Favorite TV Shows Growing Up in the 80's and early 90's

Do you remember the TGIF lineups on Friday nights? I can remember planning sleepovers and time with friends around TV Show lineups of our favorite shows... or else trying to set the VCR to record our favorite shows if we weren't going to be home. And through the years I had SO MANY favorites!

Growing pains aired in 1985 which put me around age 8 and it stayed on the air until I was 15 or so; I'm pretty sure most people in my age group watched mostly for Kirk Cameron and all his antics.  I still have a soft spot for family sit-coms! 

The Facts of Life aired when I was just 2  and stayed on the air until I was 11 so I'm sure the episodes I remember so fondly were either some of the later ones and then reruns shown later on when I was old enough to watch from the beginning. I think everyone would have loved an Edna Garret in their lives.  

Benson another sitcom that began airing when I was just 2 and was done by the time I was 9 (another one I must have watched mainly through reruns I guess).  How a show about a bunch of adults working in the governor's mansion was so enjoyable I have no idea but it was!  

Mr. Belvedere was on the air from 1985 until 1990 when I was between the ages of 8 and 13. I honestly don't remember a lot about the plot of each showed but remember most the letters that Mr. Belvedere used to write to recap each episode.  I think it was a fun twist that he was a male housekeeper. 

The Cosby Show aired from 1984 until 1992 while I aged 7-15 and thought the Huxtables were the perfect family. I wouldn't be lying though to stay my memories of this show feel tainted now with all the allegations aimed at Bill Cosby himself. 

My 2 Dads was only on the air for 3 years between 1987 & 1990 but I loved every episode. Everything from "Nicole's" wardrobe to the coolest apartment on TV (at the time) drew me in. 

Full House from 1987 when I was just 10 until I graduated high school-- making me the exact same age as DJ; so I could definitely relate to ALL her storylines!  

Family Matters was on the air from 1989 until 1998 and while I can't say I loved any of the characters; I definitely tuned in most weeks to see what Urkel and the Winslows were up to. 

Saved by the Bell premiered in 1989 and ran for 4 years (though I definitely remember watching the College years when I was still in high school too-- and all the spin offs that went with it!).  Just 3 years older than me I found all the characters fascinating. 

Kate and Allie (1984- 1989) I enjoyed watching these two best friends raising their kids together and loved seeing how Emma and Jennie interacted with one another too; 1/2 best friends 1/2 like sisters.

Family Ties (1982-1989)-- I'm sure this is another one of those shows that I began watching either towards the end or during reruns since I was only 5 when it aired. But I have very fond memories of the Keaton family and their house. 

Punky Brewster aired in 1984 and while it was only on for a couple of years I just loved it. So much so that I dressed up as Punky Brewster for Halloween one year when I was in grade school! 

Small Wonder (1985- 1989) I remember being fascinated by this robotic girl but somehow bet the special effects would not have stood the test of time. 

Silver Spoons aired from 1982-1987; I mostly think I loved this show because they lived in a mansion with some really neat toys and gadgets! 

Webster aired in 1983 and stayed on the air for 6 years, while I honestly didn't remember much about the plot of the show until I Googled it; I definitely remembered Webster himself and the Papadopolis family.  I also remember their house having some pretty cool ways for Webster to get around. 

Doogie Howser, MD aired in 1989 when I was 12 and remained on the air until I was mid-way through high school.  I think many of my friends and myself had crushes on Doogie and the episode I remember the most is when his girlfriend had an appendix attack while on their date. 

A Different World aired when I was 10 and though it centered around college students I remember enjoying it so much and watched right up until the end. 

Major Dad aired in 1989 and I just loved this show about a military step dad trying to adjust to life with 3 little girls. 

Diff'rent Strokes aired from 1978- 1986; another show I must have watched more in syndication but remember enjoying so much.  

Charles in Charge from 1984-1990 I think most of my friends and I wished we had a manny like Charles. 

Living Dolls aired in the late 80's as a spin off of who's the boss.  This show made modeling seem like such a glamorous and totally attainable job. 

The Golden Girls aired for the first time in the mid-80's... it's one of those shows I have watched over and over and over again in syndication and through streaming.  The friendship of these 4 women is priceless. 

Roseanne aired when I was 11 and I'm pretty sure I watched right until it was off the air when I turned 20!  We've even watched the reboot 

Hey Dude aired on Nickelodeon when I was 12 and while I would never have wanted to work on a dude ranch, it did often make me wish I had at least attended or worked at some sort of summer camp. 

Knight Rider-- we all wanted a car like Kit! 

Just the 10 of Us airing in the late 80's as a spin off of Growing Pains, this show dealt with coach Lubbock and his extremely large and growing family trying to make ends meet. 

Designing Women; I only watched a few of the later episodes with the updated cast before watching the newer shows in syndication when I was more high school aged. But I nearly went into interior design in college because I thought it looked like so much fun. 

Three's Company aired the year I was born and was finished by the time I was 7 so I must have watched this one in syndication too but it was a riot; complete with the crazy 70's clothing styles. 

Who's the Boss aired in the mid-80's and I anxiously watched each week to see what was going on with Samantha, Tony, Angela, and Mona. 

 Head of the Class-- from 86-91 I'm pretty sure I watched all 5 years worth of episodes as they aired. The interplay between the substitute teacher and his misfit students was a lot of fun. 

Gimme a Break-- spanning most of the 1980's, Nell was a fabulous no-nonsense housekeeper and quasi mom to this family. 

Perfect Strangers-- airing in 1986, I do remember not really liking this show much at first but Balki and cousin Larry really grew on me. 

Night Court-- 1984 until 1992; I don't think I started watching this show until near the end since I wouldn't have been up that late in the mid-80's.  I have sense watched most of the back episodes through syndication. 

Cheers-airing in 1982 and lasting for 11 years I'm sure this another series I picked up towards the end and then rewatched through syndication. Who would have thought a show that takes place in a bar would be so entertaining?

Highway to Heaven-- only on air for a handful of years in the mid to late '80's, I can remember watching this show with the whole family and a huge bowl of popcorn. 

Beverly Hills 90210-- airing in 1990 and following these characters for 10 years, they always seemed far more mature than anyone that went to MY high school! 

Baywatch-- on air from 1989-2001 my friends and I always tuned in to see what this group of lifeguards was going to do next. 

21 Jump Street -- starting in the late 80's this show was huge with it's focus on young undercover cops investigating crimes at schools, in gang, and with teens. 

Wings- starting in 1990 when I was only 13, this show probably shouldn't have appealed to me and yet somehow did.  Though we never actually got to see the Island of Nantucket and most of the episodes took place in the airport I enjoyed it. 

Blossom came out in 1990 when I was nearly 13; I remember collecting neckties to sew together my own skirt like the one she wore in the intro.  I think being a teenage girl I was really drawn the friendship between Blossom and Six. 

This is the skirt

Empty Nest aired in 1988 when I was just 11 and have fond memories of watching with my girlfriends; our favorite episode is the Hamburger Helper episode (IYKYK). 

Fresh Prince of Bel- Air-- airing in 1990 when I was 13, we all fell in love with this kid from Philly trying to find his place in Bel-Air with his rich aunt and uncle. 

The Hogan Family-- I'm pretty sure this was the first introduction of Jason Bateman and watching this heartwarming family grow and deal with life together made them a pretty predictable sit com of the mid to late 80's. 

The Love Boat-- airing from before I was born until I was 9 or 10; this must have been one show I watched more in syndication than it's original airing but I really enjoyed the goings on of this cruise ship. Particularly when Vicky, the captain's daughter was on. 

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