JamesG
04-14-2009, 02:15 AM
It may have been the Me Decade, but in TV land, the sisters were doin' it for themselves and finally getting respect as cops, war nurses and working moms; iconic shows like Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere and L.A. Law would forever change (for the better) cop, medical and legal dramas; and no idea was too high concept to fill a primetime spot (time-travelling physicist? check; housewife-turned-CIA op? check; New York City beauty in love with a subterranean monster? check).
The bottom line: They all add up to 10 years of fine channel surfing -- and our awesome list of the 40 best series of the 1980s. -- By Kimberly Potts
40. MacGyver (1985-1992)
The resourcefulness of Richard Dean Anderson's secret agent is so iconic that MacGyver has become a verb; the show sparked an ongoing series of 'MacGruber' spoofs on Saturday Night Live (Anderson recently cameo-ed). MacGyver is also the heartthrob of choice for Marge's sibs on The Simpsons, and the show is spawning a big-screen version ... just goes to show you how far a man and his Swiss Army knife can go.
39. Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)
Before he won two Oscars, Tom Hanks played two characters in this high-concept, often improvised sitcom. Hanks donned drag to turn his Kip into Buffy, who, with pal Henry/Hildegarde (Peter Scolari), landed a cheap room in an all-female NYC hotel. For a season, the fellas kept their scam on the down low from their comely neighbor Sonny (Donna Dixon), aided by their sassy ad agency co-worker Amy (Wendie Jo Sperber).
38. 21 Jump Street (1987-1991)
One of the first hits for the Fox network, Jump wooed a young audience with the adventures of young Los Angeles police officers who went undercover at high schools to help bust young perps. Tackling topics like alcoholism, drug abuse and AIDS, the drama often ended episodes with its stars making a related public service announcement. Oh yeah, and Jump Street gave us Johnny Depp ... 'nuff said.
37. Matlock (1986-1995)
It was your grandfather's legal drama, but even younger demos could embrace crabby Southern attorney Ben Matlock (surprisingly Emmy-less TV legend Andy Griffith), the cheap, hot dog-lovin' legal eagle who won acquittal for nearly every client. On two homes -- NBC and later ABC -- Matlock famously saved his own clients by ferreting out the real culprits, usually in dramatic courtroom showdowns.
36. 227 (1985-1990)
The Jeffersons resident scene stealer as wisecrackin' maid Florence, Marla Gibbs took her sassy character and toned it down ever-so-slightly as apartment-dwelling Washington, D.C., housewife Mary Jenkins, who liked to hang on the stoop and dish with pals Rose and Pearl. The most frequent subject of their gossip: sashaying mantrap Sandra, played by 227's own resident scene stealer, Jackee.
35. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
The chemistry between stars Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner made this unlikely drama work -- she was divorced mom Amanda King, who accidentally became a secret agent during a mission that he, spy guy Lee 'Scarecrow' Stetson, led. They bantered, and her worldviews often clashed with his government ops, but they fell in love along the way and eventually married during their four-season run.
34. Square Pegs (1982-1983)
Before she was queen of NYC nightlife, Sarah Jessica Parker was queen of the teen geeks as Patty, who, with BFF Lauren (Amy Linker), desperately and hilariously tried to "click with the right clique" at Weemawee High. She also had to deal with uber-preppy Muffy (Jami Gertz) but thankfully had a killer soundtrack for her teen meltdowns, including a Devo guest appearance and the Waitresses' catchy theme song.
33. Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
It was M*A*S*H*'s Trapper John McIntyre (Pernell Roberts) all grown up and working as the lovable chief of surgery at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. Among his cohorts: "Jackpot" Jackson (Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell), sassy Nurse Shoop (Madge Sinclair) and Dr. Gonzo Gates (Gregory Harrison), the heartthrob mentee who was reminiscent of young Trapper and who lived in a trailer in the hospital parking lot.
32. Kate & Allie (1984-1989)
Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin put an '80s spin on the Brady Bunch-ish blended family -- their titular characters shared an NYC apartment, with their precocious children, after their divorces. The show was one of the first to not only portray divorcees as strong, independent women, but also as women not so embittered that they'd forgo the idea or remarrying, as Allie did before series' end.
