70s Primetime Favorites
I know the 70s had its share of clinkers, but I remember so many great tv shows. Reality programming consisted of a Presidential newscast or coverage of the space program. There were a whole lot of "wacka-wacka" soundtracks and plenty of jiggling, as the decade came to a close. These were some of my favorites and some that were groundbreaking but not really in my viewing.
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- CreatorCharles Marquis WarrenClyde WareStarsJames ArnessMilburn StoneAmanda BlakeMarshal Matt Dillon keeps the peace in rough-and-tumble Dodge City.This was still on, but needed more gunfights, for my childhood tastes.
- CreatorPaul HenningStarsBuddy EbsenDonna DouglasIrene RyanA nouveau-riche hillbilly family moves to Beverly Hills and shakes up the privileged society with their hayseed ways.This was coming to an end, as the decade dawned. The show was still popular, but CBS wanted to change its image and cancelled all of the rural shows in one fell swoop.
- CreatorPaul HenningStarsEdgar BuchananLinda HenningBea BenaderetThe misadventures of the family staff of The Shady Rest Hotel and their neighbors of Hooterville.The second victim in the CBS purge. The show had kind of run its course but was still popular. I had a huge crush on Meredith McRae, and I was a young tyke. Who says girls are icky?
- CreatorSol SaksStarsElizabeth MontgomeryDick YorkDick SargentA witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces.This was still going, though coming to the end. Call me a heretic, but I liked Dick Sargent better.
- CreatorJay SommersStarsEddie AlbertEva GaborTom LesterA New York City attorney and his wife attempt to live as genteel farmers in the bizarre community of Hooterville.Another victim of the CBS purge, again, while the show was still doing well in the ratings.
- CreatorSidney SheldonStarsBarbara EdenLarry HagmanBill DailyA United States astronaut finds his life vastly complicated when he stumbles on to a bottle containing a female genie.An Astronaut lands off course on a remote island, where he finds a strange bottle. Of course, there is a genie inside. Fun series that mixed interest in the space program with comedy and magical hijinks. It finished up at the dawn of the 70s, with Jeanie and Maj. Nelson marrying.
- StarsEfrem Zimbalist Jr.Philip AbbottWilliam ReynoldsThe cases of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.Still going strong, through the ealy 70s. A Quinn Martin Production! (said with an urgency as if the world depended on it).
- CreatorMel BrooksBuck HenryStarsDon AdamsBarbara FeldonEdward PlattMaxwell Smart, a highly intellectual but bumbling spy working for the CONTROL agency, battles the evil forces of rival spy agency KAOS with the help of his competent partner Agent 99.Legendary spy spoof, from Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Don Adams is a hapless spy, while Ed Platt is the long suffering Chief. Barbara Feldon is the sexy Agent 99. This ended at the dawn of the 70s.
- CreatorBernard FeinAlbert S. RuddyStarsBob CraneWerner KlempererJohn BannerThe inmates of a German World War II prisoner of war camp conduct an espionage and sabotage campaign right under the noses of their warders.Another 60s show that finished up in the 70s. Bob Crane stars as Col. Hogan, who leads his group of POWs on sabotage missions, underneath the clueless noses of Col. Klink and Sgt. Schultz (who sees everything but "Knows nothing!").
- CreatorDon FeddersonEdmund L. HartmannStarsBrian KeithKathy GarverAnissa JonesBill's comfortable lifestyle must change when he receives a group of unexpected long-term guests.Still on when we were little, so it was approved vieweing. I thought it was corny even as a tyke.
- CreatorJack WebbStarsJack WebbHarry MorganDon RossPolice Detective Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners investigate crimes in Los Angeles.This was still going when I was little. It was kind of dull, compared to things like Adam 12 or the Rookies.
- StarsCarol BurnettVicki LawrenceThe Ernie Flatt DancersTelevision show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.This was CBS, which we couldn't tune in well, so I only saw it occassionally. Usually when they were doing the "family" sketches. I got to see more of it when they syndicated it as Carol Burnett and Friends.
