The Best TV Shows From The '80s That Everyone Still Has A Soft Spot For

The '80s were undoubtedly one of the most fun times, and even decades later, it's still remembered for the many iconic things it brought to this world. That decade was a great time for pop culture—a lot of distinct trends, some questionable, emerged.

Amidst the many great things that the '80s gifted us, nothing really beats the entertainment it provided—in the form of movies and TV shows, which are still considered the best of all time even today. It gave us The Breakfast Club and The Princess Bride, among many other iconic films.

The TV shows of this decade were on a whole new level—everyone wanted to have a funky, colorful wardrobe like the one in Punky Brewster or a dumbwaiter like the one in Webster. Many catchphrases made their way into the mainstream because of these TV shows, too, such as “Back in St. Olaf…” from The Golden Girls and “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” from Diff’rent Strokes, along with a plethora of other trendy sayings, jokes, and mantras derived from these beloved shows.

Now, without further ado, here are some of the best and most iconic TV shows from the '80s that remain classics and favorites even today:

1. MacGyver

MacGyver stars a young hero named Angus 'Mac' MacGyver, who always seems to escape any situation with just a handful of practical tools, an impressive stock of knowledge, and a skill for solving literally any kind of problem. His intelligence always saves him in life-or-death situations, and it has definitely kept us entertained for over 120 episodes.

2. Knight Rider

Knight Rider's protagonist, Michael Knight, along with his car named KITT, is set to fight against all odds. KITT was definitely a car way ahead of its time, as it could communicate with the driver and maneuver itself.

This action-packed show, with its iconic theme song, is definitely a series that everyone thoroughly remembers from the '80s.

3. Seinfeld

Before Friends came out, Seinfeld had a head start as one of the best sitcoms ever. The show lasted for almost 200 episodes spanning nine seasons, following the story of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends.

This may have been called "a series about nothing," but nobody could deny it was charismatic and enjoyable enough to keep us entertained for hours.

4. Cheers

Cheers was the one most similar to Friends, but unfortunately, it's not available on any streaming platform. It's one of the most successful and memorable sitcoms of all time, set in a bar called "Cheers" owned by Sam Malone, a former baseball player.

It's about a group of friends who meet in the bar to share their everyday happenings.

Cheers is not available on any streaming platform, but at least we still have Friends, which came some years later with a similar theme. 

5. Alf

Alf was an "Alien Life Form" from the planet Melmac who ate cats and was adopted by the Tanner family. It had more than a hundred episodes and was definitely enjoyable enough for a character who spends his days thinking about watching TV and eating.

6. Married with Children

This show is still available on Amazon Prime Video. It has eleven seasons, around 250 episodes, and was broadcast for ten years between the 1980s and 1990s on Fox.

The show was a parody of a classic American family—a mother with a shopping addiction, a father obsessed with money, a teenage daughter who's beautiful but labeled as dumb, and a teenage son obsessed with girls, popularity, and looks.

7. The A-Team

“In 1972, a commando composed of four of the best men in the American army was imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. They soon escaped from the prison in which they were held… Today, still sought by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have any problems and can find them, you may be able to hire them.”

So says the intro of this iconic show, which ran for almost 100 episodes. The quartet of protagonists—Hannibal, Murdock, Face, and B.A.—were adventurers escaping from justice while ironically doing justice.

The '80s were undoubtedly a monumental decade, and it didn't hold back in giving us these gems in the entertainment industry! We're still feeling nostalgic about this decade (thanks to Stranger Things), and we would truly love to go back to the good ol' simpler times!

Which '80s TV show was your favorite? Comment with your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!