8 popular TV shows from the ’80s that wouldn’t be allowed to air today

Before Tom Hanks was a household name, he starred in the controversial sitcom Bosom Buddies. Tom and Peter Scolari, who died in 2021, portrayed young advertising executives in New York City who disguised themself as women to live in an affordable, women only apartment complex.

In 2026, this plot line probably wouldn’t fly. The premise of Bosom Buddies relies entirely on deceiving women and using the drag community as a punch line. The show was cancelled after two seasons, and while it couldn’t air today, Tom remembers his time acting with Peter fondly. On an appearance of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Sully actor said: “We were molecularly connected in a way that we started speaking the same language.”

Married…with Children is a beloved sitcom from the ’80s, but it probably couldn’t be made today. Starring Ed O’Neill, Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, and David Faustino, the sharp comedy was on air for 10 years and launched Christina’s career. 

But, its sharp comedy was built on overtly misogynistic and body-shaming comedy that would surely face backlash today.

A very popular show at the time, The Dukes of Hazzard followed two southern cousins, played by John Schneider and Tom Wopat, who drove a 1969 Dodge Charger named “General Lee.” I’m sure you know why this sitcom couldn’t be aired today…

The Dukes of Hazzard featured the Confederate flag and other racist symbols that hurt many communities today. In 2020, Amazon pulled several episodes off their streaming platform amid backlash, proving that the show isn’t meant for modern eyes.

Johnny Depp got his start on the hit police procedural 21 Jump Street. The drama was on air for five seasons and turned Johnny into an A-lister. And while it may be remembered fondly now, the show itself probably couldn’t work today, due to the excessive gun violence in schools.

In 2012, the show was remade into a buddy comedy starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Two years later, its sequel 22 Jump Street premiered. The films are a sharp departure from the original show, leaning into raunchy comedy, big action scenes, and less gun violence in school.

Premiering in 1983, The A-Team was an action show starring Mr. T, among others. It followed four former Special Forces soldiers who worked as vigilantes for hire, using big weapons and the military tactics they gathered from their service.

The A-Team glorified using weaponry in residential areas, while never showing anyone getting hurt, so it probably couldn’t air today.

Gimme A Break! starred the late actress Nell Carter as a housekeeper for a police chief and his three daughters after they lost their mother. Nell, who played Nell Harper, became a maternal figure to the daughters while keeping Chief Carl Kanisky in line.

While it is a sweet concept, in actuality, Gimme A Break! leaned into racist stereotypes for humor and even included a scene with a character wearing blackface. For these reasons, it wouldn’t air today.

While not nearly as controversial as many of the other shows in this list, Charles in Charge probably wouldn’t be on air today. The sitcom, which starred Scott Baio, followed a college student who lived with a suburban family and cared for their children in exchange for free room and board.

The show, which was on air until 1990, featured many inappropriate age-gap relationship dynamics and creepy boundary crossing story lines that would face backlash in 2026.

Last but not least, Diff’rent Strokes. The beloved sitcom was thought to be progressive for the ’80s, but times change and many of its storylines wouldn’t be deemed appropriate now. Starring Gary Coleman, Diff’rent Strokes followed a widowed businessman who adopts two Black siblings.

There’s room for Diff’rent Strokes to be adapted into something more modern, but as the show stands, it probably wouldn’t be aired today.