13 TV Shows of the 80s & 90s with One-Word Titles main image
Scroll Down To Continue

13 TV Shows of the 80s & 90s with One-Word Titles

The 1980s and 90s were a golden age for television, marked by bold ideas and unforgettable characters. Many of these were captured with just one-word show titles. These succinct titles packed a punch, instantly drawing viewers into worlds of action, drama, and comedy. Whether it was the quirky adventures of a bar crew in Cheers or the intense drama of medical emergencies in ER, these shows became defining entertainment for their respective decades. The one-word titles didn't just hint at the themes—they became cultural shorthand for the experiences they delivered. With each new episode, these shows pushed the boundaries of storytelling and television production and left a memorable mark on popular culture.

Dynasty

Dynasty
  • Years On TV: 1981–1989
  • Run: 8 years
  • Actors: John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Joan Collins

Dynasty follows the lives of the Carrington family and their oil empire, inspired by the real-life family feuds of oil magnates. The series won 1 Golden Globe Award and received numerous Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. It was one of the most popular shows of the 1980s.

(Image via Aaron Spelling Productions & 20th Century Fox Television)

Newhart

Newhart
  • Years On TV: 1982–1990
  • Run: 8 years
  • Actors: Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, Tom Poston

Newhart focuses on Bob Newhart's character, who runs a small inn in Vermont. The series finale is considered one of the most memorable in TV history. It was nominated for 25 Primetime Emmy Awards and won three. It also received several Golden Globe nominations.

(Image via MTM Enterprises)

Cheers

Cheers
  • Years On TV: 1982–1993
  • Run: 11 years
  • Actors: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman

Cheers is set in a Boston bar and revolves around the lives of the bar's owner and its regular patrons. The show had one of the most-watched series finales in TV history. It won 28 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

(Image via Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions & Paramount Network Television)

Airwolf

Airwolf
  • Years On TV: 1984–1987
  • Run: 3 years
  • Actors: Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine, Alex Cord

Airwolf follows a high-tech military helicopter and its crew as they undertake dangerous missions. The show was known for its iconic theme music and aerial stunts. It garnered 2 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

(Image via Belisarius Productions, Universal Television, Atlantis Communications & MCA TV)

Hunter

Hunter
  • Years On TV: 1984–1991
  • Run: 7 years
  • Actors: Fred Dryer, Stepfanie Kramer, Charles Hallahan

Hunter had a plot that followed Detective Rick Hunter and his partner Dee Dee McCall's adventures as they solved crimes in Los Angeles. Known for its gritty portrayal of police work and action-packed episodes, Hunter was nominated for several awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Viewers for Quality Television Award.

(Image via Stephen J. Cannell Productions)

Moonlighting

Moonlighting
  • Years On TV: 1985–1989
  • Run: 4 years
  • Actors: Cybill Shepherd, Bruce Willis, Allyce Beasley

Moonlighting plot centered around the cases of a former model and a wisecracking detective who run a detective agency. The series launched Bruce Willis's career and was known for its witty dialogue and for breaking the fourth wall. It won 6 Primetime Emmy Awards and received 10 nominations. It also won a Golden Globe Award.

(Image via Picturemaker Productions & ABC Circle Films)

MacGyver

MacGyver
  • Years On TV: 1985–1992
  • Run: 7 years
  • Actors: Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar, Bruce McGill

Angus MacGyver, the series protagonist, uses his scientific knowledge and inventive problem-solving skills to save the day in each epsiode of MacGyver. The show is famed in pop culture for MacGyver's creative use of common items to escape dangerous situations. The series was nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards and won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama.

(Image via Henry Winkler-John Rich Productions & Paramount Network Television)

Coach

Coach
  • Years On TV: 1989–1997
  • Run: 8 years
  • Actors: Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van Dyke, Shelley Fabares

Coach's plot concerned the life of college football coach Hayden Fox as he balances his career with his personal life. Craig T. Nelson won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show was nominated for 9 Primetime Emmy Awards and won 1. It also won a Golden Globe Award.

(Image via Bungalow 78 Productions & Universal Television)

Wings

Wings
  • Years On TV: 1990–1997
  • Run: 7 years
  • Actors: Tim Daly, Steven Weber, Crystal Bernard

Wings concerns the lives of two brothers running a small airline in Nantucket. The show was set in the same universe as Cheers and Frasier, featuring crossovers with characters from both series. It was nominated for 2 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run.

(Image via Grub Street Productions & Paramount Network Television)

Frasier

Frasier
  • Years On TV: 1993–2004; 2023-present
  • Run: 11 years
  • Actors: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce

Dr. Frasier Crane, a radio psychiatrist, and his family and friends have daily adventures at work and home in Seattle. One of the most successful spin-offs in TV history, Frasier originatead from Cheers. The series won 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series. It also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Nineteen years after the orginal finale, a revival of the series began in 2023.

(Image via Paramount Network Television & Paramount Domestic Television)

ER

ER
  • Years On TV: 1994–2009
  • Run: 15 years
  • Actors: George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Noah Wyle

ER chronicles the lives and careers of doctors and nurses working in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital. It launched the careers of several actors, including George Clooney, who became a megastar thanks to the popularity of the series. The show won 23 Primetime Emmy Awards with 124 nominations. Additionally, it won a Golden Globe Award.

(Image via Constant c Productions, Amblin Television & Warner Bros. Television)

JAG

JAG
  • Years On TV: 1995–2005
  • Run: 10 years
  • Actors: David James Elliott, Catherine Bell, Patrick Labyorteaux

JAG follows the cases of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, the legal arm of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. NCIS is a spinoff of JAG, and has became one of the most successful TV franchises ever. The show was nominated for 3 Primetime Emmy Awards and won an ALMA Award.

(Image via Belisarius Productions, NBC Productions & Paramount Television)

Cosby

Cosby
  • Years On TV: 1996–2000
  • Run: 4 years
  • Actors: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Doug E. Doug

Cosby follows the daily life of Hilton Lucas, who is forced into early retirement. The show reunited Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad from The Cosby Show, but it did not receive the same critical acclaim or viewership. The show did win a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy and received several NAACP Image Awards.

(Image via Bill Cosby & Carsey-Werner Productions)