10 Forgotten 1980s Sitcoms You Probably Don’t Remember

The 1980s were a groundbreaking era for sitcoms, with many shows making their mark on television. However, not all of the series have stood the test of time. Many 1980s sitcoms, despite their initial popularity and unique concepts, have faded into obscurity. The shows, which ranged from family-centric comedies to quirky fantasy series, often struggled with shifting audience tastes and changing television landscapes.

shows how Eight is enough, She is the sheriffAnd The New Adventures of Beans Baxter are good examples of ’80s sitcoms that are incredibly underrated. They once entertained viewers, but are now largely forgotten. While they brought fresh ideas and engaging characters to the screen, their popularity was often short-lived, leading to cancellations and a Gradually fading from public consciousness.

10

She’s the Sheriff (1989-1987)

A bold comedy with an original premise

She is the sheriffThe pilot episode, aired as a one-off in 1982, was made by CBS but failed to meet the network’s expectations. Despite an attempt to launch the series, it was not picked up for a full run, and It took three years for it to finally come out With a total of 44 episodes spread over two seasons. The show stars Susan Somers as Hildy Granger, a young woman who becomes the sheriff of a fictional Nevada county after her husband’s sudden death. The transition of her character from a widow with two children to a law enforcer with no experience provided the basis for the comedic scenarios of the show.

She is the sheriff Garnered some attention, but was ultimately poorly received, with TV Guide Ranking it number 44 on their “50 Worst TV Shows of All Time” in 2002. The sitcom struggled to find an audienceAnd it is often remembered more for its lackluster performance than for its contributions to television. The show attempted to bring a fresh take on the law enforcement genre with a comedic twist, but was forgotten soon after.

9

The New Adventures of Beans Baxter (1987-1988)

A forgotten 1980s sitcom with a short run

The New Adventures of Beans Baxter is an American teen sitcom from the 1980s that hardly anyone remembers. premier in 1987, The show only lasted for two seasons before it was cancelled. The series offered a unique mix of teen drama and spy adventures, focusing on Benjamin “Beans” Baxter, Jr., a Kansas teenager who moved due to his father’s reassignment as a Postal Service employee. The show was notable for being filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia, adding a different background to its episodes.

In the final episode, Beans infiltrates the Bad Seed gang after his brother Scooter is falsely accused of illegal activities, bringing the series to a dramatic close. The New Adventures of Beans Baxter may not have made a lasting impression on most viewers, But it remains an interesting relic of 1980s televisionrepresenting a time when Fox was still finding its footing in the competitive landscape of network television. For those who remember it, the show is a nostalgic reminder of an era filled with quirky, experimental sitcoms that occasionally dared to merge genres and offer something different to its audience.

8

Sanford (1980-1981)

A spin-off from Sanford and Son that struggled to find an audience

As a sequel to the original 1972-1977 sitcom Sanford and Son, Sanford Tried to recapture the magic of its predecessor but struggled to create a following. Despite heavy promotion by NBC, the show failed to maintain its initial strong ratings, leading to a mid-season hiatus for retooling. The show was about the misadventures of Fred Sanford, a father, as he navigated life and family dynamics in a new setting after the original show’s end.

In 2022, the entire series became available for free streaming on Tubi, although only 12 of its 26 episodes remained accessible as of March 2023. Despite these efforts, Sanford has largely disappeared into darkness, Still being under Sanford and Son Shadow. While the show didn’t manage to become one of the best cult classics of the ’80s, Sanford Offers a nostalgic look at 1980s television and the continuing adventures of a beloved sitcom family.

7

Empty Nest (1988-1995)

A Golden Girls Spin-off that had its day but entertained

Created as a spin-off for a show with one of the best theme songs ever, The golden girls, empty nest Made his way into television in 1985. It stars Richard Mulligan as Dr. Harry Weston, a recently widowed pediatrician adjusting to life after the loss of his wife. The concept was initially introduced in the 1987 Golden Girls episode “Empty Nests,” which served as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off. Even with this promising start, empty nest struggled to resonate with its viewers, with actress Rita Moreno later criticizing the idea.

during his life, empty nest has managed to carve out a nichestrain his spin-off, NursesIn 1991. The trio of shows—Empty miracleh the golden girls, And Nurses— represented a unique moment in American television, with all three shows airing on the same network on the same night, in the same city, and with characters who knew each other. Nevertheless, despite being based off of The Golden Girls, empty nest was largely ignored over more memorable sitcoms of the era.

