See Also: Series of the 1950s, Series of the 1960s, Series of the 1970s, Series of the 1990s, Series of the 2000s, Series of the 2010s, Series of the 2020s
Series that premiered or originally aired between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989.
(*) Indicates that this series continued into the 1990s and beyond.
- 21 Jump Street* (also see 21 Jump Street)
- 227*
- 3-2-1 Contact
- 60 Minutes* (since 1968)
- ABC World News Tonight* (since 1948)
- Acropolis Now* (1989-1992)
- After M*A*S*H
- Airwolf
- ALF*
- Alice (1976-1985)
- Alien Nation*
- All Creatures Great And Small* (1978-1990)
- All My Children* (1970-2011)
- 'Allo 'Allo!*
- All-Star Blitz
- Amazing Stories
- Amen*
- The American Experience*
- American Playhouse* (1982-1993)
- America's Funniest Home Videos* (originally aired as a special in 1989)
- Amerika
- Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)
- Are You Being Served? (1972-1985)
- As the World Turns* (1956-2010)
- The A-Team
- Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (revived in 2002)
- Australia You're Standing In It
- Automan
- Bassie & Adriaan
- Battlestars
- Baywatch* (aired on NBC 1989-90, then in syndication 1991-2001)
- Beauty and the Beast* (also see Beauty and the Beast)
- Le Bébête Show* (1982-1995)
- Benson (1979-1986)
- Bergerac*
- The Bill*
- Birds of a Feather* (1989-1998, 2014-2020)
- Bizarre
- Blackadder
- Blake's 7 (1978-1981)
- Blockbusters
- The Blue and the Gray
- Blue Peter* (since 1958)
- Body Language
- Bodyline
- The Bold and the Beautiful*
- Bosom Buddies
- Boys from the Blackstuff (1982)
- The Bozo Show
- Brass
- Bread* (1986-1991)
- Bring 'Em Back Alive
- Brummkreisel
- Bullseye
- Cagney & Lacey
- Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
- La Caravana*
- Carrusel*
- Casablanca
- Casualty*
- Catchphrase
- CBS Evening News* (1941-present)
- CBS Sunday Morning* (1979-)
- Chain Reaction
- Chance in a Million
- Charles in Charge
- Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
- The Charmings
- The Chart Show*
- Cheers*
- Chespirito*
- Chiefs
- China Beach*
- CHiPs (1977-1982)
- Chockablock (originally aired 1981, but continued to be re-aired regularly until 1989)
- ChuckleVision*
- Citizen Smith* (1977-1980)
- Clarence (1988)
- Classic Albums* (currently available on DVD and LaserDisc)
- The Cleopatras
- Club MTV* (1987-1992)
- Club Dorothée*
- Coach*
- Code Red
- The Comic Strip Presents* (1982-2016)
- Classic Concentration* (1987-1991)
- A Country Practice* (1981-1993)
- Coronation Street* (since 1960)
- The Cosby Show*
- Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
- Countdown*
- Crazy Like a Fox
- Crime Story
- Crossbow
- Cuna de lobos
- Dallas* (1978-1991)
- Darkroom
- The Day of the Triffids
- Days of Our Lives*
- DC Follies
- Dear John
- Degrassi Junior High
- Dempsey and Makepeace
- Dennou Keisatsu Cybercop
- Designing Women*
- The D-Generation
- A Different World*
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
- Dirty Dancing
- Doctor Cándido Pérez*
- Doctor Doctor
- Doctor Who (classic series ran 1963-1989)
- Doogie Howser, M.D.*
- Double Dare*
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)
- Dumbo's Circus
- Dynasty (1981)
- The Colbys (1985-1987)
- Earth☆Star Voyager
- EastEnders*
- Eat Bulaga!* (began 1979)
- Edge of Darkness
- Emmerdale* (since 1972)
- Empty Nest*
- Encyclopedia Brown (The HBO series started in 1989)
- Entertainment Tonight*
- The Equalizer
- Ever Decreasing Circles
- Everythings Relative (1987)
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
- Faerie Tale Theatre
- The Fall Guy
- Fame
- Family (1976-1980)
- Family Feud (Dawson series ran from 1976 to 1985)
- Family Fortunes*
- Family Matters*
- Family Ties
- Fantasy Island (1978-1984)
- Fast Forward* (1989-1992)
- Father Dowling Mysteries*
- Fauji
- Filthy Rich & Catflap
- The Flipside of Dominick Hide
- The Flying Doctors
- Fraggle Rock
- Freddy's Nightmares
- Free Spirit (1989)
- French In Action
- Fresno
- Friday The 13th: The Series
- Fridays
- Full House* (also see Fuller House)
- Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende*
- Galactica 1980
- The Gillies Report
- Gimme a Break!
