Best TV Shows of the 1980s, from ‘Cheers’ to ‘ALF’

By Tabitha Britt

The 1980s were an iconic and unforgettable era in television history. It was a decade of big hair, power suits, and pop hits on MTV. For those of us who lived through it, TV was changing dramatically: thanks to the VCR, you could finally record your favorite show whenever and wherever you wanted.

This new freedom gave us huge hits, from the alien family comedy of ALF and the comforting bar environment of Cheers to the global melodrama of Dallas and Dynasty. We’re here to take you back on a nostalgic trip by revisiting those classics and calling out a few fan favorites that you might have forgotten existed. Get ready to reminisce! 

The Best ‘80s Sitcoms That Made Us Laugh  

‘Cheers’ (1982–1993)

Set in a cozy, fictional bar in Boston, Cheers became the definitive “hangout” sitcom of the 1980s. The on-again/off-again romance between bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) successfully merged highbrow and lowbrow humor. The bar was filled out by a hilarious ensemble of regulars, including psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), cynical waitress Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), and know-it-all mail carrier Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger).

It’s hard to believe this iconic series almost didn’t make it. When Cheers first aired, it tanked in the ratings, finishing 77th out of 100 shows. However, Brandon Tartikoff, president of NBC’s entertainment division from 1980 to 1991, saw the show’s potential and prevented it from being canceled during its first season. This decision eventually turned it into a ratings juggernaut that spent eight of its eleven seasons in the Nielsen Top 10. The show’s series finale in 1993 was watched by an estimated 93 million viewers, making it the second most-watched scripted program in U.S. TV history.

• IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
• Seasons: 11
• Episodes: 270 
• Creator: Glen Charles, Les Charles, and James Burrows
• Stars: Ted Danson (Samuel “Mayday” Malone), Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli), George  Robert Wendt Jr. (Norm Peterson), and John Ratzenberger (Clifford C. Clavin, Jr.)

‘The Golden Girls’ (1985–1992) 

This iconic show redefined the sitcom by welcoming us into the lives of four older women who live together in Miami: Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). Far more than a comedy, the show was celebrated for its heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and surrogate family. We followed Dorothy’s constant struggles with her cheating ex-husband, Stan, and watched Rose, the sweet and naïve one from St. Olaf, find happiness with professor Miles Webber (or should we say Nicholas Carbone, considering he’s in witness protection for half of the series).

The Golden Girls was revolutionary for its time, instantly becoming an NBC staple and ranking in the Nielsen Top 10 for six of its seven seasons. The cast was so beloved that all four leading actresses earned an Emmy Award (a feat achieved by only a handful of sitcoms in television history). The women became famous for their witty arguments over coffee and dessert, which usually began with Sophia’s classic opening line, “Picture it: Sicily…”. The show even has a great real-life fun fact: the cast reportedly consumed over 100 cheesecakes throughout the series’ run.

• IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
• Seasons: 7
• Episodes: 177
• Creator: Susan Harris 
• Stars: Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Betty White (Rose Nylund), Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux), and Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo)

‘Who’s the Boss’ (1984–1992)

This hugely popular sitcom turned the traditional gender roles upside down and became one of the biggest hits of the mid-to-late 80s. The show’s main storyline was about retired baseball player Tony Micelli (Tony Danza), who moves his daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano), from Brooklyn to Connecticut to work as a live-in housekeeper for the high-powered advertising executive Angela Bower (Judith Light). The central dynamic was the electric, romantic tension between the down-to-earth, spontaneous Tony and the driven, professional Angela. This attraction, which they tried to ignore for years, was often nudged along by Angela’s wisecracking, sexually progressive mother, Mona Robinson.

The unconventional premise (a former athlete cleaning house for a female executive) challenged contemporary stereotypes of young, Italian-American men. While early reviews were lukewarm, the cast’s chemistry quickly moved it into the Nielsen Top 10, and it stayed there for four consecutive years. The playful confusion over who was really “in charge” gave the show its title and its long-running charm. Fun fact: it was originally titled You’re the Boss!

• IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
• Seasons: 8
• Episodes: 196
• Creator: Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter
• Stars: Tony Danza (Tony Micelli), Judith Light (Angela Bower), and Alyssa Milano (Samantha Micelli)

‘ALF’ (1986–1990)

The high-concept comedy ALF (Alien Life Form) was pure ’80s fantasy. The story starts when a furry alien named Gordon Shumway crashes his spaceship into the Tanner family’s garage. So the Tanners, Willie (Max Wright) and Kate (Anne Schedeen), decide to do the humane thing and hide ALF from the government. This, of course, results in weekly chaos as ALF makes funny comments about human behavior. The show mixes humor and heart, as the Tanner family eventually comes to love ALF, even though he repeatedly tries to eat their cat, Lucky.

• IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
• Seasons: 4
• Episodes: 104
• Creator: Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco
• Stars: Max Wright (Willie Tanner), Anne Schedeen (Kate Tanner), and Andrea Elson (Benji Gregory)

Primetime Soaps of the ‘80s

‘Dallas’ (1978–1991) 

Though it began in the 1970s, Dallas quickly became a global phenomenon that defined the ’80s primetime soap genre, all revolving around the powerful, oil-rich Ewing family of Dallas, Texas. The series originally focused on the marriage of Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and Pam Ewing (Victoria Principal), but soon, Bobby’s elder brother, the scheming oil tycoon J. R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), became the villain everyone “loved to hate.” 

The series was globally famous for its cliffhangers. The 1980 “Who Shot J.R.?” mystery remains the highest-rated TV episode ever. Fans will also remember the notorious “Dream Season” (Season 9), where the entire season was erased after Pam Ewing woke up to find Bobby alive in her shower, explaining his death as only a dream.

• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
• Seasons: 14
• Episodes: 356
• Creator: David Jacobs 
• Stars: Larry Hagman (John Ross Ewing Jr.), Ken Kercheval (Clifford “Cliff” Barnes), and Patrick Duffy (Robert “Bobby” James Ewing)

‘Dynasty’ (1981–1989)

Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro to compete directly with Dallas, Dynasty became the ultimate symbol of ’80s glamour, excess, and power. The show followed the wealthy Carrington family of Denver, led by oil magnate Blake Carrington (John Forsythe), and his new wife, Krystle (Linda Evans). Dynasty‘s ratings soared after the introduction of Joan Collins as Blake’s conniving ex-wife, Alexis Carrington Colby. The show was defined by its catfights between Alexis and Krystle, over-the-top melodrama, and the opulent, power-shouldered fashion designed by Nolan Miller.

The series put middle-aged women in the forefront, celebrating the idea that it was “OK to want power and be romantic.” Dynasty eventually surpassed its rival, Dallas, ranking as the #1 show in the U.S. by the spring of 1985.

• IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
• Seasons: 9
• Episodes: 220
• Creator: Richard Alan Shapiro and Esther Shapiro
• Stars: John Forsythe (Blake Carrington), Linda Evans (Krystle), and Joan Collins (Alexis Carrington Colby)

Best Action & Adventure Shows of the 1980s 

‘The A-Team’ (1983–1987) 

This action series was the definition of ’80s bombast, following four ex-Army Special Forces soldiers-turned-heroes-for-hire who operated while on the run from the Military Police. The team included Hannibal (George Peppard), Face (Dirk Benedict), Murdock (Dwight Schultz), and the tough but lovable B. A. Baracus (Mr. T). The show was famous for its cartoonish violence, overly dramatic stunts, and the fact that, despite the constant explosions and shootouts, almost no one ever actually got hurt.

The series was an immediate hit, with its first regular episode (titled “Children of Jamestown”) airing immediately after Super Bowl XVII (a highly coveted time slot designed to guarantee millions of viewers). This successful strategy worked, as the episode reeled in 26.4% of the television audience. Despite obvious concerns about its violence, the show found success partly because it was seen as an idealization of the Vietnam War, portraying the men as heroes. Their iconic GMC Vandura van and catchphrases like “I love it when a plan comes together” quickly became enduring pop culture symbols.

• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 97
• Creator: Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell
• Stars: George Peppard (Lieutenant Colonel John ”Hannibal” Smith), Dirk Benedict (Lieutenant Templeton “Faceman” Peck), Dwight Schultz (Captain “Howling Mad” Murdock), and Mr. T (Sergeant Bosco Albert “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus)

‘Magnum, P.I.’  (1980–1988)

Magnum, P.I. starred Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a charming, laid-back private investigator living on a luxurious beachfront estate in Hawaii. The central conflict came from Magnum’s constant clashes with the uptight estate caretaker, Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman), over the use of “amenities” like the Ferrari 308 GTS and the tennis courts. Magnum, along with his Vietnam War buddies T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) and Rick (Larry Manetti), frequently relied on his former Navy SEALs and Naval Intelligence expertise to solve cases.

The series was groundbreaking for its time because it was one of the first network shows to treat Vietnam veterans as “human beings” instead of shell-shocked killers. This refreshing, realistic approach earned praise from ex-servicemen groups. The show was a huge hit, consistently ranking in the Top 20 for its first five years and even peaking at number three for the 1982-1983 season. You couldn’t miss Tom Selleck’s signature look — a Detroit Tigers baseball cap, Hawaiian shirts, and that magnificent mustache. This getup cemented him as the ultimate icon of ’80s cool.

• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
• Seasons: 8
• Episodes: 158
• Creator: Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson
• Stars: Tom Selleck (Thomas Magnum), John Hillerman (Jonathan Quayle Higgins III), and Roger E. Mosley (Theodore “T.C.” Calvin)

The Rise of the VCR and the Cable Revolution

If the 1960s were defined by the switch to color, the 1980s were defined by the switch to choice. By the start of the decade, nearly every household already owned a television set, but what truly changed was when and how people watched.

The widespread adoption of the VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) meant viewers were no longer slaves to the broadcast schedule. For the first time, you could “time-shift” and record one of your favorite shows, like Cheers or Dallas, to watch later. 

The ’80s also saw the explosion of cable television. Networks like MTV and ESPN gave viewers options outside the traditional “Big Three” (ABC, CBS, and NBC). You no longer had to watch what the networks told you to watch. This new competition forced network shows to fight much harder for those top ratings, which is precisely why the era gave us the dramatic, high-concept, and serialized programs (like Dynasty) that defined the decade.

What Were the Most Popular Shows of the ’80s?

Early 1980s

At the beginning of the 1980s, Dallas completely dominated the national conversation.

The table shows the most popular primetime TV shows of the 1980-81 season, according to Nielsen ratings.

Late 1980s

By the time the 80s closed, the powerful dramas had been overtaken by a new wave of sitcoms and alternative reality shows. 

The table shows the most popular primetime TV shows of the 1989-90 season, according to Nielsen ratings.

The top of the 1989-90 season featured a shift away from oil magnates and private eyes toward relatable, domestic family life (The Cosby Show, Roseanne), ensemble workplace comedy (Cheers), and a brand-new genre: unscripted reality television (America’s Funniest Home Videos).

What 1980s Shows Had the Most Loyal Followers?

The 1980s produced major hits like Cheers and Dallas, but the most dedicated fans often rallied around shows that weren’t always topping the Nielsen charts. Do you remember these?

Family Ties was a huge hit, but the main topic of discussion was Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox). We all remember the perfect setup: liberal, ex-hippie parents trying to raise a staunchly Republican son who practically worshipped trickle-down economics. This ongoing political conflict between generations made the show feel real to audiences in the 1980s.

Do you remember watching Night Court? This comedy told the story of an unorthodox, fun-loving judge, Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson), presiding over the hilarious circus that was a New York City municipal night court. The show started with dry humor but quickly embraced a surreal, fast-paced comedy that built a loyal, late-night audience who tuned in just for the wacky characters.

Ready to Reconnect? Take Your Nostalgia One Step Further With Classmates

Did you just remember rushing home to catch The Golden Girls, or maybe you’re picturing the power-shouldered fashions of Dynasty? The 1980s were all about shared moments — and often, those moments were recorded on your VCR!

If remembering these shows has you thinking about the friends you watched them with, why not explore the next level of nostalgia? We invite you to visit Classmates®, a place where you might browse a vast library of yearbooks from that iconic era.

You could see what your school’s yearbook looked like in the ’80s and have the chance to connect with old schoolmates. Take a moment to see if those familiar faces from your past are ready to reconnect.

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