The overwhelming majority of my nostalgia is from a different decade, but I can't deny how impactful the '80s were for television. Many shows that we associate with the '90s actually have their start much earlier, and some of them are still running to this day.
Today, I'm focusing on five comedies, sci-fi and children's shows from the '80s that still keep me engaged. If you have some other favorites from the yuppie era, shout 'em out in the comment section below. Onward!
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' (1987-1994)
My parents watched "TNG" religiously when I was a kid, but I never ended up getting into it back then. I've always been more "Star Wars" inclined, but I've come to appreciate this show more as an adult. Considering how difficult it's been to replicate this kind of success for modern "Trek," I'm impressed by what they pulled off back then — the first season excluded. That one's pretty rough.
'The Golden Girls' (1985-1992)
This is a staple in my household. Not a year goes by that my wife doesn't start rewatching this classic, and for good reason. Some jokes hold up poorly to modern sensibilities, but it was pretty far ahead of its time. Heck, older women are still often shunned in TV and movies, so it's still serving a niche on streaming services all these years later.
'The Simpsons' (1989-Present)
I wasn't a "Simpsons" kid, but I have come to the early seasons as an adult. It's an enjoyable sitcom, cromulent even, but surprisingly tame now compared to my expectations. You'd be hard-pressed to fully understand the moral panic around the show's early success, honestly.
And while people aren't super hot on the more recent seasons, there's no getting around what an unrivaled hit it has been. Anyone would be thrilled to have a show last for a tenth of the lifespan of "The Simpsons."
'Fraggle Rock' (1983-1987)
I was always into the Muppets, but "Fraggle Rock" was locked away on HBO as a kid. I'd see promos for it, and wonder what this strange world of Muppet-adjacency must be like, but I didn't find out until I was grown.
While it's clearly geared toward a young audience, the quality of the writing is a lot more even than that found in "The Muppet Show." And if you happen to have an AppleTV+ subscription, you can even enjoy new episodes of the well-liked "Back to the Rock" reboot.
'America's Funniest Home Videos' (1989-Present)
Before the likes of YouTube and Digg's own delightful video curation, the best way to see videos of people and animals doing silly things was watching "AFV." It was a staple of my childhood, and it's still going strong in spite of the existence of, ya know, the internet. Turns out, seeing people get hit with a baseball is still funny.
Nostalgic for a different decade? Try some shows from the '90s instead.
[Image: TV Land, Retro VHS Trailers, Ye Olde Commercials]
