Best TV shows of the 80s: Nos. 61-80
Attention, 80s couch potatoes. I give you the list to end all lists. The eighth wonder of the world. A manifesto to monuments of TV history. What started out as a quest to name the 10 best TV shows of the 80s has grown to...
The 80 best TV shows of the 80s!
As always, the list -- especially the top 10 shows -- was formulated with the help of the readers of this blog. I also had the input of former Times TV critic Chase Squires -- also a guest host of the Stuck in the 80s podcast -- whose devotion to the 80s and television hasn't waned in the years since he abandoned the journalism business and fled to Denver.
The list includes shows that may have begun in the 70s or ended in the 90s. But those shows were judged only on their content during the 80s. So shows like The Simpsons (#62) and Roseanne (#78) aren't going to rank as high because so little of their show appeared during the 80s.
We'll roll out the list 20 shows at a time, starting today with shows 61 through 80. As always, I encourage you to leave comments about the selections and omissions.
Click here for Nos. 41-60, 21-40, and 1-20.
TOP TV SHOWS of the 80s: Nos. 61 through 80
80. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-87): Kate Jackson, Bruce Boxleitner.
79. Gimme a Break (1981-1987): Nell Carter, Kari Michaelson.
78. Roseanne (1988–1997): Roseanne Barr, John Goodman.
77. Matlock (1986-95): Andy Griffith, Nancy Stafford.
76. My Two Dads (1987-90): Greg Evigan, Paul Reiser.
75. Full House (1987 to 1995): John Stamos, Bob Saget.
74. Simon & Simon (1981 to 1988): Gerald McRaney, Jameson Parker.
73. Wiseguy (1987-1990): Jonathan Banks, Ken Wahl.
72. Hooperman (1987-89): John Ritter, Jennifer Warren.
71. Crime Story (1986-88): Joseph Wiseman, Dennis Farina.
70. Who's the Boss? (1984-92): Tony Danza, Judith Light.
69. Growing Pains (1985-92): Kirk Cameron, Alan Thicke.
68. Hart to Hart (1979-84): Robert Wager, Stefanie Powers.
67. The Hitchhiker (1983-1991): Page Fletcher, Nicholas Campbell.
66. Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996): John Kassir.
65. Alien Nation (1989–1990): Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint.
64. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-1981): Gil Gerald, Erin Gray.
63. Sesame Street (1969— Present): Frank Oz, Jim Henson.
62. The Simpsons (1989-Present): Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright.
61. Perfect Strangers (1986-93): Mark Linn-Baker, Bronson Pinchot.
My two favorites from today's list: The Simpsons and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Least two favorites: Roseanne and Who's The Boss.
Tomorrow's list: A couple aliens invade the Top 80 list.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Yeah, Jericho!
Posted by: chase@chase.com | August 13, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Who the heck watches pre-season football?
Boring!
Honestly.......it means absolutely nothing, stick to the games that count.
Posted by: Al | August 13, 2007 at 03:37 AM
I think SIMON & SIMON should be much higher on the list. That show was so much fun and the chemistry between Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker was wonderful.
Anyone see McRaney this season in JERICHO? He was awesome. Oh and he was even better in season 3 of DEADWOOD!
Try JERICHO on CBS Fri. at 9 p.m. EST
(when pre-season football isn't on.)
Posted by: Grace | August 13, 2007 at 02:44 AM
Ahhh.. Matlock. Glad to see Sesame Street rated higher than Who's The Boss?
Did I see Judith Light on the telly the other day? She was ill or dying, or something like that? Heh, I got a jolt.
Posted by: Richard Phelps | August 12, 2007 at 10:25 PM
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King?" -- I couldn't tell you what that show was about if you strapped me to a bed and made me watch Oprah reruns .... I don't think I ever even saw a single episode ... I did catch "Scarecrow and Ms. Garland .... "
thanks for the shout out, much luv to the Sunshine State, which came into its own in the 1980s ... and then faded in the sun. Sigh.
Posted by: chase | August 12, 2007 at 07:03 PM
I love John Goodman in the TV movie, "The Babe" about Babe Ruth.
When I was younger, also loved the Cryptkeeper on Tales from the Crypt, he was just such an scumbag, literally.
By the way, check out the Crypt movie with Dennis Miller in it....can you say crappy?
Matlock was brilliant, how the hell can it be # 77?
Andy Griffith rocked back in the day, I would watch Price is Right, and then Matlock back to back on days off from school.
Posted by: Al | August 12, 2007 at 05:34 PM
I'm sorry, but as annoying as Roseanne - the individual - is, the show was good. I've always thought John Goodman was underappreciated as an actor.
Posted by: Mike | August 12, 2007 at 04:16 PM