Top 10 '80s Shows That Properly Handled Serious Topics

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  • Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
  • Even in the 80s, these shows properly handled serious topics. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the 1980s television programs that displayed high levels of professionalism, seriousness or earnestness when it came to tackling dramatic subjects. Our countdown includes “Diff’rent Strokes,” “A Different World,” “The Hogan Family,” and more! Which ‘80s television show do YOU think stood out from the pack? Let us know in the comments.
    Watch more great serious topic videos here:
    Top 10 '70s Shows That Properly Handled Serious Topics - • Top 10 '70s Shows That...
    Top 10 Old TV Shows That Properly Handled Serious Topics - • Top 10 Old TV Shows Th...
    Top 10 Classic Hollywood Movies That Properly Handled Serious Topics - • Top 10 Classic Hollywo...
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    MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
    #80sShows #80s #Nostalgia #Serious #TV
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 79

  • @MsMojo
    @MsMojo  6 місяців тому +3

    Which ‘80s television show do YOU think stood out from the pack? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 '70s Shows That Properly Handled Serious Topics - ua-cam.com/video/Ic52FzraSs4/v-deo.html

  • @suzannemenuet947
    @suzannemenuet947 6 місяців тому +42

    The Golden Girls speaks to many generations, I think. I know people of all ages who still watch it. Plus, all of the women were advocates for many things, in their personal lives. ❤❤❤

  • @myswanktrendz
    @myswanktrendz 6 місяців тому +50

    80s shows reflected society at the best of times and worst of times. It's surprising how well they brought real hidden issues to the forefront, while also normalizing behaviour that wouldn't be accepted today. These shows are a perfect timecapsule of the era.

    • @A_multifandom_td_and_pjo_lover
      @A_multifandom_td_and_pjo_lover 6 місяців тому +5

      “It was the worst of times it was the worst of times it was Sicily 1922.”-Sophia patrilo

    • @jennifermullis9265
      @jennifermullis9265 6 місяців тому

      @@A_multifandom_td_and_pjo_lovergood one and I would agree The Golden Girls are the best of the 80s shows.

  • @barbara2607
    @barbara2607 6 місяців тому +22

    You missed a big one…Designing Women. Episodes like “They Shoot Fat People, Don’t They?” were amazing. They were also ahead of their time covering topics like slut-shaming, AIDS, homophobia, and gun control. They showed people that were Southern but didn’t deny racism, and religious without denying women’s rights.

  • @ElvisRose_
    @ElvisRose_ 6 місяців тому +25

    The Wonder Years is kind of jarring when you only remember the more uplifting and funny parts watching it as a kid then go back and watch it as an adult and it feels like a completely different show. As for The Golden Girls, I think it's a MasterClass in timeless comedy and deftly handling serious topics that were relevant for the times as well as today. It's pretty damn impressive.

  • @funnymin111
    @funnymin111 6 місяців тому +36

    I hope 80s shows will get more recognition! They were the best

    • @Missmagazinebura
      @Missmagazinebura 6 місяців тому +1

      Wasn’t born yet lol so couldn’t watch it

    • @srldwg
      @srldwg 6 місяців тому +1

      ​@@Missmagazineburayou missed out.

  • @lucoakanrogithe2ahashira509
    @lucoakanrogithe2ahashira509 6 місяців тому +13

    The golden girls thing about AIDS was actually put in by one of the writers who’s partner was at the time recently been told they had it. It felt traumatic in the show because it was someone’s real emotions about the subject at the time was stigmatized and they needed to let it be said that it wasn’t a disease for people god “hated” it was just a disease like any other one

    • @carolacarassa3095
      @carolacarassa3095 6 місяців тому +4

      I can’t tell you how impactful that was when I was younger. It made such a big impression on me.

    • @lucoakanrogithe2ahashira509
      @lucoakanrogithe2ahashira509 6 місяців тому

      @@carolacarassa3095 tell me about. Granted i wasn’t born until 1991 i loved Betty white pretty much until i was able to watch and understand TV and Betty white was a woman i wished was my grandma and i didn’t get to watch the golden girls until maybe the mid 10’s. I’m not proud of myself, have apologized to some friends who are gay and even a at the time lesbian, now transgender actor but i actually used to be homophobic up until the time the pope said his “who am i to judge” speech. I saw the golden girls and other shows that treated love and tolerance towards everyone and well i am glad i changed because the same year in 2020(early 2020 obviously) i was able to apologize to the transgender voice actor a few months in Halloween my god child came out of the closet and it made our relationship stronger more like child and parent instead of god child and god parent though if you are curious we are actually cousins if you take away that title since we are more open and close than her and her own parents are. I am sorry for the long rant it’s just very special to me since it made me and the person i love most in this world better and closer to each other i even call her GF she was happy to introduce me when they were friends and was very happy to tell me they were officially dating my daughter in law

