Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 3: 1980-1989

A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade.

By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning

As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years.

TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades.

TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969.

Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number.

The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade.

This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 3: 1980-1989
A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade.
By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning
As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years.
TV Tonight&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades.
TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969.
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number.
The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn&rsquo;t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade.
This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic.

Welcome to the TV Gold podcast from Andrew Mercado and James Manning. A podcast for people who love great television.

Hear the latest from the world of TV, radio, entertainment publishing and more in the Mediaweek podcast. This series features regular interviews with the stars, movers and shakers of Australian media industry.