10 Bizarre '80s TV Shows That Will Blow Your Mind! | Retro Renaissance

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Join Kevin(me) on a whirlwind tour through the wacky world of 1980s television as we uncover 10 truly bizarre shows that left an indelible mark on pop culture. From shape-shifting heroes in 'Manimal' to a lovable robot in 'Small Wonder,' these weird gems are the stuff of nostalgic legend. Get ready to laugh, reminisce, and ponder the strange, as we explore these unforgettable series. Don't miss out on this blast from the past - hit that like button, subscribe, and share your favorite '80s TV memories in the comments below!
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:18 Manimal
03:02 The Phoenix
05:02 Small Wonder
07:10 The Powers of Matthew Star
08:56 Jennifer Slept Here
11:10 Slim Goodbody
13:35 Pee Wee's Playhouse
14:51 Rags to Riches
16:26 Beauty and the Beast
18:08 Blacke's Magic

[@mymomsaysimcool9650]

For some reason, I can still remember the premiere of “The Phoenix “. There was a scene where he used the medallion to reflect sunlight onto a gas cap of a car to make it explode. Scared me for years that the family Oldsmobile would to the same.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

I wanted to like The Phoenix but in the end I did not connect with it

[@alisachamoy225]

I absolutely LOVED Rags to Riches - I still remember many of the songs. Such a great show!

[@ericawatkins5551]

I absolutely LOVED Manimal. I was convinced I was the only one who watched it because nobody I know has ever heard of it. Thank you for showing me I wasn't crazy in remembering this show!

[@pslinky]

Apparently my late husband loved the show manimal. He died last year. Ty for posting this, as it triggered memories of him id forgotten. He was a zoologist, most recently before he died he taught high school science and has rescued so many animals over the years. Now that hes gone ive taken up the legacy of removing snakes off the road so they dont get runover. 💜😬

[@teptime]

Sounds like you had a good catch, bless his soul.

[@mikelmcknight72]

I loved it when I was a kid. I don’t know if I still would now. Some shows, like Knight Rider, have not aged well at all!

[@cheddarcheese7928]

So sorry about your husband..I hope your hanging in there!

[@genicemilliner7667]

I would add "Max Headroom" to this list.

[@canadalovesanime3137]

OMG!! YES! I loved that one.

[@melissacooper8724]

I loved Pee-Wee's Playhouse when I was a kid! ❤ May you rest in peace, Pee-Wee. 😢

[@foxxknight8847]

With the technology at the time, the transformations in Manimal were amazing

[@Iggystar71]

Absolutely!!! And there’s still something to be said about practical effects having a better visual feel to them even if dated.

[@savethezombies]

Looks like amazing nightmare fuel. If they made it a horror show, It'd probably have been on for 10 seasons and I would remember it.

[@MisterJWJ71]

Yeah the effects were decent for the time and especially on a TV budget. However, the show wasn't the best.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

It was too ambitious

[@manchesterunitedno7]

If I recall. Manimal employed the same vfx artists from the legendary American Werewolf in London. That's why it looked so good.

[@Aisha.The.Traveler]

As a kid Small Wonder was my favorite show! ❤

[@redwillow79schippers94]

I remember Rags to Riches. I was pretty young when it was on. I couldn't tell you one scene for one episode but I do remember loving it as a child. I tried watching an episode on KZbin the other day and could not get past the first 10 minutes

[@grannyweatherwax8005]

This is how I feel about Manimal. I remember being way into it as a kid. I was so upset when it was canceled. Then I watched a couple episodes a while back. It’s so bad! Wow.

[@Aisha.The.Traveler]

Maybe it was tailored to little girls but I ABSOLUTELY LOVED Rags to Riches, i was sad when it went off the air.

[@jamesday9701]

One of my favorites that you didn't mention was 1983's "Automan", starring Desi Arnaz Jr & Chuck Wagner

[@therealEmpyre]

Oh yeah! I remember Automan. I liked that show.

