The seventies. The decade of disco, Watergate, Jimmy Carter and Star Wars. Television began reflecting reality and started tackling deeper issues. Comedy had also changed, and the alternative humor of comedy clubs began to invade prime time and late night.

1970

  • PBS is founded.
  • Cigarette ads are banned from television.
  • The Mary Tyler Moore Show premieres on CBS. Lasts until 1977.
  • The Partridge Family premieres on ABC.
  • Monday Night Football on ABC introduces sports to prime time. Moves to ESPN in 2006.
  • The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC.

1971

  • All in the Family premieres on CBS and starts a trend of realism in sitcoms. Lasts until 1977.
  • Crime drama Columbo premieres on NBC.
  • Length of television commercials are shortened to 30 seconds.
  • The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premieres on CBS.
  • Masterpiece Theatre premieres on PBS.
  • The Electric Company premieres on PBS.
  • Upstairs, Downstairs premieres on ITV.
  • Soul Train, the African-American equivalent to American Bandstand, premieres in syndication.

1972

  • HBO is launched.
  • The Waltons premieres on CBS. Lasts until 1981.
  • The Bob Newhart Show premieres on CBS. Lasts until 1978.
  • Kung Fu premieres on ABC.
  • M*A*S*H premieres on CBS. Lasts until 1983.
  • Sanford and Son premieres on NBC.
  • The Price is Right is revived on CBS with host Bob Barker.
  • Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids premieres on CBS.
  • All in the Family spin-off Maude premieres on CBS.

1973

  • Kojak premieres on CBS. First attempt at a realistic portrayal of cops in a scripted series.
  • The Tomorrow Show premieres on NBC with host Tom Snyder.
  • An American Family premieres on PBS.
  • 90 million people watch Billie Jean King defeat Bobby Riggs in the tennis match advertised as the Battle of the Sexes.
  • The Six Million Dollar Man premieres on ABC.
  • Schoolhouse Rock! premieres on ABC.

1974

  • Happy Days premieres on ABC.
  • Little House on the Prairie premieres on NBC.
  • The Rockford Files premieres on NBC.
  • Maude spin-off Good Times premieres on CBS.
  • Mary Tyler Moore spin-off Rhoda premieres on CBS.
  • Nova premieres on PBS.
  • Land of the Lost premieres on NBC.

1975

  • Wheel of Fortune premieres on NBC with host Chuck Woolery.
  • All in the Family spin-off The Jeffersons premieres on CBS.
  • One Day at a Time premieres on CBS.
  • Starsky & Hutch premieres on ABC.
  • Welcome Back, Kotter premieres on ABC.
  • Saturday Night Live premieres on NBC with host George Carlin.
  • Barney Miller premieres on ABC.
  • Good Morning America premieres on ABC.
  • Fawlty Towers premieres on BBC2.
  • People‘s Choice Awards are televised for the first time on CBS.
  • Lynda Carter debuts as Wonder Woman.

1976

  • Showtime is launched.
  • Soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman premieres in syndication.
  • The Bionic Woman premieres on ABC.
  • Happy Days spin-off Laverne & Shirley premieres on ABC.
  • The Muppet Show premieres in syndication.
  • Charlie‘s Angels premieres on ABC.
  • Family Feud premieres on ABC with host Richard Dawson.
  • The Gong Show premieres on NBC with host Chuck Barris.

1977

  • Nickelodeon is launched.
  • Roots premieres on ABC.
  • Three‘s Company premieres on ABC.
  • Soap premieres on ABC.
  • The Love Boat premieres on ABC. Lasts until 1986.
  • CHiPs premieres on NBC.

1978

  • Diff’rent Strokes premieres on NBC.
  • Fantasy Island premieres on ABC.
  • Dallas premieres on CBS.
  • Taxi premieres on ABC.
  • Happy Days spin-off Mork & Mindy premieres on ABC.
  • Battlestar Galactica premieres on ABC.
  • 20/20 premieres on ABC.
  • Lou Ferrigno debuts as The Incredible Hulk.

1979

  • ESPN is launched.
  • C-SPAN is launched.
  • The Dukes of Hazzard premieres on CBS.
  • Mystery series Hart to Hart premieres on ABC.
  • Soap opera Knots Landing premieres on CBS.
  • Diff’rent Strokes spin-off The Facts of Life premieres on NBC.
  • Soap spin-off Benson premieres on ABC.