31. Knots Landing (1979-1993)
The alcoholic ne'er-do-well brother was probably the least likely Ewing to earn a Dallas spin-off, yet Ted Shackelford's Gary was front and center on most of this long-running soap's juiciest dramas. He had lots of help from co-star Donna Mills, whose wicked, plotting Abby changed several lives forever when she moved onto the cul-de-sac and began sleeping with all the other ladies' husbands.
30. Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988)
Private eye Spenser (late TV fave Robert Urich) was a former boxer and Boston cop and gourmet cook who often worked in tandem with the Boston police while solving cases. The cool, well-read Spenser (based on Robert B. Parker's novels) tooled around town in a green '66 Mustang, and often relied on help from equally cool enforcer Hawk (Avery Brooks), whose own signature tool was a large Magnum gun.
29. Remington Steele (1982-1987)
Suave, handsome Pierce Brosnan nabbed his future gig as 007 with his role as Steele, a fake persona created by P.I. Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist) so she could get work from clients who thought a woman couldn't get the job done. Brosnan's thief character assumed the Steele role in a bit of blackmail, and a sexually charged partnership was born. As was hinted in the series finale, the duo eventually became personal partners as well.
28. Benson (1979-1986)
Soap butler Benson (Emmy winner Robert Guillaume) headed up this spin-off that saw him rise from head of household for Governor Gatling (James Noble) to state budget director to lieutenant governor to gubernatorial candidate. Just as he had been on Soap, wisecracking Benson was the show's levelheaded presence, wrangling crabby Kraus (Inge Swenson), the cook, and, in his first TV job, Jerry Seinfeld as delivery boy Frankie.
27. Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
Despite 12 nominations, star Angela Lansbury never won an Emmy for her beloved turn as widowed mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, whose penchant for snooping out clues -- and being nosy -- led her to solve many murder cases in her Cabot Cove, Maine, hometown and beyond. Her sleuthing work also led to many guest stars, including future A-listers George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix and Courteney Cox.
26. Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990)
New York City attorney Catherine (Linda Hamilton) was the beauty and lion-pussed Vincent (Ron Perlman) was the beast; the two fell in love when he rescued her after a brutal attack and nursed her back to health in his underground cave. Their star-crossed romance continued, and even produced a baby, until a mobster murdered Catherine -- and Hamilton's departure killed the show's ratings.
25. Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
It was a sci-fi-ish drama that focused on its more down-to-earth concept, namely that one person could make a major impact on the world by touching one life at a time. Dr. Sam Beckett's (Scott Bakula) time-travel experiment went "caca," leaving he and pal Al (Dean Stockwell) to leap through time, righting wrongs and advising real-world characters like Buddy Holly, Stephen King and Dr. Ruth along the way.
24. In the Heat of the Night (1988-1995)
Heat starred Carroll O'Connor as Bill Gillespie, a Southern sheriff forced into diversity when Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins), an African-American cop, was added to his staff. Heat became not just a cop drama, but a slice-of-life look at a small town and its changing mores, and managed to survive eight seasons despite Rollins' firing after years of drug abuse and the show's move from NBC to CBS.
23. Fame (1982-1987)
Based on a real-world NYC high school (and the film that came before it), Fame revolved around standard teen angst -- with the added pressure on the students to excel in their performing-arts endeavors. Debbie Allen and Gene Anthony Ray, as dancer Leroy, were the series' only breakouts, though Fame's infectious song-and-dance numbers made it so popular that it continued in syndication for four seasons when NBC cancelled it after two.
22. Dynasty (1981-1989)
Campy storylines and ultimate TV villainess Alexis (Joan Collins) were the show's trademarks. The Moldavian Massacre, Sammy Jo's (Heather Locklear) machinations and the frenzy over a kiss between Linda Evans and AIDS-stricken guest Rock Hudson were all among the show's most famous moments, though none pop to mind as quickly as the drama's most classic scene: the Krystle/Alexis water-logged catfight.
21. The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have ... this broad, but sweet Diff'rent Strokes spin-off about boarding-school students Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Natalie (Mindy Cohn), Jo (Nancy McKeon) and Tootie (Kim Fields) and their den mother Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae). Plots featured typical teen scenarios that led to a lesson learned by episode's end, but also made room for appearances by future Oscar winners Helen Hunt and George Clooney.
