Did you know that back in the 1970s, primetime television shows could routinely get approximately 90% of all television viewers to tune in? With the sheer number of TV shows that exist now, such a viewing phenomenon is unlikely to ever happen again. However, in the 70s, TV was still a communal experience we could all enjoy as one. Cox Cable is the best option for both TV and internet plans also.
Perhaps you have recently run out of good shows to watch. Or are looking for something different to switch up your viewing routine. Why not try something from one of television’s most formative and beloved eras? Here are five essential 1970s TV shows you should watch:
1. Columbo
As the unforgettable Peter Falk taught us, sometimes the easiest way to make a suspected criminal sweat is not to play the “bad cop”. Instead, you can calmly keep saying “Just one more thing” and watch their stress levels spike.
Columbo subverted the formula of crime television shows by revealing its perps at the beginning of the episode rather than the end, making a mainstay of the simple act of seeing how Columbo catches them.
2. Sanford and Son
Even if you think you don’t know this series’s iconic theme, odds are you still do.
With one unforgettable saxophone riff, Fred and Lamont Sanford’s hustling and bickering left their mark on millions of TV viewers. In direct contrast with the “Archie Bunkers” of the TV landscape, its racial humor pushed boundaries and was beloved as one of the best sitcoms by diverse audiences nationwide.
3. M*A*S*H
There’s a reason almost anyone old enough to remember it can tell you where they were on the day M*A*S*H aired its final episode.
For 11 seasons, the series chronicled the lives of Korean War doctors and nurses, leaving millions of viewers. Helpless toward feeling like they were growing right alongside them. Exploring grim realities of war alongside quips and laughs, it is still known today as one of the best TV shows of the 70s and 80s.
4. Fawlty Towers
Best known as John Cleese’s first big post-Monty Python TV hit, Fawlty Towers‘ formula was simple: Cleese as a hotel owner, slowly losing all composure as he struggles to accommodate his guests.
It was laugh-out-loud funny then, still laugh-out-loud funny now, and is only two seasons long. What more could you need?
5. Little House On The Prairie
By the 70s, many considered Westerns to be a dying trend of the 60s’ “Golden Age of Hollywood”, but the wholesome Little House on The Prairie might have been the one exception that proved the rule.
Based on a series of children’s books set in the American frontier, it proved one of the ultimate family TV shows of the 70s. Many enjoyed watching the young cast grow up, though even more interesting is seeing where the Little House On The Prairie cast has gone since!
Which 1970s TV Shows Will You Watch?
The sooner you take your pick from some of the finest 1970s TV shows, the sooner you’ll want another classic to enjoy!
Stay tuned to The Adventure Trip for more of the latest and hottest recommendations in TV, entertainment, and more!
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