12 great comedy series from the 80s and 90s

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker recalls what other viewers were laughing at, except for Friends and Alpha.

1. Seinfeld

• USA, 1989.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 9 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

Stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld in the late 80s came up with an unusual sitcom for that time. He did not talk about family and colleagues, but simply about close friends. Most of the characters behave funny and even neurotic, but Seinfeld himself often acts as the voice of reason in the midst of the madness of what is happening.

It is rather difficult to describe the plot of the series, because even the authors themselves said that this is "a show about nothing." But there are plenty of funny scenes in it.

2. Cheers

• USA, 1982.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 11 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Former baseball star Sam Malone owns a small bar called Cheers in Boston. Every day a company of regulars gathers there, who make fun of each other, talk about problems and relationships, share stories from life. In Russia, the series came out under the names "Merry Company", "Let's Be Healthy".

3. Detective agency "Moonlight"

• USA, 1985.
• Comedy, detective, drama.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Former model Maddie was left completely without money. But she turned out to be the owner of the Moonlight detective agency. Private Investigator David Addison decides to partner with her in the firm and help with her investigations.

This series was loved by everyone primarily because of the incredibly charming duo of Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepard. Rumor has it that the scripts for each episode of Moonlight were twice as long as for any other series of similar timing. All due to the fact that the main characters constantly argued, interrupted each other or spoke at the same time, so the text was required twice as much.

4. Dinosaurs

• USA, 1991.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Once upon a time, the authors of the animated series "The Flintstones" cheerfully showed how prehistoric people lived, possessing all the attributes of modern man. The creators of "Dinosaurs" went even further. This is a typical sitcom about family and household chores, but with only one difference: the main characters are dinosaurs.

5. Herman's head

• USA, 1991.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Many years before the release of the famous Pixar cartoon "Puzzle", the sitcom "Herman's Head" had already shown how the brain of an ordinary person works.

So, Herman is a modest guy with a not very interesting life. But the show lets you see what's going on in his head. And there four personalities get along, and they constantly have to negotiate with each other so that Herman makes some kind of decision.

6. Making a woman

• USA, 1986.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Sisters Julia and Suzanne Zugarbaker are completely opposite in character. One is an elegant intellectual, the other is a wealthy and self-centered beauty. But together they decide to open a design firm, bringing in two more women to help them.

According to recent reports, ABC has decided to relaunch the classic series and talk about the next generation of the Zugarbaker family.

7. Wonders of Science

• USA, 1994.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

The series is based on the 1985 film of the same name, also known as "Oh, this science!" and repeats its plot, only with other actors. Two humble schoolchildren-nerds constantly suffer from the ridicule of classmates and dream of girls. And then one day they use a computer to create the perfect cyberwoman Lisa.

8. Emergency pharmacy

• Spain, 1991.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Lourdes Cano runs a pharmacy. But her family members constantly find themselves in ridiculous situations. And Lourdes herself has to help them get out, and at the same time all the employees of the pharmacy.

9. Sabrina is the little witch

• USA, 1996.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 7 seasons.
• IMDb: 6, 6.

Sabrina Spellman is a teenage girl who lives with her aunts and her beloved cat, Salem. At the age of 16, the heroine learns that she and her aunts are witches. And the cat is actually the enchanted invader of the world. From that moment, Sabrina tries to combine ordinary life with magic, constantly finding herself in funny situations, and Salem comments on this ironically.

10. Charles in response

• USA, 1984.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

The plot tells about a college student Charles. He works part-time looking after the children and lives with them in the same house. And the rest of his life is typical for adolescents: friends, first love, study. The series is added to the positive and fun by Charles Buddy's friend, who constantly comes up with ridiculous fun.

11. Honey, I have reduced the children

• USA, 1997.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 6, 1.

The series is based on the plot of the famous films of the same name. The ingenious inventor Wayne Zalinsky comes up with a device that can reduce any object. But at the same time, he accidentally reduces his children, who now need to somehow return to their normal guise.

Then the plot of the series follows its own path, although the essence remains the same: Wayne comes up with something brilliant, and then the whole family has to escape from the consequences of his actions. Now the dog turns into Godzilla, then the robot takes the family hostage, then the mother becomes transparent.

12. Harry and the Hendersons

• USA, 1991.
• Sitcom.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 5, 6.

One day, the Hendersons' car hit a huge hairy creature on the road. It turned out to be Bigfoot Harry, whom they then sheltered. But the Hendersons have to keep the existence of a new family member a secret, because the government and the hunters are already interested in him.