I am in my late 20’s and was thinking the other day about all of the sitcoms I used to watch when I was growing up as well as the ones I started watching in syndication as I got older. So I decided to come up with my top six list of 1980s sitcoms. Here is how I would rank them:

6. Cheers

The regulars of the Boston bar Cheers share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name. I started watching episodes of this in syndication and didn’t really like it at first, but it kind of grew on me.

5. Family Ties

A couple who were ardently leftwing political activists in the sixties face the problems of raising a family with children who have strongly conservative views. I always liked how Alex new so much about politics at a young age. It was pretty funny.

4. Who’s the Boss

Former major-leaguer Tony Micelli and his daughter Samantha arrive at the Connecticut household of executive Angela Bower, where Tony has taken a job as live-in housekeeper. The Bowers are an interesting family, to say the least. Angela is uptight and obsessed with her work. Her son Jonathan is shy and lacks self-esteem, and her mother, Mona, is a man-hungry vixen. Tony soon wins them over with his laid back style, and the Bowers soon begin to loosen up. Over time, romantic tensions begin to surface between Angela and Tony, and we see the children grow up. I still watch this when ever I can catch it on or even on hulu.com.

3. Mama’s Family

Thelma Harper and her spinster sister Fran open their home to Thelma’s recently divorced son Vinton and his teenage son and daughter. It’s quite an adjustment for everyone, especially the cranky, argumentative Thelma. I think I liked this so much because it reminded me of growing up for some reason. Don’t really know why but it does. I love Thelma’s sarcasm.

2. The Cosby Show

Long-running popular comedy television series about the Huxtable family. Doctor Heathcliff Huxtable and Clair Huxtable, a happily married couple, are raising their children (Sondra, Denise, Theodore, Vanessa, and Rudy). The two oldest daughters eventually live successful adult lives and get married (Sondra to Elvin and Denise to Martin). As the children get older, the family gets larger and, to the chagrin of Cliff, keep on coming back home when he wants them to move out and live on their own for good. I watched this show almost every day throughout college. It was on multiple channels at the time which allowed me to catch up on episodes.

1. Three’s Company

Janet and Chrissy get Jack as a roommate for their San Diego apartment. Jack can cook (he’s studying to be a chef) and, when called to do so, pretends he’s gay to legitimize the arrangement. Landlady Roper wishes husband Stanley showed more interest in her. While this actually started in ‘77 it ran through the mid-80s. John Ritter was absolutely hilarious.