TV Time Machine

The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life follows girls navigating adolescence, friendship, and responsibility.

Network: NBC

Universe: Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)

Roseanne

Roseanne portrays a working-class family facing life with humor, conflict, and resilience.

Network: ABC

Spinoff: The Conners (2018–present)

Universe: Roseanne

Married… with Children

Married… with Children satirizes dysfunctional family life with crude humor and cultural backlash.

Network: FOX

Spinoff: Top of the Heap (1991), Vinnie & Bobby (1992)

Universe: Married… with Children

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls celebrates aging, friendship, independence, and sharp wit among women.

Network: NBC

Spinoff: The Golden Palace (1992–1993), Empty Nest (1988–1995)

Universe: The Golden Girls

Miami Vice

Pastel suits, no socks, and Crockett's Ferrari. Florida never looked cooler.

Network: NBC

The Cosby Show

The Huxtable family — must-see Thursday night TV for all of America.

Network: NBC

Spinoff: A Different World (1987–1993)

Universe: The Cosby Show

Knight Rider

Michael Knight and KITT — a man and his talking car saving the day.

Network: NBC

The A-Team

I love it when a plan comes together. Mr. T, explosions, and no one ever got hurt.

Network: NBC

Night Court

Night Court mixes eccentric humor, justice, and late-night courtroom chaos.

Network: NBC

Growing Pains

Growing Pains follows a suburban family balancing parenting, adolescence, and humor.

Network: ABC

The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years nostalgically explores adolescence, family, and coming-of-age in suburban America.

Network: ABC

Family Ties

Family Ties contrasts liberal parents and conservative son amid Reagan-era generational change.

Network: NBC

Full House

Full House follows a widowed father raising daughters with family support and humor.

Network: ABC

Spinoff: Fuller House (2016–2020)

Universe: Full House

Cheers

Cheers centers on friendships, romance, and humor inside a Boston bar.

Network: NBC

Spinoff: Frasier (1993–2004)

Universe: Cheers

Charles in Charge

Charles in Charge follows a college student managing family life while working as live-in caretaker.

Network: CBS (Syndication 1987–1990)

ALF

ALF features a sarcastic alien hiding with a suburban family.

Network: NBC

Spinoff: ALF Tales (1988–1989)

Universe: ALF

Mama's Family

Mama's Family showcases sharp-tongued matriarch clashes with eccentric relatives and neighbors.

Network: NBC (Syndication 1986–1990)

Universe: The Carol Burnett Show

21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street follows young-looking cops infiltrating high schools to fight youth crime.

Network: FOX

Spinoff: Booker (1989–1990)

Universe: 21 Jump Street

Silver Spoons

Silver Spoons contrasts wealth and immaturity as a father learns parenting through responsibility.

Network: NBC (Syndication 1986–1987)

MacGyver

MacGyver solves dangerous problems using intelligence, improvisation, and nonviolent ingenuity.

Network: ABC

Gimme a Break!

Gimme a Break! A housekeeper helps a widowed police chief raise daughters with humor.

Network: NBC

Diff'rent Strokes

Diff'rent Strokes follows two Harlem brothers adopted into a wealthy Manhattan household.

Network: NBC (ABC 1985–1986)

Spinoff: The Facts of Life (1979–1988)

Universe: Diff'rent Strokes

Punky Brewster

Punky Brewster follows an optimistic girl finding family, belonging, and joy.

Network: NBC (Syndication 1987–1988)

Spinoff: It's Punky Brewster (1985–1989)

Universe: Punky Brewster

Mr. Belvedere

Mr. Belvedere features a refined housekeeper bringing wit and wisdom to an American family.

Network: ABC

Perfect Strangers

Perfect Strangers follows mismatched cousins navigating friendship, culture clashes, and American life.

Network: ABC

Spinoff: Family Matters (1989–1998)

Universe: Perfect Strangers

Airwolf

Airwolf centers around covert missions using a high-tech attack helicopter. This is what the 80s were made of.

Network: CBS (USA Network 1987)

The Greatest American Hero

The Greatest American Hero follows an unlikely hero fumbling through superhero responsibilities with humor.

Network: ABC