Get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we revisit some incredible television gems from the 1980s that deserve more recognition! From groundbreaking police dramas to quirky comedies, these shows helped shape modern television. Which of these forgotten classics was your favorite?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best TV shows from
00:11the 80s that have been mostly forgotten by the general public.
00:15As such, we won't be including popular classics like Miami Vice as, well, everyone knows those
00:20are awesome.
00:21We will also be including shows that began in the 1970s or extended into the 90s so long
00:27as the bulk of their run occurred in the 80s.
00:36Number 10.
00:37Police Squad
00:54There are two big reasons why Police Squad has been forgotten.
00:57One, it has been overshadowed by the Naked Gun movies, which served as a follow-up to
01:01the show.
01:02And two, it was only on for six episodes.
01:05Like the classic films after it, Police Squad was created by the Zucker, Abrams, and Zucker
01:09trio and stars Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Frank Drebin.
01:21The show is every bit as funny as the movies and uses the same style of humor, featuring
01:26a dense collection of sight gags, slapstick, and clever wordplay.
01:30Alas, Police Squad aired just four episodes before it was cancelled by ABC, with the last
01:35two airing months later in the summer.
01:37It was an undignified ending for such a great show.
01:52Number 9.
01:53The Love Boat
02:04Despite its rather creepy title, The Love Boat was a defining cultural product of the
02:08late 70s and early 80s.
02:10The show garnered five Emmy and eight Golden Globe nominations throughout its run, including
02:14four for Best Musical or Comedy.
02:24It provided an easygoing and comforting experience
02:37for viewers, with an uplifting tone, fun escapist entertainment, and glamorous settings filmed
02:42on location.
02:43It was like a James Bond movie on TV.
02:45The Love Boat quickly became a staple of ABC's Saturday night lineup and was a huge ratings
02:50success, its popularity even boosting the cruise industry.
02:53It's a little dated today, sure, but there was nothing like it at the time.
03:04Number 8.
03:05Perfect Strangers
03:14There were a ton of great sitcoms in the 1980s, many of which are still fondly remembered
03:19today.
03:20For some reason, Perfect Strangers has fallen by the wayside.
03:24The show follows the wacky misadventures of distant cousins Larry Appleton and Balki Bartokomis
03:29as they navigate daily life in Chicago.
03:43The comedy thrives on their opposing odd-couple dynamic, with Balki's innocence and optimism
03:48clashing with Larry's more neurotic and cynical trait.
03:50The physical slapstick humor is also top-notch, and even amongst all the uproarious comedy,
03:56the show never forgets to deliver heartfelt lessons about friendship, family, and the
04:00American dream.
04:01And the fashion.
04:02Oh man, the fashion.
04:04This is peak 80s nostalgia right here.
04:20Number 7.
04:21Yes Minister
04:38A beloved British sitcom, Yes Minister was said to be the favorite show of British PM
04:43Margaret Thatcher.
04:44A sharp political satire, it follows Jim Hacker, a cabinet minister in the Department of Administrative
04:49Affairs and later the Prime Minister of Britain.
04:52Despite airing in the 1980s, the show's themes surrounding government hypocrisy and
04:55bureaucratic inefficiencies are universal, lending the show a degree of timelessness.
05:10It's also filled with brilliant characters, memorable quotes, and razor-sharp writing
05:15that disguises some unfortunate realities behind comedy.
05:18Despite being forgotten by some, the show lives on through its monumental influence,
05:22its DNA still seen in shows like Viva.
05:42Number 6.
05:43V
05:44In May 1983, NBC released V, a two-part miniseries about an alien invasion.
06:05The miniseries was an enormous success, spawning a sequel and, some may forget, a weekly TV
06:10show.
06:11V was released in just one season between 1984 and 1985, and while it wasn't as popular
06:16as its predecessors, there is still plenty to like about it.
06:29V retained its core concept and tells a solid story about an alien invasion.
06:34Jane Battler is also exceptional as Diana, the Supreme Commander of the Visitors, and
06:39Despite its age, the action is surprisingly excellent, with fun laser battles and exciting
06:44chase sequences.
