| Jan 6 | Skag | 1980 | 1 | 6 | — | Abby Mann |
| Jan 14 | Chain Reaction | 1980 | — | — | Game show | Bob Stewart |
| Jan 27 | The Martian ChroniclesMiniseries | 1980 | — | 3 | Science fiction | |
| Mar 1 | Pink Lady and Jeff | 1980 | 1 | 6 | Variety show | |
| Mar 4 | The Big Show | 1980 | 1 | 11 | Variety show | |
| Mar 11 | United States | 1980 | 1 | 13 | Comedy-drama | |
| Mar 14 | Here's Boomer | 1980–1982 | 2 | 24 | Drama | Lowell Ganz |
| Mar 15 | Sanford | 1980–1981 | 2 | 26 | Sitcom | |
| Mar 22 | Me and Maxx | 1980 | 1 | 10 | Sitcom | |
| May 12 | Flamingo Road | 1980–1982 | 2 | 39 | Soap opera | Robert Wilder |
| Jul 19 | Good Time Harry | 1980 | 1 | 7 | Sitcom | |
| Aug 4 | Texas | 1980–1982 | 3 | 617 | Soap opera | John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington |
| Sep 15 | ShōgunMiniseries | 1980 | — | 5 | Jidaigeki | James Clavell |
| Oct 7 | Beulah LandMiniseries | 1980 | — | 3 | — | |
| Oct 27 | Blockbusters | 1980–1982 | — | — | Quiz show | Steve Ryan |
| Nov 22 | The Flintstone Comedy ShowAnimated series | 1980–1982 | 2 | 18 | Comedy | |
| Jan 15 | Hill Street Blues | 1981–1987 | 7 | 146 | Police procedural | Steven Bochco |
| Jan 16 | Harper Valley PTA | 1981–1982 | 2 | 30 | Sitcom | Sherwood Schwartz |
| Jan 16 | Nero Wolfe | 1981 | 1 | 14 | — | |
| Jan 17 | Walking Tall | 1981 | 1 | 7 | Detective | |
| Feb 2 | The Gangster ChroniclesMiniseries | 1981 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Feb 23 | Evita PeronMiniseries | 1981 | — | 2 | Biographical | |
| Sep 12 | Space Stars | 1981–1982 | — | 11 | — | |
| Sep 12 | Spider-Man and His Amazing FriendsAnimated series | 1981–1983 | 3 | 24 | Superhero | Steve Ditko, Stan Lee |
| Sep 12 | The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam!Animated series | 1981–1982 | — | — | Fantasy | |
| Sep 12 | The SmurfsAnimated series | 1981–1989 | 9 | 256 | Fantasy | Peyo |
| Sep 29 | The Sophisticated GentsMiniseries | 1981 | — | — | — | |
| Oct 3 | Hero High | 1981–1982 | — | — | Live action & animation | |
| Oct 26 | Battlestars | 1981–1983 | 2 | — | — | Merrill Heatter |
| Oct 28 | Love, Sidney | 1981–1983 | 2 | 44 | Sitcom | |
| Oct 29 | Gimmie a Break | 1981–1987 | 6 | 137 | Sitcom | Sy Rosen, Morton Lachman |
| Oct 29 | Lewis & Clark | 1981–1982 | 1 | 13 | Sitcom | Gabe Kaplan |
| Nov 3 | Father Murphy | 1981–1983 | 2 | 35 | Drama | Michael Landon |
| Nov 20 | McClain's Law | 1981–1982 | 1 | 16 | Police drama | Eric Bercovici |
| Dec 1 | Bret Maverick | 1981–1982 | 1 | 18 | — | |
| — | World War IIIMiniseries | 1982 | — | 2 | Drama | |
| Jan 7 | Fame | 1982–1987 | 6 | 136 | Drama | Christopher Gore |
| Jan 23 | One of the Boys | 1982 | 1 | 13 | Sitcom | |
| Jan 29 | Cassie & Co. | 1982 | 1 | 13 | Drama | |
| Feb 1 | Late Night | 1982 | — | — | Late-night talk show | David Letterman |
| Feb 1 | Late Night with David Letterman | 1982–1993 | 11 | 1,819 | Late-night talk show | David Letterman |
| Mar 6 | Chicago Story | 1982 | 1 | 13 | Drama | Eric Bercovici |
| Apr 14 | Teachers Only | 1982–1983 | 2 | 21 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 23 | JokebookAnimated series | 1982 | — | 7 | Comedy | |
