The early 1980s was a golden period for the show. Interesting younger characters, such as Jenny Gardner and Greg Nelson (Kim Delaney, Laurence Lau), Liza Colby (Marcy Walker), Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams), Angie Baxter (Debbi Morgan) and a now-grown-up Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight), who was now legally Ruth and Joe's son.

1983 was an especially huge year for AMC. The storyline involving Liza plotting to win Greg back after he left her for Jenny was a huge fan favorite, as was the Jenny/Greg supercouple. The aforementioned Jesse and Angie made history as daytime's first African-American supercouple. Last but not least the legend of "Tad the Cad" was born when Tad Martin took Liza Colby's virginity, then simultaneously began carrying on with her mother, socialite Marian Colby.

On the not-so-younger side, Jenny and Tad's birthmother Opal (Dorothy Lyman) was also added to the canvas. Powerful businessman Adam Chandler (David Canary) arrived in town and became a frontburner character as he and Erica began a stormy marriage.

Another popular couple was the pairing of Cliff and Nina (Peter Bergman and Taylor Miller). While the two loved each other deep down, they went through four marriages and three divorces throughout the 1980s.

Main article: All My Children