Plot

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Best TV Shows of the 1980s

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The 1980s expanded television's creative possibilities through innovative shows that blended genres and pushed content boundaries. Programs like Miami Vice, Hill Street Blues, and The Twilight Zone demonstrated television's potential for cinematic storytelling and sophisticated themes.

The Simpsons (1989) poster

The Simpsons (1989)

Cops (1989) poster

Cops (1989)

SUPERKID (1983) poster

SUPERKID (1983)

Late Night with David Letterman (1982) poster

Late Night with David Letterman (1982)

Home and Away (1988) poster

Home and Away (1988)

Explorer (1985) poster

Explorer (1985)

Sons and Daughters (1982) poster

Sons and Daughters (1982)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) poster

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Obake no Q-tarō (1985) poster

Obake no Q-tarō (1985)

Seinfeld (1989) poster

Seinfeld (1989)

EastEnders (1985) poster

EastEnders (1985)

LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) poster

LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)

A Country Practice (1981) poster

A Country Practice (1981)

Garfield and Friends (1988) poster

Garfield and Friends (1988)

Thomas & Friends (1984) poster

Thomas & Friends (1984)

Nature (1982) poster

Nature (1982)

Magnum, P.I. (1980) poster

Magnum, P.I. (1980)

Newsnight (1980) poster

Newsnight (1980)

Married... with Children (1987) poster

Married... with Children (1987)

Frontline (1983) poster

Frontline (1983)

Natural World (1983) poster

Natural World (1983)

Ninja Hattori-kun (1981) poster

Ninja Hattori-kun (1981)

Jeopardy! (1984) poster

Jeopardy! (1984)

Beast King GoLion (1981) poster

Beast King GoLion (1981)

This decade's experimentation with television formats and storytelling techniques established foundations that would support the medium's later artistic achievements.