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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/1980s TV Shows

    1980s TV Shows

    The 40 most popular 1980s 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.

    Jeopardy!
    TMDB3.5

    Jeopardy!

    1984

    country: United States

    America's favorite quiz show where contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers, and must phrase their responses in question form.

    LIVE with Kelly and Mark
    TMDB2.8

    LIVE with Kelly and Mark

    1988

    country: United States

    A morning talk show with A-list celebrity guests, top-notch performances and one-of-a-kind segments that are unrivaled on daytime television, plus spontaneous, hilarious and unpredictable talk.

    EastEnders
    TMDB2.1

    EastEnders

    1985

    country: United Kingdom

    The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.

    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.

    Newsnight
    TMDB3.0

    Newsnight

    1980

    country: United Kingdom

    A daily BBC Television current affairs programme which specialises in analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians.

    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.

    Murder, She Wrote
    TMDB3.8

    Murder, She Wrote

    1984

    country: United States

    An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases.

    Sale of the Century
    TMDB2.4

    Sale of the Century

    1980

    country: Australia

    $ale of the Century was an Australian game show that aired on the Nine Network from 14 July 1980 – 29 November 2001. Tony Barber hosted a game show with essentially the same format under the title Temptation from 1970 to 1976, and was also the initial host of Sale for over a decade before being replaced by Glenn Ridge in 1991. Hostesses over the years have included Victoria Nicholls, Delvene Delaney, Alyce Platt, Jo Bailey, Nicky Buckley and Karina Brown. Pete Smith was Sale's announcer for the majority of its run. Ron Neate was announcer for only the first ten episodes in 1980 before Smith took over. From 30 May 2005 – 23 January 2009, the series was revived under its original Australian title, Temptation. The Sale of the Century format has been used internationally.

    Star Trek: The Next Generation
    TMDB4.2

    Star Trek: The Next Generation

    1987

    country: United States

    Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.

    Quantum Leap
    TMDB4.0

    Quantum Leap

    1989

    country: United States

    Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

    Knight Rider
    TMDB3.8

    Knight Rider

    1982

    country: United States

    Michael Long, an undercover police officer, is shot while investigating a case and left for dead by his assailants. He is rescued by Wilton Knight, a wealthy, dying millionaire and inventor who arranges life-saving surgery, including a new face and a new identity--that of Michael Knight. Michael is then given a special computerized and indestructible car called the Knight Industries Two Thousand (nicknamed KITT), and a mission: apprehend criminals who are beyond the reach of the law. The series depicts Michael's exploits as he and KITT battle the forces of evil on behalf of the Foundation for Law and Government.

    Casualty
    TMDB3.1

    Casualty

    1986

    country: United Kingdom

    Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.

    The Bill
    TMDB3.4

    The Bill

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    The daily lives of the men and women at Sun Hill Police Station as they fight crime on the streets of London. From bomb threats to armed robbery and drug raids to the routine demands of policing this ground-breaking series focuses as much on crime as it does on the personal lives of its characters.

    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.

    Dragon Ball Z
    TMDB4.2

    Dragon Ball Z

    1989

    country: Japan

    Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

    MacGyver
    TMDB3.9

    MacGyver

    1985

    country: United States

    He's everyone's favorite action hero... but he's a hero with a difference. Angus MacGyver is a secret agent whose wits are his deadliest weapon. Armed with only a knapsack filled with everyday items he picks up along the way, he improvises his way out of every peril the bad guys throw at him. Making a bomb out of chewing gum? Fixing a speeding car's brakes... while he's riding in it? Using soda pop to cook up tear gas? That's all in a day's adventures for MacGyver. He's part Boy Scout, part genius. And all hero.

    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.

    Agatha Christie's Poirot
    TMDB4.1

    Agatha Christie's Poirot

    1989

    country: United Kingdom

    From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions.

    Magnum, P.I.
    TMDB3.6

    Magnum, P.I.

    1980

    country: United States

    A private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a posh Ferrari, runs up an unlimited tab at a swank bar, and charms attractive women in peril - that's the lifestyle of Thomas Magnum, aka Magnum, P.I.

    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."