20. Miami Vice (1984-1989)
No show epitomizes '80s TV more than this Don Johnson-Philip Michael Thomas cop drama, known as much for its neon hues, pastel fashions, frenetic pacing and blaring rock soundtrack as its shockingly violent storylines. Quirky touches abounded -- Det. Crockett lived aboard a boat guarded by his pet alligator Elvis -- as did future-star guest spots, including Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson and Ben Stiller.
19. Night Court (1984-1992)
The perps who visited night court were in for a wild ride, because Harry Stone (Harry Anderson) wasn't like other judges. He loved wearing jeans, grooving to Mel Torme and busting out magic tricks, and even decided a case with a flip of a coin. He was also fair-minded and kindhearted, useful traits when dealing with colorful characters like hookers, drunkards and smarmy D.A. Dan (John Larroquette).
18. Designing Women (1986-1993)
Many shows feature one sassy female character, but Women focused on four: Beauty queen Suzanne (Delta Burke), her feisty sister Julia (Dixie Carter), single mom Mary Jo (Annie Potts) and ditzy Charlene (Jean Smart), who ran Atlanta interior design firm Sugarbakers. The women bonded, fought, dated, loved, lost and tackled many a controversy, until the firing of Delta Burke -- rumored to be sparked by her weight gain -- led to the beginning of the end.
17. China Beach (1988-1991)
At last, recognition for the sacrifices women made during the Vietnam War. Emmy winner Dana Delany led the way as Capt. Colleen McMurphy, a kind, optimistic nurse who was forever changed by her heartbreaking interactions with wounded soldiers. CSI vet Marg Helgenberger had a breakout role as K.C., the hooker with a heart. The gritty series never backed away from the realities of war, even flashing forward to how the characters coped decades later in the series finale.
16. Married ... With Children (1987-1997)
They put the diss in dysfunctional, and so what if the Bundys -- lame shoe salesman dad Al (Ed O'Neill), slothful mom Peggy (Katey Sagal), slutty sis Kelly (Christina Applegate) and horndog son Bud (David Faustino) -- weren't the all-American family? What they lacked in caring, sensitivity and, according to each other, good hygiene habits, they more than made up for with insults, backstabbery and a shared love of irking neighbors Marcy (Amanda Bearse), Steve (David Garrison) and Jefferson (Ted McGinley).
15. Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
One, Cagney (Emmy winner Sharon Gless), was a single career gal. The other, Lacey (Emmy winner Tyne Daly), was a working mom. And together, they made up one of the decade's toughest NYPD teams, tackling controversial subject matter like rape, an abortion-clinic bombing and fact-based racial incidents, while also shedding light on the under-portrayed home lives and friendships of female detectives.
14. Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
A beautiful Hawaiian setting and a beautiful leading man in Tom Selleck were all this private eye drama needed, but great sidekicks -- especially the pretentious Higgins (John Hillerman) -- that hot red Ferrari, fine storytelling, endearing character development and, of course, Selleck's iconic moustache, were all extra touches that earned the action series, now in development for the big screen, a devoted audience.
13. Fraggle Rock (1983-1987)
Was it Jim Henson's stealth attempt to get us all to eat our veggies? Perhaps. But this Muppet-ized collection of creatures living beneath a rock at inventor Doc's house was more often a commentary on the way humans do, or should, interact with each other, from the veggie-lovin' Fraggles and the work-minded Doozers to the radish-thieving Gorgs, who thought they were the rulers of the universe.
12. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
At its core, it was a sitcom about four single women bonding while trying to find love in sizzling Miami. Yes, the single ladies -- man-devouring Blanche (Rue McClanahan), sarcastic Dorothy (Bea Arthur), dim bulb Rose (Betty White) and salty mama Sophia (Estelle Getty) -- were your grandma's age, but their risqué chatter and devotion to living their Golden years to the fullest continues to endear them to fans, even younger ones, still today.
11. Newhart (1982-1990)
Author Dick (Bob Newhart) and his wife traded in big city life to run a Vermont inn, where they happened upon one of the tube's quirkiest collections of small-town folk. Newhart's trademark phlegmaticness was the perfect comic foil for the wackiness that ensued from such eccentrics as dimwitted George (Tom Poston), redneck Larry (William Sanderson), his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl. The series finale was just dreamy (Newhart and his former TV wife, Suzanne Pleshette, woke to realize the whole series had been a figment of their subconscious).
