10 TV Shows From the 80s So Obscure, No One Remembers Them Anymore
The 80s gave us some great TV. But sadly much of it has been lost in the midst of time.
Here are 10 shows from that decade that almost everybody has forgotten about:
Riptide (1984-86)
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Two Vietnam War veterans decide to open a detective agency based on a boat. At the time, though, technology was just beginning to become a big thing in catching criminals. So, they decide to enlist the help of a geeky former high school friend to ensure their business is hi-tech enough for the type of investigations they’ll be carrying out. And naturally, they have their own helicopter.
The PIs are unpopular with local police officer Lt. Quinlan initially but receive more support in later episodes from Lt. Parisi.
It ran for 3 seasons and starred Perry King, Joe Penny and Thom Bray.
Simon & Simon (1981-89)
Another show about a detective agency – this one established by two brothers Rick Simon (played by Gerald McRaney) and AJ Simon (Jameson Parker).
Rick is ex-military and has a maverick approach to solving crime, whereas AJ is a college graduate with a more measured style. Clashes between the two bring drama and comedy.
It ran for 8 seasons from 1981 to 1989.
Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-86)
A retired judge and car thief (played by Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly) get together to track down villains who have escaped justice. It was an innovative idea for putting together a crime-fighting duo. And it featured a great car - the Coyote X that was arguably the star of the show.
67 episodes spanned 3 seasons of the show.
The Greatest American Hero (1981-83)
A sci-fi superhero drama, this show follows the comical events of the life of supply teacher Ralph Hinkley (William Katt). The protagonist is given a superhero suit by aliens but loses the instruction manual and has to figure out how it works for himself.
Following the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr on 30 March 1981, the character’s surname was temporarily changed to ‘Hanley’.
45 episodes were recorded across 3 seasons – although 5 were never aired.
It’s Your Move (1984-85)
Jason Bateman, of Arrested Development fame, starred as Matthew Burton, a teenage scam artist, doing everything he can to break up his widowed mother’s newly formed relationship with neighbour Norman Lamb (played by David Garrison).
A seasoned con artist, even at such a young age, Matthew met his match with Norman on many occasions.
The Great Space Coaster (1981-86)
Co-created by Muppets designer Kermit Love and Jim Martin (who worked on Sesame Street). The Great Space Coaster was a puppet show that saw 3 young singers (Francine, Toy and Danny) transported to Coasterville (an asteroid) by a clown called Baxter.
Several other characters inhabited Coasterville – and an evil ringleader called MT Promises was always trying to capture Baxter and return him to the circus he’s run away from.
Like The Muppets, each episode contained a life lesson for kids and the show attracted guest appearances from stars like Mark Hamill,
The show ran for 5 seasons and 250 episodes.
Street Hawk (1985)
Ex-motorcycle cop and trial bike racer Jesse Mach was forced to retire after suffering an injury on duty. Technically, he’s now a PR Officer for the police. But he’s also been drafted in by a top-secret government department to act as a special enforcer to ride a high-speed motorbike with great firepower. If you’re thinking it’s Knight Rider on a bike – you’re pretty much right.
There was just 1 season of 14 episodes.
Automan (1983-84)
A sort of sci-fi superhero cop show, Automan was about a computer programmer and cop, Walter Nebicher, who creates a crime-fighting computer program that can take a holographic form and enter the real world.
So, at night, it does just that, bringing down criminals alongside Nebicher, with whom the hologram (known as Otto J Mann) could merge to combine the best elements of both characters.
It ran for 1 season, with 13 episodes recorded but just 12 aired.
Wizards and Warriors (1983)
A comedy adventure fantasy set in Aperans (a fictional mediaeval realm). The show starred Jeff Conaway (who played Kenickie in the film Grease) and followed the fortunes of two feuding kingdoms that used magic to battle one another.
A single season contained 8 episodes.
Crime Story (1986-88)
Set in the 1960s, the show charts the battle between Police Lt. Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and gangster Ray Luca (Anthony Denison). The two men despise each other, with each wanting to bring their adversary down
Luca became a ‘made’ man in Chicago before travelling to Las Vegas and taking charge of the crime syndicate's casinos. Torello, who grew up in the same area as Luca but is now head of a special Organized Crime Strike Force, is charged with bringing him to justice.
The show ran for 2 seasons and totals 44 episodes.