The cast of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' togetherImage via CBS
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Brad LaCour
Published Jan 30, 2026, 8:45 PM EST
Brad LaCour is a Senior List Writer for Collider. Based out of Los Angeles, California, Brad lives close enough to the stars but is too busy to find out where exactly they live. Brad is fairly certain he's seen Paul Stanley twice in a grocery store, but was too afraid to ask.
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There are a handful of shows from every decade that are so good, they’re the reason why reruns exist. Take the 1970s, for instance, where some of the most popular dramas and comedies continue to influence the medium into the present day. They made audiences laugh and cry, and are considered examples of excellence by fans who still revisit them.
Masterpiece isn’t a word that should be thrown around loosely, but the following shows from the '70s unquestionably deserve the title. The following '70s shows defined an era, introduced iconic characters, and told stories that became instant classics.
6 'The Bob Newhart Show' (1972–1978)
Dr. Robert Hartley looking confused in The Bob Newhart ShowImage via CBS
In a crowded lineup of sitcoms, The Bob Newhart Show stood out from the pack thanks to the unique and original voice of its leading man. Comedian Bob Newhart starred as Robert “Bob” Hartley, a psychologist who lived with his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) in Chicago, Illinois. During the day, the audience would see Bob’s work life at a medical building, where he saw clients and passed the time with the other professionals who practiced nearby. At home, Bob and Emily would share what happened in their days before being typically interrupted by their unfiltered but well-meaning neighbor, Howard (Bill Daily).
The series took advantage of Newhart’s extremely popular stand-up routines, where the comedian would engage in humorous phone conversations, setting them within the fiction of the show as client consultations. Possessing a reserved demeanor that concealed a razor-sharp wit, Newhart’s smooth transition from stage performer to sitcom star turned him into a household name with a growing audience of fans. Where other sitcoms of the era were still rooted in broader sensibilities that loaded a cast with big personalities, the humor in The Bob Newhart Show was conversational and intelligent, with the writing accessible to the point where the episodes still hold up against modern comedies. The Bob Newhart Show would end after six seasons, but for Newhart, this was only one of the first steps in a lengthy and successful television career.
5 'Roots' (1977)
LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte with shackles around his hands is whipped in Roots.Image via ABC
When discussing masterpieces of ‘70s television, not many shows can boast the same level of cultural impact that Roots had on audiences of the era. Based on Alex Haley’s novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Roots details the bloodline of the Haley family back to their arrival in America via the enslavement of Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton), a young African man. From the horrors of slavery up through the tumultuous years of the Civil War and beyond, viewers are confronted with the harsh truths that served as milestones in the history of the nation.
Between a star-studded cast that featured names such as James Earl Jones, John Amos, and Louis Gossett Jr., and production qualities typically only seen in film, Roots quickly established itself as one of the most groundbreaking miniseries ever made. The sheer scope of the story, along with an unflinching, truthful portrayal of slavery’s brutality and the efforts to systemically dehumanize a group of people, opened up a national discourse and played a role in revolutionizing what topics could be explored on network television. Over 100 million viewers would tune in to watch Roots, making it a phenomenon for the small screen that would go on to win nine Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award. The landmark miniseries would spawn two sequels, Roots: The Next Generation and Roots: The Gift.
4 'M*A*S*H' (1972–1983)
McLean Stevenson and Gary Burghoff as Henry Blake and Radar on M*A*S*H.Image via CBS
Sitcoms of the '70s were aggressively redefining the parameters of the genre, but none were able to successfully combine comedy and drama in the way M*A*S*H did. Set during the Korean War, M*A*S*H took viewers into a US Army Surgical Camp set-up in South Korea, with each episode a mixture of hospital drama, gallows humor, and wit. Front and center, doing a little of all three was Alan Alda as Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce, a talented surgeon constantly in search of a distraction from the bloodshed he patched up on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. At the start of the series, Hawkeye’s partner in crime, fellow surgeon “Trapper” John McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), offered friendship and a hand in schemes to boost morale, even if the morale in question was limited to them exclusively.