| May 16 | Marco PoloMiniseries | 1982 | 1 | 10 | Biographical | |
| Aug 19 | Born to the Wind | 1982 | 1 | 4 | Drama | |
| Sep 13 | Fantasy | 1982–1983 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| Sep 17 | The Powers of Matthew Star | 1982–1983 | 1 | 22 | Science fiction | Steven E. de Souza |
| Sep 18 | Shirt TalesAnimated series | 1982–1983 | 2 | 23 | — | |
| Sep 18 | The Flintstone Funnies | 1982–1984 | 2 | — | — | |
| Sep 18 | The Gary Coleman ShowAnimated series | 1982 | 1 | 13 | Comedy | |
| Sep 18 | The Incredible HulkAnimated series | 1982–1983 | 1 | 13 | Science fiction | Stan Lee |
| Sep 22 | Family Ties | 1982–1989 | 7 | 168 | Comedy | Gary David Goldberg |
| Sep 25 | Silver Spoons | 1982–1987 | 5 | 116 | Sitcom | Martin Cohan, Howard Leeds |
| Sep 26 | Knight Rider | 1982–1986 | 4 | 90 | Crime | Glen A. Larson |
| Sep 30 | Cheers | 1982–1993 | 11 | 275 | Comedy | James Burrows, Les Charles |
| Oct 1 | Remington Steele | 1982–1987 | 5 | 94 | Comedy | Michael Gleason, Robert Butler |
| Oct 2 | The Devlin Connection | 1982 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Oct 3 | Voyagers! | 1982–1983 | 1 | 20 | Alternate history | James D. Parriott |
| Oct 24 | Little Gloria... Happy at LastMiniseries | 1982 | — | 2 | — | |
| Oct 26 | Gavilan | 1982–1983 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Oct 26 | St. Elsewhere | 1982–1988 | 6 | 137 | Medical drama | Joshua Brand, John Falsey |
| — | Princess DaisyMiniseries | 1983 | — | — | Slice of life | |
| Jan 3 | Hit Man | 1983 | 1 | 65 | — | Jay Wolpert |
| Jan 3 | Just Men! | 1983 | — | 65 | Panel game | Rick Rosner |
| Jan 22 | Mama's Family | 1983–1990 | 6 | 130 | Sitcom | Dick Clair |
| Jan 22 | The Family Tree | 1983 | 1 | 6 | — | |
| Jan 23 | The A-Team | 1983–1987 | 5 | 98 | Adventure | Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Lupo |
| Feb 15 | Bare EssenceMiniseries | 1983 | 1 | 11 | Soap opera | |
| Feb 27 | Cocaine: One Man's Seduction | 1983 | — | — | Drama | |
| Apr 10 | Casablanca | 1983 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| May 1 | V | 1983–1985 | 1 | 19 | Alien invasion | Kenneth Johnson |
| May 1 | V: The Original MiniseriesMiniseries | 1983 | — | 2 | Adventure | Kenneth Johnson |
| Jun 1 | Buffalo Bill | 1983–1984 | 2 | 26 | Sitcom | |
| Aug 8 | NBC News at SunriseNews program | 1983–1999 | 16 | — | News | |
| Sep 8 | We Got It Made | 1983–1988 | 2 | 46 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 17 | Alvin and the ChipmunksAnimated series | 1983–1990 | 8 | 102 | Comedy | Ross Bagdasarian Sr. |
| Sep 17 | Mister TAnimated series | 1983–1985 | 2 | 30 | Action | |
| Sep 17 | One to Grow On | 1983–1989 | — | — | — | |
| Sep 19 | Wheel of Fortune | 1983 | — | 7,100 | Game show | Merv Griffin |
| Sep 23 | For Love and Honor | 1983–1984 | 1 | 13 | Drama | |
| Sep 23 | Mr. Smith | 1983 | 1 | 13 | Sitcom | Stan Daniels |
| Sep 26 | Boone | 1983–1984 | 1 | 13 | Drama | |
| Sep 30 | Manimal | 1983 | 1 | 8 | Science fiction | Glen A. Larson |
| Oct 1 | The Rousters | 1983–1984 | 1 | 13 | Action | |
| Oct 2 | The Yellow Rose | 1983–1984 | 1 | 22 | Soap opera | |
| Oct 3 | Go | 1983–1984 | — | 79 | Game show | Bob Stewart |