10. Dallas (1979-1991)
No other primetime soap has ever been sudsier than this Ewing family saga, led by the wheelin', dealin', backstabbin' ways of ornery oilman J.R. (Larry Hagman). Millions of TV fans would have to 'fess up to wearing "Who shot J.R.?" buttons in the summer of 1980, as they anxiously awaited the reveal of who had pumped the Stetson-wearin' bad boy with bullets. P.S. Kristin. It was Kristin (Mary Crosby)!
9. Family Ties (1982-1989)
No series was more representative of the Reagan era than Ties, which introduced one of the all-time greatest tube stars into TV land with Michael J. Fox's portrayal of high school Republican Alex P. Keaton. The preppy right-winger stole the spotlight in what was also a well-written family comedy, and Fox's dead-on timing and gift for physical comedy made him and the series a favorite of Reagan himself.
8. L.A. Law (1986-1994)
Law was to legal dramas what Hill Street Blues was to cop shows, i.e. a genre-changer that split focus between the attorneys' personal and work lives. Arnie Becker's (Corbin Bernsen) womanizing and the Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey)/Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin) affair provided openings for the show's blending of drama and dark humor, best exemplified in the killing of attorney Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) when she fell down an empty elevator shaft.
7. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Slapstick gags, clever wordplay and plenty of home-brewed cocktails were what got the men and women of the 4077 by as they dealt with trying to stitch up wounded Korean War soldiers. That was a boon for TV fans, as the series' writing and acting, especially from Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, Mike Ferrell, Loretta Swit and William Christopher, set a new standard for what would become known as the dramedy.
6. St. Elsewhere (1972-1983)
Before ER, this gripping doc show had the greatest ensemble medical drama cast around, with Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, David Morse, William Daniels, Ed Flanders, Bonnie Bartlett and Christina Pickles among the St. Eligius staff. The show, known for its top-notch writing and dark humor, also featured one of TV land's most memorable, clever series finales with young Tommy Westphall's snow globe.
5. The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
It's the only show in history to be the top-rated series for five consecutive seasons, and the reason is simple: It was an endearing, consistently funny sitcom with universal appeal. Yes, the Huxtables were a close-knit family led by two loving, professional parents, and they happened to be African-American, a fact that was celebrated, but never made the central point of the Emmy-winning show.
4. thirtysomething (1987-1991)
Ultimate yuppy drama thirtysomething followed the lives of a group of Philly friends who got all moody when they realized their personal and professional lives weren't always turning out the way they had planned, from ambitious career woman-turned-stay-at-home mom Hope (Mel Harris) to serial cheater Elliot (Timothy Busfield) and free-spirited Gary (Peter Horton), the bicycle rider who hated cars but was ironically killed in a car accident.
3. Moonlighting (1985-1989)
How talented were Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis as bickering P.I.s Maddie and David? So talented that they remain one of TV's all-time best will-they-or-won't-they pairings, though they famously didn't like each other off-screen. Of course, the show's clever writing didn't hurt, nor did fantasies like the black-and white dream sequences, musical numbers and the famous Taming of the Shrew spoof.
2. Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
Blues proved to be an arresting '80s TV development with its hand-held camera shots and focus on the impact cops' work had on their lives -- gritty and realistic in the pre-NYPD Blue era -- a frenetic departure from the old police procedurals. Slow to win over viewers, Capt. Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti), mad man Belker (Bruce Weitz), alcoholic LaRue (Kiel Martin) and rebellious Renko (Charles Haid) nonetheless earned nearly 100 Emmy nods in seven seasons.