6

After MASH (1983-1985)

A Mash* spin-off that never hits the mark

AfterMASH is a 1980s sitcom that has been largely forgotten by television history. Aired on CBS from September 26, 1983 to May 31, 1985, the continuation of the well-liked characters of *M*A*S*H* Focused on the post-war lives of three main characters from the original show. Set right after the end of the Korean War, *afterMASH* Follows the new adventures of the characters as they adapt to life after the conflict. Yet, with his connection to the highly successful *M*A*S*H*The show was met with mostly negative critical reception.

AfterMASH It only lasted for two seasons and 31 episodes, with one episode remaining unaired in the US. it. Time magazine lists it as one of these 100 worst ideas of the century in 1999, And TV Guide named it the seventh-worst TV series ever in 2002. Although it finished at a respectable #15 out of 101 network shows for the 1983-1984 season, according to Nielsen Media Research, no one remembers this show.

5

Designing Women (1986-1993)

A sitcom that struggled with changing slots and low ratings

Designing womanwhich aired for seven seasons from 1986 to 1993, focused on the lives of four women and one man working at an interior design firm in 1980s Atlanta, Georgia. Despite Starting strong with decent ratingsThe series saw many challenges as CBS often moved it to different time slots. The changes led to a decline in viewership, and although a viewer campaign managed to save the show from cancellation for a time, it was ultimately unable to recover from its move to the challenging Friday night slot.

The sitcom enjoyed some popularity in the late 80s but struggled with sinking ratings as it was still shifted around CBS’s schedule. The eventual move to the Friday night slot in 1992, referred to as the “Death Slot” due to its tough competition, causing ratings to drop even more, leading to the cancellation of the show. Even with the efforts of a dedicated fan base, Designer woman Serves as a reminder of how even shows with strong beginnings can still become unremembered.

4

Eight is Enough (1977-1981)

A family sitcom that was quickly forgotten after its popular run

In five seasons from 1977 to 1981, Eight is enough is a single-camera sitcom Based on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, who had eight children and wrote a book with the same title. The show not only entertained viewers with its family-centric stories, but also played a significant role in launching the acting careers of several young stars at the time. With a total of 112 episodes, Eight is enough Shows the ups and downs of a large family.

however, Even with its early success, the series struggled with rising production costs and declining ratings As it approached its fifth season. In a notable twist, Dick Van Patten, one of the show’s actors, learned about the cancellation not through official channels, but by reading about it in the newspaper. The subsequent fall into darkness of the show marks how cruel the television competition is.

3

Mary (1978, 1986)

Mary Taylor Moore’s return to sitcoms that struggled to recapture old magic

Mary marked Mary Tyler Moore’s return to sitcom television after a six-year absence, following her less successful ventures in variety shows, Mary (1978) And The Mary Taylor Moore Hour (1979). Mary was intended to have the success of Moore’s earlier hit, The Mary Taylor Moore ShowBut it struggled to connect with people. The show centers around Mary’s character as a newly divorced woman navigating life and work in a new city.

The series, which only had 13 episodes, ended after airing its 10th episode on February 19, 1986, never managing to build an audience. Although it received some praise for Moore’s performance, critics pointed out that it was a copycat of her more acclaimed show. Mary Quickly became one of many television ventures that stalled.

2

Too Close for Comfort (1980-1987)

A series that has transitioned from a family comedy to a more focused narrative

Too close for comfort is a 1980s sitcom That has largely slipped through the cracks of people’s memories. The show was briefly rebranded as The Ted Knight Show for his final season in 1986 after Ted Knight’s passing. The series, heavily inspired by the British sitcom Keep it in the familyFeatured Knight as a work-at-home cartoonist living in San Francisco with his wife Muriel and their two grown daughters.

during his course, Too close for comfort Tackled some controversies, like the episode where the family moves to Oakland that ended Win protests from local politicians Because of her depiction of crime and unsatisfactory living conditions. For its final season, the show shifted its setting to Marin County, where Knight’s character became a co-owner of a local weekly newspaper. Despite its six-season run and 129 episodes, Too close for comfort A lesser-known show remains.

1

Out of the World (1987-1991)

A fantasy sitcom that struggled to find its place in television history

Despite its long run of 96 episodes spread over 4 seasons, no one remembers Out of this world. The show was centered on a teenager Girl who discovers on her 13th birthday that her father is an alien From the planet Antareus, giving you superpowers. Despite its intriguing premise, the series struggled to gain traction, and received only mixed to negative reviews. Critics noted that the show, like many Teen U.S. it. Sitcoms are boring.

Although Out of this world managed to attract a modest audience And was broadcast in countries like France, Germany and Italy, it never quite achieved lasting popularity. The show’s reliance on its fantasy elements, combined with its uneven execution, contributed to its obscurity. Even with guest stars such as Ann Miller, Norman Fell, Scott Carpenter and Charles Nelson Reilly, the series faded into the background of 1980s television.