The 1970s are often regarded as the heyday of television. The decade is known for groundbreaking series, includingAll in the Family,Happy Days, andTaxi, which forever changed the landscape of television. While television wasn’t a new forum, the shows of the ’70s are widely recognized for boldly addressing the shifting social norms of their time, covering uncomfortable and controversial topics, inevitably playing a crucial part in society.
Throughout the ’70s, there was an abundance of series that made their way into American living rooms, some more short-lived than others and many becoming the cornerstone of modern television. When it comes to noteworthy shows of the 1970s, hits such asMaude,Laverne & Shirley, andThe Jeffersonsreigned as some of the most popular and, today, are among the decade’s all-time best shows.
10’Little House on the Prairie' (1974–1983)
Created by Blanche Hanalis
Little House on the Prairieis an iconic Western and historical drama based on the best-selling book series of the same name written byLaura Ingalls Wilder. Set during the 1870s, the show follows the lives of the Ingalls family, who live together on a small farm in Minnesota. The Ingalls are joined by several other families and residents who come from various walks of life and social statuses that add an unpredictable and wholesome charm to the series.
Initially,Little House on the Prairiedidn’t receive positive reviews, some speculating that audiences resented the good-natured characters and the simple setting of the show’s premise, but with time, the show gained traction among both viewers and critics.The show eventually gained notoriety for its memorable characters, notablythe Ingalls, whose tight-knit bond and pleasant morality essentially caused viewers to fall in love with themas well as the quaintness of the series.
Little House on the Prairie
9’Maude' (1972–1978)
Created by Norman Lear
Bea Arthurstars as the outspoken, no-nonsense middle-class woman, Maude Findlay, who lives in New York with her husband, her divorced daughter, and her grandson. Maude is known to proudly share her political opinions and personal beliefs, striving to liberate those around her and break down traditional stereotypes and ignorance surrounding sensitive but relevant issues.
Maudewasa pivotal ’70s sitcomthat boldly addressed controversial issues of its day, ranging from gender, racism, and sexism, but still conveyed them in an approachable and lighthearted manner. Even thoughMaudedealt with serious matters, the series balanced out the tone with hysterical and outrageous humor, which Arthur and her co-stars executed with pure tenacity and overwhelming appeal. Throughout its six-season run,Maudeearned an abundance of award nominations and wins, notably a Primetime Emmy for Arthur in 1977, deeming it to be one of the best shows of the 1970s.
8’Three’s Company' (1977–1984)
Created by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West
After throwing a going-away party for their departing roommate, Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers) and Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) realize they need a new roommate, and when they discover Jack Tripper (John Ritter) passed out in their bathtub from the party the night before, they offer him the vacant spot. Jack, who is a sarcastic, woman-chasing playboy, happily moves in with the two lovely ladies, but shortly after his arrival, the trio soon find themselves in a series of antics and humorous situations.
Three’s Companyis a hilarious ’70s sitcom known for its physical and slapstick humor and sexual innuendos, which set the show apart from other sitcoms at the time. After the show made its mid-season debut with six episodes, many didn’t thinkThree’s Companywould go very far, but when it became the highest-rated mid-season show ever aired on broadcast television, ABC didn’t hesitate to renew the series for a formal season.Three’s Companyran for an impressive eight seasons and today, is recognized as a crucial staple in classic sitcom history, rightfully earning a place on the list.
Three’s Company
7’MAS*H' (1972–1983)
Created by Larry Gelbart
MAS*His an iconic comedy-drama series that follows the doctors and medical staff of the 407th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, who are stationed in South Korea during the Korean War. As the team faces immeasurable horrors and mental and physical trauma as a result of the ongoing war, they try to keep their spirits up with humor and unwavering optimism, making them a vital force for each other as well as for those caught in the violent warfare.
MASHwas asuccessful war series based on a book,Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel,MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, which was originally adapted for the big screen in the 1970 movie of the same name starringDonald Sutherland,Elliott Gould, andRobert Duvall. There have always been films that have inspired television shows, butMASHstands to be one of the best and, at the time, was one of the most popular series, running for an impressive eleven seasons. Thanks to syndication,MASHremains a go-to for many television fans, especially those who enjoyed the series the first time around.
6’Dallas' (1978–1991)
Created by David Jacobs
In Dallas, Texas, the Ewing family is a well-known oil family that owns and operates the biggest oil company in the Longhorn state and one of the most profitable in the country. While the patriarch of the family, Jock (Jim Davis), and his wife, Ellie (Donna Reed), are among the most humble and traditional members, brothers, Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and J.R. (Larry Hagman), are the source of the majority of the Ewing family problems and competition.