1. Cheers (1982-1993)
TV's ultimate happy (half) hour featured a lovable bunch of bar dwellers who dispensed as many laughs as Cheers owner Sam (Ted Danson) did cocktails. Whether it was for beer-soaked wisdom from Cliff (John Ratzenberger) and Norm (George Wendt), a pompous speech from Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), a Carla (Rhea Perlman) zinger or Diane (Shelley Long) and Sam's doomed romance, viewers flocked to the little pub where everyone knew your name and every episode promised to bring the funny.
http://television.aol.com/insidetv/2009/04/13/best-80s-tv-shows/
The bottom line: They all add up to 10 years of fine channel surfing -- and our awesome list of the 40 best series of the 1980s. -- By Kimberly Potts
40. MacGyver (1985-1992)
The resourcefulness of Richard Dean Anderson's secret agent is so iconic that MacGyver has become a verb; the show sparked an ongoing series of 'MacGruber' spoofs on Saturday Night Live (Anderson recently cameo-ed). MacGyver is also the heartthrob of choice for Marge's sibs on The Simpsons, and the show is spawning a big-screen version ... just goes to show you how far a man and his Swiss Army knife can go.
39. Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)
Before he won two Oscars, Tom Hanks played two characters in this high-concept, often improvised sitcom. Hanks donned drag to turn his Kip into Buffy, who, with pal Henry/Hildegarde (Peter Scolari), landed a cheap room in an all-female NYC hotel. For a season, the fellas kept their scam on the down low from their comely neighbor Sonny (Donna Dixon), aided by their sassy ad agency co-worker Amy (Wendie Jo Sperber).
38. 21 Jump Street (1987-1991)
One of the first hits for the Fox network, Jump wooed a young audience with the adventures of young Los Angeles police officers who went undercover at high schools to help bust young perps. Tackling topics like alcoholism, drug abuse and AIDS, the drama often ended episodes with its stars making a related public service announcement. Oh yeah, and Jump Street gave us Johnny Depp ... 'nuff said.
37. Matlock (1986-1995)
It was your grandfather's legal drama, but even younger demos could embrace crabby Southern attorney Ben Matlock (surprisingly Emmy-less TV legend Andy Griffith), the cheap, hot dog-lovin' legal eagle who won acquittal for nearly every client. On two homes -- NBC and later ABC -- Matlock famously saved his own clients by ferreting out the real culprits, usually in dramatic courtroom showdowns.
36. 227 (1985-1990)
The Jeffersons resident scene stealer as wisecrackin' maid Florence, Marla Gibbs took her sassy character and toned it down ever-so-slightly as apartment-dwelling Washington, D.C., housewife Mary Jenkins, who liked to hang on the stoop and dish with pals Rose and Pearl. The most frequent subject of their gossip: sashaying mantrap Sandra, played by 227's own resident scene stealer, Jackee.
35. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
The chemistry between stars Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner made this unlikely drama work -- she was divorced mom Amanda King, who accidentally became a secret agent during a mission that he, spy guy Lee 'Scarecrow' Stetson, led. They bantered, and her worldviews often clashed with his government ops, but they fell in love along the way and eventually married during their four-season run.
34. Square Pegs (1982-1983)
Before she was queen of NYC nightlife, Sarah Jessica Parker was queen of the teen geeks as Patty, who, with BFF Lauren (Amy Linker), desperately and hilariously tried to "click with the right clique" at Weemawee High. She also had to deal with uber-preppy Muffy (Jami Gertz) but thankfully had a killer soundtrack for her teen meltdowns, including a Devo guest appearance and the Waitresses' catchy theme song.
33. Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
It was M*A*S*H*'s Trapper John McIntyre (Pernell Roberts) all grown up and working as the lovable chief of surgery at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. Among his cohorts: "Jackpot" Jackson (Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell), sassy Nurse Shoop (Madge Sinclair) and Dr. Gonzo Gates (Gregory Harrison), the heartthrob mentee who was reminiscent of young Trapper and who lived in a trailer in the hospital parking lot.
32. Kate & Allie (1984-1989)
Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin put an '80s spin on the Brady Bunch-ish blended family -- their titular characters shared an NYC apartment, with their precocious children, after their divorces. The show was one of the first to not only portray divorcees as strong, independent women, but also as women not so embittered that they'd forgo the idea or remarrying, as Allie did before series' end.
31. Knots Landing (1979-1993)
The alcoholic ne'er-do-well brother was probably the least likely Ewing to earn a Dallas spin-off, yet Ted Shackelford's Gary was front and center on most of this long-running soap's juiciest dramas. He had lots of help from co-star Donna Mills, whose wicked, plotting Abby changed several lives forever when she moved onto the cul-de-sac and began sleeping with all the other ladies' husbands.
