15 TV Shows From The ’70s With Finales That Left Fans Furious
Buckle up, TV fans, because we’re about to take a groovy, mind-bending ride back to the ‘70s—a time when bell-bottoms were big, and TV finales were even bigger (and sometimes, utterly baffling).
Some of these shows kept us glued to the screen for years, only to leave us scratching our heads or angrily chucking the nearest throw pillow when the final credits rolled.
From plot twists that made no sense to endings that felt more like a prank than a proper farewell, these series proved that even the most beloved shows could fumble the final act.
Whether it was a bizarre dream sequence, a character’s unexplained disappearance, or a finale so open-ended it felt like the writers just walked off set, these endings were the stuff of legend—for better or worse. So, grab your popcorn (or a stress ball), because this nostalgic journey through ‘70s TV farewells is about to get wild!
1. Happy Days
Here’s a finale that felt like a sitcom prank gone wrong. Instead of a grand farewell, we got to see Fonzie adopting a kid—yes, you read that right.
Meanwhile, Joanie and Chachi tied the knot, but it was more “aww” than “wow.” The curtain call? It looked like the cast clocking out of a diner job.
Fans wanted an epic “Ayyyy” but got a shrug instead. It was the TV equivalent of leaving a party without saying goodbye. A true head-scratcher for those who stuck around for all the laughs.
2. Battlestar Galactica (1978)
Imagine if your favorite space saga just stopped mid-lightsaber duel. That’s how fans felt when Battlestar Galactica was prematurely canceled.
The spaceship was left drifting with more unanswered questions than a pop quiz on quantum physics. Viewers were left hanging like laundry on a rainy day, yearning for the closure that never came.
The abrupt end was as disorienting as a zero-gravity spin—a cliffhanger that never saw the light of a new dawn. It was as if the writers were abducted by aliens before they could finish.
3. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Why did the tears flow like newsroom coffee in this heart-wrenching finale?
Mary and her TV newsroom crew faced layoffs, and instead of champagne and cheers, we got a sob fest. Hugging like they’d lost their puppy, the gang shuffled out, leaving fans reaching for tissues. The farewell was as emotional as a surprise retirement party for your favorite boss, with the comedy relief of a clown at a wake.
The finale’s emotional punch was more potent than a newsroom’s strongest coffee, making viewers laugh-cry in a sentimental puddle.
4. The Incredible Hulk
In the finale, Hulk didn’t smash—our hearts did. David Banner, cursed to wander, leaves with haunting piano music playing.
No joyful reunion or peace, just a sad walk into the sunset. Fans were left wondering if he found peace or just more anger. It felt like watching a superhero hang up his cape without one last heroic act.
The lack of closure was like a superhero movie ending before the final battle. A finale that left viewers green with envy for a better sendoff.
5. The Bob Newhart Show
A finale that was more whisper than bang, Bob Newhart’s show ended quietly with him quitting his job and moving.
Fans expected fireworks but got a gentle breeze instead. It was like leaving a party before the cake was cut. Luckily, redemption came later with Newhart’s next show and its infamous dream twist.
Yet, this original ending left viewers pondering “Is that it?” like finding an empty box of chocolates. A bittersweet farewell, it didn’t quite match the comedic genius it followed, but it paved the way for TV history.
6. Soap
Soap’s finale was akin to a suspense novel missing its last chapter.
The show left fans with a plethora of cliffhangers, like Jessica’s fate and Burt’s assassination attempt. It was a dramatic pause that never resumed, leaving viewers hanging like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle.
The tantalizing tease was akin to ending a rollercoaster ride mid-loop, causing both excitement and frustration. The canceled show turned suspense into permanent mystery, making fans yearn for answers that only existed in their imaginations. It was a cliffhanger that defined unresolved television.
7. The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family’s finale was a vanishing act, without a proper farewell.
The last episode played out like a filler, with the family helping a guy score a date. Fans expected a musical encore, but got silence instead.
It was the TV equivalent of a concert where the band leaves before the encore. This abrupt ending was a flat note in an otherwise harmonic series, leaving fans singing “I Think I Love You” with a bittersweet tone. A finale that deserved a curtain call, but left with the lights still on.