  • @saraeastman40
    @saraeastman40 6 місяців тому +15

    Great list! Mash, Designing Women, Thirty Something, LA Law, Night Court were all great shows back then

  • @weezy66
    @weezy66 6 місяців тому +6

    The Golden Girls helped me to deal with my husband's terminal illness. Their shows were something i looked forward to...

  • @angelaholmes8888
    @angelaholmes8888 6 місяців тому +13

    I love how a different world dealt with serious issues

  • @toddbeaton1512
    @toddbeaton1512 6 місяців тому +11

    the golden girls are so amazing

  • @goeltrolden
    @goeltrolden 6 місяців тому +16

    I'm so happy Degrassi is at the top spot!!
    Degrassi touched upon important topics for over 30 years! I still hope they bring it back in its next incarnation

    • @gmmartines7331
      @gmmartines7331 6 місяців тому

      Of course they will. The entire point of Degrassi was to show kids solving their own problems. I stopped watching I think around season 15, right before *SPOILER*....
      Allen died but it jumped the shark way before then. And then there was Next Class that was just...too bad to even be mentioned

    • @goeltrolden
      @goeltrolden 6 місяців тому

      @gmmartines7331 Yeah, I never made it through the next class either. The only episode I've sat through was the TNG Reunion one, and it was so odd. Emma and Spinner referencing still being married, yet sharing zero scenes... 🤔🙄
      It started jumping the shark when Nickelodeon got hold of it, and they started churning out 50-odd episodes pr season.

  • @chelseacanales8763
    @chelseacanales8763 6 місяців тому +8

    Even though I wasn’t born in the 80s but they handled and tackled moments and they were the best.

  • @allisonziggywhitman7280
    @allisonziggywhitman7280 6 місяців тому +6

    I have to be honest, some of these tv shows have handled topics more sensitively than teen dramas of the 21th century

    • @user-cr8dq7sc6h
      @user-cr8dq7sc6h 2 місяці тому

      They handled those topics way better than modern shows do.

  • @maggiem764
    @maggiem764 6 місяців тому +5

    A list like this would be incomplete without A Different World. There are so many more topics they covered including sexism, workplace harassment, SA, and domestic violence. And all of them were done pretty well for the time and given the sitcom format. Thank you for finally giving that amazing show some love. 👍🏻

  • @trixie898989
    @trixie898989 6 місяців тому +6

    I watched all of these programs and episodes LIVE. It was a good time to be alive. Some were really shocking, at the time, but needed to be discussed. 😟🥰

  • @FatsquatchPNW
    @FatsquatchPNW 6 місяців тому +4

    I would've put The Golden Girls at #1, honestly. There was almost nothing they wouldn't tackle. Homelessness, AIDS, gay marriage, child neglect, age discrimination, addiction, catfishing, immigration, nuclear proliferation, the fall of communism, teenage pregnancy...the list is practically endless. And they were always thoughtful, respectful, and the writers knew exactly when to interject levity to lighten the mood. Truly one of those lightning-in-a-bottle shows that only come around once in a very great while.

  • @COMPFUNK2
    @COMPFUNK2 6 місяців тому +8

    Although I was born in 1981, I didn’t see the Bicycle Man until around 1994. At the time, I had never heard of pedophilia, so I was really confused. I mean, I knew what was going on, but I didn’t understand why-well, actually, I still don’t understand why.

  • @mahaarif7562
    @mahaarif7562 6 місяців тому +5

    Can you do a Top 10 Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High episodes?

  • @kevinriley6320
    @kevinriley6320 6 місяців тому +7

    Do a top 10 atV characters that improved atV shows. There's the Fonz, Urkel, Abby Ewing Alexis Carrington, Jo from Facts of Life, Amanda from Melrose Place.

  • @kung.fu.kellzz
    @kung.fu.kellzz 6 місяців тому +2

    Didn’t know Degrassi would be no. 1. I just knew it’d be on the list. I’m pleasantly surprised.

