The best 1980s TV shows you can watch in 2018
Streaming services are serving up some nostalgic reruns from Roseanne to Full House

As hit television shows such as Stranger Things and Black Mirror take inspiration from the 1980s, streaming services are rerunning original classics from the decade. Here are our top nostalgia picks currently available:
Cheers
“Cheers represents a pinnacle of American pop culture, culminating in a record-breaking finale that caught the attention of millions of views,” Esquire writes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This American sitcom, set in a Boston bar called Cheers, follows a group of friends and their trials and tribulations. Despite it having last aired 25 years ago, its comedy and character themes are still lauded today.
Cheers is on Amazon Prime.
Roseanne
Despite the recent controversy surrounding leading actress Roseanne Barr and the Roseanne spin-off, The Connors, the original television series is still worth a watch.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“It only takes a few episodes to understand what made this love letter to the working-class American family so special,” says The New York Times.
The comedy show grapples with day-to-day struggles such as family, love and money.
Roseanne is on Amazon Prime.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Even though this is the Next Generation (not the original Star Trek) it still carries much of the sci-fi charm that has endeared trekkie fans.
Set decades after Captain Kirk's original mission, Patrick Stewart plays Captain Picard as he leads the Enterprise ship. The show won 17 Emmy awards over its seven seasons.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is on Netflix
Full House
The hit American series, first debuting in 1987, has all eight seasons available on Netflix.
“The show never failed to entertain viewers with the antics of the Tanner family,” says Business Insider.
It depicts a widowed talk-show host raising his three daughters, with the assistance of his rock musician brother-in-law and best friend.
Full House is on Netflix.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
This 1980s cartoon series, based upon the Mattel toy line Masters of the Universe, has a complete season available to watch on Netflix.
The show depicts He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe, as he fights an evil skeleton named Skeletor. The show has garnered a huge fan base since its 1983 release date, which has led to a recent release of high-end He-Man action figures.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is on Netflix.
Highway to Heaven
This US drama series, which aired between 1984 and 1989, now has its five seasons available on Netflix.
Highway to Heaven follows an angel who has been stripped of his wings and sent to Earth on probation. The angel teams up with an ex-cop to travel around America, following missions from their boss (God) with the goal of delivering love and humility to those they help.
“This angel pointedly helps those who cannot help themselves,” says The New York Times in a 1984 television review.
Highway to Heaven is on Netflix.
-
Should you add your child to your credit card?
The Explainer You can make them an authorized user on your account in order to help them build credit
-
Cracker Barrel crackup: How the culture wars are upending corporate branding
In the Spotlight Is it 'woke' to leave nostalgia behind?
-
'It's hard to discern what it actually means'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The best limited series of all time
the week recommends Trading cliffhangers and endless renewals for narrative closure
-
The return of 'Wednesday,' an 'Alien' prequel and a dramatic retelling of the Amanda Knox trial all happening in August TV
the week recommends This month's new television releases include 'Alien: Earth,' 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' and a new season of 'Wednesday'
-
The 5 best TV reboots of all time
The Week Recommends Finding an entirely new cast to play beloved characters is harder than it looks
-
Ari Aster revisits the pandemic, Adam Sandler tees off again and Lamb Chop gets an origin story in July movies
the week recommends The month's film releases include 'Eddington,' 'Happy Gilmore 2' and 'Shari & Lamb Chop'
-
An American girl takes on London, 'Bosch' gets another spinoff and Washington Black leaps from page to screen in July TV
the week recommends This month's new television releases include 'Too Much,' 'Ballard' and 'Washington Black'
-
Netflix and the second screen phenomenon
In The Spotlight Programme makers claim they're being asked to cater for distracted viewers
-
Sirens: entertaining satire on the lives of the ultra-wealthy stars Julianne Moore
The Week Recommends This 'blackly comic affair' unfurls at a 'breakneck speed'
-
Here comes the end of 'Squid Game'! Plus more great TV shows to see this June.
the week recommends The next great sports comedy, a young Marvel heroine and the conclusion of 'Squid Game'