8 Greatest ’80s Shows Nobody Remembers

The 1980s produced some of the most iconic television shows of all time. From sitcoms like Cheers and Family Ties to crime shows like Magnum P.I. and Miami Vice, the greatest shows of the ‘80s have had a powerful impact on popular culture that’s still felt today. But though many of the biggest hits of the ’80s still enjoy large followings, there are also quite a few that have sadly faded from the limelight.

Some of these are shows that have aged poorly over the years, with jokes and characterizations that now appear cringey to audiences. Others are solid shows that simply never got the attention they deserved, even in their own time. But though they may be forgotten, all of these shows are quintessential ’80s productions that deserve to be rediscovered by a new audience. So, without further ado, here’s our handpicked selection of the greatest ‘80s shows that nobody remembers.

8

‘Small Wonder’ (1985-1989)

Image via Metroland Video Productions 

Created by Howard Leeds, Small Wonder is a classic sitcom with a sci-fi twist, where a robotics engineer, Ted Lawson (Dick Christie), secretly creates V.I.C.I. (Voice Input Child Identicant), a humanoid robot resembling a little girl (Tiffany Brissette). The show follows the misadventures of Lawson’s family and their nosy neighbors, as Ted tries to pass Vici off as his adopted daughter. Marla Pennington, Jerry Supiran, and Emily Schulman play other main characters.

Small Wonder was odd and eccentric for its era and considered quite silly at the time, but the show surprisingly became a huge hit among children, both in America and overseas, and has been dubbed in several languages since. Despite negative critical reviews, the show managed to amass a sizable audience and left a lasting impact, especially among younger viewers of the ‘80s, for whom the series is still quite nostalgic. Though flawed and highly underrated, it’s a cult sitcom and one of those shows that defined ’80s television despite its drawbacks.

7

‘Misfits of Science’ (1985)

Image via NBC

A sci-fi comedy-drama series created by James D. Parriott, Misfits of Science follows the madcap adventures of a group of individuals with superpowers, brought together by Dr. Billy Hayes (Dean Paul Martin), a scientist specializing in human anomalies at the Humanidyne Institute. The series stars Kevin Peter Hall, Mark Thomas Miller, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Holmes, and Max Wright in main roles. The series is a notable early work of Cox’s, as well as of writer Tim Kring, who later created Heroes, a show based on similar concepts.

Unmistakably inspired by comic book characters like the X-Men, Misfits of Science features a varied cast of characters wielding superpowers like telekinesis, super speed, electrical and freezing abilities, and so on. Unlike those comics, however, the NBC series is more comedic and lighthearted in its tone and narrative, and pretty campy in its depiction of superhumans. Unfortunately, the series aired only 16 episodes and has since been forgotten, but it is an ahead-of-its-time series that paved the way for the beloved superhero shows of the 21st century.

6

‘Bosom Buddies’ (1980-1982)

Image via ABC 

Before Tom Hanks became an Academy Award-winning Hollywood A-lister, he had his first major role in this buddy sitcom that launched his acting career. Created by Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller, and Chris Thompson, Bosom Buddies follows the wild adventures of two single friends and struggling advertising professionals, Kip (Hanks) and Henry (Peter Scolari), who disguise themselves as women in a desperate attempt to find affordable housing after their apartment is demolished. Holland Taylor, Donna Dixon, Telma Hopkins, and Wendie Jo Sperber star in supporting roles.

Bosom Buddies was a short-lived series but earned some popularity and viewership for addressing themes of gender stereotypes and interpersonal relationships between genders. During its brief two-season run, the show became noteworthy for its quirky humor, improvised gags, and the opening theme song by Billy Joel. Its biggest highlight is Hank’s terrific comedic performances and great screen chemistry with Scolari. Though it was well-received initially, Bosom Buddies failed to become a major success, was lost among canceled shows, and aged too poorly to develop a retrospective following.

5

‘The Hogan Family’ (1986-1991)

Image via NBC

Created by Charlie Hauck, The Hogan Family, originally titled Valerie and later Valerie’s Family: The Hogans, is a family sitcom centering on the character Valerie Hogan (Valerie Harper), a mother struggling to raise her three teenage sons, manage her career, and deal with her absent pilot husband. Later seasons replaced Valerie’s character with her sister-in-law, Sandy (Sandy Duncan), shifting the focus to other members of the family. The show’s cast also includes Josh Taylor, Christine Ebersole, Tom Hodges, and Jason Bateman.

The Hogan Family is notable as one of Bateman’s early television roles before his film debut, and he also made his directorial debut with an episode of the show, making him the youngest director in the Directors Guild of America at the time. The sitcom was quite successful during its six-season run on NBC and later CBS, becoming one of the highest-rated series of its time. The show also developed a favorable reputation for tackling difficult themes like the loss of parents, grief, teen sex, and AIDs, but despite its dedicated following, The Hogan Family is still largely forgotten by mainstream audiences.

