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.

Flamingo Road (1981) poster

Flamingo Road (1981)

Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series (1987) poster

Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series (1987)

Saturday Live (1986) poster

Saturday Live (1986)

Countdown (1982) poster

Countdown (1982)

The Max Headroom Show (1985) poster

The Max Headroom Show (1985)

G.P. (1989) poster

G.P. (1989)

Hanekonma (1986) poster

Hanekonma (1986)

The New Gidget (1986) poster

The New Gidget (1986)

Robotech (1985) poster

Robotech (1985)

Coração Alado (1980) poster

Coração Alado (1980)

Chie the Brat (1981) poster

Chie the Brat (1981)

Roseanne (1988) poster

Roseanne (1988)

Yes Minister (1980) poster

Yes Minister (1980)

Onihei Hankachō (1989) poster

Onihei Hankachō (1989)

Patlabor: The TV Series (1989) poster

Patlabor: The TV Series (1989)

Future Police Urashiman (1983) poster

Future Police Urashiman (1983)

Police Cadet (1984) poster

Police Cadet (1984)

The Kenny Everett Television Show (1982) poster

The Kenny Everett Television Show (1982)

Superboy (1988) poster

Superboy (1988)

Gumby Adventures (1988) poster

Gumby Adventures (1988)

At the Movies (1982) poster

At the Movies (1982)

Gone with the wind (1980) poster

Gone with the wind (1980)

Alien Nation (1989) poster

Alien Nation (1989)

Nana the Supergirl (1983) poster

Nana the Supergirl (1983)

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