Ten of the Best Television Shows of the 80's

The 80's. What a time. Reganomics, sitcoms and gameshows galore. Most everyone has one or two favorites that have long since disappeared from the tube or perhaps even those that still lurk around late night on television. Recently, I went around surveying people to find out what they felt were the best shows on television in the 1980's. Below are the results based on their answers.

10. Knight Rider

"Knight Rider" debuted in 1982 and it starred the one and only David Hasselhoff, later reknown for his Baywatch stunt. To be blunt, this program was about a crimefighter who like most superheroes fought evil in his own way - along with the assistance of a super intelligent car, K.I.T.T. - which stood for Knight Industries Two-Thousand. K.I.T.T. was a 1982 Trans-Am by Pontiac that was customized for the program. The series began with Michael Long (David Hasselhoff) being seriously injured as a police officer and then being left for dead. However, he is nursed back to health by the chairman of Knight Industries, who gives Michael a new face and identity - where he becomes Michael Knight. Having been given this car, Michael goes out to stop the evil in the world with the complete assistance of the artificial intelligence in K.I.T.T., which was able to perform functions such as moving on its own, listening and even talking to Michael when it needed to. The series only lasted 4 years and while many thought it to be a corny show, it seems to remain a favorite among many.

9. Magnum, P.I.

"Magnum, P.I." was about a man named Thomas Magnum (Played by Tom Selleck) who retires from the navy at 33 and receives his P.I. License. As a P.I., he is hired by the world-renowned author and playboy, Robin Masters, who employs Magnum to monitor security at Robin's Nest, Master's huge estate on the north shores of Oahu. While Masters is off around the world at his various estates and continuing to write his best selling novels, the estate is run by Jonathan Quayle Higgins III(John Hillerman), who is an englishman that sees Magnum as a sponge of sorts. Magnum lives at Robin's Nest, living exclusively in the guest house and using Robin's vehicle while away, which creates some animosity between Higgins and Magnum. The program revolved around guests in attendance at the estate, Magnum's Vietnam days and even some of Magnum's other clients - which is when he often times calls on his buddies in Naval Intelligence. The series ran for a lengthly 8 years, from 1980 up until 1988.

8. Who's The Boss

"Who's The Boss" debuted in 1984 and ran straight through until the end in 1992. The synopsis of the show was former major-league baseball player Tony Micelli(Tony Danza) and his young daughter Samantha (Alyssa Milano) move to Connecticut so that Tony can take a position of live-in housekeeper to the Bower Family: Angela (Judith Light) the business oriented woman, her man-hungry seductress of a mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) and her shy and low-esteemed son Johnathan (Danny Pintauro). Throughout the series, we watch Samantha and Johnathan grow up, along with watching the love affair between Tony and Angela blossom. The show ended almost how it began, with Tony showing up on Angela's doorstep and after she hired him they kissed. This ended the series and left people wondering if Tony and Angela ever really got together. The program is most memorable because of the sexual tension between Tony and Angela along with the quick witted-ness of Mona.

7. Moonlighting

What do you get when you mix an ex-model and a smart-mouthed detective? You get "Moonlighting". "Moonlighting was just that, about a former model that had been a victim of embezzlement by her investment advisor, who took off with everything except her house and a severely run-down detective agency called "City Angels". Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) renames the agency "Blue Moon". Unfortunately, because of her investment advisor, she has no money and intends to sell off "Blue Moon". However, she is convinced otherwise by the wise-guy David Addison(Bruce Willis to become the agency's new boss. She agrees to and becomes involved in real private investigations, along with any number of cases she becomes a part of, such as finding missing people. Along the way, the show makes you begin to wonder if Maddie and David will ever become involved, producing long, drawn out conversations between the two at times. There is a third party to add to the humor already involved with David, that being Miss Dipesto (Allyce Beasley) who constantly rhymes into the phone. While I wasn't too familiar with the program, I can see why it is one of the best programs of the 1980's, sadly, it ended after only a four year run from 1985 to 1989.

6. The Wonder Years

Perhaps my personal favorite from the 1980's sitcoms, The Wonder Years began in 1988, depicting the tale of then pre-teen Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) and his life in the 60's. Narrated throughout by a grown up Kevin (Daniel Stern), the program gives a glimpse into five years in the life of a middle class child, including the relationships he has with the people closest to him in his life. Of course you have his parents, Jack (Dan Lauria) and Norma (Alley Mills) along with older sister and hippie extraordinaire Karen (Olivia d'Abo) and his older and almost always menacing brother Wayne (Jason Hervey). Besides his family, who sometimes appear to agree to disagree more than be content all the time, Kevin also lets us see how relationships with his friends developed. You have the "nerdy" Paul (Josh Saviano) and the cute girl Winnie (Danica McKellar) who becomes Kevin's main girl as the world changes around them. Often sweet with a bit of humor, one of the most memorable episodes is one of the earliest: Winnie's older brother being killed in Vietnam and Kevin consoling her by a tree - where the two share their first kiss. While the program was a late bloomer for 80's programming, the show ended its five year run with a somewhat sad narrated ending in 1993, when Winnie comes back from Europe and Kevin meets her at the airport- complete with his wife and son.

