The 1970s gave us cozy living rooms, wood paneling, and weeknight TV that felt like a family ritual. Below you will find ten shows that once owned the airwaves, filled playground chatter, and inspired lunchbox art. If a title rings a bell you have not heard in years, mission accomplished. Warm up your memory with our 70s Music Quiz, take the Logo Quiz, and queue a few tracks from our Best 70s Songs hub.
Quick Guide: 10 Shows at a Glance
| Show | Years | Genre | Why We Loved It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Island | 1977–1984 | Fantasy drama | Wishes granted, twist endings |
| CHiPs | 1977–1983 | Action drama | Freeway heroics, California sunshine |
| Soap | 1977–1981 | Satirical soap | Wild plots, sharp parody |
| Kolchak: The Night Stalker | 1974–1975 | Horror mystery | Monster of the week chills |
| Land of the Lost | 1974–1976 | Sci fi adventure | Dinosaurs on Saturday morning |
| The Six Million Dollar Man | 1973–1978 | Sci fi action | Bionic stunts, slow motion cool |
| The Love Boat | 1977–1987 | Romantic comedy | Guest stars and happy endings |
| The Rockford Files | 1974–1980 | Detective drama | Charming antihero, witty cases |
| WKRP in Cincinnati | 1978–1982 | Workplace sitcom | Radio hijinks, heart under the jokes |
| The Electric Company | 1971–1977 | Kids edutainment | Reading skills with groove |
Fantasy Island
Mr. Roarke and Tattoo welcomed guests to a tropical resort where wishes came true, usually with a sly life lesson attached. The anthology vibe meant you could jump in any week and still get a complete morality tale wrapped in vacation glamour. Kids repeated “The plane, the plane” on playgrounds while parents leaned in for the twist. It endures because it let viewers explore what they really wanted and then asked if the cost felt worth it.
CHiPs
Ponch and Jon patrolled sun baked California highways, rescuing stranded drivers and untangling freeway chaos with easy charm. Stunt-heavy episodes delivered shiny motorcycle heroics without the grim edge that later cop shows embraced. Producers often stitched real traffic footage into chases, which is why the sun always seemed golden and the asphalt endless. Comfort TV with sirens, it sold a friendly version of public service and a postcard Los Angeles many still daydream about.
Soap
A prime-time parody of daytime melodrama, Soap stacked bonkers cliffhangers on top of surprisingly warm character beats. It mocked soap tropes while quietly admitting that audiences love them for a reason. The breathless cold-open recaps became a running joke, like a carnival barker daring you not to watch. It feels modern because it winks at TV itself, letting viewers be in on the joke while still caring who ends up happy.
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Chicago’s rumpled night reporter chased vampires, lizard men, and urban legends with a pocket recorder and pure stubbornness. Episodes played like pulp paperbacks, mixing newsroom sarcasm with alleyway chills. The monster-of-the-week rhythm later inspired cult hits that blend case files with horror. It still works because Kolchak feels human and underfunded, proving curiosity and grit can be scarier than fangs.
The Six Million Dollar Man
After a catastrophic crash, Steve Austin returned with bionic strength, speed, and that unforgettable rising synth every time he jumped. The show walked a cheerful line between spy adventure and superhero wish fulfillment, keeping danger big and blood low. Toy aisles echoed the craze with peel-back forearms and mission kits that made kids feel futuristic. Today it plays like a bright forefather to tech-hero stories that promise better living through gadgets.
The Love Boat
Each week a cruise ship set sail with guest stars, mix-ups, and tidy resolutions that landed before dessert. Stories were light on cynicism and heavy on second chances, which made it perfect weeknight wind-down television. The theme alone could lift a mood, and the crew became the cozy constants in a sea of rotating faces. It survives on charm, reminding viewers that sometimes the fantasy is simple kindness and a sunset.
Land of the Lost
Saturday mornings went prehistoric with sleestaks hissing in caves, stop motion dinosaurs stomping through valleys, and crystal portals that rearranged reality. The effects were charmingly handmade, which made the danger feel oddly close to the living room floor. Writers with real sci fi chops tucked lore into cliffhangers, so kids argued timelines at recess. It still sparks curiosity because the show treats imagination like a survival tool, not just a special effect.
The Rockford Files
Jim Rockford worked out of a beachside trailer, billed by the hour, and preferred clever phone calls to bruised knuckles. Every case mixed low stakes cons with smart banter and a Pontiac that could spin a perfect getaway. The opening answering machine bit felt like a tiny sketch before the story even started. It endures because Rockford is a relatable hero who uses wit, patience, and charm instead of a lecture.
WKRP in Cincinnati
A struggling radio station tried every stunt to keep ears on the dial, from chaotic remotes to holiday ideas that should have stayed on paper. The jokes landed with warmth because the staff felt like coworkers you would actually eat lunch with. The famous turkey event still gets quoted every November like an office tradition. It remains lovable since it captures the joy and panic of making live media with a tiny budget and big hearts.
The Electric Company
Reading lessons arrived with funk grooves, comic panels, and skits that treated kids like sharp listeners. Parents laughed along because the humor respected the room and never talked down. Future stars popped in before they were famous, which gave reruns a treasure hunt feel. It still works today since it proves learning sticks best when it sounds like a block party instead of homework.
