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.

China Beach (1988) poster

China Beach (1988)

Ichiban Daiko (1985) poster

Ichiban Daiko (1985)

Bosom Buddies (1980) poster

Bosom Buddies (1980)

Bionic Six (1987) poster

Bionic Six (1987)

W labiryncie (1988) poster

W labiryncie (1988)

Tales of Little Women (1987) poster

Tales of Little Women (1987)

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984) poster

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)

The Munsters Today (1988) poster

The Munsters Today (1988)

As You Please! Kamitaman (1985) poster

As You Please! Kamitaman (1985)

Gu Gu Ganmo (1984) poster

Gu Gu Ganmo (1984)

Kokoru wa Itsumo Ramune Iro (1984) poster

Kokoru wa Itsumo Ramune Iro (1984)

Le Théâtre de Bouvard (1982) poster

Le Théâtre de Bouvard (1982)

Pollyanna (1986) poster

Pollyanna (1986)

Bubblegum Crisis (1987) poster

Bubblegum Crisis (1987)

Hello! Spank (1981) poster

Hello! Spank (1981)

Queen Millennia (1981) poster

Queen Millennia (1981)

Hikari Sentai Maskman (1987) poster

Hikari Sentai Maskman (1987)

Mrs. Pepper Pot (1983) poster

Mrs. Pepper Pot (1983)

Alguien por quien vivir (1982) poster

Alguien por quien vivir (1982)

CNN Special Report (1980) poster

CNN Special Report (1980)

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) poster

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981)

Dink, the Little Dinosaur (1989) poster

Dink, the Little Dinosaur (1989)

Fridays (1980) poster

Fridays (1980)

Choushinsei Flashman (1986) poster

Choushinsei Flashman (1986)

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