Best Sitcoms of the 70s
It was hard to put these in order as so many of these shows were groundbreaking because of their subject matter (war, single women, African-American families) and the issues they tackled that were considered taboo on T.V. until these shows came along (race relations, divorce/single parents, alcoholism, women's rights, homosexuality, abortion, rape, etc. --these are all funny things, right? ). Norman Lear is to thank for this. He produced All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time.
All in the Family is an American sitcom television series that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network for nine seasons. The show that really started it all in terms of pushing the envelope of what a sitcom could do. It was number one in the ratings for five consecutive years (1971-1976). Spun-off Maude (which spun off Good Times), The Jeffersons, and Gloria.
This was the beginning of a lot of today's shows' direction! They broke a lot of rules but they were very successful.
Groundbreaking and some episodes still hold up to this very day. Also, Archie is hilarious and so is Edith.
Debuting in 1972, this American television series is based on a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker. Centered on a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War, the show blends drama and comedy to explore the lives of military doctors and nurses. The series garnered critical acclaim and became one of... read more It depicted how war could be absurd, poignant, pointless, heartbreaking, and really funny, often simultaneously.
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom television series that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977.
First show to really tackle women's rights with a never-married, career-oriented lead character. Spun-off Rhoda and Phyllis.
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired for eight seasons on ABC from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984. Amazing, classic sitcom filled with lots of misunderstandings and physical comedy. It was very popular in the ratings too at the time. My favorite show of all time.
The second best sitcom, in my book.
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run from January 15, 1974 to September 24, 1984 on ABC, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes. In my top five for favorite sitcoms ever!
The first (and only?) to show a working-poor family (and African-American) struggling to get out of the ghetto.
The Newcomers
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974, on ABC. Yeah, yeah, I know this show wasn't controversial or clever. I suppose the whole blended family was something new. But this show has become a part of American pop culture in a way that perhaps none of the other shows on this list have. It has been airing on some network or TV station nearly continuously for 40 years. And I really loved it when I was a kid, so there's that, too.
One of the best, in my opinion. The movies should have never been made though.
Funniest show I've ever watched. I even bought the DVD sets.
What are you talking 'bout, top tens? I can't believe you didn't put this show on the list! It's an awesome show, and Arnold is so cute.
Another show set in the 50s (and 60s) with two single women as the main characters.
A hilarious top ten show. Definitely better than Good Times.
The Muppet Show is a family-oriented comedy-variety television series that was produced by puppeteer Jim Henson and features The Muppets.
When their respective marriages fall apart, endearing slob Oscar Madison invites his former college friend Felix Unger to move in with him. Right away it becomes obvious that Felix's uptight, neat-freak ways are at odds with his habits, so Oscar worries he has made an enormous mistake, but together... read more