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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1980s TV Shows/1980s Comedy TV Shows

    1980s Comedy TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1980s comedy TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    The Simpsons
    TMDB4.0

    The Simpsons

    1989

    country: United States

    Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.

    Late Night with David Letterman
    TMDB3.0

    Late Night with David Letterman

    1982

    country: United States

    Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot. As of March 2, 2009, the slot has been filled by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It will be filled by Seth Meyers in the spring of 2014, after Fallon becomes host of The Tonight Show.

    Seinfeld
    TMDB4.1

    Seinfeld

    1989

    country: United States

    A stand-up comedian and his three offbeat friends weather the pitfalls and payoffs of life in New York City in the '90s. It's a show about nothing.

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    TMDB3.9

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

    1987

    country: United States

    Four turtles fall into the sewers and are befriended by Hamato Yoshi a Japanese man sent to New York who was forced to live in the sewers. One day he sees a strange green glow which transforms the four turtles into human-like creatures. Hamato (now Master Splinter) changes into a giant rat from the green glow and teaches the turtles the skills of the ninja as they team up with news reporter April O'Neil to battle against Yoshi's arch enemy Shredder and Krang, an alien warlord from Dimension X.

    Married... with Children
    TMDB3.9

    Married... with Children

    1987

    country: United States

    Al Bundy is an unsuccessful middle aged shoe salesman with a miserable life and an equally dysfunctional family. He hates his job, his wife is lazy, his son is dysfunctional (especially with women), and his daughter is dim-witted and promiscuous.

    Cheers
    TMDB3.8

    Cheers

    1982

    country: United States

    The story about a blue-collar Boston bar run by former sports star Sam Malone and the quirky and wonderful people who worked and drank there.

    The News Puppets
    TMDB4.0

    The News Puppets

    1988

    country: France

    A parody of a newscast, the show is a caricature of the political world, the media, personalities or more generally of French society and the current world.

    The A-Team
    TMDB3.7

    The A-Team

    1983

    country: United States

    A fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel work as soldiers of fortune while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit."

    Ranma ½
    TMDB4.3

    Ranma ½

    1989

    country: Japan

    Ranma Saotome, a teenage martial artist, and his father Genma travel to the 'cursed training ground' of Jusenkyo in China. There, despite the warnings of the Chinese guard, they fall into the cursed springs. From now on, whenever Ranma is doused in cold water, he turns into a girl and a cute, well-built redhead at that. Hot water changes him back into a man again, but only until the next time. To make matters worse, his father engages him to Akane Tendo, a girl who hates boys.

    Neighbours
    TMDB3.0

    Neighbours

    1985

    country: Australia

    Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. The show's storylines concern the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The series primarily centres around the residents of Ramsay Street, a short cul-de-sac, and its neighbouring areas, the Lassiters complex, which includes a bar, hotel, cafe, news office and park. Neighbours began with three families created by Watson – the Ramsays, the Robinsons and the Clarkes. Watson said that he wanted to show three families who are friends living in a small street. The Robinsons and the Ramsays had a long history and were involved in an ongoing rivalry.

    Full House
    TMDB3.8

    Full House

    1987

    country: United States

    After the death of his wife, Danny enlists his best friend and his brother-in-law to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle.

    Night Court
    TMDB3.7

    Night Court

    1984

    country: United States

    An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.

    Family Matters
    TMDB3.4

    Family Matters

    1989

    country: United States

    A long-running dramedy centering on the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, and their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers.

    Coach
    TMDB3.3

    Coach

    1989

    country: United States

    Hayden Fox, the curmudgeonly coach of Minnesota State University's Screaming Eagles football team, tries to navigate his way through the sports world, fatherhood and family life without dropping the ball.

    The Cosby Show
    TMDB3.5

    The Cosby Show

    1984

    country: United States

    The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.

    Obake no Q-tarō
    TMDB4.0

    Obake no Q-tarō

    1985

    country: Japan

    Q-taro, a monster, is living with the Ohara family. He can fly and make his body transparent, but he cannot turn his body into other things like other monsters do. He is a scattered mind, and he always makes mistakes and causes trouble. Sequel of Shin Obake no Q-tarou.

