaves they are in need of a new roommate who among other things can cook. The day following their roommate’s going away party, they find that one of the guests, a man, who was so drunk, he slept in the bathroom without their knowledge. His name is Jack Tripper and he is a culinary student, who’s living in YMCA. They ask him if he would like to move in with them. He agress. But their landlord Mr. Roper doesn’t agree until he is told that Jack’s gay. So Jack has to pretend and allow Mr. Roper to think that he is gay, but it’s difficult for a swinging guy like Jack not to suppress his interest in girls.

Who’s the Boss?

Former major-leaguer Tony Micelli and his daughter Samantha arrive at the Connecticut household of executive Angela Bower, where Tony has taken a job as live-in housekeeper. The Bowers are an interesting family, to say the least. Angela is uptight and obsessed with her work. Her son Jonathan is shy and lacks self-esteem, and her mother, Mona, is a man-hungry vixen. Tony soon wins them over with his laid back style, and the Bowers soon begin to loosen up. Over time, romantic tensions begin to surface between Angela and Tony, and we see the children grow up.

The Wonder Years (ABC)

An adult Kevin Arnold reminisces on his teenage years spent growing up during the 60s. As he goes from adolescence to adulthood, he experiences, along with his best friend Paul and sometimes-girlfriend Winnie, the full range of trials and traumas that come in just about everyone’s life.