Sitcoms have always been a successful genre dating back to the 1950s. However, in the 1970s, sitcoms really began to hit their stride. If one were to look at a list of the most successful sitcoms of all time, there is no doubt that they would find quite a few of them from the 1970s.
The television landscape was changing in the 1970s, and sitcoms reflected it. Several shows began to explore heavier, more controversial topics that contemporary viewers would not even think twice about today. As a result, several 1970s sitcoms had a lasting effect on the genre and are memorable in their own right.
10 All In The Family Took On Tough Topics
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All in the Family followed the Bunker family, led by the patriarch Archie, a working-class family in the 1970s. Archie often bumps heads with his liberal son-in-law Mike over various topics affecting the United States at the time. The series was groundbreaking for tackling issues such as racism, homosexuality, rape, religion, and abortion across its run.
Currently, All in the Family holds the distinction of having the most spin-off shows, with five. The longest-running one was The Jeffersons, led by the Bunker's former neighbors George and Louise Jefferson, which ran for eleven seasons. All in the Family essentially continued with the spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, which ran another four seasons after All in the Family ended.
9 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Was Groundbreaking For Feminism
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a groundbreaking sitcom of the 1970s. Mary Richards, an independent, unmarried thirty-something woman, takes a job at a news station as a producer. The show won 29 Emmy Awards, including three straight wins for Best Comedy Series.
At the time, no shows focused on single women focusing on a career rather than their marital status. The show is often cited for its approach to feminism and having relatable storylines for its characters. The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one of the great shows that had a lasting impact on the sitcom genre.
8 M*A*S*H Still Holds The Record For Most-Watched Series Finale
Often regarded as one of the best sitcoms of all time, M*A*S*H took place during the Korean War and chronicled the everyday life of doctors and nurses at a M*A*S*H unit. The show won 14 Emmy Awards across its 11-season run.
The show also successfully made the transition from comedy to dramedy. In the early seasons, a lot of the humor came from the cast's hijinks, pranks, and camaraderie. In later seasons, the tone shifted to the more serious aspects of war while remaining comedic. M*A*S*H also has the most-watched series finale of all time.
7 Good Times Was One Of The First Shows With An All-Black Cast
A spin-off of the successful sitcom Maude, Good Times focuses on a low-income family living in the housing projects of Chicago. The Evans family works to overcome poverty in the progressive time of the 1970s, and the show features a predominantly all-Black cast. It was the first sitcom to feature an African American two-parent family at the forefront.
Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which was a spin-off of All in the Family, showing how successful creator Norman Lear's reach was on sitcoms in the 1970s. The show is also remembered for Jimmie Walker's performance as J.J. Evans and his signature catchphrase: "dyn-o-mite!"
6 Barney Miller Had Excellent Performances And Writing
Barney Miller followed the 12th precinct of the NYPD as they dealt with the colorful characters that come in and out of the squad room every day. Led by Captain Barney Miller, the ensemble cast won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series in 1982.
The show was unique in its own right as it was structured like a staged play. The main set was the squad room and very rarely brought the story elsewhere. As a result, the show's strength came from its performances and fantastic writing.
5 The Bob Newhart Show Became Involved With Another Series Down The Line
The Bob Newhart Show had Bob Newhart playing a psychologist whose everyday life with his patients, family, and friends made for humorous situations. Newhart actually portrayed his character Bob Hartley in various television shows, including Murphy Brown and Saturday Night Live.
In perhaps one of the most famous moments in television history, the show is directly involved with Bob's second sitcom, Newhart, which ended in 1990. At the very end of Newhart, it turns out the entire show was a dream of Bob Hartley's from The Bob Newhart Show. The ending was unexpected and widely remembered for being perfectly on brand for both series.
4 Fawlty Towers Is One Of The Greatest Sitcoms Despite Only Running For 12 Episodes
Fawlty Towers premiered on BBC in 1975 and featured John Cleese as a hotel owner who tries to run his hotel amidst increasingly demanding and eccentric guests staying at the hotel. The show has the unique distinction of only running for twelve episodes across two seasons, one in 1975 and the other in 1979.
It is remarkable that Fawlty Towers still holds up today and is widely memorable, given that it only ran for twelve episodes. Cleese's performance as Basil Fawlty is iconic, and several other sitcom stars have cited him as an inspiration for their own performances. It's a shame that Fawlty Towers did not go longer, given all its success.
3 Three’s Company Pushed The Envelope As Much As It Could
Three’s Company followed Jack Tripper, who moves into an apartment with Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow. As their landlord Mr. Roper strictly forbids men and women from living together, they tell him Jack is gay in order to allow him to live there.
The show is known for its classic misunderstandings and sexual innuendos that made for some classic comedy. It was also famous for firing star Suzanne Summers who demanded equal pay to John Ritter’s earnings. Chrissy was replaced by Cindy and then later by Terri.
2 The Odd Couple Spawned Many Adaptations
Adapted from Neil Simon’s play, The Odd Couple finds Felix Unger moving in with his old friend Oscar Madison following his divorce. The two could not be more different: Felix is a clean freak, and Oscar is a bit of a slob.
The show is considered one of the funniest sitcoms ever made, and still sports relevance today. It has been adapted on Broadway several times since its inception in 1965. In addition, several film and television adaptations have been made, most recently the 2015 version starring Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon.
1 Happy Days Introduced The Fonz And Jumping The Shark To Pop Culture
Happy Days was one of the staples of 1970s television. Richie Cunningham and his family live in the Midwest in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to Richie and his family, the show also introduced Arthur Fonzarelli, or "the Fonz," played by Henry Winkler. The show ran for 11 seasons and was one of the most successful sitcoms of all time.
One of the ways the show impacted sitcoms forever was with the phrase "jumping the shark." In season 5, while visiting Los Angeles, Fonzie is challenged to jump over a shark on water skis, which he does with great success. The phrase "jumping the shark" was born, referring to when a show has lost its appeal and does something outlandish in order to drum up ratings or attention.