Television tagged with 80s - 5/7

Schoolhouse Rock

When it comes to scholastic studies, most kids loathe having to memorize things. When it comes to song lyrics, however, most kids can master them after only hearing the words a handful of times. With this in mind, Schoolhouse Rock debuted in 1972, catching children off-guard with their infectious little tunes that taught important lessons about history, science and grammar - without most kids ever realizing what was going on. How well did it work? Well, decades later, many of us can still remember the lyrics to some of our favorite Schoolhouse Rock segments as if it were yesterday. Let’s take a look back at these perpetually-popular educational shorts.

SCTV

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Everyone remembers Second City Television (SCTV) a little differently. Some of us caught it in its earlier years; others, thanks to word-of-mouth, caught on a little later. The one thing we can all say for sure was that the show was solid and if you were watching it, you were guaranteed a good laugh by the time the credits rolled around. Second City Television featured the best of the best in Canadian comedy, with most of the cast going on to big careers in television and film, and it is fondly remembered by millions to this day.

Sesame Street

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Since 1969, just about every kid with access to a television can tell you "how to get, how to get to Sesame Street." Filled with all sorts of interesting people and lovable critters, this urban city block has been entertaining kids for decades while sneakily introducing them to all those letters and numbers long before they ever set foot on a school bus. Let's take a look back at the iconic educational program that still resonates in the hearts of anyone who ever watched.

Small Wonder

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Every once in a while, a premise is so patently ridiculous that it wins the hearts of many, thanks to its unbridled absurdity. And there might not have ever been a stronger contender for the top of the “you’ve got to be kidding” list than Small Wonder, a strangely endearing show about the lives of the Lawson family, who possessed a little, closely-guarded secret – their youngest child was actually a robot.

Soul Train

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Ever since its debut in 1952, fans of American pop music could tune in weekly to American Bandstand and keep themselves current on all of the latest artists and trends. But it would be almost two decades later before fans of rhythm and blues were given their own weekly outlet. They would forever owe their thanks to a Chicago DJ named Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train, for letting their voices be heard. Soul Train showcased all of the up-and-coming artists of the genre, put a spotlight on all the current dance moves, and, very quickly, became an enduring hit.

Star Search

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Long before there was an American Idol or an America's Got Talent, there was only one way for amateurs to get their shot at stardom on national television. You had to go through Johnny Carson’s old sidekick Ed McMahon, who hosted one of the most successful talent shows of all time. For twelve seasons, America got a chance to watch up-and-coming vocalists, spokesmodels and comedians battle it out in a televised competition known as Star Search. And, during its lengthy run, it managed to churn out a whole gaggle of performers that would go on to much bigger and better endeavors in their careers.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Surprisingly enough, the original Star Trek television series wasn’t all that popular when it first debuted in the 60s. But in the decades that followed, it achieved a cult-like status that few shows have ever equaled. For the most rabid of fans, annual conventions and fan-written books just didn’t satiate their thirst; they simply demanded some new Trek on TV. They finally got their wish in 1987, with the debut of Star Trek: The Next Generation. As an added bonus, original creator Gene Roddenberry returned to the helm, serving as executive producer.

Strawberry Shortcake

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American Greeting Cards first introduced the scrumptious sweetheart known as Strawberry Shortcake on a line of cards called Those Characters (the same breeding ground for the Care Bears and Popples.) Her popularity led to line of even-more-popular yummy smelling toy dolls and accessories, each with a flavorful scent to match their name. But Strawberry was ready to move her career forward and follow in the footsteps of her fellow greeting card characters. The time for an animated representation had come. Rather than take the Saturday morning series route, however, Strawberry opted for an annual special - six of them, in fact, which are fondly remembered by many from the era.

Taxi

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Welcome to The Sunshine Cab Company, where the career aspirations of the taxi-driving employees sit as idle as a yellow cab parked along a deserted curb, just hoping to be noticed. And through their trials and tribulations, their triumphs, and more often, their failures, this collection of cab drivers delivered some of the most memorable and uproarious moments in the history of television sitcoms.

That’s Incredible!

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In 1979, a lighthearted primetime talk show, featuring a herd of perpetually happy hosts, offered American audiences glimpses of the regular folks scattered all around the country who had an interesting or comical tale to tell. That show, Real People, became a quick hit for NBC and it wasn’t long before other networks wanted to hitch a ride on the popularity wave. The biggest competition would come from ABC, who upped the ante a bit, and rather than show ordinary folks in the everyday lives, chose to focus on the remarkable and extraordinary among us, in the 1980 series, That’s Incredible!