What obscure 80's TV shows and sitcoms you know?
This one, called Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince is pretty much forgotten, but it aired in my country that was commie at the time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71QkcZQgOH4

And I recently discovered Mr. Merlin, from the early 80's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NH3vcDvEOc

Blacke's Magic (1986)
Hal Linden as a Magician who solves crimes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g0jiuG9A04

Beverly Hills Buntz (1987)
In the series finale of Hill Street Blues, Lieutenant Norman Buntz (Dennis Franz) punches out the Police Chief and kisses his job goodbye, so he moves out to California with his snitch Sid (Peter Jurasik) to start a detective agency.  It was one of the rare transitions from drama series to sitcom.  IT worked with Mary Tyler Moore-Lou Grant, but it didn't work here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3cOU0XJous

How about these two on one ad, they both sucked. Freebie & The Bean and Secret of Midland Heights
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTd8BV54VWk

New Odd Couple (1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTd8BV54VWk

New Odd Couple (1983)

I remember this with Desmond Wilson and Ron Glass.

Bosum Buddies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOKNgNFeC4s

Bosum Buddies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOKNgNFeC4s

Hey I use to like that show, Tom Hanks before he became famous,

I remember this with Desmond Wilson and Ron Glass.


didn't last long, only a couple of months.

Hey I use to like that show, Tom Hanks before he became famous,


and they were dressed like women.  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-ssO62rn4


Love,Sidney (1981-1983)

It starred Kaleena Kliff, Swoozie Kurtz and the late Tony Randall.^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN3R_m20sUs

Roomies, a short lived 1987 sitcom, with Burt Yound and Corey Haim.  I mostly remember it because I was one of the Marines in the opening credits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcwQOKLCvZc

What A Country, a 1986 Yakov Smirnoff show, only lasted 1 season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMghEkZ-KEE

Fast Times, a 1986 show based on the movie.  Only lasting 7 episodes, ironically the next to last was called "My Brother, The Car".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQl6r0fqRAI

And probably my all-time favorite, Sledge Hammer!  I actually have the complete series on DVD.

Trust me, I know what I'm doing.

Roomies, a short lived 1987 sitcom, with Burt Yound and Corey Haim.  I mostly remember it because I was one of the Marines in the opening credits.



Cool claim to fame! Are you marching or in the canteen? I also love and have the complete series of Sledgehammer.

I remember both the original poster's tv series - nice choices!

Mine would have to go to Just Our Luck (1983)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dUTagjv0s


and Mr Smith (1983).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83tW1wy5il4

Cool claim to fame! Are you marching or in the canteen? I also love and have the complete series of Sledgehammer.


I was one of the guys marching.  That was filmed up at Fort MacArthur, near Long Beach, California.  We spent the morning marching around in Cammies, and after lunch we did it again in our Dress Blues.

My entire platoon spent the day marching around the place, with Burt doing all of the commands himself.  He also spent a lot of time chatting with us between takes, he was an awesome guy to talk to.  I did not know until then that he had actually served in the Marines himself before he took up acting.

Cool claim to fame! Are you marching or in the canteen? I also love and have the complete series of Sledgehammer.

I remember both the original poster's tv series - nice choices!

Mine would have to go to Just Our Luck (1983)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dUTagjv0s


and Mr Smith (1983).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83tW1wy5il4


Just Our Luck looked like a cool show.

didn't last long, only a couple of months.

Yeah I think I watched one or two episodes

and they were dressed like women.  ;D

Yes they did :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-ssO62rn4


Love,Sidney (1981-1983)

It starred Kaleena Kliff, Swoozie Kurtz and the late Tony Randall.^

Another one I watched.

Hey Vern, It's Ernest and we only lasted 13 episodes ;D

rrwyo89N69A

Hey Vern, It's Ernest and we only lasted 13 episodes ;D

rrwyo89N69A


13 episodes too long.  Ernest was a good character, but after the 1 thousandth Ernest movie, he got to be a bit much lol

Hey Vern, It's Ernest and we only lasted 13 episodes ;D

rrwyo89N69A



What year was this from? ???

What year was this from? ???

88

88


Was it on cable or regular tv? ???

Was it on cable or regular tv? ???

It was on Saturday mornings on CBS.

Day by Day
gapSLY5Fxbo

It was on Saturday mornings on CBS.


I might have seen it.

Day by Day
gapSLY5Fxbo


Julia Louis Dreyfus was in this? must've been before Seinfeld.

Julia Louis Dreyfus was in this? must've been before Seinfeld.

Yes this was in 88.

