Sitcoms from the 1980s often toed the line between silly humor and serious topics befitting the decade. Here’s a list of the best and where to stream them.
The 1980s made for an interesting time in the American landscape. With tall hair-dos, leg warmers, and A-ha all the craze, the ‘80s seemed like a decade straight out of the future–if your vision of the future came equipped with acid-washed jeans and Cabbage Patch Kids, that is. Like every facet of American society, television itself also changed with the start of the 1980s, the poignant social discussions of ‘70s sitcoms passing away in favor of more traditional television programs fit for the whole family.
Cheers
The most famous sitcom of the 1980s, Cheers also commonly appears on many TV viewers’ lists of the greatest TV shows of all time. Set at a middling Boston sports bar, Cheers introduced a fundamental new change in the way most people thought of conventional sitcoms, supporting the idea that friends can be just as important as family, helping one another navigate around a variety of personal and professional woes. Watch Cheers on Paramount+.
The Golden Girls
Among the most innovative TV shows ever made, The Golden Girls focused on somewhat niche subject matter in its underlying premise, exploring the lives of several retired women in Miami, Florida. Through its heavy analysis of aging, marriage, and mortality, The Golden Girls habitually made clear that growing older isn’t necessarily the end of life itself, with each of its lead characters still managing to enjoy retirement and all its abundant possibilities. Watch The Golden Girls on Hulu.
Family Ties
Nowadays, Family Ties remains most well-known for featuring Michael J. Fox in his earliest breakthrough role. Aside from this general bit of trivia, however, the series also deserves plenty of recognition for its more topical elements, juxtaposing the waning days of hippie liberalism with the practicality of Reagan-centric conservatism (as personified by Fox’s budding Republican, Alex Keaton). Political arguments aside, Family Ties does a great job illustrating the range of differences between contrasting American age groups, similar to the cultural shift between the ‘60s and ‘70s as seen in All in the Family or The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Watch Family Ties on Paramount+.
ALF
In many ways, a show like ALF could have only existed in the 1980s. Refreshingly bizarre and humorously original, the whole idea of a stranded alien living with a suburban family just seemed too outlandish for any other decade of television. Yet it’s for this reason alone that accounts for ALF’s success as a TV show. An approachable series able to be enjoyed by the whole family, ALF’s free-flowing creativity made it a primetime hit the likes of which no one had ever seen before, and that has yet to be duplicated since. Watch ALF on Peacock, Tubi, and FreeVee.
Full House
Aptly described as The Brady Bunch of the 1980s and ‘90s, Full House drew on a very similar premise when it came to its central narrative, detailing the trials and tribulations of a large middle-class family in San Francisco. Harkening back to the old adage of how “it takes a village to raise a child,” Full House illustrated the influential affect numerous parental figures have in a child’s development, from the suave rock musician uncle (John Stamos) to the mild-mannered single father struggling to do right by his kids (Bob Saget). Watch Full House on Hulu and Max.
Saved by the Bell
If you attended high school at any point in the late 1980s, chances are you watched Saved by the Bell at one time or another. A teen sitcom that defined an entire generation, Saved by the Bell became one of the first shows geared exclusively towards younger viewers, setting the standard for every Disney Channel and Nickelodeon series that followed. As part of its endearing analysis of youth culture, Saved by the Bell also won renown for tackling more sobering subject matter, including drug abuse, underage drinking, and teenage fears over growing up. Watch Saved by the Bell on Apple TV.
Night Court
Like most sitcoms, Night Court incorporates a wide array of colorful characters throughout its lengthy nine-season-long run. With recurring protagonists like the inexperienced judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson) or the womanizing prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), Night Court lived up to its high-concept premise, detailing the eccentric individuals who frequent the local court systems. In sharp contrast to the numerous family-friendly shows dominating the airwaves in the 1980s, Night Court also veered towards a more tongue-in-cheek brand of humor, ensuring an equal number of laughs and surprises in each of its 193 episodes. Watch Night Court on FreeVee.
Need more recommendations? Check out the best sitcoms of the 1970s.