[@soultaker76]

I thought the same thing.

[@dscully7725]

Yes!

[@dalemcilwain]

😍

[@Dulcimerist]

Manimal was the first show I ever saw, where I could not believe the concept behind it. Even though I was 8 years old, I could easily see that transforming into animals of different sizes wasn't how the physical world worked. Also, I realized that changing bone structures and size would have to be incredibly painful, and would likely result in death.

[@iluvmyboba]

"Small Wonder" was weird because Vicky's robotic voice was completely ignored by every visitor, friend or neighbor.

[@christineobrien7707]

I was in high school when this show came out. My sister and I would watch it just for the hell of it! Boy, did we laugh our asses off!!👍

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

I hated that stupid show

[@SchofieldAJ]

Well so was Sheldon Cooper's on TBBT as was he a REAL BOY or did his Sister Make a Life Like Clone!

[@iluvmyboba]

@@user-cs6up8eq7s Soon as I read your comment I busted out laughing. That show was absolutely awful. How it stayed on for as long as it did is mind boggling.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

@@iluvmyboba yeah I know I still try to figure it out sometimes from time to time it was on like four years or something my little sister used to love it

[@strangastrigo]

My Mom loved Beauty and the Beast! I was half expecting to see Out of This World (half alien teen who can freeze time) on the list but it was cool to see so many unfamiliar or vaguely remembered shows!

[@ozzmora]

The Charmings always struck me as strange when I was a kid.

[@timEzeee]

Out of this World with Evie who could freeze time with her index fingers and talk to her father(Burt Reynolds' voice) through a cube. And My Secret Identity with Jerry O'Connor who got super powers and could fly by using aerosol cans. D.C. Follies, Herman's Head and a show called A Little Bit Strange.

[@raymondhopwood9393]

How about "The Greatest American Hero"?

[@mdkfuzz187]

​@@raymondhopwood9393Great show. I've been rewatching on prime video. William Katt really did a fantastic job

[@bwk1124868]

Manimal... Wow, I literally thought all these years that I dreamed that show.

[@lloydke]

I always thought "Out of this World " was pretty weird

[@Luckyrabbit1313]

Loved Small Wonder when I was a kid. Yeah it was weird, but it was funny for the time.

[@JanetStarChild]

It had a good start; the first season was solid and there was some strong character development for Vickie when she met her "grand parents". Unfortunately, after season 1, the show got stuck in status quo mode; Vickie barely grew. Still a decent series though; just wasted potential.

[@therealEmpyre]

I fondly remember most of those. Some other 80s shows that were weird and/or too short-lived are Misfits of Science, Probe, Greatest American Hero, Square Pegs, and Automan. Edit: Here are some more: Max Headroom, Shaky Ground, Bosom Buddies, and Voyagers.

[@philipmorris4843]

Loved Manimal , was in my twenties and bummed when it was cancelled

[@doreenbierens]

Manimal was my favorite one, I’m 50 now and I still remember the music when he transforms.

[@ahhamartin]

I had forgotten the name of the show "Jennifer slept here" but I remembered the star came to visit us in the Persian Gulf in '90 with Bob Hope's Christmas Special, and was the ONLY star besides singer Aaron Tippin (and Bob of course) who was still nice when the cameras stopped rolling. The Pointer Sisters quit even acknowledging us the moment the film cut, but Ann Jillian's manager had to threaten her to get HER to leave us. She is to me what Anne Margaret was to my dad's fellow servicemen in the previous war.

[@aubrey1633]

I was obsessed with beauty and the beast. Ron Pearlman is still one of my favorite actors. I feel like it was too good to be on a list with Manimal. 😂

[@BATMAN-gh1nf]

Several of my friends said that Beauty and the Beast was a really good show, so I began watching it on their recommendations. I did not see the appeal of the show and could not get into it.