4

‘Free Spirit’ (1989-1990)

Image via Columbia Pictures Television

Created by Leslie Ray and Steven Vail, Free Spirit is a fantasy sitcom that follows the misadventures of a high-spirited but mischievous witch, Winnie (Corinne Bohrer). After she is summoned by the 10-year-old Gene (Edan Gross), Winnie gets herself hired as a housekeeper by Gene’s recently divorced father, Thomas Harper (Franc Luz). Unbeknownst to Thomas, Winnie secretly uses her magic in ways that often get her and the family in trouble. Alyson Hannigan and Paul Scherrer star as Gene’s siblings, 13-year-old Jessie and 16-year-old Robb, respectively.

Free Spirit was Alyson Hannigan’s first television role, which earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series. Unfortunately, it was a very short-lived sitcom with poor reviews and ratings, and it was eventually canceled. Though largely forgotten today, the series is a surprisingly enjoyable watch that’s often compared to the classic show Bewitched. Bohrer’s Winnie might not be the best witch on television, but she makes for a fun enchantress who casts a spell with ample comedy, fantasy, and silly antics. All in all, it’s an interesting ’80s classic worth rewatching for anyone interested in little-seen TV gems.

3

‘Kate & Allie’ (1984-1989)

Image via CBS

Created by Sherry Coben, Kate & Allie is a classic sitcom that follows the lives of the titular childhood friends and divorced mothers who decide to live and raise their families together. As the free-spirited Kate (Susan Saint James) and the traditional Allie (Jane Curtin) navigate life in ’80s New York City, they become each other’s support system in all aspects of life. Ari Meyers, Frederick Koehler, Allison Smith, Sam Freed, and Peter Onorati in main roles.

A series that basically feels like Laverne & Shirley in an ’80s New York setting, Kate & Allie is widely considered a powerful and iconic example of friendship in TV shows, exploring evergreen themes of female bonding and single motherhood. The series was noted for being one of the first primetime shows to feature divorced female protagonists and for exploring topics like female friendship, parenting, work-life balance, and navigating post-divorce life in the mid-1980s with humor and heart. For her role as Allie, Curtin won two Primetime Emmy Awards, and Saint James earned two nominations for her performance as well. The sitcom earned great praise for its witty writing, strong performances, and unconventional premise throughout its six-season run, but it is now largely forgotten.

2

‘Empty Nest’ (1988-1995)

Image via NBC

Created by Susan Harris, Empty Nest is a spin-off of The Golden Girls that follows the story of Harry Weston (Richard Mulligan), a widowed pediatrician who’s the neighbor of the main characters in the parent show. Though a miracle worker with his young patients, Harry struggles to navigate his relationship with his adult daughters, Carol (Dinah Manoff) and Barbara (Kristy McNichol), who have returned home to live with him. David Leisure, Park Overall, and Paul Provenza also star in main roles, with Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty guest-starring as their Golden Girls characters.

While The Golden Girls is a television classic and massively popular, Empty Nest is largely unknown to many and has never quite lived up to the heights of its parent show. The sitcom was fairly successful early in its run, but ratings gradually dipped in the later seasons, and it mostly gained traction only for its crossover episodes with The Golden Girls. During those successful early seasons, however, Empty Nest ranked among the top programs on NBC, earning Mulligan a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor.

1

‘Street Hawk’ (1985)

Image via ABC

Created by Paul M. Belous and Robert Wolterstorff and developed by Bruce Lansbury, Street Hawk is a classic vigilante action series that stars Rex Smith as Jesse Mach, a former cop-turned-vigilante who is recruited for the titular top-secret government project after he was injured on duty. The show follows Jesse’s fight against urban crime, aided by his state-of-the-art combat motorcycle. Jeannie Wilson, Richard Venture, and Joe Regalbuto star in supporting roles.

Even though the series features a weekly crime-solving story, Street Hawk does not follow a procedural template. Instead, it focuses more on Jesse Mach’s action-driven adventures and his heroic efforts to apprehend criminals. The ABC series was not a mainstream success, and it had a pretty short run of just 13 episodes, but the show was a surprise hit in international territories, where it developed a cult following. While the characters and narrative of Street Hawk may be mostly forgotten, its iconic motorcycle and high-energy action make it a nostalgic (if campy) ’80s classic beloved by its niche audience.

Release Date

1985 – 1985-00-00

Directors

Virgil W. Vogel, Harvey S. Laidman, Daniel Haller, Kim Manners, Paul Stanley

Writers

Nicholas Corea, Bruce Cervi, Karen Harris, Robert Wolterstorff, Paul M. Belous, Burton Armus, Deborah Dean Davis, John Huff, Joseph Gunn, L. Ford Neale

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  Belinda Montgomery

  Stefanie Craig

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  Britt Helfer

  Blonde Waitress

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  Christopher Thomas

  Jimmy Pinard

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