You Don’t Remember These 1980s TV Shows (Unless You’re Gen X)

There's this whole other category of 1980s TV shows, these little nuggets of nostalgia, that didn’t quite make it to the TV Hall of Fame. Shows that, if you bring them up today, you’ll get nothing but blank stares…unless the person you’re talking to grew up in the 80s.

I'm talking the shows made specifically for Gen X tweens and young teens…that absolutely no one older or younger would have ever known about, much less watched.

These are the shows that, unless you were parked in front of the TV every afternoon after school in the 80s or on Saturday mornings after cartoons, you’d swear never existed. But we remember. We were the kids sitting way too close to the TV, probably messing up our eyes, just so we wouldn’t miss a second of whatever weird, low-budget magic was on.

And today, my fellow Gen X warriors, we’re gonna resurrect them. So grab your Capri Sun, settle in, and let’s dive deep into the vault…past all the stuff that everyone remembers…and pull out the lost TV shows of the 80s that only we Gen X misfits can still picture in our heads.

[mysocalledgenxlife]

Hi friends. I had to cut out the BJ and the Bear segment due to a copyright claim. So sorry.

[UnbridledFinds]

I still randomly say 321 contact! When I'm counting down and no one ever knows what I'm taking about

[technicolordreamer]

The best part of this era: the shows' opening themes.

[kevinmiller]

Im a 41 year old man i cried watching this. My grandparents raised me. I cried because we would all gather around the tv watch a lot of these shows. Now everyone has passed away. The 80s and 90s were just the best!

[MrAlex]

3-2-1 Contact was my favorite. I also enjoyed the Bloodhound gang segments. Thank you for your time putting together these memories.

[PotterBrony]

Out of This World, Small Wonder, Doogie Howser M.D., Wonder Years, Punky Brewster…and many more. My childhood right there.

[francisdunne]

The reason kids sat close to the TV was because the adults didn't have remotes and someone had to turn the volume up and down or change the channel

[lifebybill]

I also liked Three's Company, Different Strokes, Facts of Life, The Fall Guy, Silver Spoons, Greatest American Hero, Simon & Simon, Hardcastle and McCormack, Jake and the Fat Man, Remington Steele, Moonlighting, Head of the Class, Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, St. Elsewhere, list goes on and I miss those days!!!

[markpoland]

The 80s shows ruled big time I always look back and think of how warm I felt and care free as a young boy growing up watching all these gems. Thanks for the memories ❤❤❤❤

[jeffr]

I hadn't seen or heard "3 2 1 Contact" since the 1980s, but I immediately recognized the theme song and was able to sing along with it. It had been stored somewhere deep in the recesses of my brain for some 35+ years, waiting to be accessed. Thanks!

[miltonrogers]

47 years old ( 1977 Why do I still know all of the words to all of these theme songs 😂😂😂😂 Thanks for the video, I feel like such a kid again 😊🔥🔥🔥

[naporeon]

I saw all these "3 2 1 Contact" comments, and was all, "Nope. Don't remember that at all."

Then the SECOND that theme song started, it was like something instantly restored access to a whole bunch of memories that had been archived or something. Completely wild.

[Kiki-csxv]

Jeez, that opening reel of 321 Contact is absolutely imprinted on my brain! Not just the song, but all the visuals. I haven't seen that show in close to 40 years, yet it's instantly recognizable.

[mjhunter]

I like how the introductions of 1980s sitcoms often explained the premise of the show so anybody coming in at any point could at least have a clue what was going on.

[hjscollages]

Yes!!! I was recently talking about Small Wonder and no knew what I was talking about! 😭 Subscribed. I found my people. ❤

[thomasoniii]

Here's a novelty - Kids Incorporated was produced by Hal Roach Studios. Hal Roach lived to be 100 (1891-1991) and was a big player in the silents and early talkies era, with probably his most famous acts being Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang/The Little Rascals. So you can basically think of Kids Incorporated as an updated Our Gang.

[DWilliam]

As one of the very first Gen X’ers many of these shows were past my TV “prime”. I was a tween and early teen in the 70’s and in college by 84’. I remember shows more like The Land of the Lost, Love Boat, Three’s Company, Dukes of Hazard, Fantasy Island, The Jefferson’s, Charlie’s Angels, The Waltons, Alice, The White Shadow, Magnum PI, Warner Bros cartoons and many others.

[MonsoonGeek]

Out of this World, Small Wonder, Punky Brewster. I was little when they were popular but I still remember them. I’m 42.

[donhea]

My question. Who remembers a show called "from rags to riches"?

[dhtsoaedsdhtnadi]

so, i'm a nerd, and nearly flipped out when 321 contact came up. and thank you for not forgetting bloodhound gang. i grew up without cable so a lot of these shows are unknown to me.