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation

My personal favorite in the Star Trek programming, Star Trek: TNG as it became widely known as was also another late 80's bloomer, beginning its run in 1987. The plot of the program is much like the others: to boldly go where no man has gone before. Star Trek: TNG is set around 95 years later than Captain Kirk and the original Enterprise starship - in the 24th Century. The series revolved around many guest characters, however there was always a problem in each episode that was resolved within the hour. There were many memorable characters, such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Lieutenant Data (Brett Spiner) the somewhat odd but always reliant droid, Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and the loveable alien Lieutenant Warf (Michael Dorn). The show also gave a family feel with the mother-son relationship between Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton). There was also the second in command, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) as well as telepathic Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). The show ran for merely six years, but was a very long awaited sequel to the original and one that many, many people remember fondly.

4. MacGyver

Perhaps the most amusing action program of the 1980's, "MacGyver" was about a loner that refused to carry a gun with him on his adventures. In fact, he was more quiet and behaved than most other action characters ever could be made. However, what stood out about MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) was his mind. Where some would prefer to have a key to unlock a door and escape from a situation, MacGyver could whip up a makeshift key using almost any number of everyday items on him - including a rubber band or even a pen cap. MacGyver is often working for an organization known as the Phoenix Foundation, beyond that he also did work for anyone who needed the assistance and also for his friends in need. The show had a rather long run, from 1985 and ending in 1992. The program often left people on the edge of their seats wondering, "will he escape and how will he do it this week?" MacGyver carries on even in other programs to date, such as the reoccuring obsession of Simpsons twins Patty and Selma Bouvier and their must-watch MacGyver.

3. ALF

What do you get if you create a program about what appears to be an all american family that suddenly gets a surprise crash-into-their garage visit from a furry, loudmouthed alien from the planet Melmac? You get ALF -named by the family and short for Alien Life Form. The Tanner family experience just this situation and soon realize that this guest that they have from another world is not going anywhere remotely soon. ALF (Paul Fusco) misses Melmac and desires to go home, however he learns that he can get The Tanners, Willie (Max Wright), Kate (Anne Shedeen) and their children Lynn (Andrea Elson) and Brian (Benji Gregory) to do whatever he wants as long as he isn't exposing himself. The program featured many whimsical jokes followed by ALF's trademark shout out of, "HA, I kill me!" along with his constant desire to eat the family cat. Perhaps that is why this program is so memorable - ALF's persistance in trying to eat that darn cat. Unfortunately, ALF only had a four year run from 1986 to 1990 before being cancelled. Still greatly missed, the show appears to be a constant favorite among those inquired.

2. The A-Team

The A-Team was perhaps one of the most in-depth dramas in the 80's that became a favorite. Back at the end of the Vietnam War, three soldiers were put under orders to rob the Bank of Hanoi. Unfortunately, they were unable to verify this story as there were no other witnesses to this order and the one who issued said order was killed. The three are arrested and imprisoned in a US prison, however, they managed to escape and went underground in Los Angeles. The trio become known as Soldiers of Fortune, taking on the name The A-Team. Working both as good guys in the US and around the world, the three men were extremely unique. There was Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (George Peppard) who takes on the duties a master of disguise would, having a love for danger and using his acting abilities to full extent whenever there was an undercover 'disguise required' mission in the works. You had the widely known and loved Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus (Mr. T) who's nickname was Bad Attitude - a mechanical genius known for hurting anyone who struck him the wrong way with a fear of flight due to drug testing. The third in the trio is Templeton "Face Man" Peck (Dirk Benedict) who was a very attractive charmer who could woo anybody into getting what he needed. There was a fourth partner in the A-Team, often locked up in a mental hospital due to shell shock from the war, but on occasion was "temporarily" sprung to assist in a mission: Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock (Dwight Schultz) who flew for the trio in the war. The foursome brought a sense of uniqueness to the screen, each with their individual personas and the situations they were involved in - be it dressing up as a woman or being a typical lunatic. Unfortunately, this was a love it or hate it show and a short one at that - only lasting from 1983 to 1987.

1. Married With Children

"Married With Children" had perhaps the longest run in the list, running for a remarkable 10 years from 1987 straight through until 1997. Married with Children was about the Bundy Family, woman-hating shoe salesman Al ( Ed O'Neill), his lazy,sex loving and interestingly dressed wife Peg (Katey Sagal) along with their promiscuous (and extremely dumb) teenage daughter Kelly (Christina Applegate) and their loser son Bud (David Faustino). The show, for the most part was slapstick comedy, portraying this slightly less than average family and their interesting life choices. From Al being a member of an all male organization called No Ma'am to his numerous recollections of his "15 minutes" of fame as a football player to Peg's adoration to spend all her husband's money in salons and the ever admired mall, the family is often the butt of many jokes, but still a close knit family in spite of it all. Along with The Bundy's there were the neighbors Marcy Rhoades (Amanda Bearse), who is perky and the ideal and annoying wife to her banker husband Steve (David Garrison). The two later divorce and Marcy becomes Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy, marrying a very attractive man she hardly knows who becomes Al's partner in crime in many ways, Jefferson (Ted McGinley). On occasion, there is a crack thrown in narration by their less than faithful dog, Buck (voiced by Kevin Curran) which adds to the program perfectly. Well loved by many people, "Married with Children" seemed to be the most liked program that started in the 1980's.

While there are many other memorable programs that originated in the 80's, these ten seemed to strike some sort of memory for most who got to witness the 80's firsthand, or at least experience it via rerun. Be your favorite one of the many sitcoms of the day or even one of the unorthodox adventure/comedies from this era, each of these programs has a certain element that just encapsulates the 80's perfectly. If you're lucky enough to get to view any of these programs, perhaps you'll see why they are loved the way they are.