Day by Day
gapSLY5Fxbo


Interesting that episode did a Brady Bunch spoof.  In the 90s, actor Christopher Daniel-Barnes played Greg Brady in both 'The Brady Bunch Movie' and 'A Very Brady Sequel'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-ssO62rn4


Love,Sidney (1981-1983)

It starred Kaleena Kliff, Swoozie Kurtz and the late Tony Randall.^



I loved that show and was sorry when it was cancelled.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcwQOKLCvZc

What A Country, a 1986 Yakov Smirnoff show, only lasted 1 season.



What A Country was based on the British show Mind Your Language which was a FAR superior show than the American take-off. 


And probably my all-time favorite, Sledge Hammer!  I actually have the complete series on DVD.

Trust me, I know what I'm doing.



I remember Sledge Hammer. It was similar to another short lived show called Police Squad!. Only lasted 6 episodes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4hZmKj-CiM


Of course Police Squad got a revival in the '90s with the Naked Gun movies.



Cat

Interesting that episode did a Brady Bunch spoof.  In the 90s, actor Christopher Daniel-Barnes played Greg Brady in both 'The Brady Bunch Movie' and 'A Very Brady Sequel'

I thought the same thing, funny how it worked out like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNFoeUNv6JM

The spinoff "Gloria" with Sally Struthers that lasted sadly 1 season.

Of course Police Squad got a revival in the '90s with the Naked Gun movies.



Cat


I always wondered what the producers were thinking when they made The Naked Gun:  "Let's take a TV show that no one watched, and turn it into a movie"

I LOVE IT!

I always wondered what the producers were thinking when they made The Naked Gun:  "Let's take a TV show that no one watched, and turn it into a movie"

I LOVE IT!



The movies did so much better than the show did so they did something right.


Also, I noticed that in the movies, Leslie Nielsen developed "THE LOOK!" He didn't have it in the show. The only other person I know who could get a laugh with "THE LOOK!" was Jack Benny.



Cat 

I remember Sledge Hammer. It was similar to another short lived show called Police Squad!. Only lasted 6 episodes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4hZmKj-CiM


Of course Police Squad got a revival in the '90s with the Naked Gun movies.



Cat


I have the entire Police Squad on DVD. I know, but feat, right? ;D  I love it, though.  Loved Sledgehammer, too.

Now I am gonna have to pull the DVD out and watch it.

I always wondered what the producers were thinking when they made The Naked Gun:  "Let's take a TV show that no one watched, and turn it into a movie"

I LOVE IT!


Well, actually the Producers were the producers of the TV show.  And ZAZ were also the producers and creators of Airplane! (as well as Top Secret! and Ruthless people, as well as separately such gems as BASEketball, Hot Shots 1 & 2, Mafia! and An American Carol).  At that time, they were considered by many to be the best comedy producers in the business.

And the series ironically was not cancelled due to poor ratings, as much as ABC simply "did not get it".  The network President Tony Thomopoulos said "Police Squad! was cancelled because the viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it."  :o


Also, I noticed that in the movies, Leslie Nielsen developed "THE LOOK!" He didn't have it in the show. The only other person I know who could get a laugh with "THE LOOK!" was Jack Benny.


Oh you got that right!  I was born a bit to late to enjoy Jack on TV, but over the years I have grown to greatly appreciate his wit from his radio series (as well as gotten some of his classic shows on DVD).  He had a short cameo in Mad Mad World (driving a Maxwell) that was priceless.

But back on topic, it seems that some of my favorite shows from that era did not last very long, and are largely forgotten today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe_zbyn1hQE
Tales of the Gold Monkey, kind of a Raiders of the Lost Ark, with a one eyed dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRoaG_AmqrI
Here was another one I absolutely loved, David Letterman in his original daytime TV series.  Only lasted a few months, but I absolutely loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w13Vpt074Qc
But come on, nobody wants to remember this one?

Well, actually the Producers were the producers of the TV show.  And ZAZ were also the producers and creators of Airplane! (as well as Top Secret! and Ruthless people, as well as separately such gems as BASEketball, Hot Shots 1 & 2, Mafia! and An American Carol).  At that time, they were considered by many to be the best comedy producers in the business.

And the series ironically was not cancelled due to poor ratings, as much as ABC simply "did not get it".  The network President Tony Thomopoulos said "Police Squad! was cancelled because the viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it."  :o

Oh you got that right!  I was born a bit to late to enjoy Jack on TV, but over the years I have grown to greatly appreciate his wit from his radio series (as well as gotten some of his classic shows on DVD).  He had a short cameo in Mad Mad World (driving a Maxwell) that was priceless.

But back on topic, it seems that some of my favorite shows from that era did not last very long, and are largely forgotten today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe_zbyn1hQE
Tales of the Gold Monkey, kind of a Raiders of the Lost Ark, with a one eyed dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRoaG_AmqrI
Here was another one I absolutely loved, David Letterman in his original daytime TV series.  Only lasted a few months, but I absolutely loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w13Vpt074Qc
But come on, nobody wants to remember this one?



