80s TV Comedy Shows

Some of the funniest comedy TV shows emerged in the 80s.  John Sullivan's classic TV episodes from series such as Only Fools and Horsesand Just Good Friends are still often repeated today - and work wonders at re-instilling you with humorous nostalgia.

The Cosby Show was a successful 80s TV comedy series based around the Huxtables; Heathcliff the father, played by Bill Cosby, was a doctor, and wife Clair Huxtable was a lawyer.  They had five children - Sondra, Denise, Vanessa, Theodore, and Rudy.  The show ran from 1984-1992.

     

Who's the Boss (1984-1992) was an eighties television sit-com about Tony - a housekeeper to career woman Angela.  Each had a child - Angela's son Jonathon, and Tony's daughter Samantha (played by Alyssa Milano, who later went on to be cast in the role of Phoebe in Charmed).  In 1990 the show's format was mirrored by the UK comedy The Upper Hand featuring Joe McGann.

     

Brush Strokes (1986-1991) was an 80s TV comedy programme about womanising house painter Jacko (Karl Howman - later to be seen in the Flash adverts).  Jacko dated Sandra (his boss's daughter) - his boss was Lionel Bainbridge(Gary Waldhorn), who was married to Veronica.

       

Hi-De-Hi first aired in 1980 - and was set in a 1950s English holiday camp called Maplins.  The main characters in the TV comedy included entertainments manager Ted Bovis (Paul Shane) - and his sidekick Spike Dixon (Jeffrey Holland).  Gladys Pugh (Ruth Madoc) was famous for her jingle on the glockenspiel and the catchphrase 'Hi-De-Hi campers' - to which they would reply 'Ho-De-Ho'.  There was also Peggy Ollerenshaw (Sue Pollard) - a chalet maid desperate to become a Yellowcoat.  The TV show ended in 1988.

Dear John - in contrast to the TV comedy Who's the Boss - originated in the UK and was later remade in America.  It ran for 14 episodes in the UK - between 1986 and 1987.  The main character of the classic 80s tv show - John Lacey - was played by Ralph Bates.  John came home one night to find a letter from his wife explaining that she was leaving him.  Following their split, John joins a divorcee club - and meets fellow divorcees - Kate (played by Belinda Lang - 2.4 Children), Kirk (Peter Blake), and Ralph (played by Peter Denyer, who also played Dennis in Please Sir!).  The US series ran for 36 episodes (1988-1992), and John Lacey was played by Judd Hirsch (Alex Reiger in Taxi).

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