20 Best '80s Sitcoms, Ranked (According To IMDb) | ScreenRant

Even though action TV shows were all the rage in the 1980s, sitcoms seemed to be the most fondly remembered genre of television from that particular decade. They took cues from the 1970s, centering largely around family, friends, and the workplace, adding relatability for the audience.

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Fans fondly remember these sitcoms not just for the laughs, but also because of the heart that went into each one. They’re time-locked specimens of a very different age, when the nuclear family was praised, and families enjoyed sitting around the TV to share some laughs together.

Updated on November 5th, 2021 by Derek Draven: There’s no shortage of sitcom laughs from the 1980s decade, and it’s time to take a look at a few more that made audiences laugh, cry, and laugh a whole lot more. Some of these classics have fallen into obscurity over the years, while others remain full-fledged icons of the genre, to this very day. Whatever the case, people looking for some good old-fashioned comedy with a lot of heart should definitely time warp back to the 80s. There’s more than enough shows to keep the smiles coming, whether alone, or with the entire family.

20 One Day At A Time (1975-1984) – 6.5

One Day at a Time was an ’80s family sitcom that followed a single mother moving her daughters to a new apartment, where she raised them on her own. She also balanced her own career to provide for them, and herself. The sitcom also featured the odd superintendent of their building, Schneider, who popped in on them frequently to offer advice.

The series was rebooted in 2017 with new characters, this time featuring a Cuban-American family, but with a very similar premise. It actually ranks higher than the original series, which debuted in 1975. Still, it’s classic that deserves a look.

19 Growing Pains (1985-1992) – 6.6

Growing Pains followed the close-knit family of Dr. Jason Seaver, his wife Maggie, and their four children Mike, Carol, Ben, and Chrissie. The sitcom, like many others, didn’t shy away from more serious issues in the storylines, tackling everything from drugs and alcohol, to suicide and peer pressure.

Despite the darker episodes, the show was a major hit with audiences, led by the tag-team duo of Canadian superstar Alan Thicke, and then-teenaged heartthrob Kirk Cameron. As far as family-centric sitcoms though, this was one of the best on the block.

18 Family Matters (1989-1998) – 6.6

Family Matters attempted to capitalize on the iconic success of The Cosby Show by portraying another Black family that transcended stereotypes. The first few seasons were very big on the concept of the family unit, though the overall show opted for more over-the-top storylines and hilarious physical comedy.

The introduction of bumbling, nerdy wrecking ball Steve Urkel changed the trajectory of the show irrevocably, but Family Matters was able to retain its popularity for almost a full decade, before hanging up its hat. The actors handled the characters wonderfully, and the storylines were some of the best around.

17 Who’s The Boss? (1984-1992) – 6.6

Tony Danza became a household name when he starred in Who’s The Boss? during the 1980s. The actor had just come off a stint in Taxi, but this particular sitcom really put him at the forefront of 1980s TV culture. It focused on his character Tony Micelli, a retired baseball player who ends up becoming a housekeeper.

He ends up playing a central role in the lives of Angela Bower, an advertising executive, and her two children. The concept was unique, featuring a reversal of gender stereotypes, which was starting to pick up traction during the 1980s. Plus, it had a heavy dose of laughs to go along with its premise.

16 Full House (1987-1995) – 6.7

Full House is widely regarded as one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1980s, and the 1990s as well. It’s so iconic, in fact, that it was recently revived on Netflix, picking up where the original story left off. It’s a timeless tale of a single, widowed dad raising his three young daughters with the help of his brother-in-law and his childhood best friend.

The level of heart that went into Full House was legendary, and it shows. Audiences loved the themes of close-knit family bonds, dealing with loss, and growing up the right way, with the right values. It also helped spearhead the immensely popular TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Funny) Friday night lineup on ABC.

15 Roseanne (1988-1997) – 7.0

The 1980s led off with a bang when Roseanne debuted on TV. In direct conflict with the family-friendly sitcoms of the time period, Roseanne opted to go the other way, portraying a dysfunctional working-class family with real-world problems, most of which centered around their kids.

