80’s TV holds a touch of nostalgia for many; it was a significant part of our upbringing, whether we watched it as it originally aired or caught re-runs later. Thankfully, numerous shows from that era are now available for streaming, despite their age. The 80’s saw a lot of advancements in TV, building upon the boundary-pushing trends of the 70’s. At times, 80’s programming wholeheartedly accepted these challenges. While sitcoms from the 80’s were often at their strongest when they combined the traditional aspects of TV (a collection of mostly unrelated episodes featuring a consistent cast) with the changing dynamics of the world (becoming more interconnected as society continued to evolve).
Most of the shows featured in this list can be found on popular streaming platforms, as they are the top ‘80s sitcoms that are currently streamed. Unfortunately, shows like “Newhart” and “The Cosby Show” aren’t included due to their non-availability on these regular streaming services. However, “The Cosby Show” can be enjoyed on Philo, a live TV platform.
1) Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
This spy series, while officially categorized as a drama because of its episode length, has comedic elements due to the antics of the single mother character, Amanda King, who often assists the enigmatic operative Lee “Scarecrow” Stetson from a secret agency, making the show somewhat comical.
In the ’80s, single-camera sitcoms were a rarity, with most of the memorable ones popping up towards the end of the decade and continuing well into the ’90s. Shows like Scarecrow and Mrs. King, however, stood out for their lighter tone compared to other spy dramas of the time. Instead of being entangled in intense undercover missions, this show had our characters bumbling their way through espionage, often with hilarious mishaps and misjudgments.
The entirety of all four seasons can be found on both Tubi and The Roku Channel. In many aspects, this series serves as a comedic successor to the 1960s spy comedy, “Get Smart.
2) Moonlighting (1985-1989)
Moonlighting is a TV series that transcends several genres, yet it’s particularly noteworthy due to its pioneering role in bringing a sharper, more humorous comedic approach to the small screen.
Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd take on the roles of business partners with a complex dynamic, simultaneously loathing and adoring each other, as they venture into the world of private detective work. The series “Moonlighting” shares similarities with “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” utilizing the electric chemistry between its leads to bring humor to more profound storylines. In its early episodes, “Moonlighting” also generated a significant amount of romantic tension, which ultimately became a staple in many sitcoms from the 90’s and beyond.
The series “Moonlighting,” previously not available for streaming for quite some time, is now fully accessible on both Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
3) Kate & Allie (1984-1989)
The delightful sitcom “Kate & Allie,” which aired on CBS from 1984 to 1989, featured Jane Curtin, an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, as one half of a witty single mother duo in New York City. Sharing the screen was Susan Saint James, a well-known television actress.
Despite being widely appreciated and receiving high ratings throughout much of its duration, the show’s reputation took a significant hit during its last season. This change was largely due to Allie’s (Curtin) remarriage and the writers’ decision to write Kate (Saint James) back into the storyline, having her move in with Allie and her new husband.
Regardless of its less-than-satisfying finale, this show offered enjoyable, timeless sitcom entertainment during most of its duration. You can watch all episodes of it on The Roku Channel.
4) It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1986-1990)
Gary Shandling, a comedian, initially created a multi-camera sitcom with a self-referential twist, titled “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show“, before he went on to produce his renowned workplace comedy series, “The Larry Sanders Show” for HBO. Throughout its duration, this unique sitcom adopted an unconventional self-referential style, where the actors acknowledged they were part of a TV show and even involved the audience in manipulating the episode’s events.
Even though the show originally aired on Showtime, it lives on in streaming on HBO Max.
5) Night Court (1984-1992)
Among the listed shows, only ‘Night Court’ was given another opportunity to continue; it returned for three more seasons on NBC in 2023 following its initial success as a ’80s sitcom. The original run of ‘Night Court’ spanned an impressive nine seasons, and you can stream all of them on Amazon Prime Video.
In simpler terms, the humorous TV series is set during the night shifts at a criminal court in Manhattan, with Harry T. Stone (played by Harry Anderson) serving as the relatively young judge presiding over the cases. The show was developed by Reinhold Weege, who previously worked on the successful 1970s sitcom called “Barney Miller,” which centered around a police precinct.
The humor arising from the peculiar court cases presided over by Judge Stone was discovered within Night Court.
6) Taxi (1978-1983)
“Taxi” wasn’t exactly a typical ’80s sitcom, but since most of it aired during that decade, we can still consider it fitting. This classic show played a significant role in launching several notable careers, including those of Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Christopher Lloyd, Andy Kaufman, and it never failed to make us laugh with its outlandish antics.
In the television series titled Taxi, the majority of the cast members were from working-class backgrounds, given they worked for a New York taxi firm. The show frequently teetered on the brink of cancellation, spending its final season on NBC, having been predominantly aired on ABC earlier. However, during its time, it was highly praised by critics. Many of the show’s humor, which relied heavily on the quirks of its characters, remains enjoyable even today.
Taxi can be streamed on both Pluto TV and Paramount+.
7) The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
The television series “The Golden Girls” was a remarkable blend of talented actresses, iconic comedians, and an ideal era, striking the right chord consistently. By bringing together Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty in a single show, they managed to create comedy gold, time and time again.
Typically, people first encounter “The Golden Girls” out of sequence during reruns. Yet, for a complete experience of one of TV’s finest friendship circles, you can stream the whole series on Hulu, starting from its very beginning and following it all the way through to the end.
8) Family Ties (1982-1989)
In many respects, “Family Ties” embodies the typical TV show of the ’80s, portraying the escalating conflicts within an average American family during that period. Alex P. Keaton (played by Michael J. Fox) isn’t just a young Republican; he’s also remarkably driven and disillusioned with his parents’ decision to embrace a suburban lifestyle after their hippie years. Despite moments of excessive sweetness, the show came alive due to Fox’s compelling performance, and the rest of the family provided strong supporting roles as well.
Family Ties can be streamed on both PlutoTV and Paramount+.
9) Blackadder (1983-1989)
The Blackadder series, unique to the Brits and filled with humor, follows various generations of the Blackadder family, portrayed consistently by Rowan Atkinson. It satirically highlights the amusing contradictions within British history, thus reflecting on the nation’s cultural identity. Notable actors like Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, who gained prominence in the show, are particularly recognizable to American audiences.
Blackadder takes viewers on a rollercoaster journey through the ages, offering an exhilarating experience from beginning to its poignant end. Catch this classic series on Hulu streaming service.
10) Cheers (1982-1993)
Cheers is frequently hailed as one of the greatest shows ever produced, or at least among the best sitcoms. This popular series unfolded within a fictional working-class bar in Boston, boasting a main cast who meshed exceptionally well. As seasons passed, the ensemble evolved and expanded, but the soul of the show remained rooted in the concept of an unlikely collection of individuals forming a bond through a shared watering hole.
Here’s an option for paraphrasing that might work: You can find “Cheers” streaming on platforms like Hulu, Pluto TV, and Paramount+, so you have no reason left to miss watching it since the first time Sam Malone served a customer.
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2025-08-13 23:23