Currently Streaming TV Shows to Satisfy my 1980s Nostalgia...
August 18, 2016 10:49 AM Subscribe
What TV Series (not Movies) are currently streaming on the big services (Netflix, Amazon Prime & others) that fully capture 1980s American popular culture?
I am 42 years old which means that most of my formative years (Grade school through mid- High school) were solidly contained within 1980 to 1989. I just binge-watched Stranger Things on Netflix and in addition to it's amazing story and acting, I adored its spot-on costuming, music, incidental music, sets...just everything about it. I was bathed in a vat of warm nostalgia for 8 hours and I want more.
Id like recommendations of other shows (whether produced recently or in the actual timeframe) that just drip 1980s America from every pore that are CURRENTLY (as of August 18, 2016) streaming and included with a subscription service.
Modern Example: Halt and Catch Fire - Currently On Netflix
1980s Example: Dynasty - Currently on Amazon Prime
1980s Example: The A-Team - Currently on Netflix
1980s Example: Cheers - Currently on Netflix
Thanks in advance
I am 42 years old which means that most of my formative years (Grade school through mid- High school) were solidly contained within 1980 to 1989. I just binge-watched Stranger Things on Netflix and in addition to it's amazing story and acting, I adored its spot-on costuming, music, incidental music, sets...just everything about it. I was bathed in a vat of warm nostalgia for 8 hours and I want more.
Id like recommendations of other shows (whether produced recently or in the actual timeframe) that just drip 1980s America from every pore that are CURRENTLY (as of August 18, 2016) streaming and included with a subscription service.
Modern Example: Halt and Catch Fire - Currently On Netflix
1980s Example: Dynasty - Currently on Amazon Prime
1980s Example: The A-Team - Currently on Netflix
1980s Example: Cheers - Currently on Netflix
Thanks in advance
I remember Miami Vice was on Netflix, but I'm not sure if it still is.
posted by Fister Roboto at 10:55 AM on August 18, 2016
posted by Fister Roboto at 10:55 AM on August 18, 2016
You'd be surprised to see the stuff you can get OTA in a big city. Night Court and Hill Street Blues, for instance.
posted by praemunire at 11:01 AM on August 18, 2016
posted by praemunire at 11:01 AM on August 18, 2016
Wet Hot American Summer (both the movie and the TV series) are available on Netflix and have a goodly amount of '80s nostalgia in them, though more as a loving parody than as a homage.
While I have not watched it, The Americans is set in the '80s and pays close attention to set design. Seasons 1–3 are available on Amazon Prime.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:04 AM on August 18, 2016 [5 favorites]
While I have not watched it, The Americans is set in the '80s and pays close attention to set design. Seasons 1–3 are available on Amazon Prime.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:04 AM on August 18, 2016 [5 favorites]
Freaks and Geeks looks to be available at Amazon
posted by goggie at 11:10 AM on August 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by goggie at 11:10 AM on August 18, 2016 [2 favorites]
Family Ties is probably available and it's about as "Reagan Revolution" 80s as you can get.
posted by COD at 11:18 AM on August 18, 2016
posted by COD at 11:18 AM on August 18, 2016
Hulu has a TV genre called "Classics". Flick through there and see what grabs your attention.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 12:33 PM on August 18, 2016
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 12:33 PM on August 18, 2016
Wonder Years, Cheers, Quantum Leap, maybe Incredible Hulk, all Netflix.
Broadcast does have a bunch of misc on Decades, Cozi, GetTV and Laff TV: Empty Nest, Family Ties, Night Court, Equalizer, Hart to Hart, Murder She Wrote, Simon & Simon, Riptide, and so on. Broadcast is kind of a trip these days.
posted by rhizome at 2:11 PM on August 18, 2016
Broadcast does have a bunch of misc on Decades, Cozi, GetTV and Laff TV: Empty Nest, Family Ties, Night Court, Equalizer, Hart to Hart, Murder She Wrote, Simon & Simon, Riptide, and so on. Broadcast is kind of a trip these days.
posted by rhizome at 2:11 PM on August 18, 2016
Freaks and Geeks is on Netflix, not Amazon Prime. But yes absolutely that is what you want. It's set in 1980, so definitely on the early end of the decade.
It's too bad Square Pegs is not streaming anywhere, it's also really fun with a young Sarah Jessica Parker that aired 1982-3.
posted by wsquared at 2:35 PM on August 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's too bad Square Pegs is not streaming anywhere, it's also really fun with a young Sarah Jessica Parker that aired 1982-3.
posted by wsquared at 2:35 PM on August 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
Square Pegs may not be streaming anywhere, but you can get the entire series on DVD for c h e a p, and evidently they got some of the music licensed so it's not a WKRP travesty.
posted by rhizome at 5:27 PM on August 18, 2016
posted by rhizome at 5:27 PM on August 18, 2016
The Americans is friggin' fantastic. (Nth)
posted by getawaysticks at 8:02 AM on August 21, 2016
posted by getawaysticks at 8:02 AM on August 21, 2016
The Goldbergs on ABC. And be sure to stick around for the little clip of a home movie at the end of each episode.
posted by at at 7:41 AM on August 22, 2016
posted by at at 7:41 AM on August 22, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Etrigan at 10:55 AM on August 18, 2016 [1 favorite]