Originally by Ranker TVList RulesVote up the greatest TV shows that aired between 1970 and 1979.
List of the best TV shows from the 1970s, as ranked by television fans. The '70s were when television really pushed the limits of what could be shown. Shows like "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," "Maude," and "Sanford and Son" changed the face of television by including social commentary in between the laughs-a-minute. These shows pushed the limits of what could be discussed on television more than ever before. They were the foundation for what shows could get away with and talk about in later decades, including subjects like poverty, racism, abortion, rape, and abuse.
Lighter sitcoms like "The Brady Bunch," "Three’s Company," and "Laverne & Shirley" were also huge hits due to their entertainment factor. Action shows were also extremely popular in the 70s, with shows like "Charlie’s Angels," "Ironside, and "The Six Million Dollar Man" bringing in huge ratings. Variety shows also made their mark on television, including the massive hit "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour."
What is your favorite '70s program? Which top shows from the 1970s deserve to be remembered for years to come? This list includes the highest rated and most talked about shows that aired in the 70s.
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2,500889M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne RogersPremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
M*A*S*H is an American television series developed by Larry Gelbart, adapted from the 1970... more
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2,110746Happy Days
Ron Howard, Henry WinklerPremiered: 1974
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Musical, Comedy, Family Film
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that aired first-run from January 15, 1974, to... more3
1,913727The Carol Burnett Show
Carol Burnett, Vicki LawrencePremiered: 1967
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Variety show, Sketch, Comedy
The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol... more4
2,033808All in the Family
Carroll O'Connor, Jean StapletonPremiered: 1971
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television... more5
1,740695The Rockford Files
James Garner, Noah Beery Jr.Premiered: 1974
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Action/Adventure, Police procedural, Crime, Drama
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series starring James Garner that aired on... more6
1,596639WKRP in Cincinnati
Gary Sandy, Gordon JumpPremiered: 1978
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy television series that features the... more7
1,477590Sanford and Son
Redd Foxx, Demond WilsonPremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Sanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC... more8
1,578663Three's Company
John Ritter, Joyce DeWittPremiered: 1977
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977 to September 18, 1984 on... more9
1,617701Columbo
Peter Falk, Mike LallyPremiered: 1968
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Columbo is an American television series starring Peter Falk as a detective with the Los... more10
1,464609The Six Million Dollar Man
Lee Majors, Richard AndersonPremiered: 1974
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with... more11
1,288553Laverne & Shirley
Penny Marshall, Cindy WilliamsPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Laverne & Shirley is an American television sitcom that ran on ABC from January 27, 1976 to... more12
1,456631Taxi
Judd Hirsch, Jeff ConawayPremiered: 1978
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Taxi is an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to... more13
1,163345The Scooby-Doo Show
Casey Kasem, Frank WelkerPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Animation, Animated cartoon, Children's television series, Mystery, Comedy
The Scooby-Doo Show is the blanket name for the episodes from the third incarnation of the... more14
986386The Muppet Show
Jim Henson, Frank OzPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Sketch comedy, Variety show, Children's television series, Live action, Comedy
The Muppet Show is a family-oriented comedy-variety television series that was produced by... more15
1,302555Welcome Back, Kotter
Gabe Kaplan, Ron PalilloPremiered: 1975
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
Welcome Back, Kotter (ABC, 1975) is an American television sitcom. Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan)... more16
1,247517Little House on the Prairie
Cameron Bancroft, Erin CottrellPremiered: 2005
Genres (Tv): Miniseries, Children's television series
Little House on the Prairie, also known as Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie,... more17
1,518662The Brady Bunch
Robert Reed, Florence HendersonPremiered: 1969
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Children's television series, Comedy, Family Film
The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that originally aired from... more18
1,229539The Jeffersons
Isabel Sanford, Sherman HemsleyPremiered: 1975
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through... more19
1,437680The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mary Tyler Moore, Edward AsnerPremiered: 1970
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and... more20
823281Schoolhouse Rock
Blossom Dearie, Jack SheldonPremiered: 1973
Genres (Tv): Education, Animation, Children's television series, Educational television, Musical
Schoolhouse Rock! is an American interstitial programming series of animated musical... more21
1,266567Mork & Mindy
Robin Williams, Pam DawberPremiered: 1978
Genres (Tv): Soap opera, Sitcom, Comedy, Science Fiction
Mork & Mindy is an American sitcom broadcast from 1978 to 1982 on ABC. It stars Robin Williams... more22
1,252574Charlie's Angels
Kate Jackson, Farrah FawcettPremiered: 1976
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Action/Adventure, Police procedural, Adventure film, Action
Charlie's Angels is an American drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22,... more23
1,306604The Odd Couple
Jack Klugman, Tony RandallPremiered: 1970
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Odd Couple, formally titled onscreen Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, is an American... more24
1,222597The Bob Newhart Show
Bob Newhart, Suzanne PleshettePremiered: 1972
Genres (Tv): Sitcom, Comedy
The Bob Newhart Show is an American situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired... more25
1,209438The Dukes of Hazzard
Tom Wopat, John SchneiderPremiered: 1979
Genres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Comedy-drama, Comedy
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network... more
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