The 1970s was a time of great change in television, with the medium becoming more diverse, innovative and socially conscious. Below is a summary of popular styles of television shows in the 1970s:
Sitcoms: Sitcoms, or situation comedies, continued to dominate primetime television in the 1970s. Popular shows of the decade included "All in the Family," "MAS*H," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Jeffersons," "Good Times," "Maude," "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," and "The Brady Bunch."
Crime and detective shows: Shows such as "Kojak," "Columbo," "McMillan & Wife," and "Starsky and Hutch" were popular in the 1970s. These shows often dealt with social issues of the day, such as the rise of organized crime and the changing roles of women in society.
Science fiction and fantasy: The 1970s saw the rise of science fiction and fantasy television shows, including "Star Trek: The Animated Series," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Bionic Woman," "The Incredible Hulk," and "Wonder Woman."
Variety shows: Variety shows continued to be popular in the 1970s, with shows like "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Sonny and Cher Show," and "Donny and Marie" entertaining audiences with music, comedy, and skits.
News and current affairs: The 1970s saw the rise of investigative journalism and current affairs programming, with shows like "60 Minutes" and "20/20" becoming staples of primetime television.
Made-for-TV movies: Made-for-TV movies became increasingly popular in the 1970s, with networks like ABC and NBC producing a range of movies on topics such as crime, disaster, and social issues.