7 Forgotten ’80s TV Shows That Would Have Been Hits Today

by

Many great TV shows from the 1980s were innovative for their time, but didn’t find an audience when they first aired. While tastes in television naturally change, that’s not the only reason some shows failed. Back then, shows relied on weekly episodes and faced fierce competition between different networks.

As a critic who watched a lot of TV in the ’80s, I remember so many promising shows just disappearing because they happened to go up against already popular series on other networks. It was brutal! But it wasn’t just the competition. These days, we expect to binge-watch a lot of shows to really get into them, but back then, that wasn’t possible. If you missed an episode of something new, it was tough to catch up, and often, the show was just gone before you had a chance.

Ultimately, many TV shows from the 1980s have faded into obscurity. While most of them probably weren’t very good no matter when they aired (the 80s had some pretty strange concepts!), a few might have found success if they were made today.

Darkroom (1981 – 1982)

Darkroom was a horror show presented in the style of an anthology, similar to The Twilight Zone, but focused more on scares than science fiction. Each week, the acclaimed actor James Coburn would introduce a new story and cast of characters. Sadly, the show was short-lived, lasting only one season with seven episodes before being canceled.

Like many TV shows from the 1980s, Darkroom struggled to find an audience due to poor scheduling. Its hour-long episodes aired on ABC on Friday nights, competing with a hit show, The Dukes of Hazzard. Nowadays, though, shows like American Horror Story have proven that horror anthologies can be successful. With today’s streaming services, Darkroom would likely have found a much larger audience.

Cassie & Co. (1982)

Cassie & Co. is a fun and unusual show from the 1980s. Angie Dickinson, famous for her work with John Wayne and Dean Martin in Rio Bravo, played a former police officer who becomes a private investigator. The show featured her character using her charm to help solve cases.

Despite filming thirteen episodes of Cassie & Co., only four were broadcast before the show was canceled due to low viewership. While the show’s concept could have easily become overly dramatic, police procedurals are now very popular. If Cassie & Co. were revived in a similar style to High Potential, it has the potential to be successful.

Wizards and Warriors (1983)

Wizards and Warriors is a funny fantasy show created by the team behind Blossom and My Wife and Kids, Don Reo. The series follows the battles between three kingdoms, fought by wizards and warriors. Expect plenty of action, laughs, and magical moments!

The show Wizards and Warriors was canceled again, this time because not enough people were watching. Back in 1983, fantasy shows weren’t as popular, so they really needed to be exceptional to succeed. Nowadays, Wizards and Warriors could be reimagined as a funny take on Game of Thrones. If anyone ever decides to remake it, they should probably give it a new, more appealing title.

Call to Glory (1984 – 1985)

Call to Glory is a historical drama set in the 1960s, focusing on a family living near Edwards Air Force Base. The show depicts how the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 affected a US Air Force colonel and his wife, and explores the personal impact of this major world event on their lives.

ABC believed Call to Glory would be a popular show and advertised it extensively during the 1984 Olympics. However, it didn’t attract many viewers. Because the show was set relatively close to the Cuban Missile Crisis – less than 20 years after the event – it might be seen today as a moving and well-crafted historical drama.

Berrenger’s (1985)

NBC’s Berrenger’s was a short-lived soap opera, lasting only 11 episodes before cancellation. The show followed the glamorous and often dramatic lives of the wealthy Berrenger family, who owned a hugely successful department store, all set amongst New York City’s elite.

While the original concept as a dramatic soap opera might not resonate with modern audiences, Berrenger has a lot of potential. It could be really successful as a comedy, similar to Schitt’s Creek, but with a bit more drama, backstabbing, and financial intrigue.

Hell Town (1985)

The 1985 film Hell Town centers on a Catholic priest working in a church on the east side of Los Angeles. But this isn’t your typical priest – Noah “Hardstep” Rivers has a criminal past and a tough demeanor. This makes him uniquely suited to protect his community, no matter the personal cost.

It’s disappointing that the drama Hell Town was canceled. While the show had a strong premise, critics didn’t like its over-the-top violence and weak dialogue. With a different creative team, though, Hell Town could have been a fantastic, intense, and even uplifting show to stream.

Misfits of Science (1985)

Misfits of Science was a funny, sci-fi superhero show that originally aired on NBC in 1985. The series centered around a group of talented young people at the Humanidyne Institute, a school dedicated to training teenagers with superpowers. The main characters included a musician who could control electricity and a teenage girl with telekinetic abilities, among others.

1980s science fiction is known for being a little over-the-top and silly, but that’s what makes it so endearing. If a show like Misfits of Science was created now, it would need to lean into that same playful style. With how popular the 80s are today, and the current boom in superhero shows, it would likely be very successful.

Read More

2025-11-19 04:23