8. Little House on the Prairie
Blowing up Walnut Grove was the explosive finale nobody saw coming.
In a controversial twist, the townsfolk decided, “If we can’t have it, nobody can.” Like a fireworks show gone rogue, the finale detonated the town into oblivion. Fans were left bewildered, wondering if demolition was really necessary. It was a dramatic exit, more shocking than a plot twist in a summer blockbuster.
This grand finale made history—literally—and left viewers questioning, “Did they really have to do that?” A memorable, if not bewildering, conclusion to a beloved series.
9. Starsky & Hutch
The finale of Starsky & Hutch was a fake-out worthy of a magician’s trick.
Starsky’s ‘death’ was a dramatic ploy that nearly caused a fan riot. Just when viewers were drowning in tears, the plot twisted, revealing it was all a ruse. This emotional rollercoaster was like a cop show version of “surprise, you’re not really dead!”
Fans were jolted from grief to relief faster than a car chase. The drama felt overcooked, leaving viewers questioning if the showrunners were pulling their leg. A finale that played with hearts and expectations.
10. Quincy, M.E.
For a show with so many mysteries, Quincy, M.E.’s finale was shockingly normal. No grand farewell, just another case file closed.
It felt like the series ended mid-sentence, leaving fans without closure. Picture a detective story ending without revealing the culprit—it was a classic case of “Is that all there is?” This finale was a routine check-up rather than a dramatic diagnosis.
Fans were left wanting an ending as riveting as the show’s best episodes. Instead, it quietly tucked itself away in TV history without the fanfare it deserved.
11. The Six Million Dollar Man
Steve Austin didn’t get a six-million-dollar sendoff, just another episode with no fireworks.
The potential for an epic showdown was bypassed, leaving fans reminiscing about what could’ve been. It was like a hero’s journey ending without the final act. The original finale left fans with echoes of “We can rebuild him” but no grand rebuild moment.
This quiet conclusion was more fizzle than sizzle until TV movies finally gave fans the closure they craved. A finale that ended with a whisper, not a bionic bang, leaving viewers ready for a sequel.
12. Emergency!
Emergency!’s finale was less of a siren call and more of a quiet day at the station.
The made-for-TV movie felt like just another episode rather than a grand finale. It was a gentle whisper instead of a roaring blaze, leaving fans yearning for heroic sendoff moments. This quiet conclusion was like having your cake and not eating it.
After years of life-saving drama, fans expected more than just another day at the fire station. A finale that served as a reminder that sometimes, TV shows quietly fade away, unnoticed.
13. The Odd Couple
Felix’s sudden nuptials in The Odd Couple’s finale left fans divided. Some appreciated the closure, while others found it as rushed as last-minute packing for a surprise vacation.
Would Oscar really let Felix go so easily? This ending felt more like a sitcom shrug than a satisfying resolution. It was as if the characters were shuffled offstage before their final bow. Fans were left pondering the hastiness, like finding a forgotten plot twist in the script’s margins.
This rushed goodbye had viewers both relieved and perplexed, like a sitcom ending without a punchline.
14. CHiPs
After all those adrenaline-pumping chases, CHiPs ended with a charity event instead of a high-speed pursuit.
Fans expected one last thrill ride but got a leisurely stroll instead. It was more of a scenic route than a thrilling conclusion, leaving fans parked in disappointment. The finale felt like a detour from the series’ core excitement, making viewers wish for one last rev of the engine.
It was a calm cruise rather than the expected rush. A finale that decelerated instead of accelerating, like a joy ride without the joy.
15. Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy’s finale was as puzzling as a Rubik’s Cube in a tornado.
The comedic alien duo was sucked into a time warp, leaving fans with more questions than answers. It was like a sci-fi twist without the follow-up explanation, a setup with no punchline.
Canceled before it could resolve, this ending felt like a joke without a punchline—a mystery locked in TV limbo. Fans were left with bewilderment and a longing for clarity, wondering if Mork ever found his way home. A finale that was out of this world, literally.