One of the easiest ways to revisit a decade is through television from that era. TV shows from a specific point in time are a window into what people wore and the music they listened to; it’s a reflection of the culture at large. Take a decade, like the 1980s, for instance, and many of the most important shows not only define the time, but they provide a dose of nostalgia-infused entertainment.

Whether it was talking cars or wise-cracking puppets, the 1980s never failed to offer unique TV options to anyone at home tired of playing with their Rubik’s cubes or pet rocks. The following shows are the most nostalgic TV shows from every year of the 80s, ranked by how much 80s flair they packed in every episode.

10

‘The Wonder Years’ (1988–1993)

Created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens

Not many shows set in the 1960s could make people think of the 80s, but most shows didn’t star Fred Savage. The period comedy The Wonder Years followed the formative years of Kevin Arnold (Savage) as he grew up in the 60s with his family. Kevin navigated the hard-earned life lessons learned as a pre-teen with the help of his buddy Paul (Josh Saviano) and his long-held crush Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar).

The Wonder Years dominated the ratings for its network, ABC, making a star of Savage and forcing a generation of viewers to hum Joe Cocker’s rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends” for the rest of their lives. The series effectively balanced humor and, through the use of a narrator voiced by Daniel Stern, conveyed a sense of wistfulness for the fleeting years of youth and the memories made during them.

9

‘Magnum, P.I.’ (1980–1988)

Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson

Hawaii was a remote click away when Magnum P.I. was on the air. The iconic detective TV show followed the adventures of Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV (Tom Selleck), known to all as Magnum, who worked as a private investigator in the tropical paradise of Hawaii. Episodes would see Magnum use his deductive skills and charm, and a little luck, to solve cases while driving around in a borrowed Ferrari.

Magnum P.I. was escapism television with a sense of humor that remains a favorite of the era. The show had compelling mysteries, but offered an exotic setting with moments of action to differentiate itself from other detective shows like Columbo or Murder She Wrote. Of course, the series’ main draw was the magnetic performance from Selleck, who turned his charisma into ratings gold for eight seasons of crowd-pleasing television.

Magnum, P.I.

Release Date

1980 – 1988-00-00

Network

CBS

• 

  Linda Ryan

  Candice Wingate

• 

  Michael Spilotro

  Uncredited

• 

• 

8

‘Dynasty’ (1981–1989)

Created by Esther Shapiro and Richard Alan Shapiro

Television was given a new family behaving badly when the wealthy Carrington family debuted in Dynasty. The series followed the exploits of oil tycoon Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) and his extended family, who made Denver, Colorado, their home. Between family infighting and external threats to their fortunes in the form of rival families, there was never a boring day in the world of Dynasty.

Although Dynasty didn’t enjoy immediate success, the addition of Joan Collins as the villainous Alexis raised the show’s profile and led to a rise in viewership until the primetime soap was number one in the ratings. Not only did Dynasty influence future television shows, but it also impacted the world of fashion, where the styles seen on the Carrington family made their way onto the people watching at home.

Dynasty

• 

  John Forsythe

  Blake Carrington

• 

  Linda Evans

  Krystle Carrington

• 

  Joan Collins

  Alexis Carrington Colby

• 

  Gordon Thomson

  Adam Carrington

7

‘Full House’ (1987–1995)

Created by Jeff Franklin

Full House was the show that asked: How many people can you put into a house before it becomes a fire hazard? Widower Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) struggles to raise his young girls on his own, but manages with the help of his brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and longtime friend Joey (Dave Coulier), who both move in with Danny. As the men learn to work together, they become an unconventional family with strong bonds.

Full House was a staple of television from the late 80s to the early 90s, using its ever-growing cast to create family-friendly laughs for a generation of viewers. As part of the TGIF lineup, Full House was the reliable anchor to schedule other shows around, making the family sitcom a valuable asset to ABC. Between its many catchphrases and music cues that meant a life lesson was about to be learned, Full House is pure nostalgia fuel for those who grew up with the Tanners on their televisions.

6

‘The A-Team’ (1983–1987)

Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo

Four men trained by the U.S. Army are forced to stay on the run in the action-adventure cult classic, The A-Team. After being convicted of a crime they didn’t commit, four former Special Forces operatives, led by John “Hannibal” Smith (George Peppard), break out of prison to live as a travelling force of justice. The team offers their services to people in need, but can’t stay in one place long as they continue to evade capture.

