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.

Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982) poster

Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982)

Dear John (1988) poster

Dear John (1988)

Wildcat (1988) poster

Wildcat (1988)

WWF Prime Time Wrestling (1985) poster

WWF Prime Time Wrestling (1985)

Fair City (1989) poster

Fair City (1989)

Bordertown (1989) poster

Bordertown (1989)

Fame (1982) poster

Fame (1982)

The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980) poster

The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show (1980)

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1980) poster

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1980)

No. 73 (1982) poster

No. 73 (1982)

Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985) poster

Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (1985)

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (1981) poster

Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (1981)

The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (1986) poster

The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (1986)

La Chance aux chansons (1984) poster

La Chance aux chansons (1984)

Gunbuster (1988) poster

Gunbuster (1988)

Dinosaucers (1987) poster

Dinosaucers (1987)

MotorWeek (1981) poster

MotorWeek (1981)

The David Letterman Show (1980) poster

The David Letterman Show (1980)

La revancha (1989) poster

La revancha (1989)

Cat's Eye (1983) poster

Cat's Eye (1983)

Nonchan no yume (1988) poster

Nonchan no yume (1988)

Triangle (1981) poster

Triangle (1981)

Crime Story (1986) poster

Crime Story (1986)

Bread (1986) poster

Bread (1986)

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