Sitcoms that Changed the 1980's

Remembering the 1980's, one inevitably recalls the overindulgence, a true sign of the times. A few choice sitcom comedies must also be appreciated as changing the over-the-top decade. They made you laugh, and they changed the way we thought about situational comedies from their time on.

ALF- Who can forget the hairy extraterrestrial also known as "alien life form." ALF entered American homes in the mid 80's and took over the Tanner family household. Not many actors would probably appreciate being upstaged by a puppet, but surly talking ALF constantly in hunt of the Tanner family cat became a lovable television addition and changed the dynamic of the sitcom by using a puppet main character.

Designing Women- Centered around four independent women running Sugarbaker Designs, Designing women took woman empowerment to places Mary Tyler Moore only dreamed of. Add in the mix a black male counterpart and you have a special mix of race, sex and sexuality for laughs. Dixie Carter as Julia Sugarbaker avoided no taboo topic choosing instead to take a hard unflinching look at the 80s mentality through a liberal lens. Delta Burke as Suzanne Sugarbaker provided a diva who'd say anything for laughs.

Cheers- Possibly one of the most popular and successful sitcoms of any decade, Cheers took sexual tension to sky high levels. Ted Danson as Sam Malone romanced, not one, but two leading ladies, Shelley Long leaving and being replaced successfully with Kirstie Alley. Alcoholics hanging in a bar had never been so funny, right Norm and Cliff?

The Cosby Show- Another top tier sitcom in success, The Cosby Show was a medium for Bill Cosby's social and comedic talents. The Huxtables (avoiding ill placed negative African American stereotypes) were Claire, a lawyer, and Cliff, a doctor, who not only loved their children, but taught them to be successful and ever so witty.

The Golden Girls- Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sofia shattered the glass ceiling both for women, and senior citizens. Filled with tongue in cheek humor, The Golden Girls followed the lives of four women in their later years, four smart (yes Rose too), sexually experienced and loving friends in Miami. Whether it be threats of 'Shady Pines' retirement home, Blanche's neverending bed mates, St. Olaf or Dorothy's masculine looks, the girls had us laughing throughout the 1980's, changing the face of primetime with four older, if not still beautiful ones. Thank you for being our friends.