The 1980s introduced some of themost legendary sitcoms of all time, shows that are still referenced four decades later. Back then, audiences turning on their large televisions could witness the greatness ofCheers,Golden Girls, and, depending on their tastes,Alf.With so many shows to choose from, it’s understandable how a few could be forgotten and lost in the shuffle.
There are many reasons why a show can be forgotten. Modest hits could lose out on attracting new viewers if they don’t find a streaming outlet to call home, while others were received so poorly thatthey’re less forgotten shows and more repressed memories. No matter the reason, these forgotten sitcoms stand out in a storied decade of television.
10’Free Spirit' (1989-1990)
Created by Tim O’Donnell, Leslie Ray & Steven Vail
Winnie (Corinne Bohrer) is a magical witch who poses as a mortal family’s housekeeper in the ABC sitcomFree Spirit. The comedy was designed as a family program, originally premiering afterPerfect Strangersin the TGIF lineup before the show moved to its permanent time slot. A large amount of humor inFree Spiritstems fromWinnie using her powers of object manipulationor… anything else the writers can think of, to “solve” a problem, only to make it worse in an unexpected way.
Bohrer was charming in the role of Winnie and would go on to guest star in multiple television shows over the years. The show’s premise may seem odd, but in context,Free Spiritwas released the same year on the same network asDoogie Howser, M.D., so high-concept shows were landing with audiences.Free Spiritis notable for being one ofAlyson Hannigan’sfirst roles, previously appearing in theDan AykroydfilmMy Stepmother is an Alienthe year before. Ultimately, viewers didn’t wish to see more episodes, and the show was canceled after one season.
Free Spirit
Free Spirit is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
9’The Hogan Family' (1986-1991)
Created by Charlie Hauck
The Hogan Familyfollowed Valerie Hogan (Valerie Harper) as she raised three teenage boys (one of whom was a youngJason Bateman) while her pilot husband, Michael (Josh Taylor), was consistently away at work. While the show will most commonly be referred to as The Hogan Family, the sitcom originally started out asValerie, and was a vehicle for the star of the show, Harper. The show would be renamedthe Hogan Familyafter Harper asked for a raise,causing her to be fired from the showafter the second season.
Harper’s character would be killed off, with the sitcom starting the third season withSandy Duncancast as Sandy Hogan, the sister to widower Michael. Duncan would take over as the mother figure on the show, and the sitcom would continue on for a total of six seasons. Between the notoriety of the pay dispute with Harper, and the show moving networks from NBC to CBS for its final season,The Hogan Familydidn’t have the smoothest production.It was a fun sitcom for its time and fans of Bateman should check it out to see him hone his comedy chops.
The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
8’Mr. Belvedere' (1985-1990)
Created by Frank Dungan & Jeff Stein
InMr. Belvedere, the Owens family is never the same after superbutler Mr. Belvedere (Christopher Hewett) becomes their housekeeper. Distinguished, intelligent, and incredibly sassy, Mr. Belvedere adjusts to his suburban environmentwhile slowly growing close to his new employers. Like a Mary Poppins without any of the powers she had, Mr. Belvedere draws from his butler’s wisdom to help the Owens family in times of need.
Mr. Belvederealso starredBob Euckeras George, the father of the Owen family. Eucker was coming off a role in thebaseball comedyMajor League, but this would be his first time in a television series. Eucker was better known for his time as aprofessional baseball player and announcer, but he fit in nicely with the cast, looking comfortable in front of the camera with a likable presence.Mr Belvederebrought in solid ratings to keep it on ABC for five seasons, a respectable feat.
Mr. Belvedere
Mr. Belvedere is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
7’It’s a Living' (1980-1989)
Created by Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon & Stu Silver
It’s a Livingfollows the staff of a glitzy restaurant at the top of a Los Angeles hotel. Episodes centered around the restaurant’s waitresses as they shared their career goals, dating stories, and frustrations with working.It’s a Livingfirst premiered on ABC and, after failing to connect with audiences, was canceled after two seasons. The sitcomwould find a new life in syndication, where high ratings would actually cause the show to be re-booted into first-run syndication for a total of six seasons.
The exotic setting of the show goes a long way to mask the otherwise standard workplace sitcom format, and the bright dresses and nightclub aesthetics might have been the deciding factor as to whyIt’s a Livingbenefited from syndication. In a very unlikely course,It’s a Livingmanaged to fight a crowded market of shows tobecome one of the longest-running sitcoms of the decade. Cast shakeups throughout the seasons would make it harder for viewers to stay invested, but the comedy serves as a time capsule for the fashions and trends of its decade.
It’s a Living (1980)
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6’Kate & Allie' (1984-1989)
Created by Sherry Coben
Childhood friends Kate (Susan Saint James) and Allie (Jane Curtin) move in together after their divorces in the CBS sitcomKate & Allie. The sitcom followed Kate and Allie as they navigated the challenges of raising their children while making time to pursue love lives.Kate & Alliewas popular with critics and audiences, focusing onsmart, character-based humor with exceptional chemistry from its two leads. Initially brought in as a mid-season replacement,Kate & Allieturned out to be a solid hit for CBS and ran for six seasons.
The sitcom earned high acclaim during its run, but whether it’s due to a limited syndication push compared to its contemporaries or the lack of a prominent streaming home, the TikTok generation won’t be as familiar with the clever comedy.
