Some of us enjoy TV, we watch certain shows occasionally but don’t venture much into unchartered territory. Then there are those of us who grew up on it and became thoroughly engrossed with almost everything on the small screen. We watched it all – from the Muppets and Little House on the Prairie to Falcon Crest and Dallas. But we didn’t stop there. Unlike most people who may have known and loved many of the popular shows of the 1970s and ’80s, there were those of us who knew them all. Every random, obscure show ever aired.
We all had our favorite TV shows growing up, programs or series that we never missed – or taped with our VCRs so we could catch them at another time. Yet, for every “Family Ties,” there are other random shows that seem to be hidden in the recesses of our minds, a show we know we watched growing up, but that we can’t seem to recall.
It’s only when we hear a phrase – no news is good news with Gary Gnu – that what we once blanked on bubbles to the surface of our memory bank. You may think to yourself “Oh yeah! I TOTALLY forgot about that show!” and the memories come flooding back. Many of these oddball programs ran on non-major networks or didn’t even air for a full season.
Or perhaps they did enjoy an entire season but just never really garnered the viewership needed to get off the ground. Whatever the reasons these shows aren’t etched in our mainstream media minds, they still hold a tiny corner in the part of the brain that craves nostalgia. These are the random TV shows you likely forgot even existed! (Check out these child star one-hit wonders you may have forgotten about too.)
Great Space Coaster
- Aired for five seasons — 1981-86
- Listen to “The Great Space Coaster” theme song here
This muppet fantasyland was created by former Jim Henson Muppet designer and builder Kermit Love and Jim Martin and was centered around three singers who lived on an asteroid called Coasterville. There was a cast of funny characters, like Gary Gnu and Edison the Elephant.
Out of This World
- Aired for nearly four seasons — 1987-1991
This sitcom was about a half-girl/half-alien named Evie who was played by Maureen Flannigan. Evie could touch her index fingers together to stop time and would communicate with her alien father (he was never seen but was voiced by Burt Reynolds) through a magic cube.
Slim Goodbody’s Inside Story
- Aired in 1980
Created by John Burstein while working at The Floating Hospital in New York, the character of Slim Goodbody taught kids about the body and its many functions. Each body suit Slim wore cost $4,000 to produce.
New Zoo Revue
Doug Momary, circa 1975. (Photo by Getty Images)
Doug Momary, circa 1975. (Photo by Getty Images)
- Ran from 1972-1977
This children’s show focused on meaningful life lessons and featured a variety of guest stars, including Richard Dawson and Jim Backus. Animal characters included Charlie the Owl, Freddie the Frog, and Henriette Hippo.
Small Wonder
- Ran for four seasons — 1985-1989
Dubbed a “science comedy” series, this program centered on 10-year-old V.I.C.I. (aka Vicki), which stands for Voice Input Child Identicant who was a programmed robot who performed impressive mechanical functions. Throughout the series, Vicki became more human-like.
Kids Incorporated
- Ran for seasons – 1984-1993
This musical-based program had plots that often dealt with common teen and tween issues. Each episode focused on the main characters, who were kid rockers and had a band called Kids Incorporated performing. It appeared for nearly two seasons on broadcast television before being picked up by Disney Channel. Some of the show’s famous alums are Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson and Martika (“Toy Soldiers”).
Rags to Riches
- Ran on NBC for two seasons – 1987-88
This musical comedy-drama series with an “Annie” vibe was about a millionaire who adopted orphaned girls — six appeared in the pilot, but there were only five in the remaining episodes.
The Elephant Show
- Aired from 1981 – 1989
This Canadian preschool show (known as Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show after season 1) addressed age-appropriate life challenges via song in each episode. The main characters were Sharon, Lois and Bram along with Elephant and the program eventually aired on Nickelodeon.
Kidd Video
- Ran on NBC from 1984-85
Dubbed “live-action/cartoon,” this program featured Kidd Video and his band who would travel to the Flipside, where they would morph into animated cartoon characters. The show didn’t last long in the U.S., but it gained massive popularity in Israel.