List RulesVote up the '80s sitcoms that best stand the test of time
From Blair Warner's feathered hair to Julia Sugarbaker's face-swallowing bifocals, from Rose Nylund's St. Olaf stories to Deacon Ernest J. Frye's swagger, the 1980s were an unforgettable decade in American television. As in any era, there were plenty of hits (Cheers, The Golden Girls) and many more misses (Living Dolls, The Charmings), but the sitcoms of this time had a distinct '80s vibe. Reagan cracks were common, "very special episodes" featured perhaps way-too-complicated-for-sitcoms subjects, and the pressures of an economic recession and the waning years of the Cold War were significant influences on many sitcom plots.
But for all their legwarmers and Reaganomics jokes, 1980s sitcoms gave us some of the best television in history. The final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983 was must-see TV before such a thing existed. The Golden Girls showed the world that older women were still vibrant, smart, sexual, and empowered—and very, very funny. Future stars, like Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains), Regina King (227), and Michael J. Fox (Family Ties) started honing their acting chops. Many of these shows remain funny, and relevant, today. For those of us who are aficionados of 80s television, it can be a challenge to pick the absolute best sitcom of the era, the one that stands out as particularly hilarious and bingeworthy 30-odd years later. But let's give it a shot. Which show do you think stands the test of time and could truly be deserving of being called the one 1980s sitcom that is still the funniest?
1
737210The Golden Girls
Bea Arthur, Betty WhitePremiered: 1985
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom, created by Susan Harris, that originally aired on NBC... more on Wikipedia2
524268Cheers
Ted Danson, Rhea PerlmanPremiered: 1982
Cheers is an American sitcom that ran for eleven seasons between 1982 and 1993. The show was... more on Wikipedia3
19593Happy Days
Ron Howard, Henry WinklerPremiered: 1974
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run from January 15, 1974, to... more on Wikipedia4
491314Married... with Children
Ed O'Neill, Christina ApplegatePremiered: 1987
Married... with Children is an American sitcom that aired for 11 seasons. It featured a... more on Wikipedia5
402251Night Court
Harry Anderson, John LarroquettePremiered: 1984
Night Court is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984,... more on Wikipedia6
197112Three's Company
John Ritter, Joyce DeWittPremiered: 1977
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984 on... more on Wikipedia7
17595Mork & Mindy
Robin Williams, Pam DawberPremiered: 1978
Mork & Mindy is an American sitcom broadcast from 1978 to 1982 on ABC. It stars Robin Williams... more on Wikipedia8
351259Family Ties
Michael J. Fox, Michael GrossPremiered: 1982
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 22, 1982 until May 14,... more on Wikipedia9
443347Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-DreyfusPremiered: 1989
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC from... more on Wikipedia10
319264Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza, Judith LightPremiered: 1984
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on... more on Wikipedia11
290239Newhart
Bob Newhart, Mary FrannPremiered: 1982
Newhart is an American television situation comedy which aired on the CBS network from October... more on Wikipedia12
415368Roseanne
Roseanne Barr, John GoodmanPremiered: 1988
Roseanne (ABC, 1988) is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams, Marcy Carsey,... more on Wikipedia13
12798Murphy Brown
Candice Bergen, Grant ShaudPremiered: 1988
Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May... more on Wikipedia14
145120The Facts of Life
Lisa Whelchel, Kim FieldsPremiered: 1979
The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from... more on Wikipedia15
12094Benson
Robert Guillaume, James NoblePremiered: 1979
Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19,... more on Wikipedia16
258256Growing Pains
Alan Thicke, Joanna KernsPremiered: 1985
Growing Pains (ABC, 1985) is an American television sitcom created by Neal Marlens. In Long... more on Wikipedia17
295301Designing Women
Delta Burke, Dixie CarterPremiered: 1986
Designing Women (CBS, 1986) is an American television sitcom created by Linda... more on Wikipedia18
276282ALF
Mihaly 'Michu' Meszaros, Paul FuscoPremiered: 1986
ALF is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 22, 1986 to March 24, 1990. It was... more on Wikipedia19
301318Mama's Family
Vicki Lawrence, Beverly ArcherPremiered: 1983
Mama's Family is an American television sitcom starring Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper. The... more on Wikipedia20
290308The Cosby Show
Bill Cosby, Phylicia RashadPremiered: 1984
The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight... more on Wikipedia21
267311Family Matters
Reginald VelJohnson, Jaleel WhitePremiered: 1989
Family Matters is an American sitcom which originated on ABC network from September 22, 1989... more on Wikipedia22
97105Bosom Buddies
Tom Hanks, Peter ScolariPremiered: 1980
Bosom Buddies is an American sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L.... more on Wikipedia23
187238Mr. Belvedere
Fergie, Kellie MartinPremiered: 1985
Mr. Belvedere is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985 to July... more on Wikipedia24
72112Too Close for Comfort
Ted Knight, Nancy DussaultPremiered: 1980
Too Close for Comfort is an American television sitcom which ran on the ABC network from... more on Wikipedia25
146232Kate & Allie
Jane Curtin, Susan Saint JamesPremiered: 1984
Kate & Allie is an American television situation comedy which ran from March 19, 1984, to May... more on Wikipedia