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The 1980s are remembered as a golden era of sitcoms, bringing some of the most fondly remembered shows into the spotlight as well as some underrated gems. The ’80s were a decade dominated by multi-camera comedies, defining what family entertainment would look like for years to come. With colorful title sequences, catchy theme songs, and laugh tracks galore, the decade presented a whole new look and feel.

With some of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time finding their footing during the time, the ’80s are often remembered for their unforgettable pop culture moments. From storylines that were filled with heart and soul to ones that were a dark lesson or reminder for viewers, the sitcoms of the ’80s often tackled material that viewers hadn’t seen on screen before.

While some shows were beloved from the beginning, others took their time to find their way in the crowded landscape of the ’80s TV schedule. There were series that introduced lovable misfits, wholesome family dynamics, and iconic friend groups that are still remembered to this day. Amid the most memorable shows, there are also series whose footprints were smaller, but whose impact was strong.

There were sitcoms of the decade that were overshadowed by shows that went on to reign in syndication, playing over and over perpetually. While some shows were quick to showcase their biggest talents, others took their time to warm up. Regardless, the lesser-known and underrated sitcoms of the 1980s have relatable characters, influential storylines, sharp humor, and some of the most inventive storylines of all time.

10 Designing Women

CBS, 1986-1993

Set in an Atlanta interior design firm, Designing Women followed four outspoken women as they navigated friendship, business, and politics in the south. Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke), Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart), and Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) were a group who didn’t shy away from feminism, politics, and other controversial topics. Combining social commentary and sharp wit, the series was cutting edge.

With shows like Cheers and The Golden Girls dominating the airwaves in terms of ’80s nostalgia, Designing Women deserves far more recognition than it typically gets. An incredibly strong cast aligned with smart humor, sharp scripts, and incredible performances proved that sitcoms could be funny and socially conscious all at the same time. Designing Women performed a balancing act that even modern sitcoms struggle with.

Release Date 1986 - 1992

Network CBS

Directors David Steinberg, Jack Shea, Barnet Kellman, Hal Holbrook, Dwayne Hickman, Matthew Diamond, Charles Frank, Arlene Sanford, Asaad Kelada

Writers Norma Safford Vela, Michael Ross

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Delta Burke

Suzanne Sugarbaker

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Julia Sugarbaker

9 Perfect Strangers

ABC, 1986-1993

ABC’s eight-season sitcom Perfect Strangers told the story of Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) and his strange distant cousin Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot). Larry, a midwesterner who was the perfect portrayal of the American everyman, paired with Balki, a lovable European from the fictional Mediterranean island of Mypos, were a fascinating pair who grew together throughout the course of the series.

Driving the odd couple dynamic home, Perfect Strangers did more than simply put an unlikely duo together. The series was an optimistic immigrant comedy about culture clash, unlikely friendship, and a worldview that didn’t base itself on cynicism. Linn-Baker and Pinchot had wonderful chemistry, and as the hearts of the show, had comedic moments that still shine in today’s saturated market.

Release Date 1986 - 1992

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Mark Linn-Baker

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Melanie Wilson

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Rebecca Arthur

Creator(s) Dale McRaven

8 Who’s The Boss?

ABC, 1984-1992

Flipping traditional gender roles, Who’s The Boss? starred Tony Danza as Tony Micelli, a retired baseball player turned housekeeper for a high-powered ad executive, Angela Bower (Judith Light). The pair’s ever-evolving friendship became a huge part of the series, as did their kids growing up together. Tony’s daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano), and Angela’s son, Jonathan (Danny Pintauro) supported the cast along with Katherine Helmond as Angela’s mother Mona Robinson.

The balance of family, friendship, and romantic tension **turned Who’s The Boss? from a typical sitcom into one of the decade’s most beloved will-they-won’t-they **storylines. With palpable tension between Danza and Light year after year, the series was able to cash in on whether or not the pair would get together until its final moments, proving that Who’s The Boss? had staying power.

Release Date 1984 - 1992-00-00

Network ABC

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Tony Danza

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Judith Light

7 Head Of The Class

ABC, 1986-1991

Set in Manhattan at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School, Head Of The Class followed history teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman) and his class of gifted & talented students. Focusing on the emotional intelligence of the students rather than their academic talents, the series was quick to pay attention to creativity, originality, and individuality. Head Of The Class’ blend of tropes made a massive success.

Standing out for its diversity, Head Of The Class’ ensemble cast featured stars like Robin Givens and Brian Robbins, which pushed the series to consistently stand out from the crowd. Unlike many of the high school focused shows of the decade, Head Of The Class respected its characters for who they were. Its feel-good brand of comedy quietly influenced the modern sitcom landscape.

Release Date 1986 - 1991-00-00

Network ABC

Directors Lee Shallat Chemel, Andrew D. Weyman, Bill Davis, Eric Laneuville, Frank Bonner, Peter Baldwin, Dwayne Hickman

Writers Rich Eustis, Jeffrey Duteil, Al Jean, Dan Schneider, Denise Moss, Mark Fink, Steven Sullivan, Sy Dukane, Michael Weinberger

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Billy Connolly

Billy MacGregor

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Howard Hesseman

Charlie Moore

6 Mama’s Family

NBC, 1983-1990

A spin-off of The Carol Burnett Show, Mama’s Family saw Vicky Lawrence’s Mama Thelma Harper character brought into her own world with an absurd family surrounding her. Living with her eccentric small-town family, including her son Vinton Harper (Ken Berry), daughter-in-law Naomi Oates Harper (Dorothy Lyman), and her grandchildren, Thelma’s sharp tongue and irritated nature finds her in consistent trouble throughout the series.