When it came to entertaining drama and shocking scandal,Dallaswas one show of the 1970s that was chock-full of it. The series has a reputation for its raw depiction of infidelity, abuse, and murder, making it one of the ’70s hottest shows. Today, the show is widely remembered for the mystery surrounding who shot J.R., sparking a nationwide debate that made it one of the most memorable moments in television history.Dallasmay not have been a serious drama with a lot of important and progressive substance, but it was one of the decade’s most popular shows, ultimately solidifying its spot as one of the ’70s best shows.
5’Taxi' (1978–1983)
Created by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis, and Ed Weinberger
In New York City, the staff of the Sunshine Cab Company is a rowdy bunch, but the taxi dispatcher, Louie De Palma (Danny DeVito), tries his best to keep his employees under control. Despite his best efforts, Louie, who isn’t exactly a ray of sunshine, finds that he has his work cut out for him and is constantly dealing with an array of colorful and eccentric characters who never fail to bring a little chaos and insanity to the job.
The sitcom,Taxi, was both a commercial and critical successand is regarded by many as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Throughout its five-season run,Taxireceived over thirty Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and went on to win a total of eighteen in a variety of major categories, such as Outstanding Comedy Series, Best Outstanding Lead Actor forJudd Hirsch, and Best Outstanding Supporting Actor for DeVito. Betweenthe exceptional ensemble castand the intriguing premise of a bunch of New York cabbies trying to survive day in and day out,Taxiis without question one of the greatest shows of its time.
4’Laverne & Shirley' (1976–1983)
Created by Garry Marshall, Lowell Ganz, and Mark Rothman
Penny MarshallandCindy Williamsstar as best friends and roommates, Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeny, who work together at a local brewing company in Milwaukee as bottle cappers. As both women endure the expected events and obstacles of being single women with ambition and drive, they know they can always lean on one another to help them get through all the ups and downs that come their way.
Laverne & Shirleyis one ofthe best ABC shows of all timeand a spin-off of the hit series,Happy Days, which originally featured Marshall and Williams' characters as friends of Fonzie.Marshall and Williams are a match made in heaven who effectively play off on another without missing a beat, delivering more than convincing performances that made them household names among American viewers. By the show’s third season,Laverne & Shirleyhad become the most-watched show on television and even led to a popular line of merchandise, which was rare for any show at the time.
Laverne & Shirley
3’Happy Days' (1974–1984)
Created by Garry Marshall
Ron Howardstars in the infamous family sitcom,Happy Days, as the boy-next-door, Richie Cunningham, who lives like any other average teenager and spends most of his time with his friends and all-American family. While Richie may seem to have it made, he still finds himself in tough and unfamiliar territory, but with the help of those around him, notably local bad boy and heartthrob, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), there’s nothing Richie can’t overcome.
Happy Dayswas one of the most successful series of the 1970sand is known today for its unique, lively characters and social dynamics that tore away from the traditional portrait of the American family and run-of-the-mill teenagers. Initially, the show was a moderate success, but creatorGarry Marshallmade a few tweaks to escalate the show’s overall humor, such as bringing inRobin Williams' signature character, Mork, which led toHappy Daysbecoming one of the most-watched television shows during its eleven-season run.
Happy Days
2’The Jeffersons' (1975–1985)
Created by Norman Lear, Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, Eric Monte, and Bernie West
In New York City, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) and his wife, Louise (Isabel Sanford),move from their home in Queens to an upscale high-rise in Manhattan, where they have no qualms about enjoying the easy life at the top. George, who thinks his wealth should secure him everything in life, is often rude but always straightforward, but thanks to Louise, she keeps her husband in line with her rational and humble personality.
The Jeffersonsisa hit spin-off seriesofAll in the Family, which wasn’t originally designed to be a sitcom, butthe series eventually developed into one of television’s best during the 1970s while still covering serious subjectssuch as racism, gun control, and substance addiction. Throughout its eleven-season run,The Jeffersonsearned fourteen Emmy Award nominations, winning more than half of them. Isabel Stanford received several Emmy nominations and made history in 1981 as the first Black actress to win Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
The Jeffersons
1’All in the Family' (1971–1979)
Caroll O’Connorstars in the infamous sitcom,All in the Family, as the loudmouthed and sarcastic Archie Bunker, who lives in Queens, New York with his wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton), who is the exact opposite of her harsh and callous husband and is known for her warmth and innocent nature that helps to soften Archie, making them the definition of opposites do indeed attract.
All in the Familyis without question the best show of the 1970s, which essentially brought real-life to primetime television and featured groundbreaking episodes that covered a variety of important and sensitive subjects but tailored to the show’s dry, deadpan humor. The show featured several iconic episodes that opened universal conversations about delicate but vital topics such as homosexuality, abortion, sexual assault, and the Vietnam War, making it a unique sitcom that resonated deeply with viewers across the country.