30. Spenser: For Hire (1985-1988)
Private eye Spenser (late TV fave Robert Urich) was a former boxer and Boston cop and gourmet cook who often worked in tandem with the Boston police while solving cases. The cool, well-read Spenser (based on Robert B. Parker's novels) tooled around town in a green '66 Mustang, and often relied on help from equally cool enforcer Hawk (Avery Brooks), whose own signature tool was a large Magnum gun.
29. Remington Steele (1982-1987)
Suave, handsome Pierce Brosnan nabbed his future gig as 007 with his role as Steele, a fake persona created by P.I. Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist) so she could get work from clients who thought a woman couldn't get the job done. Brosnan's thief character assumed the Steele role in a bit of blackmail, and a sexually charged partnership was born. As was hinted in the series finale, the duo eventually became personal partners as well.
28. Benson (1979-1986)
Soap butler Benson (Emmy winner Robert Guillaume) headed up this spin-off that saw him rise from head of household for Governor Gatling (James Noble) to state budget director to lieutenant governor to gubernatorial candidate. Just as he had been on Soap, wisecracking Benson was the show's levelheaded presence, wrangling crabby Kraus (Inge Swenson), the cook, and, in his first TV job, Jerry Seinfeld as delivery boy Frankie.
27. Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
Despite 12 nominations, star Angela Lansbury never won an Emmy for her beloved turn as widowed mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, whose penchant for snooping out clues -- and being nosy -- led her to solve many murder cases in her Cabot Cove, Maine, hometown and beyond. Her sleuthing work also led to many guest stars, including future A-listers George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix and Courteney Cox.
26. Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990)
New York City attorney Catherine (Linda Hamilton) was the beauty and lion-pussed Vincent (Ron Perlman) was the beast; the two fell in love when he rescued her after a brutal attack and nursed her back to health in his underground cave. Their star-crossed romance continued, and even produced a baby, until a mobster murdered Catherine -- and Hamilton's departure killed the show's ratings.
25. Quantum Leap (1989-1993)
It was a sci-fi-ish drama that focused on its more down-to-earth concept, namely that one person could make a major impact on the world by touching one life at a time. Dr. Sam Beckett's (Scott Bakula) time-travel experiment went "caca," leaving he and pal Al (Dean Stockwell) to leap through time, righting wrongs and advising real-world characters like Buddy Holly, Stephen King and Dr. Ruth along the way.
24. In the Heat of the Night (1988-1995)
Heat starred Carroll O'Connor as Bill Gillespie, a Southern sheriff forced into diversity when Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins), an African-American cop, was added to his staff. Heat became not just a cop drama, but a slice-of-life look at a small town and its changing mores, and managed to survive eight seasons despite Rollins' firing after years of drug abuse and the show's move from NBC to CBS.
23. Fame (1982-1987)
Based on a real-world NYC high school (and the film that came before it), Fame revolved around standard teen angst -- with the added pressure on the students to excel in their performing-arts endeavors. Debbie Allen and Gene Anthony Ray, as dancer Leroy, were the series' only breakouts, though Fame's infectious song-and-dance numbers made it so popular that it continued in syndication for four seasons when NBC cancelled it after two.
22. Dynasty (1981-1989)
Campy storylines and ultimate TV villainess Alexis (Joan Collins) were the show's trademarks. The Moldavian Massacre, Sammy Jo's (Heather Locklear) machinations and the frenzy over a kiss between Linda Evans and AIDS-stricken guest Rock Hudson were all among the show's most famous moments, though none pop to mind as quickly as the drama's most classic scene: the Krystle/Alexis water-logged catfight.
21. The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have ... this broad, but sweet Diff'rent Strokes spin-off about boarding-school students Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Natalie (Mindy Cohn), Jo (Nancy McKeon) and Tootie (Kim Fields) and their den mother Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae). Plots featured typical teen scenarios that led to a lesson learned by episode's end, but also made room for appearances by future Oscar winners Helen Hunt and George Clooney.
