1981 TV Show Debuts
by whyohwhy1896 | created - 18 May 2016 | updated - 02 Aug 2017 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003)
TV-PG | 95 min | Comedy
Comedy that follows two brothers from London's rough Peckham estate as they wheel and deal through a number of dodgy deals and search for the big score that'll make them millionaires.
Stars: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Roger Lloyd Pack, Buster Merryfield
Votes: 56,721
2. The Smurfs (1981–1989)
TV-Y | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
The Smurfs are tiny blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a peaceful forest. They repeatedly try to outwit Gargamel, an evil sorcerer, his apprentice, Scruple, and his mangy cat, Azrael.
Stars: Don Messick, Danny Goldman, Lucille Bliss, Michael Bell
Votes: 21,045
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
TV-PG | 152 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Arthur Dent and his friend, Ford Prefect, escape the destruction of Earth, only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
Stars: Simon Jones, David Dixon, Peter Jones, Sandra Dickinson
Votes: 11,716
4. Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The lives and work of the staff of an inner city police precinct.
Stars: Daniel J. Travanti, Michael Warren, Bruce Weitz, James Sikking
Votes: 10,569
5. Dynasty (1981–1989)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of two feuding families, the Carringtons and the Colbys, both oil rich families in Denver, Colorado.
Stars: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Gordon Thomson
Votes: 8,466
6. The Fall Guy (1981–1986)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The adventures of a film stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter when movie work is slow.
Stars: Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, Heather Thomas, Markie Post
Votes: 9,003
7. The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983)
TV-14 | 60 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.
Stars: William Katt, Connie Sellecca, Robert Culp, Michael Paré
Votes: 6,623
8. Simon & Simon (1981–1989)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Two brothers of disparate tastes and manners run a private detective agency.
Stars: Jameson Parker, Gerald McRaney, Mary Carver, Tim Reid
Votes: 6,110
9. Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
TV-PG | 60 min | Drama, Romance
Set in the vineyards of California, this prime-time soap opera presented the conflict in the powerful Gioberti family, owners of the vast Falcon Crest Winery.
Stars: Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Chao Li Chi, David Selby
Votes: 4,276
10. Danger Mouse (1981–1992)
TV-Y | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Danger Mouse, the greatest secret agent in the world, must follow Colonel K's orders (and try not to break Professor Squawkencluck's inventions) to foil Baron Greenback's and his henchman Stiletto's plans.
Stars: David Jason, Terry Scott, Edward Kelsey, Victor Knight
Votes: 3,913
11. Cagney & Lacey (1981–1988)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Two female police detectives cooperate with each other both in their professions and in their personal lives.
Stars: Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Al Waxman, Martin Kove
Votes: 5,053
12. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981–1986)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
Spider-Man battles crime in New York City with the help of Iceman and Firestar.
Stars: Hans Conried, Sally Julian, Jerry Dexter, Anne Lockhart
Votes: 4,044
13. Around the World with Willy Fog (1983)
TV-G | 24 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A furry version of Jules Verne's classic adventure story of a British gentleman's challenge to circumnavigate the world in 80 days.
Stars: Tom Wyner, Gregory Snegoff, Ken'ichi Ogata, Banjô Ginga
Votes: 3,511
14. Gimme a Break! (1981–1987)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy
Nell agrees to look after the Kanisky's home, as a special favor to her dying friend, and takes on the role of housekeeper to widowed police chief Carl and a parental figure to his three teenage daughters, and eventually a foster son.
Stars: Nell Carter, Lara Jill Miller, Kari Michaelsen, Lauri Hendler
Votes: 3,684
15. D'Artacan y los tres mosqueperros (1981–1982)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
In 17th century France, young Dogtanian travels to Paris to fulfill his ambition to become one of the King's Musketeers. He befriends Athos, Porthos and Aramis and falls in love with Juliette. A doggy version of the tale.
Stars: Eduardo Jover, Gloria Cámara, Manuel Peiró, Jesús Nieto
Votes: 2,805
16. Entertainment Tonight (1981– )
30 min | News, Talk-Show
"Entertainment Tonight" is the #1 syndicated entertainment newsmagazine in the world.
Stars: Kevin Frazier, Nischelle Turner, Matt Cohen, Nancy O'Dell
Votes: 2,767
17. Postman Pat (1981–2017)
TV-Y | 15 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
This classic children's series follows the adventures of everyone's favourite postman as he carries out his mail rounds in the village of Greendale.
Stars: Ken Barrie, Carole Boyd, Melissa Sinden, Kulvinder Ghir
Votes: 3,225
18. Ulysse 31 (1981–1982)
TV-Y7 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
To return home and restore his cursed crew, a great hero of space and his child companions must find the Kingdom of Hades against all evil opposition.
Stars: Mayumi Tanaka, Matt Birman, Sumi Shimamoto, Masane Tsukayama
Votes: 2,379
19. SCTV Network (1981–1983)
TV-PG | 90 min | Comedy
Comedy parody about TV.
Stars: John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin
Votes: 2,180
20. Wetten, dass..? (1981– )
165 min | Comedy, Game-Show, Music
Long-running German TV show airing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In this self-proclaimed "greatest European TV show" ordinary people try daring or even funny bets. A celebrity is challenged to guess of the person is able to do it.
Stars: Thomas Gottschalk, Frank Elstner, Mirjam Weichselbraun, Michelle Hunziker
Votes: 1,275
21. Bergerac (1981–1991)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Recovering alcoholic and divorced father of a young daughter, DS Jim Bergerac is a true maverick who prefers doing things his own way, and consequently doesn't always carry out his investigations the way his boss would like.
Stars: John Nettles, Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold, Mela White
Votes: 2,229
22. Verano azul (1981–1982)
50 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
This series is about the adventures of a bunch of youngsters during their summer holiday in a small town on the Southern Coast of Spain. The seven kids: Quique, Javi, Pancho, Bea, Desi, ... See full summary »
Stars: Antonio Ferrandis, María Garralón, Pilar Torres, Cristina Torres
Votes: 1,226
23. Urusei yatsura (1981–1986)
TV-PG | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
An unlucky, womanizing high schooler becomes the unwilling target of a vivacious alien girl's affections after winning an interplanetary game of tag against her.
Stars: Fumi Hirano, Toshio Furukawa, Saeko Shimazu, Akira Kamiya
Votes: 1,264
24. Spider-Man (1981–1982)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The web slinging superhero battles crime in New York City.
Stars: Jack Angel, Lynn Johnson, Lewis Bailey, Morgan Lofting
Votes: 1,882
25. Hello! Sandy Bell (1981–1982)
24 min | Animation, Adventure, Romance
Hello! Sandybell is the story of a girl who lives in Scotland with her father. She spends her time playing with her faithful dog (Oliver) and her friends. One day she meets the Countess of ... See full summary »
Stars: Yuriko Yamamoto, Minori Matsushima, Mami Koyama, Mugihito
Votes: 952
26. Blackstar (1981–1982)
TV-Y7 | 390 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
An astronaut, stranded on a primitive planet in a distant universe, fights against the tyranny of the Overlord.
Stars: George DiCenzo, Linda Gary, Patrick Pinney, Alan Oppenheimer
Votes: 856
27. A Case for Two (1981–2023)
60 min | Crime, Thriller
German crime series centering around a succession of lawyers and a private investigator and former police officer, who typically team up to clear a client of the lawyer, who is usually an innocent suspect in a murder case.
Stars: Claus Theo Gärtner, Renate Kohn, Paul Frielinghaus, Rainer Hunold
Votes: 813
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