- Girls on Top (1985-1986)
- The Golden Girls*
- Grange Hill* (1978-2008)
- The Greatest American Hero
- The Great Space Coaster
- Growing Pains*
- Guiding Light*
- Les Guignols de l'Info
- Hail to the Chief
- Hammer House of Horror
- Happy Days (1974-1984)
- Hardcastle and McCormick
- Hard Time on Planet Earth
- Hart to Hart (1979-1984)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
- Headline Chasers
- Head of the Class*
- Heres Boomer
- Here's Humphrey
- Hey Dad..!*
- Hey Dude!*
- Hey Vern, It's Ernest! (1988)
- Hi-de-Hi! (1980-1988)
- Hill Street Blues
- Hissatsu*
- Hissatsu Shigotonin (1979-1981)
- Hissatsu Shimainin (1981)
- Shin Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981-1982)
- Shin Hissatsu Shimainin (1982)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin III (1982-1983)
- Hissatsu Watashinin (1983)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin IV (1983-84)
- Hissatsu Shikirinin (1984)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin V (1985)
- Hissastu Hashikakenin (1985)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin V · Gekitou-hen (1985-1986)
- Hissatsu Masshigura! (1986)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin V · Senpu-hen (1986-1987)
- Hissatsu Shigotonin V · Fuunryūko-hen (1987)
- Hissatsu Kengekinin (1987)
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981) (also see The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005))
- The Hogan Family* (1986-1991; originally titled Valerie, then Valerie's Family, due to some dispute behind the scenes)
- Hollywood (1980)
- Home and Away* (1988-)
- Hotel
- Hot Potato
- Hot Streak
- Houston Knights (1987-1988)
- Hunter* (1984-2003)
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) (1977, 1978-1982)
- In Search of... (1977-1982)
- Inside Edition* (1989-)
- Inspector Morse*
- In the Heat of the Night* (1988-1995)
- It's a Living (1985-1989)
- It's Garry Shandling's Show
- Jake and the Fatman* (1987-1992)
- Jane Eyre (1983)
- The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
- Jeopardy!* (current version started 1984)
- Jigsaw1979 (1979-1985)
- The Jim Henson Hour
- The Joker's Wild (syndicated 1977-1986)
- The Joy of Painting*
- Just Good Friends
- Just the Ten of Us* (1988-1990)
- K-9 and Company
- Kamen Rider
- Kate & Allie
- Kids Court
- Kids Incorporated*
- The Kids in the Hall* (also see Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy)
- King of Kensington (1975-1980)
- Knightmare*
- Knight Rider
- Knots Landing* (1979-1993)
- Kyodai Ken Byclosser (1985)
- L.A. Law*
- Late Night* (1982-)
- Later*
- Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
- The Life and Loves of a She-Devil
- Life Goes On*
- Lime Street
- Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
- London's Burning* (1988-2002)
- Lou Grant (1977-1982)
- The Love Boat (1977-1986) (also see The Love Boat The Next Wave)
- Lovejoy* (1986-1994)
- Loving*
- MacGyver*
- Magnum, P.I.
- Maid Marian and Her Merry Men*
- Major Dad*
- Mama's Family
- A Man Called Hawk (1989)
- Married... with Children*
- M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
- Master Ninja
- The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour
- Match Of The Day* (since 1964)
- Matlock*
- Matt Houston (1982-1985)
- Max Headroom
- McGee and Me!*
- Media Watch*
- Meet the Press* (since 1947)
- Metal Heroes series*
- Space Sheriff Gavan (1982-1983)
- Space Sheriff Sharivan (1983-1984)
- Space Sheriff Shaider (1984-1985)
- Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion (1985-1986)
- Jikuu Senshi Spielban (1986-1987)
- Chōjinki Metalder (1987-1988)
- Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya (1988-1989)
- Kidou Keiji Jiban* (1989-1990)
- Miami Vice
- Midnight Caller*
- Mike & Angelo
- Minder* (1979-1994)
- Misfits of Science
- Monsters
- Moonlighting
- Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
- The Morton Downey Jr. Show
- Mr. Belvedere* (ended in 1990)
- Mr. Dressup*
- Mrs. Columbo (1979-1980)
- Mr. Squiggle
- Murphy Brown*
- The Muppets
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981, Christmas special 1987)
- A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
- My Secret Identity*
- Mystery Science Theater 3000*
- My Two Dads*
- Nature*
- Neighbours* (1985-2022)
- The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
- Newhart*
- The New Monkees
- The New Odd Couple
- Night Court*
- Nightline*
- North and South (U.S.)*
- Not Necessarily the News
- Ohara (1987-1988)
- The Onedin Line (1971-1980)
- Only Fools and Horses*
- Oshin
- The Oprah Winfrey Show*
- Otherworld
- Out of Control
- Out of This World (1987)*
- Pee-wee's Playhouse*
- The People's Court* (1981-1993; 1997-2023)
- Peppermint Park
- Perfect Strangers*
- Photon
- Pink Lady and Jeff
- Play for Today (1970-1984)
- The Play on One* (1988 - 1991)
- Play the Percentages
- Pobol y Cwm*
- Poirot*
- Police Rescue* (1989-1996)
- Police Squad!