    Señora
    TMDB3.5

    Señora

    1988

    country: VE

    Señora is a Venezuelan telenovela that was produced by and broadcast on Venezuela's Radio Caracas Televisión. It was written by José Ignacio Cabrujas, Ibsen Martínez, Cristina Policastro, and Eliseo Morales and directed by Luis Alberto Lamata and Aura Guevara. The series lasted 229 episodes and was distributed internationally by RCTV International.

    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.

    Rua Sésamo
    TMDB3.5

    Rua Sésamo

    1989

    country: Portugal

    No overview available

    Miami Vice
    TMDB3.7

    Miami Vice

    1984

    country: United States

    The story of the Miami Police Department's vice squad and its efforts to end drug trafficking and prostitution, centered on the unlikely partnership of Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs - who first meet when Tubbs is undercover in a drug cartel.

    L.A. Law
    TMDB3.5

    L.A. Law

    1986

    country: United States

    L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff. The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.

    Home and Away
    TMDB3.2

    Home and Away

    1988

    country: Australia

    Home and Away is set in the fictional town of Summer Bay, a coastal town in New South Wales, and follows the personal and professional lives of the people living in the area. The show initially focused on the Fletcher family, Pippa and Tom Fletcher and their five foster children Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport and Sally Keating, who would go on to become one of the show's longest-running characters. The show also originally and currently focuses on the Stewart family. Home and Away had proved popular when it premiered in 1988 and had risen to become a hit in Australia, and after only a few weeks, the show tackled its first major and disturbing storyline, the rape of Carly Morris; it was one of the first shows to feature such storylines during the early timeslot. H&A has tackled many adult-themed and controversial storylines; something rarely found in its restricted timeslot.

    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.

    WWF Superstars
    TMDB3.6

    WWF Superstars

    1986

    country: United States

    WWE's flagship show of the early-90s featuring great in-ring action, news from the world of sports-entertainment, and more.

    Sacrée soirée
    TMDB2.9

    Sacrée soirée

    1987

    country: France

    No overview available

    Brookside
    TMDB3.1

    Brookside

    1982

    country: United Kingdom

    The ground-breaking soap set in a housing estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.

    The Equalizer
    TMDB3.6

    The Equalizer

    1985

    country: Canada

    Robert McCall is a former agent of a secret government agency who is now running his own private crime fighting operation where he fashions himself as "The Equalizer." It is a service for victims of the system who have exhausted all possible means of seeking justice and have nowhere to go. McCall promises to even out the odds for them.

    21 Jump Street
    TMDB3.6

    21 Jump Street

    1987

    country: United States

    21 Jump Street revolves around a group of young cops who would use their youthful appearance to go undercover and solve crimes involving teenagers and young adults.

    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.

    Baywatch
    TMDB3.0

    Baywatch

    1989

    country: United States

    Join the Baywatch lifeguards on their thrilling adventures filled with beautiful beaches and those iconic red swimsuits.

    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.

    Falcon Crest
    TMDB2.8

    Falcon Crest

    1981

    country: United States

    Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the Californian wine industry. Jane Wyman starred as Angela Channing, the tyrannical matriarch of the Falcon Crest Winery, alongside Robert Foxworth as Chase Gioberti, Angela's nephew who returns to Falcon Crest following the death of his father. The series was set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley northeast of San Francisco.

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
    TMDB3.6

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

    1985

    country: United States

    The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1985 to 1986, and on the USA Network from 1987 to 1989. The series is an updated re-imagining of the classic 1955 series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

    About 1980s 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.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Ranma ½ (8.6)
    Most common genres
    Drama, Crime, Comedy
    Longest run
    46 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are The Simpsons, Jeopardy!, and LIVE with Kelly and Mark. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s 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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    1980s by Genre

    1980s Animation1980s Drama1980s Comedy1980s Western1980s Crime1980s Documentary1980s Mystery1980s Family1980s Action & Adventure1980s Kids1980s Reality
    1980s Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    1980s Soap
    1980s War & Politics

    1980s by Country

    1980s Japanese1980s Korean1980s French1980s Italian1980s British1980s German1980s Spanish1980s Indian1980s Chinese1980s Hong Kong1980s Swedish1980s Mexican1980s Brazilian1980s Russian

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