Best TV shows of the 80s: Nos. 21-40

Our list of the Top 80 television shows of the 80s continues today, with Nos. 21-40. A pretty eclectic mix for you today. A little Shatner, some Christina Applegate, an incompetent super-hero. And then a talking car and computerized head. Go figure.

Remember to click here to read the story behind the list. You can also see previous lists at these links: Nos. 61-80 and Nos. 41-60. And the top 20 are here.

40. Murder, She Wrote (1984-96): Angela Lansbury

39. The Fall Guy (1981-86): Lee Majors, Heather Thomas

38. The Wonder Years (1988-93): Fred Savage, Danica McKellar

37. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-94): Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner

36. MacGyver (1985-92): Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar

35. Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-86): Brian Keith, Daniel Hugh Kelly

34. Married ... with Children (1987-97): Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate

33. Diff'rent Strokes (1978-86): Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges

32. The Greatest American Hero (1981 to 1983): William Katt, Robert Culp

31. Max Headroom (1987-88): Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays

30. Hill Street Blues (1981-87): Daniel J. Travanti, Bruce Weitz

29. St. Elsewhere (1981-88): William Daniels, Howie Mandel

28. Alice (1976-85): Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback

27. Murphy Brown (1988-98): Candice Bergen

26. The Young Ones (1982-86): Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall

25. The Equalizer (1985 - 1989): Edward Woodward, Keith Szarabajka

24. Knight Rider (1981-86): David Hasselhoff, William Daniels

23. Charles in Charge (1984-90): Scott Baio, Willie Aames

22. Bosom Buddies (1980-82): Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari

21. T.J. Hooker (1982-1986): William Shatner, Heather Locklear

Personal faves: The Young Ones, Greatest American Hero

Could live without: Hill Street Blues, The Fall Guy

Tomorrow's list: The final 20 includes Spoons, Pegs, Dukes and Ties.

Comments

[Al]

Hey while we're on the topic of TV...

How about a special season of Hell's Kitchen, 80's edition? That would be gold (though I'm not a big fan of reality TV)

Imagine Emmanuel Lewis standing up to Chef Ramsay, the Chef pitying Mr. T, and so on. I'd watch!

Finally, what's with the mangasm of shows with 80's stars? The Scott Baio show, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, and
The Two Coreys (which is filmed here in Vancouver, I shop at the same small grocery they do, quite a shock to see it on TV) I guess they all must be in it for the money after blowing it all on drugs.

[Al]

Steve,

Now I understand why. Your point was so obvious, and yet I missed it, thanks.

[geekpie]

... (see last post) and that's at www.daveches.co.uk/80s/index

[geekpie]

What about "the Doubledeckers"? Get on board.

on May 26 1985 8 of the top 10 Billboard Hot 100 were by British artists. To find out who, go to The 80s were better

[Spears]

Not a lot of people voted for Wonder Years, hence it appears fairly low on the list. I guess a lot of people don't associate it with the 80s.

[Al]

I agree with Chase.

How the ---- can the Wonder Years be ranked so low! I grew up with that show, and loved it....well at least the first season.

When Kevin first meets Winnie.....that's a TV classic scene right there. And when the sister's boyfriend argues with the dad about Vietnam, there's another scene.

[Sherrie]

I loved "The Young Ones", it was so different and there were so many quotable lines...

"This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence"

"Hands up, who likes me? I said, hands up, who likes me? That's it, I'm going to kill myself."

"Have you got a video?"

Plus the random musical guests that just sort of leapt into the story, like Madness, and Alexie Sayle popping up as a dozen characters- Young Ones was Monty Python gone punk.

Sherrie

[MarieElaine]

*sigh* william katt is such a pretty boy. but to me, he'll always be tommy ross.

[chase]

Oh, dear Lord ... the 20s are a mess! How could such wretched shows as

25. The Equalizer

24. Knight Rider

23. Charles in Charge

21. T.J. Hooker

get ranked so highly? The Equalizer a) made no sense and b) committed the ultimate sin of being boring.

And in my mind, Charles in Charge was a poor substitute for Who's the Boss .... a much better show.

And T.J. Hooker? That was back when Shatner still thought he could act, as opposed to now, when he just sort of looks at himself with the same bemused eye that we all see him.

... gack. A swing and a miss for numbers 25-20 ...