The 1970s was truly television’s experimental era, a time when networks took creative risks that would shape the medium for decades to come. While shows like “MAS*H,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “All in the Family” remain in our collective consciousness through reruns and streaming services, other groundbreaking programs have mysteriously vanished from public view despite their innovative approaches and cultural impact. These forgotten gems pushed boundaries, introduced new formats, and influenced countless shows that followed—yet they’ve been largely erased from our nostalgic conversations about the decade.
1. “The Starlost” (1973-1974)
Science fiction author Harlan Ellison’s ambitious space drama presented the story of humans aboard a massive generation starship who had forgotten they were on a vessel hurtling through space. The high-concept premise explored themes of cultural amnesia and environmental catastrophe that were well ahead of their time, setting the template for later sci-fi shows like “Battlestar Galactica” and “The 100.” Despite its fantastic premise and the involvement of legendary writer Ben Bova as science advisor, the show was plagued by budget constraints that made its special effects look painfully cheap even by 1970s standards. For those looking to revisit this fast-burning candle, TVGuide lists the cast as well as any streaming options as they come up.
NBC’s Canadian-produced series suffered from one of television’s most notorious production nightmares, with Ellison eventually removing his name from the project (using the pseudonym “Cordwainer Bird”) after executives mangled his original vision. The show’s troubled production led to weak ratings and a single-season run, but its central concept of isolated communities discovering they’re part of a larger, endangered world has become a science fiction staple. Rights issues and poor-quality master tapes have kept the show from proper restoration, leaving its 16 episodes largely unseen despite its status as a fascinating failure that influenced later science fiction television.
2. “Room 222” (1969-1974)
This groundbreaking dramedy set in a fictional Los Angeles high school tackled racial integration, student activism, and educational reform with a thoughtfulness rarely seen in television of its era. The show centered around history teacher Pete Dixon (Lloyd Haynes) and guidance counselor Liz McIntyre (Denise Nicholas), presenting one of television’s first positive portrayals of educated Black professionals in positions of authority. The series won an Emmy for Outstanding New Series in its first season and was praised for addressing serious social issues while maintaining a warm sense of humor and genuine affection for its teenage characters. Nostalgia Central fondly remembers the show tackling serious issues that were avoided in those days.
Despite running for five seasons on ABC and addressing topics that remain relevant today, “Room 222” has largely disappeared from the cultural conversation, overshadowed by later school-based shows that built upon its foundation. The show’s realistic portrayal of a diverse urban school environment influenced everything from “Welcome Back, Kotter” to “Degrassi” and “Boston Public,” yet it rarely appears in streaming catalogs or retrospectives of the era. Its thoughtful approach to educational issues and naturalistic portrayal of teenagers deserved better than its current obscurity.
3. “The Young Lawyers” (1970-1971)
This ABC legal drama starring Lee J. Cobb as a seasoned attorney supervising law students at a neighborhood legal aid clinic presented a fresh take on the judicial system through the eyes of idealistic young advocates. The show explored how the legal system often failed minority communities and the poor, with storylines about housing discrimination, police misconduct, and institutional racism that feel remarkably contemporary five decades later. Despite its short run, the series helped establish the template for legal dramas that focus on social justice rather than flashy courtroom theatrics. Letterboxd provides a thoughtful retrospective on the plot and cast carefully selected to bring it to life.
“The Young Lawyers” featured an early starring role for Judy Pace as law student Pat Walters, making her one of the first Black women to have a prominent role in a legal drama decades before shows like “How to Get Away with Murder.” The show’s location shooting in Boston and its focus on legal aid for underserved communities provided a gritty realism that influenced later shows like “The Practice” and “The Guardian.” Rights issues and its brief one-season run have kept it from rediscovery, despite its progressive politics and strong performances.
4. “The Senator” (1970-1971)
Part of NBC’s bold rotating series “The Bold Ones,” this political drama starred Hal Holbrook as idealistic Senator Hays Stowe, tackling issues like environmental pollution, Native American rights, and government corruption with remarkable nuance. The show won five Emmy Awards including Outstanding Drama Series and a lead actor win for Holbrook, establishing a new standard for political storytelling on television that would influence later shows like “The West Wing.” The series presented politics as complex and morally ambiguous rather than simplistically partisan, a refreshing approach even by today’s standards.
