Aimée, this might resonate a bit strangely with you since my childhood (born 1979) in Malaysia has some time-shifted elements from American culture.

Like re-runs of Happy Days!

ET was definitely a thing. Also, Chucky from Child's Play. The xenomorph from Alien (and Aliens).

GI Joe for the boys and the Care Bears for the girls!

Jem and the Holograms? I never watched it but I remember it because it came on just before the Transformers. Or was it Voltron..

The New Kids on the Block. Confession: I still remember the lyrics to Step by Step.