20. Miami Vice (1984-1989)
No show epitomizes '80s TV more than this Don Johnson-Philip Michael Thomas cop drama, known as much for its neon hues, pastel fashions, frenetic pacing and blaring rock soundtrack as its shockingly violent storylines. Quirky touches abounded -- Det. Crockett lived aboard a boat guarded by his pet alligator Elvis -- as did future-star guest spots, including Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson and Ben Stiller.
19. Night Court (1984-1992)
The perps who visited night court were in for a wild ride, because Harry Stone (Harry Anderson) wasn't like other judges. He loved wearing jeans, grooving to Mel Torme and busting out magic tricks, and even decided a case with a flip of a coin. He was also fair-minded and kindhearted, useful traits when dealing with colorful characters like hookers, drunkards and smarmy D.A. Dan (John Larroquette).
18. Designing Women (1986-1993)
Many shows feature one sassy female character, but Women focused on four: Beauty queen Suzanne (Delta Burke), her feisty sister Julia (Dixie Carter), single mom Mary Jo (Annie Potts) and ditzy Charlene (Jean Smart), who ran Atlanta interior design firm Sugarbakers. The women bonded, fought, dated, loved, lost and tackled many a controversy, until the firing of Delta Burke -- rumored to be sparked by her weight gain -- led to the beginning of the end.
17. China Beach (1988-1991)
At last, recognition for the sacrifices women made during the Vietnam War. Emmy winner Dana Delany led the way as Capt. Colleen McMurphy, a kind, optimistic nurse who was forever changed by her heartbreaking interactions with wounded soldiers. CSI vet Marg Helgenberger had a breakout role as K.C., the hooker with a heart. The gritty series never backed away from the realities of war, even flashing forward to how the characters coped decades later in the series finale.
16. Married ... With Children (1987-1997)
They put the diss in dysfunctional, and so what if the Bundys -- lame shoe salesman dad Al (Ed O'Neill), slothful mom Peggy (Katey Sagal), slutty sis Kelly (Christina Applegate) and horndog son Bud (David Faustino) -- weren't the all-American family? What they lacked in caring, sensitivity and, according to each other, good hygiene habits, they more than made up for with insults, backstabbery and a shared love of irking neighbors Marcy (Amanda Bearse), Steve (David Garrison) and Jefferson (Ted McGinley).
15. Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
One, Cagney (Emmy winner Sharon Gless), was a single career gal. The other, Lacey (Emmy winner Tyne Daly), was a working mom. And together, they made up one of the decade's toughest NYPD teams, tackling controversial subject matter like rape, an abortion-clinic bombing and fact-based racial incidents, while also shedding light on the under-portrayed home lives and friendships of female detectives.
14. Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
A beautiful Hawaiian setting and a beautiful leading man in Tom Selleck were all this private eye drama needed, but great sidekicks -- especially the pretentious Higgins (John Hillerman) -- that hot red Ferrari, fine storytelling, endearing character development and, of course, Selleck's iconic moustache, were all extra touches that earned the action series, now in development for the big screen, a devoted audience.
13. Fraggle Rock (1983-1987)
Was it Jim Henson's stealth attempt to get us all to eat our veggies? Perhaps. But this Muppet-ized collection of creatures living beneath a rock at inventor Doc's house was more often a commentary on the way humans do, or should, interact with each other, from the veggie-lovin' Fraggles and the work-minded Doozers to the radish-thieving Gorgs, who thought they were the rulers of the universe.
12. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
At its core, it was a sitcom about four single women bonding while trying to find love in sizzling Miami. Yes, the single ladies -- man-devouring Blanche (Rue McClanahan), sarcastic Dorothy (Bea Arthur), dim bulb Rose (Betty White) and salty mama Sophia (Estelle Getty) -- were your grandma's age, but their risqué chatter and devotion to living their Golden years to the fullest continues to endear them to fans, even younger ones, still today.
11. Newhart (1982-1990)
Author Dick (Bob Newhart) and his wife traded in big city life to run a Vermont inn, where they happened upon one of the tube's quirkiest collections of small-town folk. Newhart's trademark phlegmaticness was the perfect comic foil for the wackiness that ensued from such eccentrics as dimwitted George (Tom Poston), redneck Larry (William Sanderson), his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl. The series finale was just dreamy (Newhart and his former TV wife, Suzanne Pleshette, woke to realize the whole series had been a figment of their subconscious).
