12 TV Shows from the 1980s That Remain Enjoyable to Watch

      Many television shows from the 1980s are energetic and innovative, but that doesn't guarantee their appeal today.

      The following series stand out—if you watch them now, they remain captivating.

      Let's begin.

      But First

      Cybill Shepherd appears in one of the series on this list. ABC

      What qualifies as a 1980s TV show?

      We’re including productions that aired entirely during the '80s, as well as those that primarily aired in that decade, even if they extended into the '90s. If a show started in the '80s but mostly aired in the '90s, we classify it as a '90s show.

      Now, let’s continue with the list.

      Knight Rider

      NBC

      David Hasselhoff is perhaps best recognized for his role on Baywatch in the '90s, but many fans cherish his character Michael Knight in the '80s crime series Knight Rider.

      The premise fits the typical 1980s TV show mold: an improbable duo fights crime while trying to do good. This time, one of the partners is a car.

      KITT, a talking Pontiac Firebird Trans Am voiced by William Daniels, remains cool even in an era where many vehicles are autonomous and can communicate.

      Produced by Glen A. Larson, who was also behind Magnum P.I., Knight Rider ran on NBC from 1982 to 1986.

      Additionally, the theme song was so iconic that a range of artists, from Doja Cat to Busta Rhymes, have sampled it.

      Cheers

      NBC

      Were you on Team Sam and Diane? Or Team Sam and Rebecca? It hardly mattered, as the blockbuster Cheers remained enjoyable throughout its entire 11-season duration. Ted Danson starred as a Boston bar owner surrounded by a cast of memorable characters, all sharing their stories while drinks were served.

      The impressive cast featured Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, and Kelsey Grammar, among many others. Cheers also gave rise to Grammar's successful '90s spin-off, Frasier.

      After its debut in 1982, Cheers faced the threat of cancellation during its initial season due to poor ratings. However, it eventually secured a place in the ratings' Top 10 for eight of its 11 seasons and was a staple of NBC’s Thursday night “Must See TV” lineup.

      It boasted one of the finest sitcom ensembles in television history.

      Cheers can now be streamed on Paramount+.

      Moonlighting

      ABC

      Before his breakout role in the '80s blockbuster Die Hard, Bruce Willis was famously paired with Cybill Shepherd in the detective dramedy Moonlighting. The series centered on their adventures at the Blue Moon Detective Agency while tackling various cases. Curtis Armstrong, a ubiquitous figure in the '80s, also starred.

      In 2007, the series made it to Time magazine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All-Time” list.

      Running for five seasons on ABC, starting in 1985, it is currently available for streaming on Hulu.

      Hart to Hart

      ABC

      Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd weren't the only alluring crime-fighting pair from the '80s. In Hart to Hart, Robert Wagner and Stephanie Powers portrayed a glamorous married couple who also found themselves solving mysteries.

      This show was among the last productions from the acclaimed Spelling-Goldberg Productions of the '70s. Spelling would go on to deliver many iconic '90s series, including Melrose Place and Beverly Hills, 90210.

      Hart to Hart aired for five seasons on ABC and concluded in 1984. In the '90s, Wagner and Powers reunited for eight TV movies. It’s currently available for free streaming with ads on Tubi or The Roku Channel.

      Golden Girls

      NBC – Credit: C/O

      Focusing on the cheesecake-loving quartet of Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, The Golden Girls may very well be the most lasting show from the '80s.

      This timeless and endlessly charming series illustrated that aging can lead to positive growth. It ran for seven seasons on NBC, commencing in 1985, and was the brainchild of Susan Harris.

      You don’t even need to have seen the show to recognize the memes and merchandise that continue to thrive today.

      Miami Vice

      At one point, 10-year-old boys were donning pastels and sporting frosted tips, thanks to the influence of Miami Vice.

      There’s a legend that NBC Entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff pitched the show with the phrase “MTV cops,” although its creator, Anthony Yerkovich, a former writer for Hill Street Blues, contests that narrative.

      Regardless, executive producer Michael Mann and his team consistently delivered MTV-style cops week after week. The dynamic duo of Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs, played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, tackled drug dealers to the sounds of Phil Collins,