TV | Pop Culture | 80s

7 Variety Shows We All Watched In The 80s That Will Make Your Childhood Flash Before Your Eyes

Watching TV when you were little was always a big treat. When we were kids, there wasn't a screen in every room or in your pocket on your phone. You had to fight for that remote to be able to watch your favorite show. It turned out that the best way to get your siblings to agree on what to watch was often to pick something that tried to have a little something for everyone. So what was better than a variety show?

Our parents could tolerate them, and us kids loved them! There were so many goofy skits, great games, and crazy characters that would keep us entertained. How many of these shows do you remember?

1. Zoom

PBS made so many hit shows, that's it's hard to pick a favorite, but Zoom was one of those shows that was universally loved. It ran for six years in its original run, but even after it ended they knew kids weren't done with it yet. In 1999 it came back for another seven seasons with new characters being rotated in every year.

2. You Can't Do That On Television

While the show was filmed in Canada, it took on a life of its own when it started airing on Nickelodeon. This show was the first time the world was presented with "slime" but it wouldn't be the last. The sketch-comedy show had a lot of fake commercials, they did a lot of parody moments, and of course you can't forget the slime.

Also, Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, actually got her start in the show! She was supposed to be in five episodes but only one of them has ever aired.

CTV / Nickelodeon

3. Mr. Wizard's World

I know you might be thinking that Bill Nye is the original science guy, but Mr. Wizard actually helped a lot of kids get interested in science before Bill Nye was even around. He was the caring and patient teacher we all wished we had.

4. Kids Incorporated

This show made each and every one of us wish we were in a super cool rock band. They all went through a lot of different issues, It also introduced us all to Stacy Ferguson, also known as Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.

Those weren't the only great shows...

5. Kids Are People Too

This show actually started in the late 70s, but it continued into the 80s. The show was nominated for many Emmy Awards in its run, thanks to their interviews, cartoons, and musical segments. They would answer kid's questions and interview celebrities and kids loved it.

6. Reading Rainbow

PBS

"Take a look, it's in a book, Reading Rainbow." The song is one that has stayed with us for all these years, but it was the ability of their host, Levar Burton, to make everyone feel engaged with reading that led to the success of the series.

7. Double Dare

While it was more of a game show than a variety show, it was beloved by all. Kids love to get messy and play games, so why not just let them all go hog-wild?

I watched Zoom every day when I was a kid. What was your go-to show?

Source - sheknows

More Throwbacks

TV

'Beverly Hills: 90210' Revival Looks Like It Will Feature A Lot Of Familiar Faces

Who else remembers planning their entire week based on when Beverly Hills: 90210 was going to be on TV? It wasn't like we could record it easily, blank VHS tapes were pricey, so we had to watch it when it was on or miss out. Watching Brenda, Kelly, Dylan, Brandon, Donna, and everyone else hand out and get into all kinds of mayhem was the highlight of our weeks. When it ended, we were all a bit sad, but then they brought it back with a new spin-off.  The new show tried to catch that same teen spirit, but

TV

'SpongeBob SquarePants' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dies At 57

It's a sad day in the world of cartoons, as Nickelodeon has confirmed the passing of SpongeBob SquarePants creator Steven Hillenburg. The iconic TV show writer and producer with a long career and a hand in creating a lot of our favorite moments in animation. Hillenburg actually didn't go to school for television writing, instead studying "Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation with an emphasis on marine resources" according to Variety. Obviously, this would come into play later in his career. He started working in television after going back to school to study Experimental Animation, and eventually became a writer and

TV

Netflix Is Bringing All Of Your Favorite Roald Dahl Stories Back In A New Animated Series

There are a few iconic storytellers we can all agree influenced our childhoods, and Roald Dahl is basically guaranteed to make everyone's list. His classic stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach have been loved by children for decades. It doesn't matter if you're reading the book or watching one of the many movies based on one of his novels, because Dahl's ability to create these magical little worlds manages to transcend format and remain enjoyable no matter what.Dahl's characters are nothing short of iconic. Whether it's the six-year-old Matilda who has

80s

Die Hard's Reginald VelJohnson Reveals How Al Powell Got Him Cast On Family Matters

Watching Die Hard is like watching a little piece of history. It truly has remained one of the greatest movies of all time no matter how much time passes. Maybe we didn't know how special it was when we first saw it, but as the decades go on, it has become clear that it's a true classic that is basically required viewing for every single person. Everyone obviously thinks of Bruce Willis when they think about Die Hard, which makes sense because he embodies John McClane in a way that makes him feel real, but he's not the only iconic

90s

Trailer For New Nickelodeon Documentary Has Your 90s Favorites Spilling All The Secrets

Nickelodeon wasn't just a television network, it was basically a generation. Kids all over the country were bonded in this weird little family, obsessing over shows that our parents just couldn't possibly understand. They were for us. They weren't made to appeal to our parents, they were made for our enjoyment and so we felt a special connection to them unlike any other shows. Nickelodeon is still going strong today, but it's hard to remember that there was a time before the iconic kids network came around. The company may be a juggernaut now, but how did it get started?

TV

Woman Surprised Her Mom With A Trip To 'Sesame Street' And It's The Cutest Thing You'll See All Day

"Sunny day! Sweepin' the clouds away! On my way to where the air is sweet! Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" It's a song we all know off by heart no matter how old we are now because it was literally one of the most important parts of our days. Sesame Street was a staple in almost every household. Those Muppets were our teachers and our friends before we made our way into elementary school or daycare, and they gave us a lot of life lessons that taught us how to be a