1. Star Trek
When Star Trek first aired in 1966, no one could have predicted just how massive its cultural impact would be. At the time, it was just another science fiction series fighting for ratings, but it quickly became something bigger. Its futuristic vision of exploration and unity gave people hope during a decade marked by turmoil. The show also quietly pushed boundaries, such as airing one of television’s first interracial kisses, which was groundbreaking for its time.
Although it only ran for three seasons, reruns kept it alive, and soon the fandom turned it into a phenomenon. Conventions popped up, the films followed, and eventually multiple spinoff series were born. It set the standard for world-building on television, inspiring later shows like The X-Files and Battlestar Galactica. Without Star Trek, the idea of long-running, expansive TV universes may not have existed.
2. The Andy Griffith Show
Premiering in 1960, The Andy Griffith Show offered viewers a gentle escape into the small-town charm of Mayberry. Sheriff Andy Taylor, his son Opie, and the unforgettable Barney Fife gave audiences characters that felt like family. The humor was simple, but it came wrapped in warmth and heart, with lessons about honesty, patience, and kindness. At a time when America was going through major social change, Mayberry provided a comforting constant.
Its influence is still clear in television today. Shows like Parks and Recreation and Gilmore Girls carry that same sense of community where the town itself feels like a character. The idea that viewers will keep tuning in just to spend time with beloved, quirky townsfolk came straight from Mayberry. The Andy Griffith Show proved that television didn’t need high drama or flash to endure, just good storytelling and relatable humanity.
3. Batman
When Batman hit TV screens in 1966, it was unlike anything audiences had seen before. Bright colors, zany villains, campy humor, and on-screen “Pow!” and “Bam!” fight effects made it instantly stand out. Adam West and Burt Ward leaned into the absurdity, giving the show its unique charm. While it was technically an action series, the humor was so over the top that it felt like a parody at times.
Despite its silliness, Batman left a huge mark. It proved that comic books could thrive on television, inspiring decades of superhero adaptations. Even today’s darker superhero shows, like Daredevil or The Boys, owe something to Batman proving the genre belonged on TV. Its bold style, catchy theme song, and campy fun remain iconic, influencing both nostalgia and parody for generations.
4. I Dream of Jeannie
When astronaut Tony Nelson stumbled across a bottle and unleashed Barbara Eden’s Jeannie in 1965, TV audiences were hooked. The dynamic between Eden’s bubbly genie and Larry Hagman’s straight-laced astronaut was irresistible. The magical premise led to endless comedic scenarios, whether it was Jeannie trying to help or getting Tony into trouble. The fantasy element made the show feel fresh and different from other sitcoms of its time.
What made I Dream of Jeannie so influential was the way it blended romance, comedy, and fantasy in a seamless package. It inspired later shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch that used the same mix of ordinary life and supernatural twists. It also proved audiences were more than willing to embrace whimsy and magic on television. Jeannie’s mischievous grin became one of the most recognizable images of ’60s TV.
5. Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible arrived in 1966 with a style all its own. The Impossible Missions Force used disguises, high-tech gadgets, and brilliant strategies to outwit enemies, all set to Lalo Schifrin’s unforgettable theme music. The show delivered suspense with intricate plots that demanded clever thinking, not just brute force. Every episode was structured like a puzzle that had to be solved under pressure.
The format inspired countless espionage thrillers after it, from 24 to Alias. Of course, the franchise itself lives on through Tom Cruise’s blockbuster films, which are still drawing huge audiences today. But the seeds of that enduring appeal were planted in the 1960s. Mission: Impossible showed that tension and cleverness could be just as riveting as explosions, and it reshaped TV’s approach to action storytelling.
6. The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone (1959–1964) redefined what television could be. Instead of safe, predictable stories, it brought eerie, thought-provoking tales with shocking twists. Serling used science fiction and fantasy to explore very real issues like prejudice, conformity, and nuclear fears. Each episode felt like a mini-movie, with production values and storytelling far ahead of its time.
Its impact is impossible to overstate. Anthology shows like Black Mirror and The Outer Limits are direct descendants. Writers, filmmakers, and even politicians have referenced it as shaping their worldview. By proving that television could challenge its audience to think deeply while still entertaining them, The Twilight Zone became one of the most influential shows in history.
7. Bewitched
Debuting in 1964, Bewitched introduced audiences to Samantha, a witch who just wanted to live a normal suburban life with her mortal husband Darrin. Elizabeth Montgomery’s charm carried the show, while the magical mishaps created endless comedic setups. Whether it was a twitch of her nose or a spell gone wrong, Samantha’s struggles to blend in reflected real social changes of the time.
Bewitched became one of the longest-running fantasy sitcoms and showed networks that audiences loved a mix of magic and everyday life. Later shows like Charmed and WandaVision drew directly from its blend of whimsy and social commentary. It also quietly pushed boundaries, with feminist undertones about women’s roles in the household. Bewitched made fantasy relatable and television history in the process.
8. Get Smart
Created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry in 1965, Get Smart was a spy spoof that arrived at the perfect time during James Bond mania. Don Adams played Maxwell Smart, the bumbling agent armed with high-tech gadgets that often failed at the worst possible moments. Barbara Feldon’s Agent 99 provided the brains, wit, and balance to his chaos. The result was a hilarious, satirical take on espionage.
