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.

On The Waterfront (1980) poster

On The Waterfront (1980)

The Adventures of Peter Pan (1989) poster

The Adventures of Peter Pan (1989)

Vereda Tropical (1984) poster

Vereda Tropical (1984)

My Sister Sam (1986) poster

My Sister Sam (1986)

Looking Back in Anger (1989) poster

Looking Back in Anger (1989)

Wipeout (1988) poster

Wipeout (1988)

Day by Day (1988) poster

Day by Day (1988)

The Black Forest Clinic (1985) poster

The Black Forest Clinic (1985)

The Raggy Dolls (1986) poster

The Raggy Dolls (1986)

Vida Nova (1988) poster

Vida Nova (1988)

French & Saunders (1987) poster

French & Saunders (1987)

Kojika Monogatari (1983) poster

Kojika Monogatari (1983)

Silver Spoons (1982) poster

Silver Spoons (1982)

Praxis Bülowbogen (1987) poster

Praxis Bülowbogen (1987)

Yogi's Treasure Hunt (1985) poster

Yogi's Treasure Hunt (1985)

Better Life (1987) poster

Better Life (1987)

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985) poster

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985)

Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman (1981) poster

Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman (1981)

Freddy's Nightmares (1988) poster

Freddy's Nightmares (1988)

Anything But Love (1989) poster

Anything But Love (1989)

T-Bag (1985) poster

T-Bag (1985)

Tenko (1981) poster

Tenko (1981)

Princess Sarah (1985) poster

Princess Sarah (1985)

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980) poster

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (1980)

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