The 1970s delivered some of the most unforgettable TV shows—ones that had everyone glued to their shag-carpeted living rooms. But not every hit series stood the test of time. While classics like Happy Days and The Brady Bunch still get love, plenty of other gems have faded into pop culture obscurity. This article revisits hidden hits that made the '70s a golden era of television.
"The Starlost" (1973–1974)
Credit: Wikipedia
This sci-fi show followed a group of people on an enormous spaceship, trying to prevent disaster after learning it's off course. It had everything a great sci-fi series needed: a massive spaceship, a gripping premise, and the creative mind of legendary writer Harlan Ellison. Unfortunately, budget cuts and clunky dialogue turned it into a low-budget mess.
"Salvage 1" (1979)
Credit: IMDb
Salvage 1 was about a junk dealer building his own rocket to fly to the moon. It starred Andy Griffith as a salvage yard owner who wants to reclaim leftover Apollo moon junk. In true 1970s TV fashion, he actually pulled it off, but the weekly series that followed never quite captured that same magic.
"Gemini Man" (1976)
Credit: IMDb
Invisible spies should be cool, right? Gemini Man followed Sam Casey, a secret agent who could turn invisible—but only for 15 minutes per day, or else he'd die. This limitation was part of its charm, but it eventually struggled to stand out in an era of action dramas.
"Who's Watching the Kids?" (1978)
Credit: Wikipedia
This sitcom tried to blend glitzy Vegas showgirls with responsible childcare, and the result was as chaotic as it sounds. Despite a decent cast and some fun moments, it couldn't find an audience and disappeared after one season. It's one of those forgotten shows that had the potential to be a hit but just never clicked.
"Carter Country" (1977–1979)
Credit: IMDb
A small-town Southern sheriff's office doesn't seem like the most groundbreaking setting, but Carter Country delivered plenty of laughs. It was set in a fictional Georgia town and focused on the culture clash between an easygoing sheriff and his by-the-book deputy. The show targeted humor while tackling relevant issues.
"Quark" (1977–1978)
Credit: IMDb
Created by Buck Henry, this short-lived NBC comedy followed Richard Benjamin as Adam Quark, a captain whose spaceship was assigned the least heroic duty in the galaxy—space sanitation. The show mostly skewered sci-fi clichés of the era.
"The New People" (1969–1970)
Credit: IMDb
A group of college students crash-lands on an island with no adults around—so they build their own society. Sounds familiar? The New People hit screens decades before Lost but didn't get the same acclaim. The show was a social experiment wrapped in a drama.
"The Good Life" (1971–1972)
Credit: Facebook
Long before quitting the rat race became a popular life goal, The Good Life explored the idea of leaving corporate jobs for a simpler lifestyle. It starred Larry Hagman and Donna Mills as a couple who ditched their careers to work as servants for a wealthy family.
"Doc Elliott" (1973–1974)
Credit: IMDb
A big-city doctor trades the hustle and bustle of New York for the scenic countryside of Colorado—cue medical drama meets fish-out-of-water story. This story centered on Dr. Ben Elliott, who treated patients in a remote town. It was an earnest, well-acted series, but in a decade filled with medical dramas, it didn't stand out enough to survive.
"The Magician" (1973–1974)
Credit: IMDb
Magic and crime-solving make for an unusual mix, but The Magician made it work—at least for one season. Bill Bixby starred as a professional magician who used his skills to fight crime, performing real tricks instead of relying on special effects.
"Lucas Tanner" (1974–1975)
Credit: Wikipedia
Lucas Tanner put a thoughtful spin on the classic “inspirational educator” formula. David Hartman starred as Lucas, a former sportswriter-turned-high school teacher who ditched his fast-paced career for a more meaningful life. The show had plenty of heart and focused on personal growth and real-world challenges.
"Future Cop" (1976–1977)
Credit: IMDb
Imagine RoboCop—but with 1970s charm. That was Future Cop, a buddy cop series in which veteran officer Joe Cleaver was paired with a rookie who just so happened to be a humanoid robot. The show played with ethical dilemmas about artificial intelligence and law enforcement.
"Man from Atlantis" (1977–1978)
Credit: Facebook
Patrick Duffy swimming around in a Speedo with webbed hands? That's the '70s sci-fi magic that made Man from Atlantis a cult favorite—for a while. Duffy played Mark Harris, the last survivor of Atlantis, who was found washed up on a beach and recruited for deep-sea missions.
"Sirota's Court" (1976–1977)
Credit: IMDb
Before Night Court brought laughs to late-night legal proceedings, Sirota's Court did something similar—but with far less staying power. The show had sharp writing, a talented cast, and a charm that should've carried it further.
"The Texas Wheelers" (1974–1975)
Credit: Facebook
A sitcom about a deadbeat dad raising his kids in rural Texas doesn't sound like a surefire hit. Still, The Texas Wheelers had all the ingredients to be great—Jeffrey Lewis as the lazy father and a young Gary Busey and Mark Hamill as his kids. Unfortunately, it aired against The Waltons, which meant audiences never really gave it a chance.