Featuring light-hearted action that emphasizes fun over realistic depictions of violence, The A-Team holds a place for fans of 80s television. The A-Team will be remembered as a campy piece of action fun that often played like a live-action cartoon. Equally memorable is Mr. T as B.A. Baracus, the imposing member of the group with a heart of gold.

The A-Team

Release Date

1983 – 1986

Showrunner

Stephen J. Cannell

5

‘MacGyver’ (1985–1992)

Created by Lee David Zlotoff

One of the most memorable adventure stars of the 80s was Richard Dean Anderson as Angus MacGyver in the hit show, MacGyver. Although MacGyver was often in dangerous situations as a secret agent for a government security detail, he chose a Swiss Army knife over a gun, using his quick wits and scientific knowledge to engineer solutions under pressure.

MacGyver was more than a show; it became shorthand for people describing how they solved a problem using unlikely methods. In an era of heroes with big muscles and bigger guns, MacGyver stood out by using his intellect to find clever ways to free himself from danger or save the day. After a successful seven-season run, MacGyver would get the reboot treatment when an updated series starring Lucas Till in the titular role debuted in 2016.

MacGyver

Release Date

1985 – 1991

Network

ABC

• 

  Alun Armstrong

  Chief Superintendent Capshaw

• 

4

‘Knight Rider’ (1982–1986)

Created by Glen A. Larson

When thinking about 80s television, one’s mind will quickly go to the action-adventure show Knight Rider. Each episode of Knight Rider followed Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) as he fought crime adjacent to drivable roads with his talking car, KITT (William Daniels). The series ran for four seasons, but the story would continue in a few television films as well.

As campy as Knight Rider probably seems to younger viewers, the idea of a futuristic car caught the attention of audiences excited about the possibilities brought on by new technology. The concept of a talking car allowed enough of a futuristic novelty to draw viewers, and the premise was also manageable enough to deliver on a weekly basis without the production costs being price-prohibitive.

3

‘Saved by the Bell’ (1989–1993)

Created by Sam Bobrick

Bayside High was the school every kid wanted to go to after Saved by the Bell premiered. The teen sitcom followed Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and his friends as they hung out, fell in and out of romances, and were usually talked into schemes designed by Zach. Each episode would typically see Zach concoct a plan to get one over on principal Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) or make a quick buck with a get-rich scheme.

Saved by the Bell is one of those shows that feels like it was on the air for much longer than it actually was. Even though the fashion choices on the cast date the show, there’s an otherwise classic appeal to Saved by the Bell that can be credited to the cast, who were favorites to the pre-teens, thinking high school would remotely be like what they saw on TV. The original cast graduated and moved on, but the series continued with Saved by the Bell: The College Years, and most recently, a 2020 revival on streamer Peacock.

2

‘ALF’ (1986–1990)

Created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco

A suburban family hides a wisecracking alien in their home in the offbeat sitcom ALF. The sitcom starred a puppet named ALF (voiced and created by Paul Fusco) from the planet Melmac, who was hiding on Earth after he crashed into the garage of the Tanner family. Episodes would typically explore the humorous journey of the alien as he learned about the Earth’s customs, especially the one about not eating cats.

ALF was a big, creative swing that paid off, becoming a sensation with children who thought the furry puppet was a comedic master of snarky zingers. Although the sitcom was only on for four seasons, the merchandising craze that came with the popularity of ALF was monumental, with the alien appearing on shirts, as plush toys, and literally anything that could be sold on store shelves. There was a cartoon starring ALF made as well, but he will mostly be remembered as the star of a sitcom that could only exist in the 80s.

ALF

Release Date

1986 – 1989

Network

NBC

• 

  Alan Hale Jr.

  Skipper Jonas Grumby

• 

  Alex Henteloff

  Mr. Rasmussen

• 

• 

  Anne Schedeen

  Kate Tanner

1

‘Miami Vice’ (1984–1990)

Created by Anthony Yerkovich

A quintessential program of the 80s, Miami Vice told the story of undercover police detectives James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) as they prowled the Miami criminal underworld. Danger was always a gunshot away for Crockett and Tubbs as they brought the fight to drug dealers, gun runners, or any sort of criminal who attempted to make the streets of Miami their territory.

The presentation of Miami Vice would have a large impact on television going forward. Heavily influenced by the cinematic flair of music videos via the rise of MTV, Miami Vice made solving crimes look impossibly cool and stylish. Every frame of an episode screams the 80s, and can immediately take viewers back to a time when a blazer over a T-shirt was fashion at its most cutting edge.

NEXT: Great ’80s Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen