References are made to both American Gladiators and America's Funniest Home Videos. Both shows started in 1989. Key to the plot was the 1984 election between Reagan and Mondale.
Though this show (and most episodes) is said to take place in "1980-something" it makes a direct reference to the Reagan/Mondale debate and election which would place it in 1984. Most of the cultural references in other recent episodes (movies and music) place the shows in 1986 or later.