Despite its critical acclaim and prescient storylines about environmental protection and political ethics, “The Senator” lasted just nine episodes before NBC’s rotating format moved on to other stories within “The Bold Ones” umbrella. The show’s willingness to portray a politician as neither saint nor villain but as a complex figure navigating difficult moral choices laid groundwork for later political dramas. Its short run and status as part of an anthology series has relegated it to obscurity despite being one of the most intelligent political shows ever produced for American television.
5. “Temperatures Rising” (1972-1973)
This hospital comedy underwent one of the most dramatic format changes in TV history, beginning as a fairly standard medical sitcom before being completely revamped midway through its run with new cast members and a different tone. The show’s first incarnation starred James Whitmore as a dedicated chief of staff dealing with an irreverent staff, while its second version featured Paul Lynde as a scheming, money-obsessed hospital administrator. This behind-the-scenes transformation reflected network television’s often chaotic approach to programming in the early 1970s.
The show’s constant retooling and identity crisis led to its cancellation after just two seasons, despite featuring talented performers like Cleavon Little (who would later star in “Blazing Saddles”). The medical comedy’s troubled production history has made it a fascinating case study in network interference, yet its pioneering status as one of the first hospital comedies has been overshadowed by later successes like “Scrubs” and “MAS*H.” The series rarely surfaces in discussions of medical shows despite helping establish many tropes of the genre.
6. “Executive Suite” (1976-1977)
Based on the novel and film of the same name, this corporate drama chronicled power struggles within a large manufacturing company, presenting one of television’s first serious examinations of American business culture. The show featured an impressive ensemble cast including Mitchell Ryan, Sharon Acker, and a young Sam Wanamaker, exploring themes of corporate responsibility, gender discrimination in the workplace, and the ethical challenges of leadership. Its serious treatment of business issues paved the way for later shows like “Succession” and “Industry” that examine the moral complexities of corporate America.
Despite its pedigree and sophisticated storytelling, CBS canceled the series after only one season, leaving many of its storylines unresolved. The show’s exploration of women breaking into male-dominated corporate hierarchies was particularly forward-thinking, as was its focus on the social responsibilities of businesses to their workers and communities. Complex rights issues and its abbreviated run have kept it from finding new audiences through streaming or home video, despite its status as a forerunner to today’s prestige business dramas.
7. “James at 15” (1977-1978)
This coming-of-age drama centered on teenage photographer James Hunter (Lance Kerwin) broke new ground with its realistic portrayal of adolescence and frank discussion of teen issues rarely addressed on network television. The show tackled controversial topics including first relationships, teen pregnancy, and family conflict with unusual sensitivity and respect for its young protagonist’s perspective. Its documentary-like approach to teenage experiences influenced later youth-oriented programs from “My So-Called Life” to “Freaks and Geeks,” establishing a more authentic television voice for adolescent characters.
NBC’s ambitious series generated significant controversy when it aired an episode dealing with James losing his virginity, leading to battles with network censors and eventually contributing to its cancellation after just one season (during which it was renamed “James at 16” following the character’s birthday). Despite its brief run, the show’s willingness to present teenagers as complex individuals with legitimate problems and perspectives helped shift television’s portrayal of young people away from simplistic stereotypes. Rights complications have kept this influential series largely unseen for decades despite its groundbreaking approach to teen storytelling.
8. “Paris” (1979-1980)
This police drama starred James Earl Jones as Captain Woodrow Paris, the first Black police captain in Los Angeles, dealing with crime, departmental politics, and racial tensions in the city. The show presented a nuanced portrayal of police work from a Black perspective, exploring how Paris navigated a system that often distrusted minority leadership while maintaining his integrity and commitment to justice. Jones’ commanding presence and the show’s willingness to address racial issues head-on made it unusually progressive for a police procedural of its era.
Despite Jones’ powerful performance and storylines that addressed urban issues with uncommon depth, CBS canceled “Paris” after just one season of declining ratings. The show helped establish a template for later police dramas that would examine the complexities of urban law enforcement through diverse perspectives, from “Hill Street Blues” to “The Wire.” Its exploration of the challenges faced by Black police officers in positions of authority was particularly forward-thinking, yet the series remains largely forgotten. The show’s sophisticated approach to race relations in law enforcement deserved a longer run and wider recognition than it received.
