Nostalgia To The Max
The 1980s brought us some incredible shows that shaped childhood memories with quirky characters and silly moments that created something special. So, let's look at a couple of classics that prove good stories never get old.
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock was a classic kids' show created by Jim Henson that first hit the airwaves on January 10, 1983. It takes you into a world filled with the Fraggles, some cute, furry creatures that call a network of caves known as Fraggle Rock their home.
Fraggle Rock Season 1 Episode 1: The Beginning. by Cartoon Collection
Fraggle Rock (Cont.)
The show was notable for addressing issues like prejudice, spirituality, personal identity, and environmental concerns in a way accessible to children. Its goal was to demonstrate how all living things are interconnected and how individual acts impact them.
Fraggle Rock Season 1 Episode 1: The Beginning. by Cartoon Collection
Fraggle Rock (Cont.)
After its original run of five seasons and 96 episodes, Fraggle Rock has continued to influence popular culture. A reboot titled Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock even premiered on Apple TV+ on January 21, 2022, celebrating the show's legacy while introducing it to a new generation.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock — Official Trailer | Apple TV+ by Apple TV
Inspector Gadget
Here, we met Inspector Gadget, a bumbling and dim-witted cyborg detective equipped with a wide range of gadgets built into his body. Gadget was often tasked with thwarting the evil plans of Dr. Claw, the leader of the criminal organization known as M.A.D.
Inspector Gadget S01E01 Monster Lake 1080p by Satsuki Ikeda
Inspector Gadget (Cont.)
Voiced by Don Adams, the main character was characterized by his catchphrase "Go-Go Gadget," which he used to activate his gadgets. The two seasons of the first Inspector Gadget television series went from 1983 to 1985, while the follow-up series aired from 2015 to 2018.
Inspector Gadget S01E01 Monster Lake 1080p by Satsuki Ikeda
Inspector Gadget (Cont.)
In January 2009, IGN ranked Inspector Gadget as the 54th best in their list of the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows. One IMDb user review even stated, “Inspector Gadget is a classic. Forget the movies, which were both quite poor; this show is the real thing”.
Inspector Gadget S01E01 Monster Lake 1080p by Satsuki Ikeda
DuckTales
Apparently, this 80s creation was based on the comic book characters started by Carl Barks, who was mainly focused on the adventures of Scrooge McDuck, the world's richest duck, and his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
DuckTales - Theme Song | Disney+ Throwbacks | Disney+ by Disney Plus
DuckTales (Cont.)
It was set in the fictional city of Duckburg, where Scrooge's wealth and adventurous spirit led to encounters with different villains. These included Flintheart Glomgold, Magica De Spell, and the Beagle Boys. In 2017, DuckTales was rebooted with a fresh take on the characters.
Woo-oo! 💸 | S1 E1 | Full Episode | DuckTales | Disney Channel by Disney Channel
Perfect Strangers
This beloved show kicks off with Larry Appleton, a guy from Wisconsin who just moved into his first apartment in Chicago. Things get interesting when his cousin, Balki Bartokomous, shows up from the made-up island of Mypos, planning to crash with him.
PERFECT STRANGERS - Larry & Balki Meet for the First Time by A FUSCO - Classic TV
Perfect Strangers (Cont.)
It became an immediate ratings success when it debuted in a prime-time spot between Moonlighting and Who's the Boss? As a component of ABC's original TGIF Friday night lineup, it established a niche. Over its eight-season run, the show produced 150 episodes.
PERFECT STRANGERS - Larry & Balki Meet for the First Time by A FUSCO - Classic TV
Garfield And Friends
Garfield and Friends puts together humor with relatable themes of friendship, laziness, and the everyday struggles of life. The show first came on CBS on September 17, 1988, and stayed until December 10, 1994, offering a total of 121 episodes.
Garfield and Friends. S1E1 by barsu4
Garfield And Friends (Cont.)
It features Garfield, a food-loving and lazy cat, his clueless dog Odie, and their frustrated owner, Jon Arbuckle. Each episode typically showcased two Garfield segments, one segment from U.S. Acres, and a “Garfield Quickie” at the end.
Garfield and Friends. S1E1 by barsu4
Garfield And Friends (Cont.)
The character of Garfield was voiced by Lorenzo Music, while Jon Arbuckle, Garfield's owner, was voiced by Thom Huge. The show was established by Jim Davis and was produced by Lee Mendelson and Phil Roman. Mark Evanier was the main writer.
Garfield and Friends. S1E1 by barsu4
Square Pegs
As they struggle to fit in at Weemawee High School, the show talks about two awkward teenage girls, Lauren Hutchinson (Amy Linker) and Patty Greene (Sarah Jessica Parker). The need for approval, social cliques, and friendship are all explored in the series.
Square Pegs | Pilot | S1EP1 FULL EPISODE | Classic TV Rewind by Classic TV Rewind Clips
Square Pegs (Cont.)