| Oct 21 | Jennifer Slept Here | 1983–1984 | 1 | 13 | Fantasy | |
| Oct 25 | Bay City Blues | 1983 | 1 | 8 | Comedy-drama | Steven Bochco |
| Oct 31 | Hollywood Squares | 1983 | 26 | 3,536 | Quiz show | Bob Quigley, Merrill Heatter |
| Oct 31 | The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour | 1983–1984 | — | 191 | Game show | Mark Goodson, Bill Todman |
| Nov 20 | KennedyMiniseries | 1983 | — | 3 | — | |
| — | Fatal VisionMiniseries | 1984 | — | 2 | Thriller | |
| Jan 3 | Riptide | 1984–1986 | 3 | 56 | Detective | Frank Lupo, Stephen J. Cannell |
| Jan 4 | Night Court | 1984–1992 | 9 | 193 | Sitcom | Reinhold Weege |
| Jan 9 | TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes | 1984–2013 | — | — | Reality | |
| Jan 20 | Legmen | 1984 | 1 | 8 | — | |
| Jan 20 | The Master | 1984 | 1 | 13 | Action | |
| Feb 12 | Celebrity | 1984 | 1 | 3 | Drama | |
| Apr 4 | Double Trouble | 1984–1985 | 2 | 23 | Teen sitcom | |
| Apr 12 | The Duck Factory | 1984 | — | 13 | Sitcom | Allan Burns |
| May 6 | V The Final BattleMiniseries | 1984 | 1 | 3 | Science fiction | Kenneth Johnson |
| May 20 | The First Olympics: Athens 1896Miniseries | 1984 | — | 2 | Historical drama | |
| Jul 2 | Scrabble | 1984 | 8 | 1,574 | Game show | |
| Jul 30 | Santa Barbara | 1984–1993 | 9 | 2,137 | Soap opera | Bridget and Jerome Dobson |
| Sep 8 | Pink Panther and SonsAnimated series | 1984–1985 | 1 | 26 | Adventure | Friz Freleng |
| Sep 15 | Going Bananas | 1984 | 1 | 12 | Comedy | Len Janson |
| Sep 15 | Kidd Video | 1984–1985 | 1 | 26 | Comedy | DIC Entertainment Corporation |
| Sep 15 | SnorksAnimated series | 1984–1989 | 4 | 68 | Fantasy | Hanna-Barbera |
| Sep 16 | Miami Vice | 1984–1990 | 5 | 112 | Crime | Anthony Yerkovich |
| Sep 16 | Punky Brewster | 1984–1988 | 4 | 88 | Comedy | |
| Sep 18 | Hunter | 1984–1991 | 7 | 153 | Crime | Frank Lupo |
| Sep 19 | Highway to Heaven | 1984–1989 | 5 | 111 | Drama | Michael Landon |
| Sep 20 | The Cosby Show | 1984–1992 | 8 | 201 | Comedy | Ed. Weinberger, Michael J. Leeson |
| Sep 22 | Hot Pursuit | 1984 | 1 | 12 | Drama | Kenneth Johnson |
| Sep 22 | Partners in Crime | 1984 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Sep 26 | It's Your Move | 1984–1985 | 1 | 18 | Teen sitcom | Ron Leavitt |
| Dec 1 | Spencer | 1984–1985 | 1 | 13 | Sitcom | |
| Jan 5 | Berrenger's | 1985 | 1 | 11 | Soap opera | Diana Gould |
| Mar 1 | Television Parts | 1985 | — | — | — | |
| Mar 24 | Half Nelson | 1985 | 1 | 6 | Comedy | |
| Apr 19 | The Best Times | 1985 | 1 | 6 | Drama | |
| May 5 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | 1985–1989 | 4 | 76 | Anthology | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Jun 30 | Code of Vengeance | 1985–1986 | 1 | 6 | Drama | |
| Jul 14 | Stingray | 1985–1987 | 2 | 25 | Adventure | Stephen J. Cannell |
| Sep 4 | Hell Town | 1985 | 1 | 13 | Drama | |
| Sep 14 | 227 | 1985–1990 | 5 | 116 | Sitcom | Michael G. Moye, Bill Boulware |
| Sep 14 | Adventures of the Gummi BearsAnimated series | 1985–1991 | 6 | 65 | Adventure | Jymn Magon |
| Sep 14 | It's Punky BrewsterAnimated series | 1985–1986 | 2 | 26 | Comedy | NBC |
| Sep 14 | The Golden Girls | 1985–1992 | 7 | 180 | Sitcom | Susan Harris |
