TV of the 1980s
by docrivs | created - 16 Dec 2018 | updated - 16 Jul 2022 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
Stars: Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Dana Plato
Votes: 12,393
2. Gilligan's Island (1964–1992)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family
Four men and three women are stranded on an uncharted island following a torrential storm.
Stars: Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer
Votes: 16,848
3. Doctor Who (1963–1989)
TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.
Stars: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
Votes: 39,486
4. Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A wealthy mystery man named Charlie runs a detective agency via a speakerphone and his personal assistant, John Bosley. His detectives are three beautiful women, who end up in a variety of difficult situations.
Stars: Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle
Votes: 14,361
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Drama
Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer, Bill Melendez
Votes: 44,065
6. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973 TV Short)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.
Directors: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman | Stars: Todd Barbee, Robin Kohn, Stephen Shea, Hilary Momberger-Powers
Votes: 12,344
7. Frosty the Snowman (1969 TV Short)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Short, Comedy
A living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Jackie Vernon, Billy De Wolfe, Jimmy Durante, Paul Frees
Votes: 21,451
8. Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Frosty's kind of lonely, so the kids think of making him a wife, Crystal. But will Jack Frost let them be happy?
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters, Dennis Day, Paul Frees
Votes: 3,621
9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 26 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
Directors: Chuck Jones, Ben Washam | Stars: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Dal McKennon
Votes: 58,985
10. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966 TV Movie)
TV-G | 25 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin.
Director: Bill Melendez | Stars: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Sally Dryer, Cathy Steinberg
Votes: 21,983
11. Jack Frost (1979 TV Movie)
TV-G | 48 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Groundhog tells the story of how, for once, Jack Frost became human, and helped a knight win his lady love.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Buddy Hackett, Robert Morse, Paul Frees, Larry Storch
Votes: 4,510
12. Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977 TV Movie)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Drama, Family
An outcast donkey in Roman era Judea with overlong ears finds his destiny on the way to Bethlehem.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Roger Miller, Brenda Vaccaro, Paul Frees, Don Messick
Votes: 2,447
13. Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979 TV Movie)
G | 97 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Winterbolt is trying to make North Pole his evil wonderland, and it is up to Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other icons to stop him.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Red Buttons, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Alan Sues
Votes: 2,663
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 TV Movie)
TV-G | 47 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa's reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.
Director: Larry Roemer | Stars: Billie Mae Richards, Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann, Paul Soles
Votes: 37,452
15. Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976 TV Movie)
TV-G | 60 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rudolph must find Happy, the baby New Year, before midnight on New Year's Eve.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Red Skelton, Frank Gorshin, Morey Amsterdam, Harold Peary
Votes: 4,574
16. The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town (1977 TV Movie)
TV-G | 50 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Mailman decides to stop another deluge of letters by answering questions about the Easter Bunny: Sunny, a baby rabbit found and adopted by Kidville (a town of only kids--even a kid ... See full summary »
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Fred Astaire, Skip Hinnant, Bob McFadden, Allen Swift
Votes: 1,013
17. The Little Drummer Boy (1968 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 25 min | Animation, Drama, Family
An orphan drummer boy who hates humanity finds his life changed forever when he meets three wise men en route to Bethlehem.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr., Takeo Nakamura | Stars: José Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray, Ted Eccles
Votes: 6,390
18. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 TV Movie)
TV-G | 51 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
When a weary and discouraged Santa Claus considers skipping his Christmas Eve run one year, Mrs. Claus and his elves set out to change his mind.
Directors: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr. | Stars: Shirley Booth, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving
Votes: 11,631
19. The Wonder Years (1988–1993)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Kevin Arnold recalls growing up during the late 60s and early 70s; the turbulent social times make the transition from child to adult unusually interesting.
Stars: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Jason Hervey
Votes: 40,724
20. Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy
British sketch comedy starring the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Mel Smith.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones
Votes: 2,798
21. The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978–1981)
30 min | Comedy, Music
This show featured music set to imagery, just prior to MTV. Most of it was concert footage though some had effects and a theme. It had a choreography segment featuring dancers known as "Hot Gossip".
Stars: Kenny Everett, Hot Gossip, Anna Dawson, Cliff Richard
Votes: 265
22. Androcles and the Lion (1983 TV Movie)
60 min | Drama
When Androcles (Sir Billy Connolly), a Christian in second-century Rome, extracts a thorn from a lion's paw, his kindness has unexpected consequences.
Stars: Billy Connolly, Anna Calder-Marshall, Bernard Bresslaw, Rupert Frazer
Votes: 10
23. The Kenny Everett Television Show (1981–1988)
30 min | Comedy, Music
Zany antics and sketches by the anarchic camp comic.
Stars: Kenny Everett, Cleo Rocos, Sheila Steafel, Andrie Reid
Votes: 1,037
24. Super Gran (1985–1987)
60 min | Comedy, Crime, Family
The adventures of a super-powered granny who fights crime in her community.
Stars: Gudrun Ure, Iain Cuthbertson, Bill Shine, Alan Snell
Votes: 571
25. Head of the Class (1986–1991)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
A laidback teacher provides needed guidance about life for a special class of exceptional students.
Stars: William G. Schilling, Jeannetta Arnette, Dan Frischman, Robin Givens
Votes: 3,418
26. Family Ties (1982–1989)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter, Justine Bateman
Votes: 20,293
27. Hardcastle and McCormick (1983–1986)
60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A retired judge and his last defendant follow up on cases that were dismissed due to technicalities.
