13 Great Sitcoms From the 1970s Everyone Forgot About

The 1970s were a sitcom lover’s paradise. It was a decade bursting with unforgettable characters, sharp humor, and the ever-present laugh track that brought joy to living rooms everywhere. Some of these shows cemented their place in pop culture history, while others, despite their wit and charm, quietly drifted into the shadows.

But here’s the thing: those hidden gems deserve a second chance to shine. So, if you’re ready to dive into the vault of forgotten TV brilliance, grab your popcorn and settle in.

We’re about to uncover 13 sitcoms that once had audiences glued to their screens but have since slipped out of the limelight. Let’s bring them back into focus, shall we?

1. The New Dick Van Dyke Show

What happens when a TV legend returns to the small screen? You get The New Dick Van Dyke Show, a delightful follow-up to his iconic ‘60s series. This time around, Van Dyke played a talk show host balancing career chaos with family life in sunny Arizona.

While his signature wit and charm were still in full swing, the show never quite reached the same cultural heights as his earlier work. Limited syndication and stiff competition led to it quietly fading into TV history.

Still, for those who remember it, the show was classic Van Dyke—quick, clever, and always entertaining.

2. The Paul Lynde Show

If sarcasm was an art form, Paul Lynde was its master. This sitcom gave him the perfect platform to shine as a grumpy, exasperated family man with a razor-sharp tongue.

Despite Lynde’s signature comedic bite, the show struggled to stand out among the decade’s bigger hits. While his devoted fans lapped up his snarky one-liners, the series didn’t have the staying power needed for long-term success.

Still, if you love quick-witted humor with a touch of sass, this forgotten gem is worth revisiting.

3. Chico and the Man

One of the first sitcoms to feature a Latino lead, Chico and the Man introduced audiences to the hilarious and charismatic Freddie Prinze. He played Chico, a young and optimistic mechanic who formed an unlikely friendship with Jack Albertson’s grumpy garage owner.

The show tackled social issues with humor and heart, making it groundbreaking for its time. But tragedy struck when Prinze passed away unexpectedly, leaving the show without its charismatic lead.

Even though it disappeared from pop culture, its impact as a trailblazing sitcom is impossible to ignore.

4. The Bob Crane Show

Fresh off his success in Hogan’s Heroes, Bob Crane tried his hand at a new kind of comedy, playing a talk-show host who, in true sitcom fashion, was going through a major midlife crisis.

The show blended humor with relatable life challenges, but despite its promising setup, it couldn’t recapture the magic of Crane’s earlier work.

It may not have left a lasting mark, but for those who watched, it was a charming look at adulthood with plenty of laughs along the way.

5. Lotsa Luck

Few actors could deliver comedic chaos like Dom DeLuise, and Lotsa Luck gave him the perfect playground—a bus depot where nothing ever went smoothly.

DeLuise was his usual brilliant, bumbling self, playing a hapless everyman navigating life’s absurdities. Unfortunately, the show couldn’t hold its own against the decade’s sitcom heavyweights.

Though short-lived, his hilarious antics made it a fun ride while it lasted.

6. The Good Life

Imagine having a taste of luxury, only to realize you’re the one doing all the work—that was the premise of The Good Life.

Starring a pre-Dallas Larry Hagman, the show followed a couple masquerading as wealthy socialites while secretly working as their own household staff.

The concept was clever, and the humor was sharp, but it never quite took off. Despite that, it’s one of those shows that deserves another look for its offbeat premise alone.

7. Temperatures Rising

Medical sitcoms are a rare breed, but Temperatures Rising brought comedy to the hospital setting long before Scrubs made it cool.

Cleavon Little played a mischievous doctor causing havoc in a Washington D.C. hospital, delivering sharp humor alongside slapstick fun.

The show went through multiple format changes, which made it tough to gain traction. While it ultimately flatlined, it was a bold and entertaining experiment in sitcom history.

8. Doc

Before TV was filled with gritty medical dramas, Doc took a lighter approach, starring Barnard Hughes as a kind-hearted, old-school doctor in a small town.

The show was sweet, warm, and charming, offering gentle humor instead of high-stakes hospital drama.

Unfortunately, as TV moved toward bigger, more sensational stories, this simple, feel-good sitcom quietly faded away.

9. In the Beginning

McLean Stevenson had just left M*A*S*H, and fans were eager to see what he’d do next. His next big role? A wisecracking priest navigating the ups and downs of church life.

While Stevenson’s natural charm was on full display, the show struggled to find its audience. Religious-themed sitcoms were a tough sell, and despite some clever humor, it was quickly overshadowed.

Today, it’s mostly forgotten, but its attempt to blend faith and comedy was ahead of its time.

10. Grady

If you loved Sanford and Son, you might remember its short-lived spinoff centered on Grady Wilson.

Whitman Mayo’s lovable, slow-talking character moved to Los Angeles to live with his daughter’s family, bringing his classic charm and wisecracks along with him.

Though the show had plenty of laughs, it didn’t capture the same magic as its predecessor. Even so, fans of vintage sitcoms still hold a soft spot for Grady’s antics.

11. Phyllis

When a show spins off from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, expectations are sky-high.

Cloris Leachman’s character, Phyllis Lindstrom, stepped into the spotlight, navigating single life in San Francisco with her signature mix of sass and drama.

While Leachman was fantastic, the show struggled to escape the shadow of its predecessor. Though it vanished from TV history, her performance remains a highlight of ‘70s sitcom brilliance.

12. Carter Country

Set in a small Southern town, Carter Country blended political humor with small-town charm, offering a unique look at race relations, law enforcement, and Southern culture.

With a strong cast and witty writing, it had all the ingredients for success, but it never quite found its footing.

While it might not be a household name today, its bold themes made it a show worth remembering.

13. Quark

Imagine Star Trek, but ridiculous. That’s Quark.

This underrated sci-fi spoof followed a garbage-collecting spaceship crew, led by Richard Benjamin. It was goofy, over-the-top, and delightfully weird—a show way ahead of its time.

Though it only lasted a season, it gained a cult following, proving that even short-lived TV oddities can leave a lasting impact.