06:45Despite its premature cancellation, the show now enjoys a small cult following of fans
06:50who appreciate its obvious qualities.
07:01Number 5.
07:03The publicity is worth its weight in clients.
07:11Before he was Bond, James Bond, Pierce Brosnan was still Remington Steele.
07:15This classic show has a unique premise that instantly transfixes viewers.
07:19Laura Hope is an exceptional private investigator, but her business suffers because she's a
07:24woman.
07:25So she invents a fictional boss, Remington Steele, in order to attract male clients.
07:29Brosnan plays the mysterious con man who works with Laura and adopts the Remington Steele
07:34moniker.
07:48Laura is a strong and intelligent female lead, a rarity in 1980s television.
07:53And Brosnan is… well, he's Pierce Brosnan.
07:56We mean, come on!
07:57They certainly work well by themselves, but the two also share pitch-perfect chemistry
08:01with electric tension and an evolving will-they-won't-they dynamic.
08:05It's got action, charm, humor, romance.
08:09What more could you want?
08:164.
08:17Moonlighting
08:18NBC had a huge hit with Remington Steele, so ABC wanted their own odd-couple detective
08:33show.
08:34Enter Moonlighting, which tells of the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its investigators
08:38Matty Hayes and David Addison.
08:40Today, the show is largely remembered for introducing the world to Bruce Willis.
08:59Unfortunately, the success of his movie career has somewhat overshadowed the show, and we
09:04forget just how good it actually is.
09:06The chemistry between Matty and David is simply fantastic, and they provide one of
09:10the most iconic romances in television history.
09:13The show also contained a ton of innovative ideas, like breaking the fourth wall and playing
09:18with disparate genre formats in ways that were ahead of its time.
09:223.
09:23Night Court
09:24This was one of the defining sitcoms of the 1980s, but you don't hear much about it
09:44anymore.
09:45It takes place during the night shift of a Manhattan court and contains one of the best
09:48ensemble cast in TV history.
09:51John LaRoquette stands out as the sleazy and sarcastic Dan Fielding, and he took home four
09:55consecutive Emmy Awards for his performance.
10:05His face defines the 1980s comedy landscape.
10:08Night Court also leans into a surreal atmosphere, which wasn't common on TV at the time, especially
10:14in sitcoms, and it provides the perfect blend of comedy and heart.
10:17The Night Court contains a never-ending stream of wacky cases, but it still finds time to
10:23pontificate on things like friendship, morality, and the law.
10:342.
10:35Crime Story
10:49Before The Sopranos, there was Crime Story, and despite its enormous influence, most people
10:54have completely forgotten about it.
10:56It was produced by Michael Mann and follows a cat-and-mouse game between Mike Torello
11:01and Ray Luca as they try taking each other down.
11:04The two took wildly different paths in life, with Mike becoming a police officer and Ray
11:08a Vegas mob boss.
11:23Crime Story was ahead of its time in so many ways, containing cinematic production values
11:28and the gritty realism reminiscent of Mann's films.
11:31Its method of storytelling was also wildly inventive, featuring season-long arcs and
11:35permanent acts of character development.
11:37The show, while fantastic, required a dedicated commitment, which is probably why it didn't
11:42last very long.
11:56Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
12:00about our latest videos.
12:02You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
12:06If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
12:111.
12:13Hill Street Blues
12:21The 1980s gave us what could very well be the most influential drama in the history
12:26of television.
12:27That drama is Hill Street Blues.
12:29This wasn't your typical police procedural.
12:31The show's cinematography featured handheld cameras and natural lighting, giving it a
12:35cinema vérité style that was unheard of at the time.
12:39Characters were three-dimensional and flawed, rather than clear-cut heroes and villains.
12:55It was one of the first network dramas to engage with complex social themes like race
12:59relations and inner-city struggles.
13:01Its tone was dirty and gritty, and perhaps most importantly, it was one of the first
13:05shows to embrace long-form storytelling and help introduce the concept of serialized TV.
13:09Hill Street Blues is still awesome, even after all these years.
13:24Do you have any nostalgic memories of these shows?
13:27Let us know in the comments down below.