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While the show was loaded with laughs, it also wasn’t afraid to tackle serious issues, from teenage drinking to abusive households, to clinical depression. The show swung back and forth between lighthearted and serious with expert timing, making it one of the landmark sitcoms of the decade.

14 Coach (1989-1997) – 7.0

Coach was perhaps the only sitcom on 1980s TV that catered specifically to guys, thanks in large part to its main character Hayden Fox, the head coach of a university football team. He became the poster boy for footballer machismo, and the obsession men have for the sport.

However, to leverage the comedy, Fox was also forced to contend with his elegant girlfriend Christine Armstrong, and his young daughter Kelly, with whom he has little in common. Together with pals Luther Van Dam and Michael “Dauber” Dybinski, Hayden made audiences laugh from one episode to the next, for eight solid years.

13 Perfect Strangers (1986 – 1993) – 7.2

This hilarious and timeless sitcom made physical humor a major component of its delivery, and the results were praised by audiences and critics alike. Bronson Pinchot portrayed the lovable Balki Bartokomous, a fish-out-of-water foreigner from the remote island of Mypos, who decides to make it big in America.

He ends up crashing with his cousin Larry, an aspiring journalist who tries to show Balki the ropes of American life. In the process, the two bumble from one madcap situation to the next, while teaching each other valuable life lessons about compassion, honesty, forgiveness, and love.

12 Family Ties (1982 – 1989) – 7.2

This extremely popular family sitcom series revolved around the Keatons, a middle-class family in Columbus, Ohio, and the day-to-day situations that brought their family closer together. The cast featured up-and-coming Back To The Future superstar Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton, a Reagan child growing up in a household led by two ex-hippie liberal parents.

Each member of the family is lovable in their own way, and the connection between the kids and parents was well received by audiences. It was one of the few family sitcoms that successfully nailed the family dynamic in a way that others had trouble with.

11 Mama’s Family (1983 – 1990) – 7.3

This series stars Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper – aka Mama – and revolves around the character and her family. It’s essentially a spin-off of the famous “The Family” sketches from The Carol Burnett Show, and Lawrence gives a fantastic performance as Mama.

RELATED: 5 Strongest Sitcom Moms Of The 80s (& 5 Strongest Dads)

The show is hilarious, thanks to many classic episodes that stuck with fans for years. One of these episodes featured the family participating as contestants on the game show Family Feud. The outrageous and wacky humor was a big draw for audiences who loved Carol Burnett-style comedy.

10 The Cosby Show (1984 – 1992) – 7.3

Despite the controversy surrounding Bill Cosby over the last decade, The Cosby Show remains one of the best, and most influential family-friendly sitcoms ever made. Its all-black cast of main characters broke down almost every racial boundary in America at the time, all without making it a focal point.

As such, Americans from all walks of life could sit down with their families, and join in on the laughs. The Huxtables were traditionally Conservative, hard-working parents who raised their children the right way, teaching them the values of responsibility, hard work, and friendship.

9 The Jeffersons (1975-1985) – 7.4

The Jeffersons was a spinoff sitcom that ran between the 1970s and the 1980s, bred from the loins of the ultra-popular All in the Family. It followed George and Louise Jefferson “moving on up, to the East Side” with their family in a new and expensive high-rise apartment.

The show put George Jefferson, a notorious bigot and opportunistic businessman at the forefront, much the same way Archie Bunker was the face of All in the Family. It had a fantastic 10-year run, on top of all the appearances the actors made in its original parent show, which is a lot of staying power.

8 ALF (1986 – 1990) – 7.4

This fun family sitcom involved the Tanner family and their adventures with an alien who crashes into their garage. They decide to name him ALF (Alien Life Form), and try their best to keep the wise-cracking alien a secret.

It’s considered a staple of 1980s pop culture, thanks in large part to ALF’s well-developed character. Audiences fell in love with him, and no matter how ridiculous the storylines got, viewers stuck around from beginning to end. It blended the best aspects of zany 1960s sitcoms with 1980s cultural underpinnings, creating a classic in the process.