This would mark Curtin’s return to a starring role after her run as one of theoriginal cast members ofSaturday Night Live. The role of Allie would earn Curtin two back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Actress in a Comedy Series. The sitcom earned high acclaim during its run, but whether it’s due to a limited syndication push compared to its contemporaries or the lack of a prominent streaming home, the TikTok generation won’t be as familiar with the clever comedy.
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5’Too Close for Comfort' (1980-1987)
Created by Brian Cooke, Earl Barret & Arne Sultan
Henry Rush (Ted Knight) is never far from his family in the sitcomToo Close for Comfort. Knight plays a San Francisco-based cartoonist known for his creation, Cosmic Cow. Henry lives with his wife (Nancy Dussault) in their upstairs unit, while his adult daughters live in the apartment downstairs. Comedy fans familiar with Knight tuned in to the show when it premiered on ABC, but ratings would dip after a few seasons, leading to a first-run syndication shift.
AfterThe Mary Tyler Moore Show, Knight made one of his most famous appearances inCaddyshackbefore starring inToo Close for Comfortas his final project. For the final season,Too Close For Comfortwould shift its premise and name, becoming theTed Knight Show, and moving the characters to a new location before Knight’s death led to the series’ end. The sitcom managed tostay in the middle of the pack with a loyal fan base, but it hasn’t enjoyed the continued interest of Knight’s more famous work inThe Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Too Close for Comfort
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4’She’s the Sheriff' (1987-1989)
Created by Mark Rothman, Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall
An unexpected death causes a city to giveSuzanne Somersa gun in the syndicated comedy,She’s the Sheriff. Somers plays Hildy Granger, a stay-at-home mom of two before the death of her husband, the sheriff, puts her livelihood in question. Because it’s a sitcom, Hildy isoffered her dead husband’s job even though she has no experience in law enforcement. Throughout each episode, Hildy adjusts to the unfamiliar nature of her position while working to earn the respect of her deputies.
She’s the Sheriffwas Somers’ return to a television seriesafter her early exit fromThree’s Company, and the expectations were high as this would be a starring vehicle for her.
She’s the Sheriffwas Somers’ return to a television seriesafter her early exit fromThree’s Company, and the expectations were high as this would be a starring vehicle for her, as opposed to the shared focus she received next toJohn RitterandJoyce DeWitt. Somer always carried a presence a TV star needed to be successful, and she would later put it to good use on the ABC family sitcomStep By Step, but the part of an overworked Sheriff proved to be ill-fighting. She’s the Sheriff ran for two seasons but was read its rights before a third.
She’s the Sheriff is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
3’Out of this World' (1987-1991)
Created by John Boni & Bob Booker
Alien offspring took center stage in the coming-of-age sitcomOut of This World. On her 13th birthday, Evie Garland (Maureen Flannagan) learns her father, Troy (voiced byBurt Reynolds), is an alien that lives on the planet Antareus. Evie’s half-alien DNA grants her abilities, such as the power to freeze time. Like many fantasy-driven comedies, a large chunk of the humor comes from theefforts to hide her powers while also abusing them for personal gain. Evie receives counsel from her father by talking into a crystal that allows her to communicate with her space-bound parent.
The 80s had a large offering of supernatural-themed comedies, andOut of This Worlddid a decent job of grounding the humor by focusing on the family dynamic with Evie’s mother, Donna (Donna Pescow), and her Uncle Beano (Joe Alaskey). Flannagan was engaged in the role of Evie, and helped propelOut of This Worldto four seasons before its cancelation.
Out of This World
Out of This World is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
2’Bosom Buddies' (1980-1982)
Created by Robert L. Boyett. Thomas L. Miller & Chris Thompson
BeforeTom Hankswent on to a movie career, he co-starred in the short-lived sitcomBosom Buddies. In the comedy, Kip (Hanks) and Henry (Peter Scolari) are two young professionals working at an advertising agency when they suddenly find themselves homeless. The duo learns about a women’s only hotel within their limited budget, so theymasquerade as women to get a roof over their heads.The result is a loose comedy with a heavy amount of improvisation between stars Hanks and Scolari.
Hank’s breakout film role,Splash, wouldtake him away from televisionafter its release, but declining ratings had already decided the fate ofBosom Buddies. The sitcom would be canceled after two seasons, but thelegend of the outlandish premise lives on. In 2012, a similar show titledWork Itfollowed a similar plot where two men dressed as women to get jobs. The sitcom demonstrated that not all ideas need to be rehashed and was canceled after two episodes.
Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
1’Small Wonder' (1985-1989)
Created by Howard Leeds
Small Wonderasks: Can anyone tell the difference between a child and a robot? Ted Lawson (Richard Christie) seeks the answer when he builds a robot named Vicki (Tiffany Brissette), whom he passes off as his adopted daughter. The Lawsons accept Vicki as one of their own, teaching her how to be a human while hiding her true identity from the neighbors. The show ran for three seasons in syndication, long enough thatBrisette’s aging had to be explained away as a technical upgrade.
Much of the humor inSmall Wondercomes from Vicki’s literal interpretation of the things said to her, along with the robot’s comically portrayed strength. The show had a minor successful run in syndication, with a DVD release of all three seasons in 2010.Small Wondershows its age, but thebroad humor mixed with fantasy elements connected with children, and would later prove fruitful in laterDisney shows likeWizards of Waverly Place.The sitcom has a small but loyal following, so perhaps a streaming partnership would bring new eyes to a quirky, forgotten classic.
Small Wonder
Small Wonder is not available to stream or purchase in the U.S.
