The 80s - MSN's List of Favorite 80's TV Shows

vc318 · 08-03-2006, 03:31 PM

Hi guys! MSN just released a list of 80's favorite voted TV Shows. Here they are:

'Cosby Show'
When it aired: 1984-1992
Created by: Michael Leeson, Ed Weinberger, and Bill Cosby
What was it about: Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable (Cosby) tries to be
the father who knows best to four high-spirited kids and his
equally strong-headed wife, Clair (Phylicia Rashad).
Why we loved it: Because it showed that African-American families can be just as white-bread as every other TV family.
Factoid fun: In a 2004 issue of TV Guide, Cosby's character came in first in a list of "The 50 Greatest Dads of All Time." Jim Anderson was not pleased.
Where are they now: Now without a prime-time family to impart his wisdom to (or an unhealthy food product to shill for), Billy spends his days yelling at young people to pull up their pants.

'The A-Team'
When it aired: 1983-1987
Created by: Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo
What was it about: On the run after being convicted of a crime they actually did commit (albeit under orders from a commanding officer who never bothered to write those orders down), four Vietnam vets drive around in a van, helping people, instead of trying to clear their name.
Why we loved it: Because it was like a big, dumb action movie every week.
Factoid fun: The gold chains worn by Mr. T usually weighed between thirty-five and forty pounds.
Where are they now: Probably still helping people.

'The Dukes Of Hazzard'
When it aired: 1979-1985
Created by: Gy Waldron
What was it about: Cousins Bo and Luke Duke are some good ol' boys, never meanin' no harm. But don't it beat all, they've been in trouble with the law since the day they was born. Or so their theme song goes.
Why we loved it: Because it perpetuated the stereotype of rednecks all being cop-hating reckless drivers who wear sinfully-short shorts.
Factoid fun: On several occasions, the show's crew misspelled the first name of Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane by adding an "e" to end of it like they were Dan Quayle spelling potato.
Where are they now: A second Dukes movie -- albeit one without Stiffler, Ashley Simpson's sister, that guy who likes getting hit in the family jewels or a plan to release it in theaters -- is being filmed as we speak.

'Cheers'
When it aired: 1982-1993
Created by: James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles
What was it about: Former Red Sox pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson) runs a bar filled with loveable alcoholics who don't seem to have anywhere else to go.
Why we loved it: Because on Thursday nights in the '80s, we didn't have anywhere else to go either. And they were loveable alcoholics.
Factoid fun: The week "Cheers" debuted, it came in dead last in the Neilson ratings.
Where are they now: Some other bar.

'Miami Vice'
When it aired: 1984-1989
Created by: Anthony Yerkovich
What was it about: Detectives Sonny Crocket (Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas), who constantly pose as drug dealers in an attempt to curtail Florida's cocaine habit.
Why we loved it: Because it was like a stylish, smart action flick every week...well, until Sonny married that "Sugar Walls" lady, anyway.
Factoid fun: Had things gone a little differently, Crocket would've been played by Larry Wilcox of "CHiPs."
Where are they now: A new "Miami Vice" movie -- with Colin Farrell as Crocket, Jamie Foxx as Tubbs, and Michael Mann reprising his role as "the director" -- is currently in theaters.

'Night Court'
When it aired: 1984-1992
Created by: Reinhold Weege
What was it about: Judge and amateur magician Harold T. "Harry" Stone (Harry Anderson) presides over a late-night arraignment court whose workers are as colorful as the criminals they deal with.
Why we loved it: Because John Larroquette played one of the most unapologetic but loveable shysters on TV ever.
Factoid fun: While jokes were made about the height of Bull the bailiff, the 6'7" actor who played him, Richard Moll, was actually only a few inches taller than his 6'4" co-stars Anderson and Larroquette.
Where are they now: Still workin' the night shift.

'Alf'
When it aired: 1986-1990
Created by: Paul Fusco and Tom Patchett
What was it about: A smart ass alien crash lands in the Tanner family's backyard, and instead of anally probing them, he eats their food, chases their cat, and occasionally brings them closer together as a family.
Why we loved it: Because that acerbic alien Alf was like a furry Don Rickles. Plus the daughter, Lynn, looked like our first girlfriend (who, coincidentally, was also from the '80s).
Factoid fun: With the exception of the pilot, every episode was named after a song, including such rockers as "Wild Thing" (Season 1, Episode 19), "Stairway To Heaven" (Season 3, Episode 2), and "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" (Season 4, Episode 3).
Where are they now?: Having taken the last name Clausen, Alf now composes music for "The Simpsons."

'Transformers'
When it aired: 1984-1987
Created by: Jay Bacal and John Gibbs
What was it about: It was all hot robot-on-robot action when the Autobots and the Decepticons -- sentient alien robots than can reconfigure their bodies to look like cars, planes, and in one case, a boom box - battle it out on Earth.
Why we loved it: Duh! Robots that can turn into sports cars and fighter jets? And they fight other robots? Do you really need to ask?
Factoid fun: Over the years, Optimus Prime and pals have made guest appearances on both "Family Guy" and "Robot Chicken" while Soundwave appeared in the film "Say Anything ... ."
Where are they now?: Currently filming a big budget bio-pic starring Bernie Mac, John Turturro, comedian Dane Cook, Josh Duhamel of "Las Vegas," Tyrese Gibson, Shia LaBeouf, the excellently-named Bylle Michele Fortier-Price, and Jon Voight.

'Married ... with Children'
When it aired: 1987-1997
Created by: Rob Leavitt and Michael G. Moye
What was it about: Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill), who sells women shoes, doesn't bother trying to be the father who knows best to his screwed-up son, his stupid, ****ty daughter, and his lazy wife, Peg (Katey Sagal).
Why we loved it: Because it was the anti-Cosby.
Factoid fun: Creators named the family after professional wrestler King Kong Bundy, who repaid the favor by guesting on an 1988 episode as one of Peg's hillbilly cousins, Uncle Irwin.
Where are they now?: While most of the family are M.I.A., Peg recently resurfaced as the soon-to-be reinstated spaceship captain for Planet Express Delivery Service a thousand years in the future, give or take a month.

'Star Trek: The Next Generation'
When it aired: 1987-1994
Created by: Gene Roddenberry
What was it about: Nearly a hundred years after Kirk drove it around the galaxy, looking for chicks, a new Enterprise began a new mission to boldly go on TV where no one had gone since the original Trek was cancelled in 1969.
Why we loved it: Because we're Trekkers.
Factoid fun: The characters of Q and Geordi La Forge were actually named after "Trek" fans Janet Quarton and George La Forge. Did we mention that we're Trekkers?
Where are they now: Pulling the Enterprise out of mothballs so it can appear in the new space combat video games "Star Trek Legacy," which comes out this fall for PC and Xbox 360, and "Star Trek: Tactical Assault," out this fall on PSP and DS.

The Cosby Show, Married with Children, and Night Court are my definite favorites.