10. Dallas (1979-1991)
No other primetime soap has ever been sudsier than this Ewing family saga, led by the wheelin', dealin', backstabbin' ways of ornery oilman J.R. (Larry Hagman). Millions of TV fans would have to 'fess up to wearing "Who shot J.R.?" buttons in the summer of 1980, as they anxiously awaited the reveal of who had pumped the Stetson-wearin' bad boy with bullets. P.S. Kristin. It was Kristin (Mary Crosby)!
9. Family Ties (1982-1989)
No series was more representative of the Reagan era than Ties, which introduced one of the all-time greatest tube stars into TV land with Michael J. Fox's portrayal of high school Republican Alex P. Keaton. The preppy right-winger stole the spotlight in what was also a well-written family comedy, and Fox's dead-on timing and gift for physical comedy made him and the series a favorite of Reagan himself.
8. L.A. Law (1986-1994)
Law was to legal dramas what Hill Street Blues was to cop shows, i.e. a genre-changer that split focus between the attorneys' personal and work lives. Arnie Becker's (Corbin Bernsen) womanizing and the Grace Van Owen (Susan Dey)/Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin) affair provided openings for the show's blending of drama and dark humor, best exemplified in the killing of attorney Rosalind Shays (Diana Muldaur) when she fell down an empty elevator shaft.
7. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Slapstick gags, clever wordplay and plenty of home-brewed cocktails were what got the men and women of the 4077 by as they dealt with trying to stitch up wounded Korean War soldiers. That was a boon for TV fans, as the series' writing and acting, especially from Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, Mike Ferrell, Loretta Swit and William Christopher, set a new standard for what would become known as the dramedy.
6. St. Elsewhere (1972-1983)
Before ER, this gripping doc show had the greatest ensemble medical drama cast around, with Denzel Washington, Mark Harmon, David Morse, William Daniels, Ed Flanders, Bonnie Bartlett and Christina Pickles among the St. Eligius staff. The show, known for its top-notch writing and dark humor, also featured one of TV land's most memorable, clever series finales with young Tommy Westphall's snow globe.
5. The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
It's the only show in history to be the top-rated series for five consecutive seasons, and the reason is simple: It was an endearing, consistently funny sitcom with universal appeal. Yes, the Huxtables were a close-knit family led by two loving, professional parents, and they happened to be African-American, a fact that was celebrated, but never made the central point of the Emmy-winning show.
4. thirtysomething (1987-1991)
Ultimate yuppy drama thirtysomething followed the lives of a group of Philly friends who got all moody when they realized their personal and professional lives weren't always turning out the way they had planned, from ambitious career woman-turned-stay-at-home mom Hope (Mel Harris) to serial cheater Elliot (Timothy Busfield) and free-spirited Gary (Peter Horton), the bicycle rider who hated cars but was ironically killed in a car accident.
3. Moonlighting (1985-1989)
How talented were Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis as bickering P.I.s Maddie and David? So talented that they remain one of TV's all-time best will-they-or-won't-they pairings, though they famously didn't like each other off-screen. Of course, the show's clever writing didn't hurt, nor did fantasies like the black-and white dream sequences, musical numbers and the famous Taming of the Shrew spoof.
2. Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
Blues proved to be an arresting '80s TV development with its hand-held camera shots and focus on the impact cops' work had on their lives -- gritty and realistic in the pre-NYPD Blue era -- a frenetic departure from the old police procedurals. Slow to win over viewers, Capt. Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti), mad man Belker (Bruce Weitz), alcoholic LaRue (Kiel Martin) and rebellious Renko (Charles Haid) nonetheless earned nearly 100 Emmy nods in seven seasons.
1. Cheers (1982-1993)
TV's ultimate happy (half) hour featured a lovable bunch of bar dwellers who dispensed as many laughs as Cheers owner Sam (Ted Danson) did cocktails. Whether it was for beer-soaked wisdom from Cliff (John Ratzenberger) and Norm (George Wendt), a pompous speech from Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), a Carla (Rhea Perlman) zinger or Diane (Shelley Long) and Sam's doomed romance, viewers flocked to the little pub where everyone knew your name and every episode promised to bring the funny.
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