The Best 1980s ABC Shows

Updated January 6, 2021 3.9k votes 306 voters 14.4k views37 items

List RulesUpvote your favorite ABC TV Series that aired on TV in the '80s

Remember the '80s? 1980s ABC shows, specifically? You're about to, because this list of '80s ABC shows ranks the network's series from best to worst based on your votes. ABC TV shows from the 1980s cover everything from earnest family dramas to silly household sitcoms. There are even some game shows and cartoons on this top '80s ABC shows list.

What are some of the series that you'll find on this 1980s ABC shows list? The Wonder Years made the cut, of course This '80s series won an Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series during its premiere season. Full House was another good '80s ABC show that ran well into the next decade. People loved it so much that a Netflix sequel show is scheduled to premiere in 2016.

ABC also created good dramas in the 1980s. Moonlighting, MacGyver, and thirtysomething are all series on this list. These shows are still part of popular culture; Moonlighting actually helped propel Bruce Willis to stardom. Speaking of stars, Tom Hanks's 1980s series Bosom Buddies is another great 1980s ABC show.

Which ABC TV series from the go-go '80s represents the best of the decade? Vote up your favorites to see them climb the list and please add any great shows we may have missed. If you've seen every show and every episode, rerank the whole list!

Photo:

...more

Try the free app

1
122
39
Growing Pains
Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Sitcom
Growing Pains (ABC, 1985) is an American television sitcom created by Neal Marlens. In Long... more on Wikipedia
2
110
37
Who's the Boss?
Tony Danza, Judith Light
Premiered: 1984
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on... more on Wikipedia
More Who's the Boss?
#114 of 474 The Funniest TV Shows of All Time#10 of 33 20+ 1980s Sitcoms That Will Still Make You Laugh
3
111
42
Three's Company
John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt
Premiered: 1977
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984 on... more on Wikipedia
4
116
48
The Jetsons
George O'Hanlon, Janet Waldo
Premiered: 1962
Genres (Tv): Animation, Sitcom, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Science Fiction
The Jetsons is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera, originally airing in... more on Wikipedia
More The Jetsons
#60 of 687 The Best Cartoons of All Time#7 of 344 The Best Kids Cartoons of All Time
5
104
44
The Wonder Years
Fred Savage, Dan Lauria
Premiered: 1988
Genres (Tv): Drama, Comedy-drama, Comedy
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Neal Marlens and Carol... more on Wikipedia
6
111
58
Full House
Bob Saget, John Stamos
Premiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Full House is an American sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show chronicles a... more on Wikipedia
More Full House
Dark 'Full House' Fan Theories That Will Change How You Think About The ShowApparently, Working On Full House Was A Waking Nightmare
7
91
51
MacGyver
Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Espionage, Action/Adventure, Adventure film, Action
Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial
MacGyver is an American action-adventure television series created by Lee David Zlotoff. Henry... more on Wikipedia
More MacGyver
#69 of 389 TV Shows That Only Smart People Appreciate#107 of 396 The Best TV Shows to Rewatch

8
89
49
The Love Boat
Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell
Premiered: 1977
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Action/Adventure, Sitcom, Anthology, Drama
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC... more on Wikipedia
9
97
57
Roseanne
Roseanne Barr, John Goodman
Premiered: 1988
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Roseanne (ABC, 1988) is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams, Marcy Carsey,... more on Wikipedia
More Roseanne
The Juicy Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'Roseanne'The Best Characters on Roseanne, Ranked
10
83
48
Diff'rent Strokes
Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges
Premiered: 1978
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to... more on Wikipedia
More Diff'rent Strokes
#193 of 277 The Most Overrated TV Shows Of All Time#35 of 54 The Best NBC Comedies Of All Time
11
82
49
Perfect Strangers
Bronson Pinchot, Mark Linn-Baker
Premiered: 1986
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Perfect Strangers is an American sitcom that ran for eight seasons from March 25, 1986, to... more on Wikipedia
12
83
51
Laverne & Shirley
Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams
Premiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Laverne & Shirley is an American television sitcom that ran on ABC from January 27, 1976 to... more on Wikipedia
13
73
52
Mr. Belvedere
Fergie, Kellie Martin
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Mr. Belvedere is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985 to July... more on Wikipedia
14
47
27
Hart to Hart
Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers
Premiered: 1979
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Action/Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Hart to Hart is an American television series, starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as... more on Wikipedia
More Hart to Hart
#32 of 70 The Best Crime Fighting Duo TV Series#24 of 44 The Best ABC Dramas of All Time
15
71
58
Moonlighting
Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Drama, Romantic comedy, Mystery, Comedy-drama, Comedy
Moonlighting is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14,... more on Wikipedia
More Moonlighting
#155 of 239 The Greatest TV Shows for Women#108 of 538 TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time
16
38
24
Too Close for Comfort
Ted Knight, Nancy Dussault
Premiered: 1980
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Too Close for Comfort is an American television sitcom which ran on the ABC network from... more on Wikipedia
More Too Close for Comfort
#48 of 64 The Best Sitcoms of the 1980s#29 of 59 The Best ABC Comedies of All Time
17
41
30
Webster
Susan Clark, Alex Karras
Premiered: 1983
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Webster is an American situation comedy that aired on ABC from September 16, 1983 until May 8,... more on Wikipedia
18
41
31
The Fall Guy
Joaquin Phoenix, Priscilla Presley
Premiered: 1981
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Adventure film, Action
The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and... more on Wikipedia
More The Fall Guy
#157 of 266 The Best Cult TV Shows of All Time#158 of 507 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time
19
51
51
Head of the Class
Leah Remini, Billy Connolly
Premiered: 1986
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Head of the Class is an American sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television... more on Wikipedia
More Head of the Class
#45 of 89 The Best 1980s Primetime TV Shows#220 of 305 The Greatest Sitcoms in Television History
20
0
0
Hawaiian Heat
Tracy Scoggins, Mako Iwamatsu
Premiered: 1984
Hawaiian Heat is an American drama television series that premiered on ABC on September 14,... more on Wikipedia
More
#41 of 75 The Best ABC Shows of All Time#80 of 242 The Best Ever Police Procedural Series
21
50
56
Bosom Buddies
Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari
Premiered: 1980
Genres (Tv): Improvisational theatre, Sitcom
Bosom Buddies is an American sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L.... more on Wikipedia
22
48
55
Just the Ten of Us
Bill Kirchenbauer, Deborah Harmon
Premiered: 1988
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Just the Ten of Us is an American sitcom starring stand-up comedian Bill Kirchenbauer as Coach... more on Wikipedia
23
53
62
Dynasty
John Forsythe, Linda Evans
Premiered: 1981
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Drama
Watch for Free with Amazon Prime Free Trial
Dynasty (ABC, 1981) is an American prime time television soap opera created by Richard and... more on Wikipedia
More Dynasty
#185 of 381 The Greatest TV Dramas of All Time#2 of 98 The All-Time Best Primetime Soap Operas
24
40
49
T. J. Hooker
William Shatner, Heather Locklear
Premiered: 1982
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama
This show is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title... more on Wikipedia
25
41
53
Spenser: For Hire
Avery Brooks, Robert Urich
Premiered: 1985
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama
Spenser: For Hire is a mystery television series based on Robert B. Parker's Spenser novels.... more on Wikipedia

Hawaiian Heat

Just the Ten of Us