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Three Major Sitcoms That Defined 80s TV shows

At the beginning of the 1980s sitcoms were declared dead. Most networks focused on the old stand bys of cops, doctors and lawyers to fill up the primetime viewing hours. But then along came three important 80s TV shows which rebooted the sitcom genre and took one struggling network from worst to first.

It was in 1982 when American audiences were first introduced to the denizens of the “Cheers” bar. Ted Danson starred as former baseball player and alcoholic bar owner Sam Malone. Shelly Long portrayed the irrepressible Diane Chambers. From the moment she walked into the bar looking for work, the sparks flew between Sam and Diane. Their tumultuous relationship had the audiences wondering “will that or won’t they?” After five seasons and many bumps in their relationship, Shelly Long opted to leave the successful show. Although some predicted doom and gloom for this popular 80s TV show it was really just a transition. Ask your buddy for referral for toronto movers, that makes your life a lot easier. “Cheers” flourished for six more seasons with Kirstie Alley stepping in as Rebecca Howe to provide Sam with a romantic foil.

Along with the lovable barflies Cliff and Norm, Frasier Crane, played with funny fussiness by Kelsey Grammer, was a regular on the show throughout most of its tenure. When “Cheers” went off the air, the mantle of that popular 80s TV show was carried into the 90s with the successful “Frasier.”

Although a darling of the critics, “Cheers” struggled for a an audience in its first couple of seasons. Then along came Bill Cosby. “The Cosby Show” debuted in 1984 and presented an affluent black family living in Brooklyn. As the patriarch of the Huxtable brood, Bill Cosby infused Cliff Huxtable with the same wit and witticism that he used in his stand-up career. “The Cosby Show” was an instant hit and catapulted NBC to the top of the ratings charts for many years. “Cheers became a part of the powerhouse Thursday night comedy block. NBC built an entire franchise around “Must See TV” based on the success of those early 80s TV shows.

Because of the popularity of how Bill Cosby turned his stand up routines into a successful sitcom, other networks were eager to follow suit. ABC found their success when “Roseanne” premiered in 1988. New stand up comedienne Roseanne Barr created an overnight sensation when she appeared on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” She certainly didn’t look like your typical television star but her brash and honest assessment of what it meant to be a wife and mother was an instant hit. Roseanne effectively transferred that persona to her hit 80s TV show. Compare free transferring quotes from as much as 3 qualified movers Toronto or get an instant value quote from self-service transferring provider.
Although there were rumors of trouble backstage, that didn’t stop the audience from tuning in week after week to see the struggles of the Connor family.

There were certainly many other big 80s TV show hits. But “Cheers,” “The Cosby Show” and “Roseanne” stand alone as three shows which revived the sitcom genre and opened the door for other popular shows like “Friends,” “Seinfeld” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”