[@kenitowills8119]

I religiously watched "Jennifer Slept Here" and "It's a Living." I had a major celebrity crush on Ann Jillian. I also liked "Pee Wee's Playhouse," even if I was a bit older than the target demographic.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

I appreciated the oddball creativity ofPee Wees Playhouse . My nephew loved it .

[@steveedwards6564]

Oh man this takes me back. I remember all these shows. They each have a ton of memories tied to them.

[@sik7476]

Small wonder was friggin awesome! Tiffany Brissette's performance of Viki, was impeccable! Sik

[@keithe2150]

If you like the channel hit the like button, it cost you nothing but it helps Kevin out a lot

[@kathyhatlevig1076]

Does a great job doesn't he.

[@Therevdon]

I vaguely remember commercials for Beauty and the Beast, but never watched it. We definitely watched Pee-Wee's Playhouse, and I remember Small Wonder because the robot was my "Older Woman" crush when I was 8 years old.

[@davebooth5608]

I still use cassette tapes! Use and reuse! THE 80’s RULED!!

[@lizardog]

Great video! I smiled all the way through it. So many that I had forgotten. I was going to say that you missed "Lucan," but I looked it up and it went off the air in 1978, so it doesn't qualify. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@Dulcimerist]

They showed Slim Goodbody at my school. I remember it airing on public television during the day, and the only time I'd see it is when I had to stay home from school due to being sick. Pee Wee's Playhouse was my favorite show! I remember it airing at 9am on CBS on Saturdays. I'd make sure not to sleep in!

[@sheilaschumacher3946]

I was OBSESSED with “Beauty & The Beast.” Also loved “Rags To Riches.”

[@thevolpster7977]

Manimal deserved a lot more credit than it got. :(

[@maga6252]

Weird shows?! I do remember Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous hosted by the late Robin Leach. There was no show like it! It was too different from the other scripted programs.

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

If you ever do a sequel, make sure to include the Misfits of Science

[@yesmisskitten]

Came here exactly for this! Loved that show when I was a kid, was so in love with Johnny B 😆❤️

[@susan7775]

@@yesmisskitten I loved that show as an adult

[@katrinachance]

We watched Slim Goodbody when I was in first grade as part of science class!

[@carlosrobinson7458]

Omg! I remember the theme song to small wonder. I loved viki and Jaimie

[@mescallado]

I loved Blacke's Magic, where they solved locked room mysteries and "impossible" crimes.

[@alexanderchase6795]

I don't remember the show Black's Magic, But it seemed like they took the idea from The 70's Bill Bixby's T V series The Magician.

[@chasing_amy99]

Being an 8-9 year old girl when it aired, I was obsessed with Rags to Riches and very sad it got cancelled. Pee-wee's Playhouse was a big part of my Saturning morning line-up and I liked the movies too!

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I love Beauty And The Beast!

[@aqua-angela]

I was obsessed with Small Wonder! It was so weird and kind of creepy

[@barrypennington6245]

I loved Manimal when I was a kid. I'm sad you left out Down to Earth. It was about a woman who dies in the 1920s and was sent back to earth in the 80s to be a maid for a family to earn her wings in heaven.

[@ElicBehexan]

I knew a gal who was obsessed with Judson Scott. I also knew a gal who was so obsessed with The Phoenix she wrote a whole fanzine about the show. I didn't catch every episode and I just thought it was okay. I did try hard to catch Beauty and the Beast and I have a bit of an idea for a story, but actually need more of a 'plot' to write it. I really liked Black's Magic, but I don't remember why I could never catch it, might've just been the time it was on... I love both Hal Linden and Harry Morgan. I have loved Morgan since he was Friday's partner on Dragnet. He improved everything he had a part in (looking at the 'Support Your Local..."whatever. Granted, I also loved James Garner. My mother was never much into TV, but Maverick was the one series she always tried to watch. This changed as she got older and she loved Murder She Wrote. But Mom always loved mysteries both on the screen and in a book.

[@ers-tj4to]

Sledgehammer was one of the best shows on television at the time ('86 or '87). Why it was let go was criminal.

