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.

Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985) poster

Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985)

The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980) poster

The Flintstone Comedy Show (1980)

Cheers (1982) poster

Cheers (1982)

America's Most Wanted (1988) poster

America's Most Wanted (1988)

ZDF-Fernsehgarten (1986) poster

ZDF-Fernsehgarten (1986)

London's Burning (1986) poster

London's Burning (1986)

Everybody's Somebody's Favourite (1988) poster

Everybody's Somebody's Favourite (1988)

The A-Team (1983) poster

The A-Team (1983)

Full House (1987) poster

Full House (1987)

Knight Rider (1982) poster

Knight Rider (1982)

The Twilight Zone (1985) poster

The Twilight Zone (1985)

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983) poster

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)

MMC (1989) poster

MMC (1989)

The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1986) poster

The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1986)

The Fall Guy (1981) poster

The Fall Guy (1981)

The Clothes Show (1986) poster

The Clothes Show (1986)

Unsolved Mysteries (1988) poster

Unsolved Mysteries (1988)

The Catlins (1983) poster

The Catlins (1983)

Family Matters (1989) poster

Family Matters (1989)

She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985) poster

She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)

The Transformers (1984) poster

The Transformers (1984)

Night Court (1984) poster

Night Court (1984)

Wheel of Fortune (1981) poster

Wheel of Fortune (1981)

Miotsukushi (1985) poster

Miotsukushi (1985)

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