The 1970s brought us some classic sitcoms that everyone remembers—Happy Days, MASH,* The Mary Tyler Moore Show. But it was also an era when a lot of unique, quirky sitcoms aired, ones that were flashes in the pan and quickly faded from memory. With just three major networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—audiences were bound to what was available, and if a show didn’t catch on fast, it didn’t stand a chance. Here’s a look back at some of those forgotten gems that just didn’t make the cut, despite offering up laughs, charm, and sometimes surprising storylines.
1. “Temperatures Rising” (1972-1974)
Set in a Washington, D.C. hospital, Temperatures Rising started as a medical sitcom with more slapstick than heart, led by Cleavon Little. Despite a few attempts to retool the show, it struggled to find an identity, leaving viewers more confused than amused. In an era of comedy with plenty of heart, this one’s focus on chaotic humor over relatable characters may be why it failed to stick.
2. “The Paul Lynde Show” (1972-1973)
Paul Lynde, a household name for his wisecracks on Hollywood Squares, got his own show playing a father who disapproves of his son-in-law. The show was hit-or-miss, largely because Lynde’s biting humor needed the right vehicle, and this formulaic family setup wasn’t it. Viewers found it funny but forgettable, and it disappeared after just one season.
3. “Lotsa Luck” (1973-1974)
Starring Dom DeLuise, Lotsa Luck centered around a hapless New York City bus company employee with an eccentric family. While DeLuise’s comedic talent shined, the premise wasn’t strong enough to hold viewers’ interest week after week. It’s a reminder that even good comedians need great writing to keep an audience, and this one didn’t have it.
4. “Love, American Style” (1969-1974)
Though it ran for five seasons, Love, American Style has largely faded. This comedy anthology featured different romance-themed vignettes every episode, often with guest stars. While it helped launch Happy Days with a one-off Richie Cunningham episode, its lack of recurring characters made it hard for audiences to form a lasting connection.
5. “Arnie” (1970-1972)
Starring Herschel Bernardi as a blue-collar worker who suddenly becomes an executive, Arnie explored class divides and office culture. Despite an interesting premise, it was a bit too ahead of its time for the comedy norms of the early ’70s. It quietly disappeared after two seasons, but it’s worth remembering as a precursor to workplace comedies to come.
6. “Karen” (1975)
Karen followed a young political activist navigating life in Washington, D.C., with Karen Valentine in the lead. The show offered a fresh angle by focusing on political themes, but in the mid-’70s, audiences wanted comedy without too much “real world” baggage. Though Valentine was beloved from her role on Room 222, Karen didn’t catch on and was canceled within a season.
7. “When Things Were Rotten” (1975)
This short-lived Robin Hood parody was created by Mel Brooks, the master of satire himself. Despite having a hilarious premise and a clever spin on classic tales, it was perhaps a bit too niche for mainstream audiences who weren’t used to Brooks’ brand of humor outside of the movies. The show lasted only 13 episodes but holds a special place in the hearts of Brooks fans.
8. “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” (1971-1974)
Dick Van Dyke returned to TV in a new family sitcom, this time playing a talk show host. But despite his talent, audiences found it difficult to shake their attachment to his original show. The comparison proved too steep to overcome, and while The New Dick Van Dyke Show ran for three seasons, it’s largely been eclipsed by his earlier work.
9. “Roll Out” (1973-1974)
This sitcom about African American soldiers in World War II was MASH’s* answer to a diverse cast in a wartime comedy setting. Unfortunately, Roll Out couldn’t match its predecessor’s balance of humor and pathos, and it struggled to gain traction. It’s a glimpse of a worthy concept that never fully took off.
10. “The Girl with Something Extra” (1973-1974)
This sitcom starred Sally Field as a woman with ESP, navigating married life with her “extra” sense. Although the supernatural element was unique, audiences didn’t warm up to the blend of romance and the paranormal. Only lasting one season, it’s now a forgotten gem in Field’s early career.
11. “Apple’s Way” (1974-1975)
Created by The Waltons’ Earl Hamner, Jr., Apple’s Way was about a family that left the city to live on a farm. While similar themes made The Waltons a success, Apple’s Way wasn’t able to connect in the same way. Audiences didn’t find it quite as charming or compelling, and it was gone after just two seasons.
12. “Phyllis” (1975-1977)
A spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, this show featured Cloris Leachman reprising her role as the outrageous Phyllis Lindstrom. While Leachman’s talent was undeniable, the character couldn’t carry her own show as effectively without the ensemble magic of Mary Tyler Moore’s cast. It fizzled after two seasons, though Phyllis remains an unforgettable character.
13. “On the Rocks” (1975-1976)
Based on a British sitcom, On the Rocks was a comedy about inmates in a minimum-security prison, an unusual setting for the times. Despite an intriguing premise, it couldn’t find an audience—perhaps because viewers wanted light-hearted fare from their sitcoms, not laughs mixed with prison themes. The show vanished after a single season.
14. “Good Heavens” (1976)
This fantasy sitcom starred Carl Reiner as an “angel on earth” who helped people solve their problems each week. Despite Reiner’s comedic prowess, the blend of whimsy and weekly moral lessons didn’t catch on, and the show barely lasted a season.
Sitcoms like these are reminders of the unique TV landscape of the ’70s, where variety was both a blessing and a curse. While some sitcoms faded into obscurity, each attempted to bring something new to the screen. Without the on-demand streaming options we have now, they came and went quickly, sometimes slipping through the cracks of our collective memory. These quirky and forgotten shows offered plenty of laughs, even if only briefly.
