One of the most influential decades in television was the 1970s. The world was changing at a rapid pace, and it only made sense that the shows on TV would reflect the same cultural shift. The wholesomeness of 60s hits likeThe Andy Griffith Showgave way to more grounded comedic offerings likeAll in the Family.
These programming changes would not only usher in creative geniuses likeNorman Learbut also shape the future of television for years to come.The following 1970s shows influenced the next wave of television shows and the viewers who watched them.
10’Dallas' (1978–1991)
Created by David Jacobs
One of the most famous and influential families on television is easily the Ewing clan, who were the stars of the primetime soap,Dallas. The series followed the complicated lives of the Ewing family as weekly dramas stemmed from infighting about the family’s oil business, usually between the upstanding Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and his devious brother J.R. (Larry Hagman).
Thetwists and turns ofDallasproved that serialized storytelling would not scare off viewerswho would schedule their evenings around their favorite show.Dallas, or rather, J.R., proved that the main character of a series didn’t have to be of strong moral fiber or learn a valuable lesson by episode’s end. The overwhelming popularity of the character people loved to hate would open the door for future antiheroes to grace the screen to make lives miserable for the entertainment of others.
9’Charlie’s Angels' (1976–1981)
Created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts
Three strong and skilled women are recruited to put their abilities to use for a private investigation agency in the hit action series,Charlie’s Angels. Each episode would follow the young women as they spoke to their boss, the always unseen Charlie (John Forsythe), through a speakerphone, where he would brief them on their mission. Then, with the help of their associate John Bosley (David Doyle), the angels would use their combined talents to fight crime.
Charlie’s Angelswas influential in creating an action show that had three women as its leads, making stars ofJaclyn Smith,Kate Jackson, andFarrah Fawcett. Even though Fawcett would leave the show after the first season, replacement Cheryl Ladd kept the show on track to remain an iconic piece of 70s pop culture.The cultural reach ofCharlie’s Angelsstretched far beyond when the series ended, leading to a successful film adaptation that starredDrew Barrymore,Cameron Diaz, andLucy Liu.
Charlie’s Angels
8’Happy Days' (1974–1984)
Created by Garry Marshall
Audiences of the 1970s were invited to take a trip back to the 50s with the popular sitcomHappy Days. Following the Cunningham family, who lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the series gave a glimpse into the customs of a bygone era through son Richie (Ron Howard) and his friends. The show would find incredible success when it shifted focus to breakout star Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler).
Happy Daysused nostalgia to create a comforting piece of pop culturethat would open the door to future period shows likeThat ‘70s Show. The sitcom would continue into the 80s, relying heavily on breakout character The Fonz to lure viewers into returning each week. Not happy with controlling only one timeslot,Happy Daysalso spawned numerous spinoffsthat includedLaverne & ShirleyandJoanie Loves Chachi.
Happy Days
7’MAS*H' (1972–1983)
Created by Larry Gelbart
War was hell, but the doctors and nurses ofMASHrefused to have their spirits broken. Based on the 1970 film of the same name,MASHfollowed the struggles of the medical staff who worked in the high-pressure surgical tents in Korea during the Korean War. The series boasted an impressive ensemble cast, but episodes predominantly followed Chief Surgeon “Hawkeye” Pierce (Alan Alda) as he did everything possible to amuse himself as a distraction from the horrors surrounding him.
MASHdidn’t become one ofthe most popular comediesof the era without breaking some rules.MASHbroke new ground in comedy by being unafraid to explore serious issues to create stories that could be as emotional as they were humorous. Equally important to the future of sitcoms was the use of a single-camera technique that removed the established look of actors on a stage that audiences had grown accustomed to.
6’Three’s Company' (1976–1984)
Created by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernard West
InThree’s Company, roommates Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) and Janet (Joyce DeWitt) need one more tenant to help cover rent, and they find the perfect candidate in Jack (John Ritter). Unfortunately, their landlord, Mr. Roper (Norman Fell),has a strict policy about unmarried men and women living together, so Chrissy and Janet say Jack is gay so he can live with them.