Patty is portrayed as clever but socially awkward, while Lauren is eager to be part of the popular crowd. After a single season of 20 episodes, the show ran from September 27, 1982, until January 7, 1983. Anne Beatts, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, devised the show.
Square Pegs | Pilot | S1EP1 FULL EPISODE | Classic TV Rewind by Classic TV Rewind Clips
Willo The Wisp
The British animated television series Willo the Wisp debuted in 1981. Short stories set in the imaginary Doyley Woods were included in each episode, usually lasting five minutes or less. The main character, Willo the Wisp, is a sprite formed from gas.
Willo The Wisp - Cats and Dogs (1981) (Animation) by Pookerjams Media
Willo The Wisp (Cont.)
Nick Spargo wrote and directed the series, while Nicholas Cartoon Films produced it. Kenneth Williams, a recognized comedian and actor from Britain, narrated the show. “The Wishbone” and “The Flight of Mavis” are two of the show’s top-rated episodes.
Willo The Wisp - Games with Edna (Animation) (1981) by Pookerjams Media
Punky Brewster
This American show introduced Soleil Frye as Punky Brewster, a young girl who gets left by her mom and ends up finding a new home with her foster dad, Henry Warnimont (George Gaynes). It had an additional syndication from October 30, 1987, to May 27, 1988.
Punky Brewster (Cont.)
Also, in 2021, a revival of Punky Brewster premiered on Peacock. This new series showed Punky as a divorced mother trying to raise her three kids while dealing with her past. Unfortunately, this segment was short-lived and got canceled after one season.
Punky Brewster | First 5 Minutes of the Series (1984) by Peacock
Punky Brewster (Cont.)
In 1985, it was nominated for Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series for the episode “Henry Falls in Love”. Additionally, in 1987, it was nominated for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Long-Running Series Comedy or Drama.
Punky Brewster | Punky Tries Cleaning Henry's Apartment by Peacock
ALF
This one lasted four seasons and put out 99 episodes overall, including three one-hour specials. Basically, ALF was a series that revolved around Gordon Shumway, an extraterrestrial from the planet Melmac, who crash-landed in the garage of the Tanner family.
ALF: Season 1 Episode 1 - A.L.F. | Full Episodes from @ALFtvOfficial by Shout! Studios
ALF (Cont.)
Known as ALF (an acronym for “Alien Life Form”), he becomes part of the household and tries to hide from the government while adapting to life on Earth. ALF was performed by Paul Fusco, who also co-created the show, while Michu Meszaros occasionally portrayed ALF.
ALF: Season 1 Episode 1 - A.L.F. | Full Episodes from @ALFtvOfficial by Shout! Studios
ALF (Cont.)
Although the series ended with an unresolved cliffhanger, it was followed by a television film titled Project: ALF, which concluded the storyline. It was known for being the first television show presented in Dolby Surround Sound and a character with eight stomachs.
ALF: Season 1 Episode 1 - A.L.F. | Full Episodes from @ALFtvOfficial by Shout! Studios
Family Ties
Ideated by Gary David Goldberg, the show was all about the Keaton family. It mainly underlined the clash between the liberal, ex-hippie parents, Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse Keaton (Meredith Baxter), and their conservative son, Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox).
Family Ties - It's My Life by CBS
Family Ties (Cont.)
The family also includes daughters Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers), along with their youngest sibling, Andrew (Brian Bonsall), who is introduced later in the series. It was set in Columbus, Ohio, during the Reagan administration, reflecting the cultural shifts of the 1980s.
Family Ties - Sin Against Capitalism by CBS
Family Ties (Cont.)
Family Ties has been hailed for its writing and performances and is considered one of the best family sitcoms ever. On the list of 101 Best-Written TV Series published by the Writers Guild of America, it came in at number 95.
Family Ties - Washed Up by CBS
The Real Ghostbusters
A spin-off and follow-up to the 1984 movie Ghostbusters is the animated television series The Real Ghostbusters. The title “The Real” was added to differentiate it from Filmation's unrelated Ghost Busters series. Its first season got a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
PILOT EPISODE: The Real Ghostbusters! | Animated Series | GHOSTBUSTERS by Ghostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters (Cont.)
This show is composed of 147 episodes, including a sub-series titled Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters, which aired in its fourth season. It follows the adventures of the original Ghostbusters team as they deal with supernatural phenomena.
PILOT EPISODE: The Real Ghostbusters! | Animated Series | GHOSTBUSTERS by Ghostbusters
The Amazing Adventures Of Morph
Morph originally appeared on the children's art-themed show Take Hart in 1977, which led to the creation of this spin-off series due to Morph's popularity. Morph, a plasticine figure with terracotta skins that can change into shapes and things, is the main character.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN | THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MORPH | EP01 by Morph
The Amazing Adventures Of Morph (Cont.)