Didn't Joanie Loves Chachi last 1 season? ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQ-mzYRl3s

Manimal, sadly lasted 2 months from September 83-December 83.

The Charmings was a little obscure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLYJHUeoFE

Well, actually the Producers were the producers of the TV show.  And ZAZ were also the producers and creators of Airplane! (as well as Top Secret! and Ruthless people, as well as separately such gems as BASEketball, Hot Shots 1 & 2, Mafia! and An American Carol).  At that time, they were considered by many to be the best comedy producers in the business.

And the series ironically was not cancelled due to poor ratings, as much as ABC simply "did not get it".  The network President Tony Thomopoulos said "Police Squad! was cancelled because the viewer had to watch it in order to appreciate it."  :o

Oh you got that right!  I was born a bit to late to enjoy Jack on TV, but over the years I have grown to greatly appreciate his wit from his radio series (as well as gotten some of his classic shows on DVD).  He had a short cameo in Mad Mad World (driving a Maxwell) that was priceless.

But back on topic, it seems that some of my favorite shows from that era did not last very long, and are largely forgotten today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe_zbyn1hQE
Tales of the Gold Monkey, kind of a Raiders of the Lost Ark, with a one eyed dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRoaG_AmqrI
Here was another one I absolutely loved, David Letterman in his original daytime TV series.  Only lasted a few months, but I absolutely loved it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w13Vpt074Qc
But come on, nobody wants to remember this one?

hey I watched a few episodes of Joanne Loves Chachi.

5izullB60mg
Goodtime Girls-1980

I have the entire Police Squad on DVD. I know, but feat, right? ;D  I love it, though.  Loved Sledgehammer, too.

Now I am gonna have to pull the DVD out and watch it.



I don't know if I have ALL the eps but I do have a few of them on VHS. I'm waiting for the question, "What's VHS?"  :D ;D ;D ;D



The Charmings was a little obscure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLYJHUeoFE



8-P 8-P 8-P  I HATED that show and was glad when it was cancelled.



Cat

The Charmings was a little obscure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLYJHUeoFE


I think I remember this.

5izullB60mg
Goodtime Girls-1980


reminds me of Happy Days a bit.

Here are some others I used to enjoy but are largely forgotten:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5tcn3Y2PM8
This was in syndication and lasted 2 seasons (but the second season was deliberately ruined so it could be cancelled).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USl3Jkp1Aok
I only caught the premiere, I think it only lasted 2 or 3 episodes before getting killed (it was not very good).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPy5gHQqXKI
This is one I actually never got to see, but I heard a lot about it.  I was in boot camp when it premiered, and by the time I was done with training it was done.

Finally, there is Tattingers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCqaGxXCwZc
Born as a 1 hour dramedy, cancelled, brought back as a 30 minute sitcom, cancelled again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irm3H_htd9s

I loved this show but it was short lived because it had the unfortunate luck of being on opposite the Cosby Show.



Cat

The Charmings was a little obscure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLYJHUeoFE


I so want this show to come to DVD.  I can see why it didn't last more than 2 seasons.  It was silly, but I was entertained
The cut to commercial music in this show was recycled in the 90s and used as the ending vanity card for "Sternin & Fraser Ink Inc" at the end of The Nanny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFL_f3wzMso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irm3H_htd9s

I loved this show but it was short lived because it had the unfortunate luck of being on opposite the Cosby Show.

Cat


Good one there Cat, Our World was definitely one I was going to eventually mention.  I was a big fan of that show, and watched it whenever I could.  To this day I still remember the episode they did on the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it was one of the best documentaries I ever saw on TV.  I always thought it was a shame that was cancelled.

Good one there Cat, Our World was definitely one I was going to eventually mention.  I was a big fan of that show, and watched it whenever I could.  To this day I still remember the episode they did on the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it was one of the best documentaries I ever saw on TV.  I always thought it was a shame that was cancelled.



I thought I was the only one who watched that show. The one I liked was about summer of 1972-the Munich Olympics. I remember when they did the summer rerun of it I managed to get it recorded on VHS. I may still have that tape somewhere. And I too, was upset when the show was cancelled.



Cat

I thought I was the only one who watched that show.


No, we were the only 2.  Everybody else was watching The Cosby Show.  ::)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irm3H_htd9s

I loved this show but it was short lived because it had the unfortunate luck of being on opposite the Cosby Show.



Cat


Is that Linda Ellerbee?  ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS6M67A490A

We Got It Made (1983)

Is that Linda Ellerbee?  ???


Yep, and Ray Gandolf.

