The Best TV Shows of 1983

26 top-rated shows, ranked by IMDb rating — each with its current AI renewal verdict.

1. 1
   
   The Joy of Painting

   PBS · 1983

   ★ 9.3Ended0%
2. 2
   
   Frontline

   PBS · 1983

   ★ 8.6Likely Renewed95%
3. 3
   
   Natural World

   BBC Two · 1983

   ★ 8.6Ended0%
4. 4
   
   The Legend of the Condor Heroes

   TVB Jade · 1983

   ★ 8.5Ended0%
5. 5
   
   Reading Rainbow

   PBS · 1983

   ★ 8.4Ended0%
6. 6
   
   Oshin

   NHK · 1983

   ★ 8.3Ended0%
7. 7
   
   Blackadder

   BBC One · 1983

   ★ 8.0Ended0%
8. 8
   
   The Thorn Birds

   ABC · 1983

   ★ 7.9Ended0%
9. 9
   
   Fraggle Rock

   HBO · 1983

   ★ 7.9Ended0%
10. 10
    
    Captain Tsubasa

    TV Tokyo · 1983

    ★ 7.9Ended0%
11. 11
    
    SUPERKID

    tv asahi · 1983

    ★ 7.9Ended0%
12. 12
    
    V

    NBC · 1983

    ★ 7.8Ended0%
13. 13
    
    The A-Team

    NBC · 1983

    ★ 7.5Ended0%
14. 14
    
    He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

    Syndication · 1983

    ★ 7.5Ended0%
15. 15
    
    Mama's Family

    NBC · 1983

    ★ 7.3Ended0%
16. 16
    
    Taggart

    ITV1 · 1983

    ★ 7.3Ended0%
17. 17
    
    G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero

    Syndication · 1983

    ★ 7.3Ended0%
18. 18
    
    Cat's Eye

    Nippon TV · 1983

    ★ 7.3Ended0%
19. 19
    
    Kids Incorporated

    Disney Channel · 1983

    ★ 7.2Ended0%
20. 20
    
    Return to Eden

    10 · 1983

    ★ 7.1Ended0%
21. 21
    
    Scarecrow and Mrs. King

    CBS · 1983

    ★ 7.0Ended0%
22. 22
    
    Inspector Gadget

    CBS · 1983

    ★ 6.8Ended0%
23. 23
    
    Automan

    ABC · 1983

    ★ 6.8Ended0%
24. 24
    
    The Hitchhiker

    HBO · 1983

    ★ 6.8Ended0%
25. 25
    
    Alvin and the Chipmunks

    NBC · 1983

    ★ 6.6Ended0%
26. 26
    
    Hardcastle and McCormick

    ABC · 1983

    ★ 6.6Ended0%