The series made it on TV on October 13, 1980, and stayed till 1981. The Amazing Adventures of Morph utilizes clay stop-motion animation, a hallmark of Aardman Animations, which is also famous for works like Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN | THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF MORPH | EP01 by Morph
Pee-Wee's Playhouse
Remember Pee-wee Herman? He was a quirky manchild who lived in a fantastical playhouse filled with talking furniture, puppets, and many other imaginative characters. Each episode brought us comedy sketches, musical performances, and interactive segments.
Pee-wee's Playhouse: Episode 1 - Ice Cream Soup | Full Episode by Shout! Studios
Pee-Wee's Playhouse (Cont.)
The show's design was influenced by 1950s children's programming and displayed contributions from artists like Wayne White and Gary Panter. The set design had a psychedelic, colorful aesthetic reminiscent of the "Googie" style. Notably, some segments were produced by Aardman Animations.
Pee-wee's Playhouse: Episode 1 - Ice Cream Soup | Full Episode by Shout! Studios
The Smurfs
Now comes everyone's favorite. The Smurfs was developed by Hanna-Barbera Productions and was based on the Belgian comic series by Peyo (Pierre Culliford). Peyo was the adaptation's story supervisor as well. Its TV debut was made on September 12, 1981.
The Wise Grandpa Smurf! 🤗🤗🤗 • The Smurfs • Cartoons for Kids by The Smurfs • Official Channel!
The Smurfs (Cont.)
Basically, it centered around little blue creatures known as Smurfs, who chill out in mushroom houses in a cozy forest. They’re led by Papa Smurf and usually end up dealing with the trouble caused by Gargamel, a sorcerer who's always trying to catch them.
The Wise Grandpa Smurf! 🤗🤗🤗 • The Smurfs • Cartoons for Kids by The Smurfs • Official Channel!
Jem And The Holograms
Following record label mogul Jerrica Benton, the show follows her as she uses a holographic computer called Synergy to change into her glitzy alter ego, Jem. As Jem, she then guides Jem and the Holograms on a variety of exciting adventures.
Jem and the Holograms S1E01 The Beginning by dellabdul
Jem And The Holograms (Cont.)
She does all this while overcoming obstacles presented by The Misfits, a competing band. The show was started by Christy Marx and produced by Hasbro and Sunbow Productions, primarily as a means to promote the accompanying line of dolls.
Jem and the Holograms S1E01 The Beginning by dellabdul
Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends
Spider-Man, played by Peter Parker, is the titular hero here, who is known for his agility, web-slinging abilities, and spider sense. The beloved series ran for three seasons, producing a total of 24 episodes. It was originally broadcast on NBC as a Saturday morning cartoon.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) Intro by DirRudy
Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends (Cont.)
Here, Spider-Man collaborates with Iceman and Firestar, a specially developed character for the series. They fight Marvel Universe villains, like the "Spider-Friends," together. It was initially intended to feature the Human Torch. However, he was replaced by Firestar due to issues regarding character rights.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983) Intro by Spiderman Video Clips
Ulysse 31
In the thirty-first century, Ulysse 31 retells the tale of Odysseus or Ulysses in Latin. After killing a Cyclops and rescuing a group of captive children, Ulysses and his crew on the spaceship Odyssey are cursed by the gods to roam the universe.
Ulysses 31 Full Intro (1981) 8K (Remastered with Neural Network AI) by Upscale
Ulysse 31 (Cont.)
But everything changes when they come across the Kingdom of Hades. It comprises 26 half-hour episodes, each depicting Ulysses' adventures as he encounters mythological figures and challenges. The heroic protagonist was voiced by Jean-Pierre Dorat in French.
Ulysses 31 Full Intro (1981) 8K (Remastered with Neural Network AI) by Upscale
Head Of The Class
With a total of 5 seasons, Head of the Class was crafted by Richard Eustis and Michael Elias, who aimed to portray the lives of academically gifted high school students. They are enrolled in the Individualized Honors Program at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School in Manhattan.
Head Of The Class (Cont.)
Their unusual history teacher, Charlie Moore, played by Howard Hesseman, pushes his pupils to solve their problems and think critically. In the final season, Billy Connolly replaced Hesseman as teacher Billy MacGregor after he decided to leave the show.
Double Dare
In Double Dare, two teams compete against one another by responding to trivia questions and doing clumsy physical tasks called "stunts." If you have watched it, you will surely remember its hilarious and chaotic tone. The show was famously hosted by Marc Summers.
Double Dare OFFICIAL Classic Full Episode | Double Dare | Nick by Nickelodeon
Double Dare (Cont.)
This was Nickelodeon's first game show, setting the stage for future programming on the network. The success of Double Dare led to a couple of spin-offs, such as Super Sloppy Double Dare, Family Double Dare, and revivals in 2000 and 2018.
Double Dare OFFICIAL Classic Full Episode | Double Dare | Nick by Nickelodeon