7 Three’s Company (1977-1984) – 7.5

Three’s Company was a typical sitcom of the ’70s and ’80s, but it wasn’t centered on a family. Instead, it focused more on young twenty-somethings engaging in wacky hijinks, with lighthearted storylines that had little time for dramatic elements.

 The show followed two young women, Janet and Chrissy, who were searching for a new roommate when they came across a guy named Jack, and suggested they all move in together. As expected, things quickly went off the rails, leading to some of the funniest comedy of the decade.

6 Taxi (1978-1983) – 7.6

Taxi was a sitcom that ran between the 1970s and 1980s, and followed a group of New York cab drivers in their personal and work lives. Each character was unique in their own right, featuring everything from a struggling actor, to an aspiring boxer, and even a strict dispatcher.

Most of the characters view the taxi driver job as a stand-in, until they’re able to achieve their actual dreams. That’s part of the fun, as most of them are forced to stay locked in the job, while trying their best to move forward. It also featured some of the most talented actors in the business, many of whom went on to star in Hollywood films.

5 Night Court (1984 – 1992) – 7.6

Harry Anderson stars in this hilarious sitcom as a night court judge, who, with the help of his crew, handles some of the most bizarre cases imaginable. This workplace sitcom had a great ensemble cast, not to mention one of the most robust guest actors of any show at the time.

The series was always creative, and the storylines were always entertaining, even if they went beyond the scope of rationality. Harry Anderson was a fantastic comedic actor, and the series gave him a great opportunity to shine as the ringleader of a dysfunctional courtroom.

4 Newhart (1982 – 1990) – 7.7

Bob Newhart starred in this great sitcom about a man and his wife who decide to purchase and run a little inn in Vermont. There is a cozy charm to the series, with a message that championed living a simple life, and the rewards that come with it.

His first big sitcom, the 1970s classic The Bob Newhart Show, was very successful, and it seemed unlikely that he would be able to duplicate its success. Fortunately, he beat the odds, proving that lightning can, in fact, strike twice in the same spot.

3 Cheers (1982 – 1993) – 7.8

In addition to boasting one of the most recognizable theme songs of all time, Cheers is also one of the most beloved TV sitcoms ever made. It starred Ted Danson as Sam Malone, the owner of a local watering hole, and his relationship with his co-workers, friends, and patrons.

RELATED: 5 Sitcoms From The 80s That Are Way Underrated (& 5 That Are Overrated)

The series ran for 11 seasons, and the finale was one of the most-watched of all time. It was also one of the first TV series to use the will-they/won’t-they approach when it came to TV couples, making viewers anxious to see if Sam and the character Diane would get together.

2 The Golden Girls (1985 – 1992) – 7.9

This classic sitcom centers around four older women as they tackle life and friendship together in Miami. The series was an instant hit with people of all ages, and the show, with only older women as leads, was absolutely groundbreaking.

It featured a fantastic ensemble cast, with comedic legend Betty White standing out as a fan favorite. Golden Girls tackled many big issues that are still discussed today, including poverty, adultery, addiction, and harassment, yet it was still able to maintain a sense of humor with a host of outrageously funny situations and storylines.

1 Married… With Children (1987 – 1997) – 8.0

This hilarious, over-the-top family sitcom focuses a dirty lens on the Bundys, a family that nobody would want living next door. The patriarch of the house is Al, a women’s shoe salesman who thinks his life is absolutely miserable. His wife is Peggy, an Oprah-loving couch potato who refuses to work, and spends all of her husband’s money. Together they raise two of the most irresponsible children ever conceived.

Every episode was grungy, low-brow humor that refused to take itself seriously. Married… With Children played up its own sleaziness with genius-level intellect, attracting a wide net of viewers. Many viewers felt like taking a shower after watching it, but they laughed all the way through.

NEXT: The Best Sitcom Couples Of The 80s, Ranked

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