How about the original Smothers Brothers Show . Not the variety show, but the sitcom in which Tommy’s character died, so he was an angel who could take to his brother, played by Dick?
Interesting Trivia note – it was the last CBS sitcom to be filmed in black and white
Here’s one that I remember seeing, but for the life of me can’t remember what it was called or who was in it.
It was set in the 40s, possibly immediately post-WW2, about a single guy who had four or five young women as his charges. Most were oldish teenagers (one or two white, one African American, one Asian) and one towheaded nine-or-so-year-old. There were musical numbers, some fantasy and some diegetic: I remember one of the girls entering a talent competition in which she performed “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and it looked not unlike the musical numbers from the first MCU Captain America movie.
Anyway, this show ran in the summer of 1987, and I can’t recall a title or a single cast member. Does this ring a bell for anyone?
I looked at the Wikipedia list of TV shows that premiered in 1987.
I’ll see your Automan and raise you The Highwayman:
The whole premise of the show was summed up in a single line by Jane Badler: “What are you, some kind of government agent?!?” 
“DC Montana,” HA! 
Fun Fact: “Magoo” is Russian for “I can [do it].”
Nine episodes total, and they had time travel? Sheesh.
Lots of interesting guest stars. And someone had a sense of humor:
Episode six, characters Chief Clifton and Lt Broadside, played by the same actors from McCloud’s Chief Clifford and Lt Broadhurst. And the proposed spinoff was “McClone”?
It probably sucks, but I think I’ll have to hunt this one down. Hope it is available.
Who remembers Remember WENN? It was AMC’s first attempt at producing a series, back when the network took the name American Movie Classics seriously. The show was about a small-time radio station in Pittsburgh during the 1930s and leading into World War 2. Despite its low budget, it had a knack for getting first-rate guest stars, often from Broadway.
Today I learned that the creator and primary writer of Rememer WENN was Rupert Holmes. Yes, the “Pina Colada Song” guy. 
I was going to mention “The New Show” also. The one sketch I remember featured John Candy as a guy who repaired food, and fortunately someone else did as well.
Roy’s Food Repair
Wow, thanks! I had no idea it lasted that long. I always thought of it as a fun mid-summer replacement series that came and went. But then I was 13 at the time and my time in front of the tube was limited by the 'rents.
I vividly remember the Dick Tracy cartoon as one of the worst cartoons I’ve ever watched.
This show was a Canadian import I used to watch on MPS/SP TV in the '80s. Some bits were incredibly non-PC, which I love. The late great Bob Einstein, famous for playing daredevil Super Dave Osborne, was a regular.
B.O.T. ran for a while on Netflix. Less remembered is creator Victor Fresco’s previous show Andy Richter Controls the Universe.
I do, and I’m ashamed of myself for not mentioning it in this thread sooner! It was, as you say, filled with top name guest stars, and it was very well done. It wasn’t a musical, but the radio station setting did allow for a fair number of songs. That’s probably related to Rupert Holmes’s involvement.
It also ended on a cliffhanger–would our lovely heroine choose the solid and dependable, but boring, guy, or the exciting but untrustworthy rogue?–which was destined to never be resolved.
Several of the cast members used to turn up on Law & Order now and then. It always amused me to see them. “Hey, the murderer is Victor Comstock from Remember WENN!”
I watched all of them. And, in the other direction, “Sea Hunt” with Lloyd Bridges.
I think “Ripcord” inspired my brother to start jumping out of planes.
Perfectly good ones, you mean? 
Not surprising. Dick was on for a second at the beginning and the end of each episode, and in the middle when the detective would call in during a big fight or something, and all the action would stop while he did so.
Carried on Channel 11 in NY, with “Officer” Joe Bolton as host.
I went up with him once, and came down with the plane, not him. The plane was missing a big door, aside from that it seemed fine.
Staring at a big hole in the side of the plane does encourage one to keep their seat belts buckled. Not seat belts, actually - everyone sat on the floor.
We didn’t have cable until 1992 so I was watching whatever the networks put out. I remember (and was a big fan of) Rags to Riches and Herman’s Head. I was super in love with the guy who played Herman, William Ragsdale. I guess he may have been my first crush! (I was 11)
I don’t think Caroline in the City was that obscure. Especially if it was tied to Seinfeld.
The Letter People felt obscure but at least in my school, it was shown in kindergarten class. Anyone else watch it at school?
Shrimpenstein! was only shown locally in LA:
I barely remember Super President (we could sure use him now!):
Bump in the Night was a rare children’s TV foray into stop-motion:
Most of the other obscure TV shows I recall watching tended to be shown on LA’s Public Access:
New Wave Theater – Vintage Punk and New Wave bands
Colin’s Sleazy Friends – Interviews with porn stars
Kurt Max – Concert footage of great ’60s/’70s rock music acts