The Eighties in America - Salem Press (2009)

raising his three young daughters with
the aid of two other single males. Many
story lines revolved around the girls’
behavior or mishaps and the resulting
lessons about growing up. Although
the characters were not all related, the
value of family was a constant element
of the show.
Another popular sitcom that ap-
pealed to children and attracted many
viewers during the 1980’s wasGrowing
Pains, which featured a traditional nu-
clear family.In many episodes, the par-
ents were in the background, with the
story focused on the actions or interac-
tions of the siblings. Again, the chil-
dren’s behavior was often the catalyst
for a valuable life lesson. A spin-off of
the immensely popular and culturally
relevantDiff’rent Strokes,The Facts of Life
focused on the lives of several female
friends from different socioeconomic
backgrounds who attended the same
boarding school. The show made
friendship one of its central themes,
employing it as both a comedic and a
dramatic element. As in many other
children’s sitcoms, the show’s adults
were featured in limited roles, as the
action centered mostly on the younger
characters attempting to cope with the
problems of growing up. The lessons
they learned were intended to be les-
sons for their viewers as well.
Not all comedy of the 1980’s was in-
tended to be moralistic.Pee Wee’s Playhousedebuted
in 1986 and went on to become one of the most pop-
ular children’s shows of the decade. The antithesis
of most other children’s programming in the
United States or Canada,Pee Wee’s Playhousewas the
furthest thing from traditional children’s television,
as evidenced by its silly, nonsensical sets, skits,
phrases, and characters.

Animated Series Although several long-running
animated television programs were canceled or dis-
continued during the decade (includingThe Jetsons,
Tom and Jerr y, andJonny Quest), cartoons continued
to be popular with children during the 1980’s. As
they had been for several decades, Warner Bros.’s

Looney Toons characters—Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck,

Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, and Road Runner, among

others—were staples of children’s cartoons through-

out the decade. However, several advocacy groups

claimed that Warner Bros. cartoons contained ex-

cessive violence that might be detrimental to chil-

dren.The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show, particularly

the cartoons featuring Road Runner and Wile E.

Coyote, was determined to be the most violent pro-

gram on U.S. television by these groups. The deter-

mination was made simply by counting the number

of acts of violence on screen per minute, without re-

gard for the non-graphic, cartoonish nature of the

violence in question. Nevertheless, this and other

charges forced some networks to discontinue or

208
Children’s television The Eighties in America

Some 1980’s Children’s Television Shows

Program Airdates Network

Captain Kangaroo 1955-1984 CBS

Mr. Dressup 1967-1997 CBC

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood 1968-2001 PBS

Sesame Street 1969- PBS

The Kids of Degrassi Street 1979-1986 CBC

Pinwheel 1979-1989 Nickelodeon

3-2-1 Contact 1980-1988 PBS

The Great Space Coaster 1981-1986 Syndicated

Today’s Special 1982-1987 TVO

Faerie Tale Theatre 1982-1987 Showtime

Fraggle Rock 1983-1987 HBO

Reading Rainbow 1983- PBS

Sharon, Lois & Bram’s

Elephant Show 1984-1988 CBC

Kids Incorporated 1984-1993 Disney

CBS Schoolbreak Special 1984-1996 CBS

Zoobilee Zoo 1986-1987 Syndicated

Kissyfur 1986-1987 NBC

Pee-Wee’s Playhouse 1986-1991 CBS

Square One TV 1987-1992 PBS

Ramona 1988-1989 PBS

Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers 1989-1993 Syndicated

Eureeka’s Castle 1989-1995 Nickelodeon

Shining Time Station 1989-1997 PBS