Everything changes with time. Whether it’s the wine that’s spent years fermenting or it’s the milk you’ve forgotten at the back of your fridge, neither of these products are going to be the same as when they were first produced. While this metaphor may seem far-fetched, it is especially applicable to the television industry as Hollywood relies on trends and current events to keep the audience’s interest. Some shows, like the funny but heartwarming Golden Girls, are lucky enough to have values that remain timeless and so the show follows, bringing in new audiences to love and enjoy the show. That said, most TV shows are not so lucky.
With the political climate changing and the stances against racism, sexism and all the other -isms rising up, many of the shows that were well-loved when first produced, wouldn’t be looked upon so fondly now. From the racist implications in shows like Diff’rent Strokes to the stereotypical display of “marriage” and "family" through the cast of Married… with Children, the 1980s was a decade full of shows that didn’t age particularly well based on the characters and content within the show. Here are seven shows that would not do well if they aired today.
Updated February 2023: This article has been updated with additional content and TV shows to keep it fresh and current.
Married... with Children
Married… with Children first aired in 1987 and from the beginning, it was problematic. The unhappily married couple Peg and Al Bundy have two children and are shown in contrast to the newlyweds next door who the Bundy’s mock. The intro alone is off-putting enough as it displays Al sitting on the couch with his children coming by and all he does is give them money, which they happily take.
Now while the show does have its moments of glorious hilarity, the premise of Married… with Children revolves around stereotypes. With their bleach blonde teenager Kelly, her smart-mouthed younger brother and the lazy housewife Peg, Al is left as the sole provider for the family. If you take a step back and look at the show as satirical, it may get a pass as mocking the whole concept of the “nuclear family." That said, Al’s brazen and misogynistic behavior would not pass as okay or funny in today’s world, but they are still popular enough to receive their own line of Married… with Children action figures.
Diff’rent Strokes
Diff’rent Strokes is well-remembered, but from a modern perspective, the series didn't age well. The wealthy white Drummond family’s housekeeper passes away and the Drummonds take in her two sons, Arnold and Willis Jackson, as their own. The show follows the Jackson boys as they adjust to their new environment and their struggles. Diff’rent Strokes was successful enough to run for eight seasons and even received a spin-off called The Facts of Life but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it would do well if produced in the 21st century.
From the outset, Diff’rent Strokes is obviously intended to bring out wholesome content with the great display of compassion from the Drummonds. However, it plays up the “white savior” as the Drummonds, a white, wealthy, upper class family saved the Jackson boys from ending up in a group home or potentially getting separated. It’s problematic and supports the “white savior” stereotype. Especially with the Black Lives Matter movement carrying such weight, this show is best left on the shelf.
Baywatch
While Baywatch went on to become a '90s phenomenon that helped skyrocket Pamela Anderson to superstardom and popularized "The Hoff" once again, the iconic show actually had its premiere at the tail-end of the '80s and was surprisingly canceled after its first season. Centering on a group of beautiful and bronzed lifeguards as they keep the beaches of Los Angeles safe, the series ultimately found new life after David Hasselhoff and his fellow producers revived it for syndication in 1991, allowing it to become the pop culture juggernaut it was.
The epic drama attracted an unfathomable weekly audience of 1.1 billion viewers in 142 countries, but was constantly the source of ire from critics, a sentiment that would likely carry over in present day. The obvious over-sexualization of the female leads, cringey slow motion running scenes, and often cheesy storylines would certainly make Baywatch a tough sell for modern audiences, a fact that was proven by the underwhelming performance of the 2017 film adaptation featuring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.
ALF
ALF revolves around an Alien Life Form, or "ALF," who crash lands on Earth. With his spaceship beyond repair, he’s stuck on Earth with the family that he crashed into. While this sounds entertaining enough, the execution of the titular character is dated. As was popular before the creation of CGI, the main character is a puppet, and he’s very hard to look at. This alone is enough to show why ALF would not succeed in today’s television industry.
While ALF isn’t politically controversial as other shows mentioned here, the show is still dated. It follows the same tropes as many other sitcoms of the time, just adding an alien in the mix to keep things interesting, including ALF as a constant threat to the family cat. This premise would not do well now; it’s just taking something that’s been done before and adding an alien to it. That said, there are rumors that a reboot of ALF is in the works.
Bosom Buddies
While Bosom Buddies blessed the world with America's sweetheart Tom Hanks, the short-lived sitcom would certainly have a difficult time getting greenlight today due to its questionable premise and storylines. In the comedy, Hanks and Peter Scolari portray two creative advertising professionals who disguise themselves as women in order to live in the sole apartment they can afford, one that just so happens to be for females only. Though the duo's motives are innocent (they only want a place to live), a sitcom featuring men cross-dressing to disguise themselves as women wasn't embraced by audiences at the time and failed to capture their interest.
While there's no denying that Hanks and Scolari's comedic prowess w oasn full display, Bosom Buddies often depicted gender stereotypes and would certainly seem insensitive and offensive to the LGBTQ+ community if it were aired in primetime today due to its frequently mocking humor.
The Dukes of Hazzard
Those Duke boys are at it again! The Confederate flag, misogyny and redneck stereotypes all rolled up into one, The Dukes of Hazzard is a recipe for a modern-day controversy. The show follows cousins Bo and Luke, who seem to get into trouble wherever they go, having a rivalry with local lawman Boss Hogg. Like most of the shows on this list, The Dukes of Hazzard is remembered fondly and even received a remake in 2005. Airing from 1979 to 1985, The Dukes of Hazzard is arguably one of the most popular shows of all time.
All this said, The Dukes of Hazzard would most likely not fly in today’s world, especially considering the recent ban of the confederate flag from all NASCAR racetracks as it’s been deemed a symbol of racism. The stars of the show John Schneider and Tom Wopat came forward regarding the controversy surrounding the confederate flag on the top of their car.
Growing Pains
Growing Pains revolves around a family led by psychiatrist Dr. Jason Seaver and his journalist wife Maggie. They make the decision to move so thatMaggie can pursue a career. Much like every other successful 80s sitcom, it follows particular tropes. Airing from 1985 to 1992, it is well-remembered as it covered a variety of serious topics while still keeping a sense of humor; there was even a reunion in 2004.
While this show is not controversial, it is exceedingly dated. It also blends into the background with many of the other shows. Unlike ALF which stands out for its hideous portrayal of an alien, Growing Pains is just another sitcom. The children are stereotypical portrayals of a girl-crazy teenage boy and a studious daughter too focused on her books. Honestly, if they were to create this now, it wouldn’t receive any traction — primarily because it’s simply boring.