MomSkoop
Remember when we had to wait an entire week for a new episode of our favorite shows? The 1980s brought us some of television’s quirkiest and most creative shows ever. While Knight Rider and The A-Team live on in reboots and references, many awesome ’80s series have faded into obscurity. Let’s rewind the VCR of our memories and rediscover these lost television treasures that defined a generation.
1. Small Wonder (1985-1989)
The Lawsons seemed like your average suburban family—except for their robotic daughter Vicki! Created by engineer Ted Lawson, this android child with superhuman strength and a monotone voice captured our hearts despite her stiff movements.
Vicki stored her circuitry behind a panel in her chest and slept in a closet at night. The family constantly worked to keep her true identity secret from nosy neighbors, especially the insufferable Harriet.
Between learning human emotions and accidentally revealing her powers, Vicki’s adventures showed us both the humor and heart in finding humanity in the mechanical. Few shows blended family comedy with sci-fi so seamlessly!
2. ALF (1986-1990)
Gordon Shumway—better known as ALF (Alien Life Form)—crash-landed into the Tanner family’s garage and straight into television history. This furry, sarcastic alien from the planet Melmac instantly became the most unlikely sitcom star with his cat-eating ambitions and no-filter commentary.
Behind the scenes, the ALF puppet required four puppeteers to operate, making filming notoriously difficult. The show’s humor worked on multiple levels—kids loved the silly alien antics while adults appreciated the surprisingly sharp social commentary.
Despite its bizarre premise, ALF tackled serious topics like nuclear war and immigration through its alien-out-of-water perspective. No wonder we’re still quoting his catchphrases decades later!
3. Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Balki Bartokomous, the cheerful shepherd from the fictional Mediterranean island of Mypos, arrived in Chicago to live with his straight-laced American cousin Larry Appleton. Their cultural clashes created comedy gold as Balki’s innocent optimism repeatedly collided with Larry’s cynical worldview.
The chemistry between Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker made this odd-couple pairing irresistible. Whenever things went right, viewers knew to expect the iconic “Dance of Joy”—an exuberant celebration that became the show’s signature moment.
Beyond the laughs, Perfect Strangers offered heartwarming lessons about cultural understanding and friendship. The show’s fish-out-of-water premise perfectly captured the immigrant experience through a comedic lens.
4. Silver Spoons (1982-1987)
Twelve-year-old Ricky Stratton discovered his absent father Edward was actually a millionaire man-child living in a mansion filled with arcade games and a toy train large enough to ride through the house. Talk about childhood wish fulfillment!
Young heartthrob Ricky Schroder became an instant teen idol while the show explored the unusual father-son relationship where the kid often seemed more mature than the parent. The series featured early appearances by future stars, including Jason Bateman and Alfonso Ribeiro.
Beyond the materialism and mansion hijinks, Silver Spoons delivered surprisingly thoughtful messages about responsibility, growing up, and what truly makes a family. The show perfectly embodied both ’80s excess and ’80s heart in equal measure.
5. Out of This World (1987-1991)
Imagine discovering on your 13th birthday that your father is an alien and you can freeze time by touching your fingertips together! That was reality for Evie Garland, a seemingly normal teenager with extraordinary abilities inherited from her extraterrestrial dad, Troy.
While her mother tried to help Evie navigate typical teen problems, her alien father communicated through a glowing cube, offering otherworldly advice. The time-freezing special effect—complete with that distinctive sound effect we all tried to recreate—became the show’s trademark visual.
What made this series special wasn’t just the sci-fi gimmick but how it used Evie’s powers as a metaphor for teenage growing pains. Who hasn’t wished they could pause an embarrassing moment or have a do-over during those awkward adolescent years?
6. Misfits of Science (1985-1986)
Before the Avengers assembled, we had this quirky team of superpowered misfits! Dr. Billy Hayes gathered extraordinary individuals including Johnny B, who could generate electricity; Gloria, who could telekinetically shrink objects; and El, a seven-foot-tall man with superhuman strength and speed. The show featured a young Courteney Cox before Friends fame as telekinetic teen Jane.
Despite impressive special effects for the era, the series lasted just one season, becoming a true cult classic that was ahead of its time. Each episode balanced humor with genuine sci-fi adventure as the team used their abilities to investigate paranormal phenomena and battle sinister government agencies.
The campy charm and earnest storytelling make Misfits of Science the perfect blueprint for today’s superhero TV renaissance.
7. Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)
As Jonathan Smith, a probationary angel sent back to Earth, Michael Landon partnered with ex-cop Mark Gordon (Victor French) to help people through difficult times and moral dilemmas. Each episode found the duo traveling to a new town where someone needed divine intervention—though Jonathan’s methods were decidedly down-to-earth.
The show tackled serious issues, including racism, terminal illness, and poverty, with remarkable sensitivity for its time.
What made Highway to Heaven special was its sincerity and optimism during the often cynical 1980s. No problem was too big or small for Jonathan’s compassionate touch, reminding viewers that sometimes the most miraculous solutions come through simple human kindness.
8. Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
Divorced suburban mom Amanda King’s ordinary life changed forever when dashing secret agent Lee Stetson (code name: Scarecrow) handed her a package at a train station. Before she knew it, Amanda was juggling PTA meetings with international espionage!
The chemistry between Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner created the perfect blend of action, romance, and fish-out-of-water comedy. Amanda’s practical mom skills often proved surprisingly useful in spy situations, while Lee gradually warmed to his unlikely partner.
Unlike most spy shows, Scarecrow and Mrs. King celebrated everyday heroism alongside flashy gadgets and disguises. The series masterfully balanced high-stakes missions with domestic complications, creating a uniquely female-centered take on the spy genre decades before similar shows appeared.
9. Manimal (1983)
“Man becomes beast to fight for justice!” With that amazing tagline, Manimal introduced us to Dr. Jonathan Chase, a dashing professor who could transform into any animal to fight crime.
The spectacular transformation sequences—featuring practical effects by the legendary Stan Winston—showed skin rippling and bones cracking as Chase became a panther, hawk, or snake. Despite lasting only eight episodes, Manimal achieved cult status for its delightfully absurd premise and star Simon MacCorkindale’s completely serious performance.
Chase would typically transform in his fancy tuxedo, then reappear later fully dressed without explanation. The show’s budget limited transformations mostly to panthers and hawks, but the commitment to its wild concept made Manimal unforgettable. Sometimes the most memorable TV comes from the boldest, most unhinged ideas executed with absolute conviction!
10. Automan (1983-1984)
Walter Nebicher, a police computer programmer, created the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence—then watched it step right out of the computer!
Automan was a glowing blue hologram superhero who could materialize in the real world, create vehicles from light, and merge with Walter to access human knowledge. Heavily inspired by Tron’s visual aesthetic, Automan featured cutting-edge special effects including the Autocar—a futuristic vehicle that could make perfect 90-degree turns! Actor Chuck Wagner brought charismatic naivety to Automan as he learned about human life while fighting crime.
The show combined buddy-cop dynamics with sci-fi wonder, creating a unique blend of genres. Though short-lived, Automan predicted our current fascination with AI and virtual reality decades before these technologies became mainstream conversation topics.