The best TV shows of the 1970s
The top 3 according to 1,109 votes from people: M*A*S*H (1972-1983) · All in the Family (1971-1979) · Columbo (1971-2003). (Updated Mar 30, 2026.)
Archie Bunker, Hawkeye Pierce, Columbo and Basil Fawlty: the decade's great series, ordered from Looper, SlashFilm, Collider and Ranker's fan vote.
Top 15
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1
M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
Army doctors in the Korean War; its finale is still the most-watched scripted broadcast in US history.
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2
All in the Family (1971-1979)
Archie Bunker and the social issues of the day.
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3
Columbo (1971-2003)
Peter Falk's raincoat and his last-minute questions.
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4
The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
James Garner as a private eye living in a trailer.
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5
Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
John Cleese's hotel in Torquay; only twelve episodes.
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6
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
A single woman at a Minneapolis newsroom.
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7
Taxi (1978-1983)
Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch and Andy Kaufman at a New York cab garage.
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8
The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
Sketch comedy with Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence.
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9
Roots (1977)
The miniseries from Alex Haley's book that gripped America.
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10
Happy Days (1974-1984)
Richie, the Fonz and 1950s Milwaukee.
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11
Saturday Night Live (1975-)
The late-night sketch institution.
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12
The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
The All in the Family spin-off that moved on up.
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13
Three's Company (1977-1984)
John Ritter shares a flat with two women.
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14
The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
Bob Newhart as a Chicago psychologist.
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15
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
The Pythons rewrite sketch comedy.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (2)
Columbo should be number one, every episode is a little masterpiece.
Fawlty Towers with just twelve episodes and it's still funnier than most shows with ten seasons.