[@canadalovesanime3137]

Max Headroom and Alf are some I remember fondly.

[@Middle-Road.Kim.K]

I was *obsessed* with Peter Barton from Powers of Matthew Star (well, for short while... I was 13). Thank you for the memory jolt! 😊

[@JanetStarChild]

I remember some of those shows, but there's some I just learned of that I need to go find (such as Blacke's Magic). My absolute favorites on the list are Beauty and the Beast, and Pee Wee's Playhouse!

[@bluemoon1197]

My mother loves Beauty and the Beast, and has it on dvd. She also remembered and loved The Phoenix, and was upset when it was cancelled.

[@christabandman6090]

I love small wonder Out of this world was a pretty weird show too. I believe it was from the 80s.

[@mdkfuzz187]

Out of this world was a great show. Started in 87 I believe and ran 4 seasons not sure total eps numbers. Several episodes can be found on here

[@yolandasamuels3213]

I came here expecting to see Out Of This World!

[@Vipre-]

That show is embedded into my memory because of the theme song.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I vaguely remember Rags To Riches. I don't remember it being set in the 60s, it looked so 80s.

[@mrboogang]

Absolutely loved Matthew Starr - as a 7 year old, and on the wings of Star Wars and the Force, it was every kids dream to be like him!

[@AnodyneJS]

My older brother and I watched every episode. It should have been a sign when the whole premise was changed mid-season, but we were young, so we didn't recognize the warning signs.

[@fashiondolldreamer]

I loved Manimal as I was a 13 year old kid when it aired over here (but the few episodes that did manage to air were over the summer holidays and were on at different times, as the programmers just shoved it wherever on the schedule, so it was hard to find.) but I never forgot it as it was such a unique show - cheesy, yes, but that was part of the fun of it! I remember that actress Melody Anderson who was in the Flash Gordon movie was also in it. A friend introduced me to Pee Wee's Playhouse in the early 90's when I was in my 20's, and I always thought it was so hilarious and camp! I so enjoyed that show.

[@susan7775]

“Topper” was a tv series about a ghost and his dog in the 1950’s, he also appeared only to the couple who lived in his house. I watched it on reruns when I was young

[@connorfallon4227]

My sister and i loved rags to riches, was so fun. Do you guys remember the show “The Charmings” about a time displaced Snow White, Prince Charming and the Evil Queen living and working in the 80’s?

[@kimmoore6445]

Memories, priceless 😊

[@petetopa3544]

I grew up watching all these shows loved then all Manimal was awesome.

[@censusgary]

I lived through the 80s, but I never even heard of most of these shows. I am enjoying all the mullets in these clips, though.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

The first 2 I'd heard of but fortunately my Spidey Senses kicked in and I never watched em. Small Wonder was just plain old Bizarre!! I think I watched maybe 10 minutes of it one time before running for the door!!

[@Salsuero]

Absolutely loved Small Wonder.

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

Small Wonder may have been pure cheese, but I liked it; partially because I had a crush on Tiffany Brissett when I was a kid.

[@bluelionsage99]

Man, I am a 83 high school grad but I only remember two of these shows. I guess that comes from working the night shift from my Junior year in 81-82.

[@PixelGameSquad]

Yooo I loved Small Wonder

[@benadams3569]

As you said at the end of the video, the early 90s definitely did have some weird concepts for television.

[@marilynsnider8183]

In Beauty and the Beast, it wasn't weird, it was beautiful. My mom and I loved it.

[@foxxknight8847]

Loved Beauty and the Beast. Also might have planted the first seeds of furry-dom in me. XD

[@fernandezvonschwephausen1979]

Manimal, I loved it, though I have not met anyone who actually remembers watching it.

[@sodorflubbs5000]

I loved Manimal. I was most upset it only got one season

[@m1t2a1]

They Came From Outer Space missed the list by a year. It deserves a mention.

[@ThePoobears]

80's were the bomb every identity back then best era ever made....