Comedies were known to have the occasional plot that covered a serious issue, but every episode of M*A*S*H dealt with death, trauma, and the lasting impact both had on a psyche that was exposed to it regularly. Over 11 seasons, the characters grew as people, forming friendships with those they previously saw as enemies, and the changes felt natural and earned. M*A*S*H relayed its anti-war message through a celebration of life found in the humorous moments, and by having its doctors and nurses know when to joke and when to lend a hand of support. Even though the sitcom had a rocky start with poor ratings in its first season, M*A*S*H would set a long-held record for most-watched finale of all time, drawing in more than an estimated 100 million viewers.
3 'The Rockford Files' (1974–1980)
Jim Rockford smiles in The Rockford Files.Image via NBC
One of the very best TV detectives of all time was introduced to viewers in The Rockford Files. The series followed Jim Rockford (James Garner), a man who was pardoned due to a wrongful conviction after spending five years behind bars. Now working as a private detective in the Los Angeles area, Jim takes on small cases to get by. Episodes would see Jim take on a new case that usually left him afoul of the law, forcing Jim to think outside the box to help his client and stave off a return visit to prison.
The detective genre has always been a reliable ratings draw for television, but The Rockford Files put a new spin on the formula by having a lead who was comfortable working outside the law if it meant justice was served. Garner was charming and cunning as Rockford, a man who regularly faced danger but used quick-thinking to survive, solve the case, and hopefully, get paid. The Rockford Files remains relevant with a timeless appeal thanks to a combination of clever writing, compelling mysteries, and the effortless everyman likability of Garner. Garner’s declining health would limit The Rockford Files to six seasons, but the character would continue to return to the small screen in multiple made-for-TV movies featuring a new case for Rockford to solve.
2 'All in the Family' (1971–1979)
Rob Reiner, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, and Carroll O'Connor in a cast photo for 'All in the Family'.Image via CBS
Provocative, groundbreaking, and irreverent, All in the Family remains one of the most influential sitcoms ever made. The comedy took viewers into the Bunker household, where cantankerous patriarch Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) held court, sharing his strongly worded opinions to anyone close by. Opposing Archie’s conservative ideals were his daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike (Rob Reiner), who lived with him, while kindly matriarch Edith (Jean Stapleton) attempted to keep the peace. Episodes frequently explored hot-button issues in the form of arguments between Archie and virtually every other member of the cast.
Adapted from the British sitcom Til Death Us Do Part, producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin adjusted the humor with a slightly softened tone from its overseas counterpart, keen on keeping the explosive dialogue paired with a well-timed joke. With the closest comparison being something like The Honeymooners a few decades prior, there weren’t any sitcoms on American television reflecting the unrest about current events in working-class households. Both sides of an argument were represented between Archie and Mike, and each had the capability to look foolish or intelligent by the time the scene was wrapping up. Most importantly, All in the Family never forgot that the family cared about one another despite their differences, and the duality of their relationships made for classic television for all nine seasons of the sitcom.
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1 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' (1970–1977)
The cast of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' togetherImage via CBS
If a masterpiece is defined by an overall continued excellence in programming, then The Mary Tyler Moore Show is at the top of the list. The sitcom followed Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), a woman who left a failed long-term relationship to move to a new city and start a life where she could focus on a career. Setting down roots in Minneapolis, Mary finds a job and a surrogate family at the fictional TV station WJM. The series would split focus between her work life and personal life, chronicling Mary’s perseverance to find success in both avenues while remaining upbeat and independent.
Much can be said about The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s groundbreaking decision to establish Mary as a professional who would not be defined by a romantic relationship, and while that is completely true, the show is also just comedic perfection. Mary’s co-workers were all skilled joke machines, and whether it was direct-to-the-point boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner) or the vain and inept news anchor Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), there was always the highest level of talent on screen. The series helped to popularize the concept of a definitive end by giving audiences one of the best series finales of all time, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s legacy continued on in the form of spinoffs, Rhoda, Phyllis, and the Peabody-award-winning Lou Grant.
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show
NR
Comedy
Release Date
1970 - 1977-00-00
Network
CBS
Showrunner
James L. Brooks, Allan Burns
Directors
Jay Sandrich, Peter Baldwin, Alan Rafkin, James Burrows, Jerry Belson, Jerry Paris, Joan Darling, Nancy Walker, George Tyne, Herbert Kenwith, Jackie Cooper, Mary Tyler Moore, Mel Ferber, Peter Bonerz, Stuart Margolin, Bruce Bilson
Cast
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Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Richards
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Ed Asner
Lou Grant
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show
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