  • @art.of.verser
    @art.of.verser 6 місяців тому +3

    A Different World never disappointed me with the cast taking on the collegiate experience as young Black people, especially during the days of the AIDS epidemic; I find The Hogan Family criminally underrated, considering that Jason Bateman starred in that sitcom after his recurring role as Derrick on Silver Spoons (and I enjoyed that show so much!).
    More importantly, I'm glad I finally experienced Degrassi Junior High back in 2018 as we as the spinoffs. That franchise was never short on hot button topics, from teen pregnancy to substance use. Oh, and congrats to Degrassi for the recent induction to Canada's Walk of Fame!

  • @RetroFreak35
    @RetroFreak35 6 місяців тому +2

    To be fair, I think Different Strokes and Family Ties alongside Mr. Belvedere are my favorite ones that dealt with very serious problems in their episodes with an excellent cast and crew of writers for the time.

  • @JennNofficial
    @JennNofficial 6 місяців тому +5

    I knew one Degrassi show would be on this list

  • @ThePinkDragon
    @ThePinkDragon 6 місяців тому +3

    loved how real but fun fame was

  • @giselaoeding
    @giselaoeding 6 місяців тому +2

    How did Designing Women not make this list?!?! I still quote Annie Potts' Mary Jo Shively speech about condoms in schools - "And I think that it really shouldn't matter what your personal views are about birth control, because, you see, we're not just talking about preventing births anymore. We're talking about preventing deaths." - all these years later because it's as relevant now as it was then.
    And M*A*S*H? This hit all the marks a hundred times over. I'm really sad to see these great shows were missed.

  • @dannerzme
    @dannerzme 6 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for this video!!

  • @justineves3588
    @justineves3588 6 місяців тому +1

    Very very great epic list I like it a lot very very great job mis mojo one of my absolute favorite list ever 😊❤

  • @angelaholmes8888
    @angelaholmes8888 6 місяців тому +3

    Yes 21 jump street belongs on this list 🚓

  • @aarongilmore1254
    @aarongilmore1254 6 місяців тому +2

    Designing Women should have gotten at least an honorable mention. Dealt with issues of Race, divorce, fat shaming, politics, women’s rights, free speech, aids, adultery, prostitution, may-December romances all the heavy hitters.

  • @PerfectlyImperfect93
    @PerfectlyImperfect93 6 місяців тому +6

    I hate when teen girls in shows get pregnant knowing they didn’t use a condom and get surprised pikachu face when they do get pregnant.

    • @fictional-girl_05
      @fictional-girl_05 6 місяців тому +1

      I mean to be fair a lot of schools don't teach about that stuff, they just teach "don't have sex" so when teens go out and have it anyway, they don't know how to do it safely because they weren't taught.

  • @ReynaReactsandReviews
    @ReynaReactsandReviews 6 місяців тому +3

    Love the background music

  • @ddbjg
    @ddbjg 6 місяців тому +2

    i love 227 it`s a great show with serious issues

  • @introvertsrock9843
    @introvertsrock9843 6 місяців тому +2

    80s shows are starting to appear on hulu. Some scripts could easily relate to today

    • @user-cr8dq7sc6h
      @user-cr8dq7sc6h 6 місяців тому

      What shows would relate to today?

    • @charliejoson9145
      @charliejoson9145 6 місяців тому +1

      Except for how The Golden Girls handled Dorothy's gambling addiction. I have read so many comments directed at how "fast Dorothy overcame her gambling addiction" or how it wasn't mentioned again.
      It's the same with how fast Rose got over her pills addiction.

  • @belowthedot8903
    @belowthedot8903 5 місяців тому

    Pleasantly surprised to see Degrassi Junior High on this list, and at number 1 no less. While it was really popular in Canada, it's always kind of been overlooked in the general TV discourse sense for what it tackled and how it did it, and the fact it had a reboot that is more well known to US audiences specifically isn't helping. However I also dread when it gets a rare mention on a more general platform because there will inevitably be people going "wtf is this? i've never heard of it" and just dumping on it completely.

  • @TheDastard
    @TheDastard 6 місяців тому +2

    Thundercats did a good job teaching morals & ethics through the episode, instead of at the end in a quick clip.

  • @elainebines6803
    @elainebines6803 6 місяців тому +1

    My cousin was suffering a disease and people were cruel saying 'do you wanna look like Nancy the lollipop lady, big head, hands and feet?' oddly enough though my cousin said it made her realise you can't slim down the skeletal system and helped her recover she went down to under five stone and 5'5'' we nearly lost her 😔

  • @HimeNoKuri
    @HimeNoKuri 6 місяців тому +3

    Facts of life should have been on this list they dealt with teen suicide

  • @machtmer
    @machtmer 6 місяців тому +2

    You missed a couple major ones that really should have been at least honorable mentions: “Designing Women” and “Murphy Brown”. And honestly…I understand the controversy, but there were a lot of other genuinely good people attached both as cast and crew…but “Cosby” itself as a show deserves its due. Particularly if you’re going to include “Different World”. “Cagney & Lacey” was another big miss.