9. “Nichols” (1971-1972)
James Garner returned to television in this unusual Western set in 1914 Arizona, playing a pacifist ex-soldier who becomes sheriff of a small town that’s transitioning from the Old West into the modern era. The show’s setting at the dawn of automobiles and telephones allowed it to comment on technological change and America’s shifting identity as it moved from frontier nation to industrial power. Garner’s reluctant sheriff, who preferred talking his way out of confrontations rather than using violence, represented a significant departure from traditional Western heroes.
Despite Garner’s star power and an innovative premise that explored the dying days of the American frontier, NBC canceled “Nichols” after a single season due to poor ratings. The network even took the unusual step of killing off the main character in the final episode and introducing his more traditionally heroic twin brother in a desperate attempt to revive the series. The show’s exploration of a changing America at the beginning of the 20th century anticipated later revisionist Westerns like “Deadwood,” making its obscurity particularly unfortunate.
10. “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” (1974-1975)
This supernatural investigative series starring Darren McGavin as a newspaper reporter who encounters monsters and paranormal phenomena became one of television’s most influential cult classics despite its brief run. The show combined horror elements with procedural investigation decades before “The X-Files” popularized the format, creating a template for countless supernatural dramas that followed. McGavin’s rumpled, wise-cracking reporter Carl Kolchak became an iconic character whose influence can be seen in paranormal investigators across media.
Despite developing a passionate fan base and later influencing shows like “Supernatural” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” ABC canceled the series after a single season due to high production costs and mixed ratings. The show’s monster-of-the-week format combined with an overarching conspiracy was revolutionary for its time, establishing narrative patterns that would become standard in genre television decades later. While “Kolchak” has received more attention than most shows on this list through occasional DVD releases, its groundbreaking approach to supernatural television deserves wider recognition.
11. “Family” (1976-1980)
This groundbreaking drama about the middle-class Lawrence family of Pasadena, California, brought unprecedented realism to the portrayal of family dynamics on American television. The show tackled serious issues including divorce, cancer, alcoholism, and mental health with remarkable sensitivity, avoiding the neat resolutions common to family dramas of the era. Its impressive ensemble cast included Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Meredith Baxter-Birney, and Gary Frank, all delivering naturalistic performances that helped elevate television drama to new heights.
Despite running for four seasons on ABC and receiving multiple Emmy Awards, “Family” has largely disappeared from the cultural conversation, overshadowed by more sensationalistic family dramas that followed. The show’s quiet storytelling focused on emotional honesty rather than melodrama, influencing later programs like “thirtysomething” and “Parenthood.” Rights complications have kept the series from finding new audiences through streaming services, despite its status as one of the most thoughtfully written family dramas in television history.
12. “The Paper Chase” (1978-1979, 1983-1986)
This acclaimed drama about law students struggling under the demanding Professor Charles Kingsfield (John Houseman) began on CBS before becoming one of the first series to be revived by cable television when Showtime rescued it years after its network cancellation. The show presented one of television’s most nuanced explorations of higher education, the pursuit of excellence, and the psychological pressures facing ambitious students. Houseman’s intimidating but ultimately principled professor became an iconic portrayal of academic rigor that influenced countless fictional educators.
Despite its prestigious source material (based on the novel and film of the same name) and Houseman’s Emmy-winning performance, CBS canceled “The Paper Chase” after one season due to low ratings against NBC’s “Little House on the Prairie.” The show’s thoughtful exploration of educational philosophies and the ethical dimensions of law established a template for later series about professional education like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” While its Showtime revival gave it a second life, the complete series remains difficult to access despite its significant influence on how television portrays professional education.
The television landscape of the 1970s was far more experimental and daring than we often remember, with these forgotten shows pushing creative boundaries in ways that would influence the medium for decades to come. Network politics, poor scheduling decisions, and complicated rights issues have conspired to erase these innovative programs from our cultural memory, despite their important contributions to television’s evolution. As streaming services dig deeper into archives to satisfy viewer demand for content, perhaps these influential yet vanished shows will finally get the recognition and new audiences they deserve—before the creative risks they took are forgotten entirely.
