Funniest ‘80s Television Sitcoms, Ranked

Funniest ‘80s TV Sitcoms

Everyone knows that the 1980s was a decade famous for its feature films. When we look back, we often consider it to be one of the best. But the decade was also a great one for television as well. TV dramas were beginning to come into their own, and ‘80s sitcoms were also making some noise.

The ‘80s sitcoms leaned heavily on families. Some included aliens, others went back to the ‘60s to tell their stories, and one even introduced audiences to a star who’d go back to the future three times. It was a great decade for comedies, so let’s take a look at some of the funniest.

9. ALF (1986-1990)

Who would’ve thought that a furry hand puppet could be part of a hit ‘80s sitcom? Okay, we know The Muppets were a smash, but that was a whole different set of circumstances. ALF, aka Alien Life Form, is a family sitcom that revolves around the Tanner family and the furry alien. Chaos ensues when ALF crash lands in the Tanner garage. The series stars Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson, and Benji Gregory as the Tanners, with Paul Fusco as the voice of ALF.

8. Married... with Children (1987-1997)

True, Married…with Children was technically a family sitcom, but they sure pushed the boundaries of traditional families. The hilarious series starred Ed O’Neill as Al Bundy, Katey Sagal as Peg Bundy, Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy, and David Faustino as Bud Bundy. They were joined by Amanda Bearse, David Garrison, and eventually Ted McGinley as the Bundy’s neighbors. The humor was edgy, adult, and in many instances, controversial, which made this ‘80s sitcom well worth watching.

7. Night Court (1984-1992)

Before Harry Anderson joined the hilarious cast of the ‘80s sitcom Night Court, he was an up-and-coming comedian/magician. This comedy revolved around a New York City nightshift court that not only was filled with a colorful cast of regulars but also a crazy mixture of criminals and victims. The cast included the always solid and funny John Larroquette, Markie Post, Richard Moll, Marsha Warfield, and Charles Robinson.

6. The Wonder Years (1988-1993)

Although made in the late ‘80s, this sitcom takes viewers back to the ‘60s in a coming-of-age series that has an adult Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) narrating about his childhood. The sitcom was a perfect blend of humor and nostalgia that sprinkled in poignant moments to create a wonderful series. Along with Savage, the cast includes Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d’Abo, Josh Saviano, and Danica McKellar. Daniel Stern (Home Alone, Home Alone 2) provided the voice of the adult Kevin Arnold.

5. Full House (1987-1995)

Full House was another family-friendly ‘80s sitcom that introduced the world to the phenomenon that would become the Olsen Twins. Before that, they were known as one person, Michelle Tanner, the youngest daughter of Bob Saget’s Danny Tanner. The series followed a widowed Danny as he asked his brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and best friend Joey (Dave Coulier) to help raise his three daughters. There were plenty of laughs to go along with heartfelt moments in the series that also starred Lori Laughlin, Candace Cameron, and Jodie Sweetin.

4. Family Ties (1982-1989)

While it was not intended to, the ‘80s sitcom Family Ties eventually began to revolve around the ever-popular character, Alex P. Keaton, played wonderfully by Michael J. Fox. It was his political views that often clashed with his parents’ liberal ones that drove many of the hilarious stories, creating conflicts that were both humorous and thoughtful. Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross starred as Alex’s parents, while Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers were on board as Alex’s sisters. The series was a true launching pad for Fox.

3. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

A sitcom featuring four older women living together in a house in Miami? Definitely not something one would think could be a hit, but somehow it worked. The Golden Girls comes from Susan Harris, and that right there is one of the main reasons why the series was such a massive hit (and still is today, after all these years). Harris is the brainchild behind one of the best sitcoms to ever air, Soap. It wasn’t only Harris who made this sitcom work, but it was the combination of its four stars – Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty – who proved what four strong female characters could accomplish.

2. The Cosby Show (1984-1992)

Before Bill Cosby was exposed, he put together the groundbreaking ‘80s sitcom, The Cosby Show. The series followed the Huxtables, an affluent African American family led by Dr. Cliff Huxtable (Cosby). The series was based on much of Cosby’s stand-up routines and also starred Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Bonet, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pullman, and Sabrina Le Beauf. 

1. Cheers (1982-1993)

There may not be a more beloved ‘80s sitcom than the Ted Danson-led Cheers. Set in the famous Boston bar, this hilarious and relevant sitcom earned critical acclaim while providing plenty of laughs to its dedicated fan base. Danson played Sam Malone, the owner of the bar, ex-baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, and notorious womanizer. Shelly Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, and John Ratzenberger were the original crew that saw the additions of Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley, and Bebe Neuwirth.