All In the Family

Many say that the popularity of sitcoms rose in the 1970s and made way for many hilarious shows to come. Do you remember gathering together with your family in the evenings to watch your favorite sitcoms together? The best shows were the ones that made you laugh and cry on a regular basis and became cult classics for years to come. Here is a list of some of the best sitcoms that came out in the '70s. Which ones are your favorites? 1. All in the Family Wikipedia All in the Family aired from 1971 to 1979 and was originally broadcast on CBS. It focused on a working-class man and his family. It was one of the first shows to touch on controversial topics like rape, religion, racism, homosexuality, and much more. The show is now said to be one of the most important sitcoms of all time because it raised such important issues on the show. It became the first television series in history to top the Nielsen ratings for five years in a row. 2. M*A*S*H Wikimedia Commons M*A*S*H followed a group of characters in the fictional "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H)". It was set during the Korean War and loosely based on a real MASH unit. While the show started in 1972, it went on until 1983, with the most watched finale episode of all time. 3. Happy Days Wikimedia Commons Everyone knows the theme song to Happy Days. It premiered in 1974 and did not go off the air until 1984. The show focused on the lives of teenagers in the 1950s to 1960s. You likely remember Richie, The Fonz, and all of their friends. It was one of the biggest hits on television at the time. 4. The Mary Tyler Moore Show Wikimedia Commons The Mary Tyler Moore Show, of course, starred Mary Tyler Moore. She played Mary Richards, an unmarried, independent woman who focuses on her career in the news. It was pretty new that a show focused on an independent woman in the 1970s. The show is remembered for its realistic characters and storylines and received tons of awards during its run. 5. Three's Company Wikimedia Commons Come and knock on our door... Three's Company was a sitcom that focused on three single roommates, two women, and one man. They all lived together as friends in a California apartment. They often got into fights and the show focused on their social lives and financial troubles. The show also inspired several spin-offs including Three's a Crowd. Read on to the next page for even more 1970s sitcoms to remember! 6. The Brady Bunch Wikimedia Commons The Brady Bunch was an iconic American sitcom that focused on a blended family of a remarried couple with six children collectively. The series was actually never a huge success during its original run but became a cult classic in the years to come. They also had many spin-off series and films including A Very Brady Christmas. Recently, the home that was the outside of the Brady house on television was bought by HGTV. There will be a new renovation show where they make the inside look exactly like the one on television and the Brady kids will be helping out. 7. The Odd Couple Wikimedia Commons The Odd Couple aired from 1970 to 1975 on ABC. It was based on a play and movie that was written by Neil Simon. It focuses on two divorced men who share a Manhatten apartment. Their different lifestyles led to lots of funny situations. 8. The Bob Newhart Show Wikimedia Commons The Bob Newhart Show was about a psychologist and his relationship with his wife, friends, patients, and co-workers. Bob Newhart is a comedian and he often put gags from his stand up comedy in the show, including his famous one-sided telephone conversations. The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience from 1972 to 1978. 9. Gilligan's Island Flickr The series focused on seven castaways on an island while they tried to survive. Gilligan was the accident-prone First Mate who frequently messed up their attempts to escape the island. It was fairly popular during its three-season run, but gained more popularity in the years to come, and is now a cult classic. 10. Sanford and Son Wikimedia Commons Sanford and Son ran from 1972 and 1977 on BBC. It was known for its funny catchphrases and edgy humor. It focused on Fred G. Sanford and his son, Lamont Sanford living in Los Angeles and working as junk dealers. The show was said to be adapted from All in the Family. Which shows do you remember watching in the 1970s? What other shows were your favorites? If you enjoyed this list, please SHARE with your friends and reminisce about watching these hilarious sitcoms!