| Sep 23 | Your Number's Up | 1985 | — | 65 | Game show | |
| Sep 29 | Amazing Stories | 1985–1987 | 2 | 45 | Fantasy | Steven Spielberg |
| Oct 4 | Misfits of Science | 1985–1986 | 1 | 16 | Comedy-drama | James D. Parriott |
| Jan 5 | Blacke's Magic | 1986 | 1 | 13 | Drama | Richard Levinson |
| Feb 2 | Peter the GreatMiniseries | 1986 | 1 | 4 | — | |
| Feb 27 | You Again? | 1986–1987 | 2 | 26 | Sitcom | |
| Mar 1 | Valerie's Family: The Hogans | 1986–1991 | 6 | 110 | Sitcom | |
| Mar 3 | Matlock | 1986–1995 | 9 | 194 | Legal drama | Dean Hargrove |
| Mar 9 | Dress GrayMiniseries | 1986 | — | 2 | Drama | |
| Mar 20 | All Is Forgiven | 1986 | 1 | 9 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 6 | Fathers and Sons | 1986 | 1 | 4 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 11 | The Last Precinct | 1986 | 1 | 8 | Sitcom | Stephen J. Cannell |
| May 18 | On Wings of EaglesMiniseries | 1986 | — | 2 | Drama | |
| Jun 10 | 1986 | 1986 | 1 | — | News magazine | |
| Sep 11 | Our House | 1986–1988 | 2 | 46 | Sitcom | James Lee Barrett |
| Sep 13 | Easy Street | 1986–1987 | 1 | 22 | Sitcom | Hugh Wilson |
| Sep 13 | FoofurAnimated series | 1986–1988 | 2 | 46 | Children's | |
| Sep 13 | KissyfurAnimated series | 1986–1990 | 2 | 46 | — | |
| Sep 13 | Lazer Tag Academy | 1986 | 1 | 13 | Science fiction | |
| Sep 15 | L.A. Law | 1986–1994 | 8 | 171 | Drama | Terry Louise Fisher, Steven Bochco |
| Sep 18 | Crime Story | 1986–1988 | 2 | 44 | Drama | Gustave Reininger, Chuck Adamson |
| Sep 22 | ALF | 1986–1990 | 4 | 102 | Science fiction | Paul Fusco |
| Sep 27 | Amen | 1986–1991 | 5 | 110 | Sitcom | Ed. Weinberger |
| Dec 29 | Wordplay | 1986–1987 | — | — | Panel game | |
| — | Win, Lose or Draw | 1987–2014 | 7 | 598 | Panel game | Burt Reynolds, Bert Convy |
| Jan 20 | Unsolved Mysteries | 1987–2010 | 14 | 553 | Crime | |
| Jan 22 | The Tortellis | 1987 | 1 | 13 | Sitcom | Ken Estin |
| Feb 8 | The Two Mrs. GrenvillesMiniseries | 1987 | — | — | — | |
| Mar 9 | Rags to Riches | 1987–1988 | 2 | 20 | Comedy-drama | Bernie Kukoff |
| Mar 19 | Roomies | 1987 | 1 | 8 | Sitcom | |
| Mar 19 | The Bronx Zoo | 1987–1988 | 2 | 21 | — | |
| Apr 2 | Nothing in Common | 1987 | 1 | 7 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 18 | Sweet Surrender | 1987 | 1 | 6 | Sitcom | |
| May 21 | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | 1987–1991 | 5 | 65 | Comedy-drama | Jay Tarses |
| Aug 15 | Summer Breeze | 1987 | — | 1 | — | Thomas James |
| Sep 12 | Fraggle RockAnimated series | 1987 | 1 | 13 | Comedy | Jim Henson |
| Sep 12 | The New Archies | 1987 | 1 | 14 | Animated sitcom | |
| Sep 13 | Private Eye | 1987–1988 | 1 | 12 | Detective | |
| Sep 16 | A Year in the LifeMiniseries | 1987–1988 | 1 | 22 | Drama | Joshua Brand |
| Sep 19 | Mama's Boy | 1987–1988 | 1 | 7 | Sitcom | Susan Harris |
| Sep 20 | My Two Dads | 1987–1990 | 3 | 60 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 20 | The Highwayman | 1987–1988 | 1 | 10 | Science fiction | Glen A. Larson |
| Sep 20 | Weekend Today | 1987 | — | — | — | |
| Sep 24 | A Different World | 1987–1993 | 6 | 144 | Comedy | Bill Cosby |
| Sep 26 | ALF: The Animated SeriesAnimated series | 1987–1989 | 2 | 26 | Comedy | Tom Patchett, Paul Fusco |
