10 Best 1980s TV Shows No One Remembers

The 1980s delivered comforting, sometimes corny television that produced enduring favorites and a host of lesser-remembered gems. Alongside shows like Cheers, The Golden Girls, and Magnum, P.I., a number of series that once drew loyal viewers have faded from frequent conversation.

Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, uses time travel to probe space, reality, memory and the so-called butterfly effect; the five-season series also featured Teri Hatcher and later inspired a 2022 revival. Mystery Science Theater 3000 built a cult following by riffing on low-budget sci‑fi and horror with robot pals Crow and Tom, ran for 13 seasons, and was announced for another revival in 2024, alongside a revival on Netflix.

Thirtysomething, from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, examines adult friendships and fraught life moments like singlehood, postpartum work and infidelity, highlighted by Melanie Mayron’s performance.

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