That series was actually ahead of it's time, and Ken Burns would "lift" many of his techniques from Our World when he created The Civil War.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS6M67A490A

We Got It Made (1983)


I remember that show.  It was good, but looking back, I am glad it was cancelled.  Stepfanie Kraner went on to do Hunter and was much better on that show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqjraGlU8ME

It's A Living

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqjraGlU8ME

It's A Living



It was also called Making A Living. I can't remember which one came first and I'm too lazy to look it up. I used to watch that show. Loved it.



Cat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqjraGlU8ME

It's A Living


That show is not obscure.  It ran for a total of 120 episodes over 6 seasons.



It was also called Making A Living. I can't remember which one came first and I'm too lazy to look it up. I used to watch that show. Loved it.



Cat


It came second.  Ratings were not what ABC wanted, so for season 2, they re-titled it Making A Living for Season 2 until they decided to cancel the show in 1982.  The 1985-89 syndicated version was brought back under It's A Living

And still more...  some with famous stars (at least now):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0xoDnRnOjg
The Duck Factory, a 1 season show from 1984 with Jim Carrey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL5mmdZFrlI
E/R, featuring George Clooney.  Not the more famous Michael Chrichton series, an earlier one with Elliott Gould.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25pYl4_fR8U
Gideon Oliver, with Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fLSt-BqJCc
And one I really enjoyed (and have on DVD), but did not get the audience it deserved, Alien Nation.

I loved that original E/R.  It was hilarious.  Alien Nation was another good one.

That show is not obscure.  It ran for a total of 120 episodes over 6 seasons.

It came second.  Ratings were not what ABC wanted, so for season 2, they re-titled it Making A Living for Season 2 until they decided to cancel the show in 1982.  The 1985-89 syndicated version was brought back under It's A Living



Wiki said it ran from 1980-1982 so I assumed it had ended in 1982. ???

And still more...  some with famous stars (at least now):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0xoDnRnOjg
The Duck Factory, a 1 season show from 1984 with Jim Carrey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL5mmdZFrlI
E/R, featuring George Clooney.  Not the more famous Michael Chrichton series, an earlier one with Elliott Gould.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25pYl4_fR8U
Gideon Oliver, with Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fLSt-BqJCc
And one I really enjoyed (and have on DVD), but did not get the audience it deserved, Alien Nation.


I remember the old E/R with Elliot Gould, that one was from the early 80's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZExyQSAZ0E4

Sanford (1980-early 1981) This one had no Lamont but brought in Dennis Burkley and also had Rollo from Sanford And Son.

Lots of good memories in this thread so far.  I am gonna throw up a few others that I loved, but are pretty much forgotten today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeqUTlvTdPk
Ohara, with Pat Morita playing a cop in LA.  I thought it was a pretty good show, but it did not last and is largely forgotten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls0Idqi5WxA
Hard Time On Planet Earth, a 1 season Sci-Fi show about an intergalactic prisoner sentenced to life on Earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWZfxDwH4t4
Michael Nesmith's Television Parts, nothing else needs to be said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfoCN0p5sys
Largely forgotten today with all the docu-channels on now, but this one was a landmark in future technology in the 1980's.  And anybody like tme that watched it remembers the theme.

Wiki said it ran from 1980-1982 so I assumed it had ended in 1982. ???


Initially it did, but it was brought back in 1985 for another 4 seasons in syndication.  It was that version that I used to watch.  The syndicated version starred Crystal Bernard and several of the cast from the original run including Gail Edwards, Paul Kreppel and Barrie Youngfellow

Trivia:  Gail Edwards went on to play Vickie, Danny Tanner's girlfriend on Full House and prior to It's A Living, Barrie Youngfellow had a memorable role in an episode of Three's Company as a girl that Jack was dating, but he didn't know she lived with 2 guys

How many people remember this one?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPZ051BXyXk


It was on PBS. I used to watch this one all the time. I learned a bit.



Cat

How many people remember this one?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPZ051BXyXk


It was on PBS. I used to watch this one all the time. I learned a bit.



Cat


I don't remember this.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho-fMTaIM1Y/US0ClXTdBQI/AAAAAAAAG64/iT-nwT8L_zM/s400/pryorsplacelogo.jpg

Pryor's Place ran for 9 months but it short lived.

"aka Pablo" starring Joey Buttafouco's Latino twin brother Paul Rodriguez  8-P



http://youtu.be/iUlSWpUUNys?t=3m20s

http://youtu.be/Z-Uh4bI7jDg?t=6m32s

There was a one hour in pilot called pilot "What's Alan Watching" that I laughed and laughed, then it was gone. A couple of years later it looked like it had morphed into Parker Lewis Can't lose, which I also loved.  :)

There was a one hour in pilot called pilot "What's Alan Watching" that I laughed and laughed, then it was gone. A couple of years later it looked like it had morphed into Parker Lewis Can't lose, which I also loved.  :)


That was in 1989, I wonder why it wasn't picked up? ???