[@kasiny126]

I LOVED rags to riches

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

3:52 Whoa! Is that Tracy "Carol Seaver" Gold!!??

[@TimCarter]

Yep. It's her.

[@Ze0do0Gas]

I saw Beauty and the Beast when I was little, it was a really sad show as far as I remember

[@donniemorton162]

80's were my teenage years

[@mygeekdom4414]

The one I actually remember was Beauty and the Beast.

[@susannahleggatt939]

I really loved Minimal I was only 8 at the time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@tylerthompson1842]

The small wonder girl was a good actor cause she freaked me the fck out as a kid lol. She totally sold it. I hope she’s doing good these days, child actors that drop off early usually had a bad go at it. The kid from “Jennifer Slept Here” is the bop your baloney kid from Vacation lol

[@SY-ok2dq]

I think I read somewhere that Tiffany Brissette, the actress from "Small Wonder" completely left the business and went on to live a normal life, and has avoided publicity. However, things did not go so well for the boy, the one who played the son and "brother". I think I read that he'd has financial problems, some gambling? or something.

[@imaginosdesdinova1130]

Max Headroom fan

[@steveadams1576]

Pee Wee's Playhouse was the only show I watched regularly. Mecca Lecca HI Mecca Hiney Ho Biatches!

[@hollyking2580]

Mr. Goodbody came to my elementary school for an assembly when I was in second grade!

[@keithe2150]

I like the toy DOH at the end back again that’s perfect. Thanks.

[@dwellyn]

You forgot "Mr. Merlin", with Barnard Hughes as Merlin the magician/garage owner and Clark Brandon as his apprentice.

[@bobfleet74656]

Amazing stories Benji, zax, and the alien prince

[@AleisterCrowleyMagus]

George Martin wrote for Beauty and the Beast and the series ended succesfully - but we don’t have an ending for A Song of Ice and Fire…sigh.

[@technomikelyons]

How about "Otherworld", which ran only 8 episodes. Great concept, cheesy 80s execution, about a family transported to an alternate world and trying to find their way back home to Earth.

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

The father on Jennifer Slept Here is Fiona Apple's dad.

[@joebufford2972]

I love the dinosaurs day if we're hilarious especially the baby, not the mama, not the mama

[@lizlittle1641]

The only show that I watched from this list is Beauty and the Beast. I loved it! It was one of my favorites! I've never heard of any of the other shows in the list.

[@itsmonday7450]

The only shows from here that I didn't watch were Rags to Riches (never heard of it) and Jennifer Slept Here (because my family never missed It's a Living). But I have clearly watched a lot of tv regardless. Nice walk down memory lane.

[@TheJcanno8]

Wish you had mentioned Otherworld, but this was a great video. Loved Jennifer Slept here, mainly because I was a Jennifer.

[@jkyle1018]

I was waiting for "Today's Special" to pop in here, and now I'm waiting for it to show up in the sequel to this video.

[@drewhenderson9932]

Classic the best ever

[@ToABrighterFuture]

I don't know if it qualifies as bizarre, but "Throb" had a few items of interest: Jane Leeves getting her first big US break (she'd later play Daphne on "Frasier"); a much younger Paul Walker in Season 1; and an a cappella title song performed by The Nylons, predating a certain PBS game show that made a cappella cool.

[@markengle2199]

I saw that robot girl show as a kid but couldn’t figure out if she was a robot maid or not. She dressed like a cartoon maid but didn’t seem to clean. I was lost

[@mammajamma4397]

SMALL WONDER WAS THE JAM!!!!!!

[@sheilaholmes996]

Pee Wee’s Playhouse is the only one I watched. Awesome show.

[@constancecherry3996]

I remember Jennifer slept here I was scared when I was a kid

[@marygordon9352]

I loved Manimal

[@carlosrobinson7458]

I loved the music on rags to riches

[@mammajamma4397]

I remember Pee Wee's Playhouse wrapping up the Saturday morning cartoon run