Each decade has television shows that were representative of its time. The 1980s had several sitcoms that humorously tackled social, economic and racial issues. Most of these shows were watched by millions; some are still in syndication as of 2011.
"Cheers"
"Cheers" is a popular sitcom that aired from 1982 to 1993. The comedy is set in Boston, Massachusetts at the Cheers bar. The main characters from the show included Sam Malone (played by Ted Danson), Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman) and Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer ). Sam Malone is a former major league pitcher who owns the bar. The show's episodes often centered around Sam's romantic mishaps and attempts by him and other cast members to get him out of trouble.
"The Cosby Show"
"The Cosby Show" is a situational comedy that aired from 1984 to 1992. The show is about an affluent family named the Huxtables that lived in Brooklyn, New York. The patriarch was a successful obstetrician named Cliff Huxtable (played by Bill Cosby), while his wife Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) was an attorney. "The Cosby Show" dealt with several real world issues, such as race relations, education and teen pregnancy in a humorous fashion. The show was one of the most popular sitcoms in television history, and finished first in the Nielsen ratings for five seasons.
"Family Ties"
"Family Ties" is a family sitcom that aired on NBC from 1982 to 1989. The show featured a husband and wife named Elyse and Steven Keaton (played by Meredith Baxter-Birney and Michael Gross) that were former hippies and liberal Democrats. They are raising three children in Columbus, Ohio during the early years of the Reagan administration. One of the most popular characters from "Family Ties" was their son, Alex P. Keaton, a staunch conservative, mature beyond his years, played by Michael J. Fox. Fox won three Emmy awards in a row for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
"Who's The Boss?"
"Who's The Boss?" is a television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1984 to 1992. The sitcom starred Tony Danza as widowed athlete Tony Micelli forced to retire due to injury. He and his daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano), move to Connecticut where Tony works as a housekeeper for a divorced advertising executive Angela Bower (Judith Light). The show challenged the perception of an American family in a humorous manner, as the woman was the breadwinner while the male stays at home and takes care of the house.
