Pick: Which decade had the best TV shows?

Were sitcoms, dramas and action shows better in the 60s, 70s or 80s?

 

Classic TV fans all have favorite eras. Some like the 1960s, others think television hit its stride in the '70s or '80s and many more enjoy a sampling of shows from all three periods.

Here are 15 categories with a selection of shows from each decade. Pick which one you like the most and see if other people agree with you or not!

 

  1. Which decade had the best small-town sitcom?
  2. Which decade had the best sitcom set in the past?
  3. Which decade had the best sitcom about an alien?
  4. Which decade had the best military comedy?
  5. Which decade had the best cop show?
  6. Which decade had the best police detective show?
  7. Which decade had the best show about a private investigator?
  8. Which decade had the best legal drama?
  9. Which decade had the best medical drama?
  10. Which decade had the best action show?
  11. Which decade had the best superhero show?
  12. Which decade had the best show set in space?
  13. Which decade had the best anthology series?
  14. Which decade had the best family drama?
  15. Which decade had the best animated show?

Pick: Which decade had the best TV shows?

Your Result...

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112 Comments

Fred_Clampett 7 months ago
53% I'm not surprised that I didn't choose what's most popular, but I'm surprised at some of the big margins. Also, how is One Day At A Time a small-town show? Indianapolis isn't New York or LA, but it's not a small town.
Muleskinner 27 months ago
84%. I selected Gomer Pyle over M*A*S*H because once Alan Alda took over that show he turned it into a preachy melodrama.
Moody 27 months ago
74% similar. #5 was a tough choice for me. I liked both Adam-12 & Hill Street Blues but I had to go with HSB. It was just a great show with great characters.

For #14 I never thought of Bonanza being a family drama. I always thought of it as a western.
PulsarStargrave 27 months ago
No MARRIED WITH CHILDREN for an 80s "show about a family"?
DALLAS (14 SEASONS)
MARRIED WITH CHILDREN (11 SEASONS)

The Dastardly Ewings v. The Battling Bundys.... it writes itself!
PulsarStargrave 27 months ago
84% Similar! I don't know how I feel about that-- I just know I LOVE DALLAS and the only thing stopping me from collecting at least the VICTORIA PRINCIPAL years is that's still a whopping 10 SEASONS! At a roughly $200 buck commitment it's cost prohibitive and I'm NOT a EWING.... or even a Ray Krebs!
Snickers 27 months ago
93% similar I'd take Star Trek over Next Generation any day.
PulsarStargrave Snickers 27 months ago
Same here. N.G. has better stories but T.O.S. had better characters! However, If BABYLON 5 had been in the category....
Moody Snickers 27 months ago
I like both shows but I think I liked Next Generation better. They had some great stories.
Crystal Snickers 27 months ago
I chose Star Trek just to pick one. I never watched any of those space shows.
Randall 42 months ago
One Day at a Time is NOT a Small Town Comedy, Unless you consider they are living in a small town SKYSCRAPER!
Lillyrose 46 months ago
49% similar. Actually, the 1950's had the best shows -- I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver!
benhallums12019 49 months ago
THE MATCH GAME, THE SALE OF THE CENTURY, THE PRICE IS RIGHT, CARD SHARKS, DOUBLE DARE (1976-1977,) THE HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (1966,) THE BATTLESTARS (1981,) SUPERMARKET SWEEP, WHAT'S MY LINE?, CONCENTRATION, TO TELL THE TRUTH, GAMBIT & PASSWORD & I'VE GOT A SECRET & SAY WHEN!! THESE GAME SHOW WILL BE DEBUTED ON METV.
benhallums12019 49 months ago
THE MATCH GAME 1960S 1
TATTLETALES 1970S & 1980S 2 TIE.

DREAM HOUSE 1960S-1980S 1.

WHERE THE ACTION IS 1960S 1
EL CIRCO (THE BIG CIRCUS) 1970S 2
SOLID GOLD 1980S 3

SUPERMARKET SWEEP 1960S 1
WHEW! 1970S 2
CHAIN REACTION 1980S 3

MrDbutler69 49 months ago
50% similar. I surprised myself by picking 7 60's shows, and only 4 each from the 70's and 80's, even though I primarily grew up in the 80's.
Each era has a handful of "Evergreens"!
Dario 50 months ago
79% similar! 😁😁😁😁😁✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️
KOZ 50 months ago
90% At least I know what I liked best.
Runeshaper 50 months ago
70% similar - been watching a lot of 80s shows lately. Loving them!
Randall 50 months ago
St Elsewhere deserves a lot more credit than it gets it contained three superstars Mark Harmon,Denzel Washington,and Howie Mandel also established stage and fim actor William Daniels The scripts were amongst the best scripts ever written and compare only to MASH in quality, sadly this masterpiece can't be found in reruns!!
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