TV shows of the Nineteen Seventies dared to cover social topics that few could handle in many years prior. Here are the highest 7, plus where to look at them.
Sitcoms have a protracted and wealthy history within the context of popular culture, dating all the way in which back to the glory days of I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners within the Nineteen Fifties. A mirrored image of the last decade they were produced inside, these series had a way of maintaining with modern culture, integrating the continued social trends of their day into each of their many episodes.
That being said, what number of many years were as culturally diverse because the Nineteen Seventies–a decade marred by rapid advancements in technology, the slow decline of the peace-loving hippie movement, and political controversies left and right? Just because the ‘70s themselves proved an eventful period in international and domestic politics, television underwent the same transformation, shying away from the standard family values of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and weaving in additional unconventional thematic topics related to race, war, the LGBTQ+ community, and teenage angst.
All within the Family
Paving the way in which for later series like Seinfeld, All within the Family made a habit of exploring difficult-to-broach talking points, a lot of which reflected the changes brought on by the Nineteen Seventies. Set in a median blue-collar American household, All within the Family illustrated the profound range of differences between conservative baby boomers just like the famously coarse Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) and his more liberal relations. As funny because it was thought-provoking, All within the Family handled each of its thematic issues with surprising poignancy, whether discussing racism, feminism, anti-Semitism, extramarital affairs, or the Vietnam War. Watch All within the Family on FreeVee.
M*A*S*H
Given how singularly incredible Robert Altman’s version of M*A*S*H had been in 1970, it gave the impression of it will take a really spectacular TV show to live as much as the aforementioned film. Fortunately, 1972’s M*A*S*H shattered everyone’s expectations, ushering in a wartime TV show that toed the road between comedy and drama. Satirizing military bureaucracy and regularly stating the utter absurdity of life on the battlefield, M*A*S*H made for a profoundly humanistic TV show, supporting the concept that we’re all still people at the tip of the day, no matter our individual nationalities or the colour of our uniforms. Watch M*A*S*H on Hulu.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Perhaps essentially the most revolutionary TV series since I Love Lucy 20 years prior, The Mary Tyler Moore Show went hand-in-hand with latest topical discussions happening in larger popular culture–namely, the concept that a female comedian could have her own sitcom. Breaking pre-established norms when it got here to female representation, Mary Tyler Moore’s lead character personified the rapid social changes of the Nineteen Seventies, often leading her to clash together with her more traditional-minded coworkers. With discussions starting from casual dating to equal pay within the workplace, The Mary Tyler Moore Show wound up being a groundbreaking series in additional ways than one. Watch The Mary Tyler Moore Show on Hulu.
The Bob Newhart Show
In his regular stand-up routines, Bob Newhart mastered the art of subtly, gauging audiences’ interest along with his dialed-back delivery and relevant observational humor. Applying this characteristic to his own sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show carried that tradition forward, constructing a series around Newhart’s deadpan psychologist, Dr. Robert Hartley. With lots of the jokes delivered courtesy of its exceptional supporting forged, The Bob Newhart Show never didn’t get fun when audiences least expected it, whether in the shape of a quip from Robert’s sarcastic wife (Suzanne Pleshette) or any considered one of his eccentric patients. Watch The Bob Newhart Show on Amazon Video.
Taxi
In theory, much of Taxi’s success might be attributed to 1 thing above all else: its forged. With an ensemble lineup that included Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch, Christopher Lloyd, and Andy Kaufman, Taxi read like a who’s who of Nineteen Seventies comedy, with each a16ctor expertly forged of their respective role. Added to that was the show’s impeccable writing and topical discussions of New York’s working-class communities, populated by characters struggling to eke out a living while pursuing their dream careers. Watch Taxi on Paramount+.
Soap
A series well ahead of its time, Soap took all of the foremost conventions and stereotypes related to soap operas and turned them on their head. Cobbling together such high-concept ideas as infidelity, alien invasions, demonic possessions, and murder plots (amongst others), Soap proved that no storyline was too daring or melodramatic for its regular narratives. For anyone who harbors a fierce hatred for shows like General Hospital or The Young & The Restless, Soap is as cathartic because it is hilariously over-the-top. Watch Soap on Tubi.
Happy Days
Virtually everyone associates Happy Days with Henry Winkler’s breakout character, the effortlessly suave Fonzie. While Happy Days became increasingly geared across the Fonz, at its heart, the series provided a light-hearted take a look at Nineteen Fifties American suburbia, a decade torn between the conservative ‘40s and the ultra-radical ‘60s. Through its endearing portrait of youth culture, Happy Days became a sensational success within the mid Nineteen Seventies, running for a complete of 11 seasons and triggering acclaimed spin-off series in Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy. Watch Happy Days on Amazon Prime.