Three’s Companywas a sitcom that relied heavily on sexual humor, which was already pushing boundaries, but the series was also noteworthy for the inclusion of homosexuality as part of the plotline. Adult humor wasn’t absent from television, butThree’s Companyused sexuality as one of its main selling points both in the scripts and with the cast. This forward-thinking approach madeThree’s Companya huge hit with audiences and opened the door for similar comedies going forward.
Three’s Company
5’The Mary Tyler Moore Show' (1970–1977)
Created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns
One of thegreatest sitcoms of the 1970sor any decade to come after it wasThe Mary Tyler Moore Show. The series followed Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) as she moved to Minneapolis to pursue a fresh start after a broken engagement. She soon finds work at a television station, where she gets the job of an associate producer to make pieces for the live news broadcast.
The Mary Tyler Moore Showwas a brilliantly written and performed piece of comedy, butthe series made a statement for the future of television as well. Mary did not need to be married, nor did that need to be her primary drive to find happiness. Mary took pleasure from building a career and spending time with her friends, achieving success on her terms without seeking approval from a romantic partner.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
4’The Rockford Files' (1974–1980)
Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Roy Huggins
The detective series that rewrote the rules of the genre was the addictive, iconic series,The Rockford Files.James Garnerstarred as Jim Rockford, a private detective who worked out of a small mobile trailer parked in Malibu, California. Jim liked to stick to small-time cases, but would usually end up in a dangerous situation that he would be forced to talk his way out of.
Jim liked to stick to small-time cases, but would usually end up in a dangerous situation…
Detective shows had a certain type of tone they stuck to beforeThe Rockford Files. There seemed to be conventional wisdom that the mysteries needed to be serious for them to be entertaining, and the detectives were required to be tough and stoic to draw viewers.The Rockford Filesignored thisto make a detective who was humorous and intelligent in a way that felt more relatablethan the hard-nosed trope of a loner tough guy.
3’Sanford and Son' (1972–1978)
Created by Norman Lear
An absolutegame-changing sitcom in the 1970swas the popular and often quotedSanford and Son. The comedy followed Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) as they ran a junk-dealing business in Los Angeles. Humor typically came between the conflicting viewpoints of Lamont and his cantankerous father, who would hurl insults at a rapid-fire rate.
By addressing issues of racism and social inequality through a comedic presentation,Sanford and Sonbroke new ground while getting fantastic ratings. Before there were shows likeGood TimesandThe Jeffersons,Sanford and Sonpaved the way by becoming a hit show that starred a Black cast. A large part of the show’s success was due to Foxx, who was no stranger to the stage, working as a comedian for years beforeSanford and Songave him a larger platform to do a much cleaner version of his act.
Sanford and Son
2’Saturday Night Live' (1975–)
Created by Lorne Michaels
A group of unknown comedic actors helped make history in 1975 whenSaturday Night Liveaired for the first time out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. As one of the longest-running network television shows, the variety show has turned into an institution of comedy history with a legion of die-hard fans. Every generation thinks they were witness to the definitive cast, and it’s likely future generations will continue to think the same.
Saturday Night Livehas, ever since it started, been the destination for comedic talents to announce themselves before conquering the stage, television, and film. With its late-night time slot and enthusiastic approach to delivering edgy comedy that was unheard of for broadcast television,Saturday Night Livegave a platform to actors, musical acts, and comedians looking for the coveted national exposurewith the benefit of creative freedom.
Saturday Night Live
1’All in the Family' (1971–1979)
Equal parts funny and controversial,All in the Familywas the most influential show of the 1970s. The sitcom followed the lives of the Bunker family, with patriarch Archie (Carol O’Connor) ranting his way through each episode at anyone who would listen. Although his wife Edith (Jean Stapleton) was happy to listen, adult daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Michael (Rob Reiner) would challenge his conservative opinions with their liberal views.
All in the Familychallenged the idea of traditional entertainment by injecting realism into its comedy. The concept of a conventional sitcom starring a cheery family was thrown out the window in favor of arguments about politics that mirrored the hostility of real households during a time of rising generational conflict. Archie’s rudeness and resistance to new ideas worked for both sides of the political audience, who each found a different reason to find the main character entertaining.