  • @jamesbonnen
    @jamesbonnen 6 місяців тому

    2:28 Don't forget about the fire episode

  • @ravenpoe7093
    @ravenpoe7093 6 місяців тому +1

    Facts of Life also tackled teen suicide but Degrassi did it all

  • @devonmunn5728
    @devonmunn5728 6 місяців тому

    Was surprised to see what took fhe number 1 spot. Though it did of course spawn a later series and is also Canadian like the Mojo franchise

  • @smileynoel5632
    @smileynoel5632 6 місяців тому +1

    The Jefferson should have been on this list

  • @COMPFUNK2
    @COMPFUNK2 6 місяців тому +1

    One episode of Diff’rent Strokes that people seem to forget about is the Hitchhikers from, I believe, season six. Arnold and Kimberly got picked up by a seemingly nice man, but then he tried to rape Kimberly.

  • @jamesbonnen
    @jamesbonnen 6 місяців тому +2

    WKRP: Alcohol, The WHO concert tragedy,

  • @chrishernandez8918
    @chrishernandez8918 6 місяців тому

    Full House, Thirty something and One Day At A Time should have made the list.

  • @Avanell
    @Avanell 6 місяців тому +1

    Did Good Times end in the 80's? Cause besides James' death, JJ's girlfriend did heroin and then jumped out a window. I'll never forget that.

  • @seattlevixen
    @seattlevixen 5 місяців тому

    Full House and DJs eating disorder was so important

  • @sassylizzie1
    @sassylizzie1 6 місяців тому +2

    Why do these lists always forget about Designing Women. They tackled several serious issues including gay rights, Aids, women's rights, race, and domestic violence. I feel like it should have been included in the honorable mentions at least.

  • @COMPFUNK2
    @COMPFUNK2 6 місяців тому

    I’m an 80s baby and I never knew there was a Degrassi junior high.

  • @xer0-x_glitch
    @xer0-x_glitch 6 місяців тому

    Top 10 *Worst Deeds the loud sisters have done* from "The Loud House"

  • @samuelcollantes1175
    @samuelcollantes1175 6 місяців тому

    Wow, good thing i wasn't born in that decade. Happy monday night, Rebecca. Take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

  • @melindakinnaird
    @melindakinnaird 6 місяців тому

    MacGyver

  • @seofra8252
    @seofra8252 6 місяців тому +3

    I want to see new shows like these. But not woke.

    • @HimeNoKuri
      @HimeNoKuri 6 місяців тому +1

      Yes!!

    • @user-cr8dq7sc6h
      @user-cr8dq7sc6h 6 місяців тому

      I absolutely agree with that. Only shows in modern times that don’t have a single woke element are Terminal List and Tulsa King.

  • @melanie7769
    @melanie7769 6 місяців тому

    When referencing The Different Strokes episode "Mr Bicycle Man", you praise how they properly dealt with the issue of...abduction. What? It had nothing to do with that. The episode was about molestation and grooming. Is it that you don't even do basic research on the subjects addressed in your lists, or do you just not want to use the term groomer so you made up an abduction? The bicycle man, Mr Horton, gives Arnold and Dudley alcohol and shows them pornographic magazines and pictures of himself skinny dipping with other children. He asks them to take off their shirts to play "Tarzan" and tells them to keep their encounters a secret. This is the very definition of grooming. There is no suggestion or mention of abduction at all, so why didn't you accurately describe the subject matter?

  • @bretalleman9352
    @bretalleman9352 6 місяців тому

    wtf is number 1 lol?

    • @belowthedot8903
      @belowthedot8903 5 місяців тому

      An underrated and long ignored show that's finally seems to be getting the recognition it deserved?

  • @jencooper3371
    @jencooper3371 6 місяців тому +1

    Interesting that only North American shows made the list.

  • @thebigorangecouch6261
    @thebigorangecouch6261 6 місяців тому +1

    "Alcohol use disorder"??? What a stupid effing term.

  • @jetnight88
    @jetnight88 6 місяців тому

    How about you just don't make videos like this because it's none of your business miss Mojo