I admit that this topic is a bit shallower than my average topic, but I thought it would be fun to list nevertheless. Interestingly, you will only see a small overlap between the two lists. I obviously did not include them in this list, but there were quite a few female child stars from 80's television who grew up to be beautiful women. That alone could be a topic for another issue (in fact you can click on that link to take you to that issue).

The list you are about to read is ranked based on how I best remember my opinion from back when these shows aired, but is probably adjusted a little based on my current perception. I would expect this list could vary quite a bit for everybody reading this based on nostalgia and tastes in women. I look forward to hearing your comments on who your favorites were or who I might have missed. With all that being said, let's get on with OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 HOTTEST FEMALE TV CHARACTERS FROM THE 80s (+ Bonus 5):

Honorable Mention. "Daphne" from Scooby-Doo (1969-86) - Since I gave you "Miss Piggy" and "Smurfette" on my last list, I thought it was only fitting that I include "Daphne" as honorable mention since she was pretty hot as far as cartoon characters go.

15. Stephanie Zimbalist as "Laura Holt" from Remington Steele (1982-87) - She was the actual private investigator who needed to use Pierce Brosnan's character to legitimize her business since the premise was that many potential customers would not feel comfortable hiring a woman for this type of work at the time.

14. Marilu Henner as "Elaine O'Connor Nardo" from Taxi (1978-83) - She was the only female character on the show until Carol Kane joined in 1980

13. Robin Givens as "Darlene Merriman" from Head of the Class (1986-91) - She was 22 years old when this series began yet she played a high school student

12. Justine Bateman as "Malorie Keaton" from Family Ties (1982-89) - I always remember her boyfriend "Nick" yelling her name in a tone that sounded like a combination of "Rocky Balboa" and "Stanley Kowalski."  She is the sister of actor Jason Bateman.

11. Markie Post as "Christine Sullivan" from Night Court (1984-92) - Her character was ranked on the list from part 1 as one of my favorite female TV characters from the 80s as well

10. Valerie Bertinelli as "Barbara Romano" from One Day At a Time (1975-84) - She was just 15 years old when the show began, but she was 20 by the time the 80's came along.

9. Loni Anderson as "Jennifer Marlowe" from WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-82) - This was a fantastic show and though she may have looked like a blonde bimbo, her character was anything but that.

8. Chelsea Noble as "Kate MacDonald" & Julie McCullough as "Julie Costello" from Growing Pains (1985-92) - Both girls played girlfriends to Kirk Cameron's character on the show starting in 1989. McCullough was forced to leave the show when Cameron refused to work with someone who had posed nude in Playboy. Noble would go on to marry Cameron in real life.

7. Suzanne Somers as "Chrissy Snow" from Three's Company (1977-84) - She left the show in 1981. She was ranked on my favorite female TV characters from the 80s list along with her other Three's Company co-stars.

6. Melanie Wilson as "Jennifer Lyons" from Perfect Strangers (1986-93) - Possibly the least recognizable name on this list, but she played the love interest for Mark Linn-Baker's character on the show. Another interesting bit of trivia is that she is the daughter of Dick Wilson who played "Mr. Whipple" on the Charmin toilet paper commercials.

5. Erin Grey as "Col. Wilma Deering" from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-81) and then as "Kate Summers" from Silver Spoons (1982-87) - No matter if she was in space or marrying Ricky Schroeder's dad, she always looked really good doing it.

4. Lori Laughlin as "Rebecca Donaldson" from Full House (1987-95) - She worked with Bob Saget's character and then eventually married John Stamos' character on the show.

3. Catherine Bach as "Daisy Duke" from The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85) - Just a waitress at the Bore's Nest, but she does now have a style of shorts named after her.

2. Heather Locklear as "Sammy Jo Dean" from Dynasty (1981-89) and as "Officer Stacy Sheridan" from T.J. Hooker (1982-85) - The amazing thing about Heather Locklear is that she looked even better in the 90's and still looks great today. She has also had by far the most successful career of anyone on this list.

1. Heather Thomas as "Jody Banks" from The Fall Guy (1981-86) - I liked this Heather more than Locklear back in the 80's, so that is why she ranks on top of this list. She was given the title of "most popular pin-up girl in America" during the 80's supplanting Raquel Welch to earn that spot.

There's my list. Let me know what you think, who your favorites were and who I may have missed. I look forward to your comments. That will do it for part 2 of this two-part issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks much for reading and hope you enjoyed them both. If you are interested in reading more of my 80's related issues, please click there for a summary. If you are interested in reading more of my Top 10 lists, please click there for a summary of those. You can also click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the blogbar Search Box in the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, please pass the word and let others know to give it a try. Peace and much love.

Check this out: There is a book that I have been waiting to come out for a while and now it is finally available. It is called Chasing the Eighties - The Ultimate North American Movie Location Roadtrip. Recently, three men careering hopelessly towards the end of their twenties decided to undertake a ridiculous romp of sheer nostalgic indulgence.  It was to be one last look back to the glorious past before they decided to be grown ups and think about the present and the future. But first, it was all about Ghostbusters, Goonies, Guttenberg, blood, sweat and Corey Haim. The tour lasted three months and began and ended in Toronto, home of Police Academy. Over the 12 weeks, they met Chunk from the Goonies, Hightower, Hooks, Harris and Callahan from Police Academy, Jesse Ventura, Oscar the Grouch, Howling Mad Murdoch, Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell among many others. I am so jealous of the trip these guys went on. You should definitely visit the website where you can watch some videos, see some of the pictures and, of course, purchase the book about this adventure. If you are a fan of the 80's, you will definitely want to check this out.

Quote of the day: "Beauty is not caused. It is." -Emily Dickinson
and
"Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief she is beautiful" -Sophia Loren

Download this: "The Heart of the Matter" by India.Arie - I love the original version by the great Don Henley, but this cover version is great too