- CreatorDigby WolfeStarsDan RowanDick MartinGary OwensThe original rapid fire sketch comedy show.Still going strong in the 70s. My parents were pretty much middle of the road, but my dad enjoyed Arte Johnson and Ruth Buzzi, as did we kids. Sock it to me!
- CreatorCollier YoungStarsRaymond BurrDon GallowayDon MitchellWheelchair-using, crime-fighting detective Robert T. Ironside battles the bad guys on the streets of San Francisco.Raymond Burr was still going strong as the wheelchair-bound detective. I was pretty young when this was on, so I don't remember much.
- CreatorBruce GellerRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsMike ConnorsGail FisherWard WoodPrivate detective Joe Mannix uses force to solve crimes.Another 60s detective show that was still going in the 70s, with Mike Connors as the tough hero.
- CreatorTony BarrettHarve BennettSammy HessStarsMichael ColeClarence Williams IIIPeggy LiptonA trio of reformed juvenile delinquents work as undercover cops.I remember this being on and I remember Linc; but that's about it.
- CreatorLeonard FreemanStarsJack LordJames MacArthurKam FongThe investigations of Hawaii Five-0, an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police answerable only to the governor and headed by stalwart Steve McGarrett.Book 'em Dano! The coolest theme song led to one crime drama after another, with McGarret and the gang. They drew quality guest stars, no doubt looking for a free trip to Hawaii.
- CreatorMilt JosefsbergRay SingerStarsLucille BallGale GordonLucie ArnazLucy Carter, a widow with two teen children, takes a job as a secretary for her stuffy brother-in-law.Lucille Ball carried over her series into the 70s, featuring various guest stars who Lucy would encounter. It wasn't nearly as funny as I love Lucy or the previous Lucy Show, but it was popular enough.
- CreatorRobert A. CinaderJack WebbStarsMartin MilnerKent McCordShaaron ClaridgeTwo regular police officers patrol Los Angeles.My first cop show. Kent McCord was my favorite of the pair. All I can remember is the dispatcher's voice.
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.I mostly saw the later seasons, but caught everything in syndication. It seems corny as heck today, but it was fun when you were a kid.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksStarsLloyd HaynesDenise NicholasMichael ConstantineTeacher Pete Dixon tries to teach the students at Walt Whitman High to be tolerant. He's assisted by girlfriend and school counselor, Liz and student teacher (later teacher) Alice. The students love him.My dad was a science teacher and my mom had been a music teacher, so we were right at home with this series. It was a time of social consciousness and this show reeks of it. Very well done, though.
- CreatorBill CosbyEd. WeinbergerMichael ZagorStarsBill CosbyJoyce BulifantOlga JamesChet Kincaid, gym teacher at an inner-city Los Angeles high school, deals with students, Principal Langford and counselor Marsha Peterson. He lives with his mother Rose, brother Brian, and sister-in-law Verna, who focus on his social life.This just made it into the 70s, wil Bill playing a high school PE teacher and basketball coach. It wasn't bad, but wasn't quite up to either Fat Albert or Cosby Show standards.
- StarsStuart MargolinBarbara MinkusWilliam CallawayAn anthology comedy series featuring a line up of different celebrity guest stars appearing in anywhere from one, two, three, and four short stories or vignettes within an hour about versions of love and romance.The only thing I can recall is the opening and hazy memories of ugly clothes and bad hairstyles; but, you can say that about most shows from the 70s.
- StarsBill BixbyBrandon CruzMiyoshi UmekiWidower Tom Corbett raises his young son Eddie.One of our favorites as kids. Bill Bixby made a great father.
- CreatorDavid VictorStarsRobert YoungJames BrolinElena VerdugoDr. Marcus Welby, a general practitioner, and Steven Kiley, Welby's young assistant. The two try to treat people as individuals in an age of specialized medicine and indifferent physicians.I always wanted him to be my doctor, instead of the one who kept using me as a pincushion.