Stars: Brian Keith, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Joe Santos, John Hancock
Votes: 3,184
28. Moonlighting (1985–1989)
TV-PG | 3,073 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery
The quirky cases of a former model and a smart aleck detective who manage a private detective agency.
Stars: Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis, Allyce Beasley, Curtis Armstrong
Votes: 24,210
29. Remington Steele (1982–1987)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The cases of a female private detective partnered with a former thief who assumes the role of a fictitious detective in the business.
Stars: Stephanie Zimbalist, Pierce Brosnan, Doris Roberts, James Read
Votes: 9,958
30. The Yellow Rose (1983–1984)
60 min | Drama
The trials of the Champion family as they run the Yellow Rose ranch.
Stars: Sam Elliott, Cybill Shepherd, David Soul, Edward Albert
Votes: 267
31. Night Court (1984–1992)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.
Stars: Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, Richard Moll, Charles Robinson
Votes: 17,832
32. It Takes Two (1982–1983)
30 min | Comedy
Sam and Molly Quinn are two hardworking career people just too busy with their careers (he's a doctor, she's a lawyer) to pay attention to each other or their teenagers.
Stars: Richard Crenna, Patty Duke, Billie Bird, Helen Hunt
Votes: 106
33. The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.
Stars: Isabel Sanford, Sherman Hemsley, Roxie Roker, Franklin Cover
Votes: 10,593
34. Gimme a Break! (1981–1987)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
Nell agrees to look after the Kanisky's home, as a special favor to her dying friend, and takes on the role of housekeeper to widowed police chief Carl and a parental figure to his three teenage daughters, and eventually a foster son.
Stars: Nell Carter, Lara Jill Miller, Kari Michaelsen, Lauri Hendler
Votes: 3,682
35. 227 (1985–1990)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
This series took place in an apartment building numbered 227. The cast would frequently be sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs, involved in some discussion that would unfold into the weekly plotline.
Stars: Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Hal Williams, Alaina Reed-Hall
Votes: 3,980
36. Alice (1976–1985)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures and trials of an aspiring singer and her co-workers at a greasy-spoon diner.
Stars: Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, Philip McKeon
Votes: 5,468
37. One Day at a Time (1975–1984)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of a divorced mother, her family and their building superintendent in Indianapolis.
Stars: Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington Jr., Valerie Bertinelli, Mackenzie Phillips
Votes: 5,176
38. Amen (1986–1991)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Rev. Rueben Gregory, finds dealing with the headstrong, opinionated, and unethical Deacon Ernest Frye--who works as a lawyer when not tending to church business--won't make his job easy.
Stars: Sherman Hemsley, Clifton Davis, Anna Maria Horsford, Roz Ryan
Votes: 2,326
39. Three's Company (1976–1984)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of two women and one man living in one apartment and their neighbors.
Stars: John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers, Richard Kline
Votes: 17,083
40. WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the staff of a struggling Top 40 rock radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Stars: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Howard Hesseman
Votes: 11,222
41. Newhart (1982–1990)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
The misadventures of an author-turned-innkeeper and his friends in rural Vermont.
Stars: Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, Tom Poston, Julia Duffy
Votes: 8,078
42. Taxi (1978–1983)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The staff of a New York City taxicab company go about their job while they dream of greater things.
Stars: Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conaway, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner
Votes: 15,801
43. Cheers (1982–1993)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Drama
The regulars of the Boston bar "Cheers" share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name.
Stars: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt
Votes: 61,941
44. Married... with Children (1987–1997)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
Al is the quintessential working class dad. Peggy, his wife, always wants more from him. With their children, they go through the highs and lows of ordinary life.
Stars: Ed O'Neill, Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal, Amanda Bearse
Votes: 110,999
45. Kate & Allie (1984–1989)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Two divorced mothers and their children share an apartment.
Stars: Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin, Frederick Koehler, Allison Smith
Votes: 2,351
46. Bones Brigade: An Autobiography (2012)
PG | 90 min | Documentary, Sport
When six teenage boys came together as a skateboarding team in the 1980s, they reinvented not only their chosen sport but themselves too - as they evolved from insecure outsiders to the most influential athletes in the field.
Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Tony Alva, Steve Caballero, Fred Durst, Shepard Fairey
Votes: 2,729
47. Lords of Dogtown (2005)
PG-13 | 107 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The film follows the surf and skateboarding trends that originated in Venice, California during the 1970s.
Director: Catherine Hardwicke | Stars: Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, Johnny Knoxville
Votes: 58,152 | Gross: $11.01M
48. Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator (2002)
R | 82 min | Documentary, Sport
A documentary exploring the rise and fall of 80s skateboard legend Mark "Gator" Rogowski.
Director: Helen Stickler | Stars: Mark 'Gator' Rogowski, Stacy Peralta, Tony Hawk, Jason Jessee
Votes: 1,151 | Gross: $0.13M
49. The Search for Animal Chin (1987 Video)
66 min | Action
The Bones Brigade skate their way across America in search of legendary skater, Won Ton Animal Chin. The missing skater remains elusive, but the crew journey from Hawaii to Vegas and realise that Animal Chin is alive in them all.
Director: Stacy Peralta | Stars: Chris Borst, Steve Caballero, Adrian Demain, Skip Engblom
Votes: 439
50. Jacob's Ladder (I) (1990)
R | 113 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.
Director: Adrian Lyne | Stars: Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven
Votes: 117,733 | Gross: $26.12M
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