Name: Top 10 80s TV Shows You Forgot Were AWESOME
Uploaded: 2025-02-06T10:57:14.000Z
Duration: 13 min 52 s
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Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best TV shows from the 80s that have been mostly forgotten by the general public.

As such, we won't be including popular classics like Miami Vice as, well, everyone knows those are awesome.

We will also be including shows that began in the 1970s or extended into the 90s so long as the bulk of their run occurred in the 80s.

Police Squad There are two big reasons why Police Squad has been forgotten.

One, it has been overshadowed by the Naked Gun movies, which served as a follow up to the show.

And two, it was only on for six episodes.

Like the classic films after it, Police Squad was created by the Zucker, Abrams, and Zucker trio and stars Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Frank Drebben.

The show is every bit as funny as the movies and uses the same style of humor, featuring a dense collection of sight gags, slapstick, and clever wordplay.

Alas, Police Squad aired just four episodes before it was cancelled by ABC, with the last two airing months later in the summer.

It was an undignified ending for such a great show.

The Love Boat Despite its rather creepy title, The Love Boat was a defining cultural product of the late 70s and early 80s.

The show garnered five Emmy and eight Golden Globe nominations throughout its run, including four for Best Musical or Comedy.

It provided an easy-going and comforting experience for viewers, with an uplifting tone, fun escape as entertainment, and glamorous settings filmed on location.

The Love Boat quickly became a staple of ABC's Saturday night lineup, and was a huge ratings success, its popularity even boosting the cruise industry.

It's a little dated today, sure, but there was nothing like it at the time.

Perfect Strangers There were a ton of great sitcoms in the 1980s, many of which are still fondly remembered today.

But for some reason, Perfect Strangers has fallen by the wayside.

The show follows the wacky misadventures of distant cousins Larry Appleton and Balki Bartokomis as they navigate daily life in Chicago.

The comedy thrives on their opposing odd-couple dynamic, with Balki's innocence and optimism clashing with Larry's more neurotic and cynical trait.

The physical slapstick humor is also top-notch, and even amongst all the uproarious comedy, the show never forgets to deliver heartfelt lessons about friendship, family, and the American dream.

You've kissed everything from here to the airport.

I don't think that policeman was that happy when you planted one out on his horse.

If they have a supply of long tubes, have you ever...

No, they don't want longer stethoscopes, they want more stethoscopes.

If the stethoscopes had really long tubes, Minister, the consultant could stand in one place and listen to all the chests on the wall.

A beloved British sitcom, Yes, Minister was said to be the favorite show of British PM Margaret Thatcher.

A sharp political satire, it follows Jim Hacker, a cabinet minister in the Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister of Britain.

Despite airing in the 1980s, the show's themes surrounding government hypocrisy and bureaucratic inefficiencies are universal, lending the show a degree of timelessness.

Still, we had to make it look as though something was going to be done.

It calls for a particular combination of talents.

Lots of activity, but no actual achievement.

It's also filled with brilliant characters, memorable quotes, and razor-sharp writing that disguises some unfortunate realities behind comedy.

Despite being forgotten by some, the show lives on through its monumental influence, its DNA still seen in shows like V.

This right here is the Resolute Desk, and it was used by FDR.

I do hope you'll wait till your hair grows to have your portrait painted.

In May 1983, NBC released V, a two-part miniseries about an alien invasion.

The miniseries was an enormous success, spawning a sequel and, some may forget, a weekly TV show.

It aired for just one season between 1984 and 1985.

And while it wasn't as popular as its predecessors, there is still plenty to like about it.

Red dust, but it took a lot longer than it should have.

V retained its core concept and tells a solid story about an alien invasion.

Jane Battler is also exceptional as Diana, the Supreme Commander of the Visitors.

And despite its age, the action is surprisingly excellent, with fun laser battles and exciting chase sequences.

Despite its premature cancellation, the show now enjoys a small cult following of fans who appreciate its obvious qualities.

As far as the rest of the world is concerned, you're already dead.

I could kill you right now and no one would even know.

The publicity is worth its weight in clients.

And you want Remington Steele to personally supervise security.

Before he was Bond, James Bond, Pierce Brosnan was Steele, Remington Steele.

This classic show has a unique premise that instantly transfixes viewers.

Laura Holt is an exceptional private investigator, but her business suffers because she's a woman.

So she invents a fictional boss, Remington Steele, in order to attract male clients.

Brosnan plays the mysterious con man who works with Laura and adopts the Remington Steele moniker.

It seemed no matter how successful my efforts were, the lion's share of the credit always went to my male counterparts, regardless of their contribution.

Laura is a strong and intelligent female lead.

They certainly work well by themselves, but the two also share pitch-perfect chemistry with electric tension and an evolving will-they-won't-they dynamic.

You just don't want to be around during skin-shedding season.

He had nothing but nice things to say about you.

Well, I have nothing but nice things to say about me either.

NBC had a huge hit with Remington Steele.

So, ABC wanted their own odd-couple detective show.

Enter Moonlighting, which tells of the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its investigators Maddy Hayes and David Addison.