| Sep 26 | J.J. Starbuck | 1987–1988 | 1 | 16 | Drama | |
| Nov 5 | Beverly Hills Buntz | 1987–1988 | 1 | 13 | Comedy-drama | David Milch |
| Nov 16 | Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton StoryMiniseries | 1987 | — | — | Biographical | |
| Nov 30 | Father Dowling Mysteries | 1987–1991 | 3 | 45 | Crime | Dean Hargrove |
| — | Sunday Night | 1988–1990 | — | 44 | — | |
| Feb 5 | The Main Event | 1988–1991 | — | 5 | Professional wrestling | |
| Feb 12 | Sonny Spoon | 1988 | 2 | 15 | Detective | Stephen J. Cannell |
| Feb 21 | Noble HouseMiniseries | 1988 | — | 4 | Action | James Clavell |
| Feb 29 | Day by Day | 1988–1989 | 2 | 33 | Sitcom | Andy Borowitz, Gary David Goldberg |
| Mar 6 | In the Heat of the Night | 1988–1995 | 8 | 146 | Drama | John Ball |
| Mar 9 | Aaron's Way | 1988 | 1 | 14 | Drama | |
| May 8 | Something Is Out ThereMiniseries | 1988 | 1 | 9 | Science fiction | Frank Lupo |
| Sep 10 | ALF TalesAnimated series | 1988–1989 | 2 | 21 | Science fiction | Paul Fusco |
| Sep 10 | Baby Boom | 1988–1989 | 1 | 8 | Sitcom | Nancy Meyers |
| Sep 10 | The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed GrimleyAnimated series | 1988 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Oct 6 | Dear John | 1988–1992 | 4 | 90 | Comedy | John Sullivan |
| Oct 8 | Empty Nest | 1988–1995 | 7 | 170 | Sitcom | Susan Harris |
| Oct 25 | Midnight Caller | 1988–1991 | 3 | 61 | Drama | |
| Oct 26 | Tattingers | 1988–1989 | 1 | 13 | Comedy-drama | Bruce Paltrow |
| Jan 21 | Nightingales | 1989 | 1 | 13 | — | |
| Jan 22 | Brotherhood of the RoseMiniseries | 1989 | — | 2 | — | |
| Feb 3 | Unsub | 1989 | 1 | 8 | — | Stephen J. Cannell |
| Mar 26 | Quantum Leap | 1989–1993 | 5 | 97 | Alternate history | Donald P. Bellisario |
| Mar 27 | Generations | 1989–1991 | 2 | 470 | Soap opera | Sally Sussman Morina |
| Apr 10 | Nearly Departed | 1989 | 1 | 6 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 13 | Dream Street | 1989 | 1 | 6 | Drama | Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz |
| Apr 14 | The Jim Henson Hour | 1989 | 1 | 12 | Anthology | Jim Henson |
| Apr 15 | One of the Boys | 1989 | 1 | 6 | Sitcom | |
| Apr 16 | Around the World in 80 DaysMiniseries | 1989 | — | 3 | Adventure | |
| Apr 23 | Baywatch | 1989–2001 | 11 | 242 | Drama | Gregory J. Bonann, Douglas Schwartz |
| Jul 5 | Seinfeld | 1989–1998 | 9 | 180 | Sitcom | Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld |
| Jul 8 | Knight & Daye | 1989 | 1 | 7 | Sitcom | |
| Aug 20 | Saved by the Bell | 1989–1993 | 4 | 86 | Teen sitcom | Sam Bobrick |
| Sep 9 | Camp CandyAnimated series | 1989–1992 | 3 | 40 | — | |
| Sep 9 | The Karate KidAnimated series | 1989 | 1 | 13 | Adventure | |
| Sep 16 | Sister Kate | 1989–1990 | 1 | 19 | Sitcom | |
| Sep 20 | The Nutt House | 1989 | 1 | 10 | Sitcom | Mel Brooks |
| Sep 21 | Hardball | 1989–1990 | 1 | 18 | Drama | |
| Oct 1 | Brand New Life | 1989–1990 | 1 | 5 | Comedy | Chris Carter |
| Oct 13 | Mancuso, F.B.I. | 1989–1990 | 1 | 20 | Detective | Steve Sohmer |
| Nov 30 | Ann Jillian | 1989–1990 | 1 | 11 | Sitcom | |
| Dec 3 | True Blue | 1989–1990 | 1 | 12 | — | |