Best Televison Shows of the '80s

Thanks to the magical world of Netflix my eleven year old daughter and I have been able to revisit some of my favorite shows from the eighties. I have to say....some of them are just awful and I can't believe they ever caught my interest. My daughter's perspective on these shows is very entertaining. Production quality and script writing have come a long way since then. Here are ten gems we've re-discovered together. I'm sure there are many that you may feel should have made the list but there are other lists being compiled and are more than likely to include the most obvious choices.

1. 21 Jump Street- This show introduced a young heartthrob named Johnny Depp to the world. Other big name stars that were launched into stardom because of Jump Street include Holly Robinson and Richard Grieco. A police drama about cops undercover in high schools and colleges, it only lasted four seasons but had teenagers in America glued to their TV sets on Sunday night.
2. The A-Team- "Ten years ago, in 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they did not commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortunes. If you had a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire ... The A-Team!"- DUH DA DA, DUH DUH DUH DA. This show gave audiences sixty minutes of action packed shenanigans and some of the best pyrotechnics of its day. The neighborhood boys re-enacted every episode as soon as it ended.
3. Baywatch- This show about beach lifeguards who, for some reason were allowed to solve crimes and act as beach police, launched David Hasselhoff to God like status in Europe and made Pam Anderson's boobies a star. Aired one season, went off the air for one season and returned to be a hit in 148 nations. Antarctica was the only place it didn't air.
4. Amazing Stories- Lucky for us Steven Spielberg didn't think working in television was beneath him. Based on a magazine series by the same name from the 30's and 40's he read growing up, Spielberg's show presented new sci-fi stories each week that had a shocking or horrifying twist awaiting viewers at the end. Despite winning five Emmys it only lasted two seasons.
5. Knight Rider- David Hasslehoff was a busy man in the 80's. In this series he portrays a cop who secretly survives being shot in the face and is given a new identity, face and super hi-tech car named K.I.T.T. (the real star of the show) by a billionaire. K.I.T.T, Michael and their support team Devon and April battle evil criminals together for four years.
6. Hill Street Blues- The first major police drama to really give you an insider's view of a bustling police precinct. Also one of the first successful vehicles for Dennis Franz of NYPD Blue fame.
7. Tales from the Crypt- The ghoulish crypt keeper scared the pants off of middle school kids while horrifying others with his terrible puns. Each week a new horror short was presented for seven seasons on HBO.
8. China Beach- The hipper M.A.S.H., aired for only four seasons on ABC. Set in Vietnam in 1967 it depicted the lives of women doctors and the soldiers whose lives they saved. I remember weeping during the last episode.
9. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 -Two hours of two smart-assed robots ripping on cheesy old movies. Think Beavis and Butthead but more primitive and no cool stories between. Amazingly it lasted ten, count 'em, ten seasons. What has two thumbs and watched every episode of it? This gal.
10. Square Pegs- Ladies and Gentleman......Introducing Sarah Jessica Parker. Sure she had other projects before Square Pegs, but watching this "ugly duckling" and her awkward friends fight the same battles everyone faced in high school made her America's sweet heart for brief moment. It would be MANY years before she reached super stardom with Sex and the City.