    Striscia la Notizia
    TMDB2.8

    Striscia la Notizia

    1988

    country: Italy

    Striscia la notizia is an Italian television program on the Mediaset-controlled Canale 5. Its name in Italian translates as "the news slithers", a probable parody of the slighting Italian journalist, submitted to politicians and overwhelmed with shame. The polysemic term Striscia, in English strip, can recall both a line of cocaine and the comic strip. But Striscia is also the slithing snake: this show worm in the hidden holes to unmask the television cheats. Founded in 1988, it is meant to be a parody of the daily news, which airs right before the program, but Striscia also satirizes government corruption and exposes scams with the help of local reporters who are also comedians. The program is directed and produced by Antonio Ricci and is hosted by two major comedians. Usually Ezio Greggio is assisted by another comedian for the winter season, after which there is a change of guard.

    Kiteretsu Daihyakka
    TMDB4.0

    Kiteretsu Daihyakka

    1988

    country: Japan

    The main character is a scientific genius boy named Kiteretsu, who has built a companion robot named Korosuke. He frequently travels in time with his friends and Korosuke in the time machine he built. Miyoko is a girl in his neighborhood who is basically his girlfriend. Tongari is his rival, who happen to share some similar traits of Honekawa Suneo. Buta Gorilla is a typical neighborhood bully, who also share similar traits of Gian except that he often antagonizes Korosuke (though they are in grade school).

    Yawara!
    TMDB3.3

    Yawara!

    1989

    country: Japan

    Inokuma Yawara is just another young high school girl. Well, not quite - for Yawara is being raised by her grandfather, 7th dan Judo master Inokuma Jigorou, to be Japan's great hope for the women's Judo competition at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. All the same, Yawara just wants to live a normal life...

    American Playhouse
    TMDB3.3

    American Playhouse

    1982

    country: United States

    American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

    The Smurfs
    TMDB3.5

    The Smurfs

    1981

    country: United States

    Classic Saturday-morning cartoon series featuring magical blue elf-like creatures called Smurfs. The Smurfs, named for their personalities, inhabit a village of mushroom houses in an enchanted forest. These loveable creatures are led by Papa Smurf and live carefree... except for one major threat to their existance: Gargamel, an evil but inept wizard who lives in a stone-built house in the forest; and his feline companion, the equally nasty Azrael.

    The Wonder Years
    TMDB4.2

    The Wonder Years

    1988

    country: United States

    The story of Kevin Arnold facing the trials and tribulations of youth while growing up during the 1960s and 70s. Told through narration from an adult Kevin, Kevin faces the difficulties of maintaining relationships and friendships on his enthralling journey into adulthood.

    Remington Steele
    TMDB3.5

    Remington Steele

    1982

    country: United States

    Laura Holt, a licensed private detective, opens a detective agency but finds that potential clients refuse to hire a woman, however qualified. To solve the problem, Laura invents a fictitious male superior whom she names Remington Steele. Through a series of events that unfold in the first episode, "License to Steele," a former thief and con man, whose real name is never revealed, assumes the identity of Remington Steele. Behind the scenes, Laura remains firmly in charge.

    Who's the Boss?
    TMDB3.7

    Who's the Boss?

    1984

    country: United States

    A former professional baseball player, along with his preteen daughter, moves into New York advertising executive Angela Bower's house to be both a housekeeper and a father figure to her young son. Tony 's laid-back personality contrasts with Angela's type-A behavior.

    Newhart
    TMDB3.6

    Newhart

    1982

    country: United States

    Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to book writer, who eventually becomes a local TV celebrity as host of "Vermont Today." George Utley is the handyman at the inn and Leslie Vanderkellen is the maid, with ambitions of being an Olympic Ski champion; she is later replaced by her cousin Stephanie, an heiress who hates her job. Her boyfriend is Dick's yuppie TV producer, Michael Harris. There are many other quirky characters in this fictional little town, including Dick's neighbors Larry, Darryl, and Darryl...three brothers who buy the Minuteman Cafe from Kirk Devane. Besides sharing a name, Darryl and Darryl never speak.

    The Golden Girls
    TMDB3.8

    The Golden Girls

    1985

    country: United States

    Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form the perfect circle of friends.

    Mystery Science Theater 3000
    TMDB3.9

    Mystery Science Theater 3000

    1989

    country: United States

    A stranded spaceship pilot captured by mad scientists survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals.

    Spaceship Sagittarius
    TMDB3.3

    Spaceship Sagittarius

    1986

    country: Japan

    Uchūsen Sagittarius is a 77-episode Japanese science fiction anime series directed by Kazuyoshi Yokota and created by Nippon Animation and TV Asahi. It aired from January 10, 1986 to October 3, 1987. The series is based on Altri Mondi, an Italian comic book drawn by physicist Andrea Romol.

    A Different World
    TMDB3.6

    A Different World

    1987

    country: United States

    A Different World is a spin-off series from The Cosby Show and originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional mixed but historically black college in the state of Virginia. After Bonet's departure in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused more on Southern belle Whitley Gilbert and mathematics whiz Dwayne Wayne. The series frequently depicted members of the major historically black fraternities and sororities.

    Family Ties
    TMDB3.6

    Family Ties

    1982

    country: United States

    Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

    Dr. Slump
    TMDB4.0

    Dr. Slump

    1981

    country: Japan

    Senbei Norimaki, known by his nickname Dr. Slump, a genius yet under-respected inventor and roboticist, creates an android by the name of Arale, and poses her as his little sister. What starts as an experiment in robotics turns into an adventure every day for the residents of Penguin Village, a wacky rural community with several colorful characters interacting with Arale and her creator.

    Sebaj Tóbiás
    TMDB5.0

    Sebaj Tóbiás

    1984

    country: Hungary

    No overview available

    Murphy Brown
    TMDB3.3

    Murphy Brown

    1988

    country: United States

    Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is a recovering alcoholic who returns to the fictional newsmagazine FYI for the first time following a stay at the Betty Ford Clinic residential treatment center. Over 40 and single, she is sharp tongued and hard as nails. In her profession, she is considered one of the boys, having shattered many glass ceilings encountered during her career. Dominating the FYI news magazine, she is portrayed as one of America's hardest-hitting (though not the warmest or more sympathetic) media personalities.

    Wetten, dass..?
    TMDB2.8

    Wetten, dass..?

    1981

    country: Germany

    A long-running German-language entertainment television show based on the format of the British show You Bet! and the American show Wanna Bet?.

    Garfield and Friends
    TMDB3.6

    Garfield and Friends

    1988

    country: United States

    The animated stories of Garfield the cat, Odie the dog, their owner Jon and the trouble they get into. And also Orson the Pig and his adventures on a farm with his fellow farm animals.

    Moonlighting
    TMDB3.8

    Moonlighting

    1985

    country: United States

    After being duped and going bankrupt, model Maddie is convinced by David to become a partner in a detective agency. Together they solve various cases, while getting comfortable with each other.

    SUPERKID
    TMDB4.0

    SUPERKID

    1983

    country: Japan

    Mitsuo encountered Superman, an alien who is a part of a federation that tries to maintain peace in the galaxy. He then received a helmet (that also serves as a mask) that gives superhuman strength, a cape that enables the wearer to fly, and a badge that allows him to breathe underwater and communicate with his fellow comrades whom he met soon after he utilized these gifts. Superman made it clear to all Permans that their identity must be kept a secret or their brain will be destroyed should it ever be revealed and they are given a special doppelganger robot that can replace them while they are away to achieve this feat, although it is not entirely foolproof nor is it free from potential problems. These equipments then allowed them to be young Permans who try to maintain peace and help the people who are in need.

    ALF
    TMDB3.8

    ALF

    1986

    country: United States

    A furry alien wiseguy comes to live with a terran family after crashing into their garage.

    America's Funniest Home Videos
    TMDB3.3

    America's Funniest Home Videos

    1989

    country: United States

    America's Funniest Home Videos is the longest-running primetime entertainment show in ABC history. Each week AFV shines the spotlight on hilarious videos. Fans tune in to witness failures and fiascos and to submit their own mishaps for their chance at stardom.

    Amazing Stories
    TMDB3.7

    Amazing Stories

    1985

    country: United States

    A truly amazing, fantastical, science fiction, funny and odd, and sometimes scary, sad and endearing anthology series presented by Steven Spielberg with guest appearances by many famous actors, actresses, and directors.

    About 1980s Comedy TV Shows

    The 1980s

    1980s television saw the serialized primetime drama take hold and cable begin to fragment the audience that networks had held uncontested for thirty years.

    Comedy

    TV comedy has moved from the multi-camera sitcom to the single-camera half-hour to the genre-blurring 'sadcom.' The format's real advantage is time — jokes that depend on years of accumulated character history.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Ranma ½ (8.6)
    Often also
    Family, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    Longest run
    41 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s comedy TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are The Simpsons, Late Night with David Letterman, and Seinfeld. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s comedy TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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