Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I Love the 80s TV

In no particular order, I would like to present a few of my favorite TV shows from that fabulous decade of big hair and shoulder pads, the 80s!

21 Jump Street
21 Pictures, Images and Photos

OK, I know I said...in no particular order...but I LOVED this show! What was not to like about this sexy looking cast with a great theme song! These officers were young enough to pass as students and solved crimes in many a high school. Johnny Depp, we love you!



Murder She Wrote

My mom and I couldn't get enough of Jessica Fletcher. You would find us in front of the TV every Sunday night tuning in to the latest mystery from Cabot Cove, Maine. Mrs. Fletcher was a former substitute English teacher turned mystery writer. Murder just seemed to follow Jessica around and she did have a flair for sleuthing. Mystery solved, case closed!

MacGyver

What would MacGyver do was the mantra of the 80s! Did you know MacGyver had a first name? There was an episode devoted to this subject as previous to this we only knew him as Mac or MacGyver. In actuality his first name was Angus. What I liked about MacGyver was he always sought non-violent ways to solve some pretty desperate situations prefering to disable or subdue. The things he could do with a paper clip and chewing gum! Oh yeah, and he was cute!

The Cosby Show

The Huxtables - what a great mom and dad, what great kids, loved the grandparents too and the assorted characters like Theo's friend "Cockroach" real name Walter! The Cosby Show was #1 in ratings for five consecutive years and according to TV Guide, singlehandedly revived the sitcom genre. My favorite Huxtable was Vanessa and I loved how she faced typical teenage problems, like was she a dweeb because she excelled in her school work or wearing makeup before her 15th birthday in violation of her parents' rules. She had a sunny personality and I also loved her cool hairstyles throughout the show!

Moonlighting
moonlighting Pictures, Images and Photos
Come on David and Maddie enough with the fighting already but then again that's what kept us glued to the series. In between cases, we wondered if they would or wouldn't ever get together. The sexual tension between the two characters was pretty taut. I was also amused by the way Miss DiPesto rhymed over the phone. I bet if the show were being filmed today she would be rapping!

Another great TV theme featuring Al Jarreau


Murphy BrownOK, this show crossed into the 90s - the series aired from 1988 to 1998. I think what the show was best remembered for was the 1992 Dan Quayle debacle when he used Murphy Brown in his presidential campaign speech espousing family values when Murphy became a single mother. I believe candidate Quayle forgot to mention she was fictional although he did call her a character. In an espisode titled You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato (love it!) the fictional characters of Murphy Brown addressed the controversy with an FYI piece dealing with the diversity of the American family.

Remington Steele
Loved Laura's spunkiness and creativity that prompted her to create Remington Steele a non-existent MALE private investigator when she realized no one hired her because she was a WOMAN. She was the brains behind the outfit but "Remington" usually got the credit and stole the show. He was also fond of spouting old movie trivia if you remember. Mildred joined the firm as their office assistant who pretty much got caught up in the investigations as well.

Star Trek - The Next Generation Prior to Next Generation the tagline was Where No Man Has Gone Before. I'm glad they changed it not just for womankind but for all intergallactic species! I love Star Trek in all its incarnations. Next Generation is one of my favorites.

But enough about what I liked, what about you? There were lots of other shows out there like Falcon Crest, Dynasty, Night Court, Perfect Strangers, Square Pegs and Bosom Buddies - Tom Hanks and Sarah Jessica Parker had to start somewhere you know!


9 comments:

  1. You didn't mention the Wonder Years with Kevin and Winnie.... I loved that show. But I have to agree that 21 Jumpstreet was also on my had to watch list. OMG Johnny Depp was my boyfriend...

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  2. What a great blast from the past Bonnie! I remember these! Oh, how about Cheers? That brings back memories of my days in Boston! Merci for the trip down memory lane! Anita

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  3. Goodness, no wonder we fell in love with all those beautiful people! What a trip back through time! Thanks!

    The Texas Woman

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  4. Girl, you had me with Johnny, but you sealed the deal with Captain Picard! (I have his Hallmark Christmas ornament, sssh! Don't tell anyone.)
    Debbie

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  5. Hi Bon!

    Oh, I loved 21 Jump Street too! Here we are 20 years later and Johnny Depp is still a hottie! (Do people still say hottie anymore???)

    Other shows I enjoyed were Magnum PI (I have to confess that I have a picture of Tom Selleck on my desk that someone recently found in our office photo files!), One Day at a Time (didn't everyone want to be cute Valerie Bertinelli?), and the Donny & Marie Show (I was a card carrying Osmond fan! And they called it Puppy Loooooovvvee!)

    See ya,
    Heidi

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  6. This is when TV was GOOD!!! GREAT shows! I RARELY turn on the TV now!

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  7. Bonjour chèrie! I envy you living in a pink bungalow; those are so vintage and sweet! Come on over for some pink champagne and I will slip a nice diamond crown on your head! I am hoping that you get a gig soon...keep me posted. Anita

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  8. Ooooh...Moonlighting and Remmington Steele! I soooo wanted those main characters to get together! But when they did on Moonlighting...the magic was gone!! Funny, huh?? Happy weekend...hugs...Debbie

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  9. great TV show, here are hundreds of dvds on sale:
    www.dvdsetcollection.com Everybody who has interesting can go and try.

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