Get Smart influenced not only later spy comedies like Austin Powers but also how sitcoms could parody larger cultural trends. It proved that spoof could be smart, funny, and enduring. Many of its catchphrases, like “Missed it by that much,” became part of pop culture. By blending satire with slapstick, Get Smart created a blueprint that still inspires comedies today.
9. Gilligan’s Island
When Gilligan’s Island premiered in 1964, it quickly became a quirky favorite. The story of seven castaways stranded after a shipwreck gave audiences a mix of slapstick humor, exaggerated personalities, and endless “what if” scenarios. From the Skipper’s frustration with Gilligan to the Professor’s improbable inventions, it became endlessly quotable.
Though critics weren’t always kind, Gilligan’s Island became one of the most recognizable sitcoms of all time. It paved the way for ensemble comedies like Friends and Community, where the humor comes from exaggerated but lovable characters stuck in a situation. Even decades later, the theme song and characters are instantly familiar. The show proved silly comedy could have lasting cultural power.
10. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
Premiering in 1968, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In was a whirlwind of fast-paced comedy sketches, catchphrases, and colorful characters. It captured the energy of the counterculture with humor that was sharp, political, and sometimes outrageous. Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin got their starts here, alongside a rotating cast of comedians who thrived in the chaos.
Its influence is most obvious in Saturday Night Live, which borrowed its sketch-comedy format and mix of satire and silliness. Catchphrases like “Sock it to me!” entered everyday conversation. The show also broke rules about pacing, creating rapid-fire jokes instead of long setups. Laugh-In helped comedy evolve into the edgy, experimental form we still see on late-night television today.
11. The Dick Van Dyke Show
From 1961 to 1966, The Dick Van Dyke Show raised the bar for sitcoms. Starring Van Dyke as comedy writer Rob Petrie and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura, the show balanced workplace humor with family life. The chemistry between the leads made the stories feel real, and the writing was sharp and sophisticated.
Its impact was immediate, with future sitcoms adopting its balance of smart humor and heartfelt storytelling. The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Cheers owe part of their DNA to it. It also gave more dimension to female characters, thanks to Moore’s lively performance. The Dick Van Dyke Show proved sitcoms could be witty and warm at the same time.
12. Bonanza
Bonanza debuted in 1959 but defined much of television through the 1960s. The saga of Ben Cartwright and his three sons on the Ponderosa Ranch gave viewers Western drama with family dynamics. It tackled social issues head-on, from racial prejudice to justice, while still giving audiences action and adventure.
As one of the first shows broadcast in color, Bonanza also changed how people watched TV. It was a ratings juggernaut and showed networks the power of family dramas set against bigger themes. Later shows like Little House on the Prairie and Dallas carried its legacy forward. Bonanza proved Westerns could be more than shootouts, they could explore human values.
13. The Beverly Hillbillies
When The Beverly Hillbillies aired in 1962, no one expected it to become such a smash hit. The story of the Clampetts, a poor family who struck oil and moved to Beverly Hills, was ripe for comedy. The clash between their rural ways and high society became an endless source of laughs.
It became one of the highest-rated sitcoms of the decade and influenced later “fish out of water” comedies like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The Clampetts’ story showed that audiences loved culture clash humor, especially when handled with warmth. Even today, Jed Clampett and Granny remain cultural icons. The Beverly Hillbillies made rural humor a staple of American TV.
14. Green Acres
Spinning off from Petticoat Junction, Green Acres premiered in 1965 and quickly carved out its own identity. It followed a New York lawyer and his glamorous wife adjusting to farm life, creating endless comedic tension. Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert’s chemistry made the absurd premise work.
Green Acres leaned into surreal humor, with talking animals and bizarre situations that felt ahead of their time. It inspired later quirky sitcoms like Northern Exposure that balanced city-versus-country themes. It also showed networks that rural comedies could be clever and experimental, not just simple. Its offbeat style still feels fresh even decades later.
15. Adam-12
Debuting in 1968, Adam-12 gave audiences a gritty look at police work in Los Angeles. Following officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, it depicted their daily calls with realism not often seen on TV. While it still had the structure of a procedural, it leaned heavily on authenticity.
Its influence can be seen in shows like Hill Street Blues and Law & Order, which carried forward that mix of realism and drama. It also helped humanize police officers on screen, showing the pressures and challenges they faced. Adam-12 proved audiences would tune in for a more serious take on public service storytelling.
16. My Three Sons
Running from 1960 to 1972, My Three Sons centered on widower Steve Douglas raising his boys with the help of extended family. Fred MacMurray brought a steady, comforting presence to the role of fatherhood on television. It was one of the earliest sitcoms to deal openly with single parenthood.
Its legacy lives on in shows like Full House and Step by Step, which adopted its mix of humor and heartfelt family moments. By highlighting the idea that families come in different shapes, it was ahead of its time. My Three Sons proved that audiences wanted warmth, relatability, and heart in their sitcoms, a tradition still alive in family comedies today.