Although Mama’s Family had a difficult run, the show managed to last six seasons and was often praised for Lawrence’s performance above everything else. Capturing the absurdities of multi-generational families living under one roof, *Mama’s Family *was a comfort TV staple. Coasting on slapstick humor and subtle jabs from Mama herself, the series was able to be hilarious and heartwarming all at once.

Release Date 1983 - 1989

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Vicki Lawrence

Thelma Crowley Harper

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Beverly Archer

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Ken Berry

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Dorothy Lyman

Creator(s) Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon

5 Square Pegs

CBS, 1982-1983

Although it only lasted one season on CBS, Square Pegs was the spark that lit the flame of a generation ahead of it. Created by former Saturday Night Live writer Anne Beatts, Square Pegs followed two awkward high school freshmen, Patty Greene (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Lauren Hutchinson (Amy Linker). The pair were part of a larger group struggling to fit in at Weemawee High School.

Square Pegs was ahead of its time in many ways, especially in its realistic portrayal of teens of the era. Not only did the series help Parker to break out, but it showed what a teen comedy could be long before they were a major part of the cultural lexicon. Smart, character-driven, and a pioneer of its time, *Square Pegs *always deserved more recognition.

Release Date 1982 - 1983-00-00

Network CBS

Directors Kim Friedman, Terry Hughes

Writers Andy Borowitz, Marjorie Gross

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Amy Linker

Uncredited

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Anne Beatts

Patty Greene

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Sarah Jessica Parker

Muffy Tepperman

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Steven Peterman

Muffy’s Boyfriend

4 Growing Pains

ABC, 1985-1992

A family sitcom following the large Seaver family, Growing Pains is one of the most iconic shows of the decade. Following Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) and his wife, Maggie Seaver (Joanna Kerns), as they navigate careers, family shifts, and general life issues, the pair’s three (eventually four) children were a major part of the series as it forged ahead over seven years.

The Seaver kids, including troublemaker Mike (Kirk Cameron), honor student Carol (Tracey Gold), rambunctious Ben (Jeremy Miller), and eventually youngest child Chrissy (Kelsey & Kristen Dohring), faced social and societal issues as they grew up and faced what was next in their lives. Eventually bringing a young Leonardo DiCaprio into the mix as Luke Brower, Growing Pains was a genuine, warm series that was often weighty.

Release Date 1985 - 1992-00-00

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Dr. Jason Seaver

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Joanna Kerns

Maggie Malone Seaver

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Kirk Cameron

Mike Seaver

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Jeremy Miller

Ben Seaver

Creator(s) Neal Marlens

3 The Facts Of Life

NBC, 1979-1988

A spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts Of Life started as a series that followed Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae), the series quickly became less about Mrs. Garrett and more about the girls at Eastland School, a fictional boarding school for young women. Although the show started out somewhat chaotic, when it settled into a rhythm it was one of the most well-oiled sitcoms on screen.

Tackling mature issues over the course of its nearly decade-long run, The Facts Of Life saw Blair Warner (Lisa Welchel), Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon), Tootie Ramsey (Kim Fields), and Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn) become the main group of girls featured. Focusing on female friendship, personal growth, and enduring connection, **The Facts Of Life became one of the most empathetic shows **of the decade.

Release Date 1979 - 1988-00-00

Network NBC

Directors Asaad Kelada, Jim Drake, Alejandro Rey, Bob Claver, Linda Day, Mark W. Travis, Steven Robman

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Lisa Whelchel

Blair Warner

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Kim Fields

Tootie Ramsey

Writers Jerry Mayer, Paul Haggis, Michael Poryes, Michael Maurer, Andy Borowitz, Jane Anderson, Bob Bendetson, Bob Colleary, Lawrence H. Levy, Martin Ragaway, Peter Noah, Alan Spencer, Bob Brush, David Chambers, Margie Peters, Mitch Markowitz, Susan Beavers, Howard Meyers, Michael Weinberger, Ann Gibbs

Creator(s) Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon

2 Family Ties

NBC, 1982-1989

Created by Gary David Goldberg, Family Ties explored a family that brought the values of two different eras together into the same home. With Steve Keaton (Michael Gross) and his wife Elyse (Meredith Baxter) being ex-hippies who were raising their conservative son, Alex (Michael J. Fox), and daughters Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers). The divide between the parents and their children was a consistent thread.

Though in some ways it was a lot like other family sitcoms of the decade, Family Ties explored the generational divide between the counter-culture movement of the ’60s and the materialism of the early ’80s from a direct standpoint. Beginning as more of a traditional sitcom, it eventually tackled broader issues than it likely anticipated. Blending social commentary and heartfelt family comedy, **Family Ties deserves more praise.

Release Date 1982 - 1989-00-00

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Meredith Baxter

Elyse Keaton

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Michael Gross

Steven Keaton

Creator(s) Gary David Goldberg

1 Charles In Charge

CBS, 1984-1990

Starring Happy Days heartthrob Scott Baio, Charles In Charge followed Charles, a student at the fictional Copeland College who begins working as a live-in housekeeper for Stan (James Widdoes) and Gwendolyn Pierce (Jennifer Runyon). In return for his services as a housekeeper and caretaker of their children, Charles was given room and board for the duration of his academic studies.

While the show had a strange lifespan with cancellation early on before it returned in syndication, *Charles In Charge *was a light, charming comedy that explored the themes of found family well. Using everyday humor and balancing family storylines with others of responsibility and youth when it came to Charles, Charles In Charge was a sleeper hit that deserved a wider audience.

Release Date 1984 - 1990-00-00

Network CBS

Directors Scott Baio, Alan Rafkin

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Scott Baio

Charles

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Willie Aames

Buddy Lembeck

Creator(s) Barbara Weisberg, Michael Jacobs

Source: Charles In Charge/YouTube