- Police Story (1973) (1973-1977, 1979, 1980, 1987)
- The Powers of Matthew Star
- Press Your Luck
- The Price Is Right (current version debuted 1972)
- Prisoner: Cell Block H (1979-1986)
- Private Benjamin (1981) (1981-1983)
- Private Schulz
- Probe
- The Professionals (1977-1983)
- Pryor's Place
- Punky Brewster
- Pyramid
- Quantum Leap*
- Rab C. Nesbitt* (1988-2014)
- Rags to Riches
- Reading Rainbow*
- Red Dwarf*
- Remington Steele
- Remote Control
- Rescue 911*
- Ride This Night
- Riptide (1984-1986)
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Roland Hassel
- Rölli*
- Romper Room* (1953-1994)
- Rosa salvaje
- Roseanne*
- Round the Twist*
- Santa Barbara*
- Sapphire and Steel
- Saturday Night Live* (1975-present)
- Saved by the Bell*
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King
- ScreenPlay (BBC)* (1986-1993)
- Screen Two* (1985-1998)
- SCTV (1976-1984)
- Seeing Things
- Seinfeld (pilot aired in 1989)
- Seibu Keisatsu (1979 to 1984)
- Seiun Kamen Machineman
- Sesame Street* (debuted in 1969)
- Plaza Sésamo* (debuted in 1972)
- Sesamstraße* (debuted in 1973)
- Sesamstraat* (debuted in 1976)
- Shadow Chasers
- Sherlock Holmes*
- Shoestring
- Silver Spoons
- Simon & Simon
- Simon And The Witch
- Sinkadus
- Skedaddle
- Sledge Hammer!
- Small Wonder
- Sorry!
- Soul Train* (started in 1971)
- Space Knights
- Spitting Image*
- Square One TV*
- Square Pegs
- Starcade
- Star Cops
- Starman
- Star Search*
- Starstuff
- Star Trek
- St. Elsewhere
- Stingray (1985)
- The Story Teller
- Street Hawk
- Street Legal*
- Strike It Lucky*
- Super Dave*
- Super Gran
- Super Sentai*
- Surgical Spirit (1989-1995)*
- Taiyo Ni Hoero (1972 to 1986)
- Takeshi's Castle*
- Tales from the Crypt*
- Tales from the Darkside
- Tales of the Gold Monkey
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979-1988)
- Tattingers (1988-1989)
- Taxi (1978-1983)
- Téléfrançais!
- Tenko
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
- Terrahawks
- Terry and June (1979-1987)
- thirtysomething*
- This Morning
- Thompson (1988)
- Tic-Tac-Dough (syndicated from 1978 to 1986)
- T.J. Hooker
- Today* (1952-)
- Today's Special
- Toei Fushigi Comedy Series
- Robot 8-chan (1981-1982)
- Batten Robomaru (1982-1983)
- Pettonton (1983-1984)
- Dokincho! Nemurin (1984-1985)
- Katteni! Kamitaman (1985-1986)
- Morimori Bokkun (1986)
- Omoikkiri Tanteidan Hadogumi (1987)
- Jaman Tanteidan Maringumi (1988-1989)
- Chukana Paipai (1989)
- Chukana Ipanema (1989)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson* (1962–1992)
- Too Close for Comfort
- Tour of Duty*
- The Tracey Ullman Show*
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
- The Tripods
- Turkey Television (1985-1986)
- Tutti Frutti
- TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes*
- The Twilight Zone
- Ultraman 80 (1980-1981)
- Unsolved Mysteries*
- V (1983)
- Van Kooten En De Bie (Ongoing)
- Verano Azul
- A Very Peculiar Practice (1986-1988)
- Voyagers!
- War of the Worlds* (also see The War of the Worlds)
- Watching
- Webster
- Welcome to Pooh Corner
- Wheel of Fortune (debuted in 1975, still in production)
- The White Shadow (1978-1981)
- Whiz Kids
- Whoops Apocalypse
- Whose Line Is It Anyway?*
- Who's the Boss?*
- Wipeout
- Wiseguy*
- The Wizard
- The Wonder Years*
- Wordplay
- World of Sport
- Yes, Minister
- The Young and the Restless* (since 1973)
- The Young Ones
- You Rang, M'Lord?* (1988-1993)
- Zoobilee Zoo
