Brian Himes
Screenwriter
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- Dec 8, 2004
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- Brian
Here’s the scenario: A friend wants to view some classic TV to get a sense of what a particular decade looked, sounded and felt like. They are looking for the 10 most essential TV shows that are available on DVD for any particular period (50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s) and because you have an extensive collection they have asked you to pick out the shows you feel are the most representative of the period requested. What TV shows would you select for them and why? Now the shows must be available on DVD (complete would be best but if not there should be a fairly good amount released to give an accurate sense of the series). The shows should be historically or culturally (pop culture included) significant. Also the shows should have lasted for more than 2 seasons. Saturday Morning series are excluded. While they do have a cultural and historical value, they are a different animal and would deserve their own separate list.
So, since 90% of my TV on DVD collection is 70s TV I’ll take a stab at that decade.
1. All In The Family – Setting aside the historical significance, I believe it goes without saying that All In The Family is very representative of what was happening in the 70s. The issues, the attitudes, the look and the feel of the decade. Growing up in the 70s I saw many a household that looked like the Bunker’s home. The old furniture, the drab faded wall paper, the worn carpet, and the oh so 50s window curtains. In spite of trying not to look 70s, the show managed to look very 70s. Then of course there were the issues. Many of which are still with us today. Yes, All In The Family certainly typified the 1970s.
2. The Six Million Dollar Man – Pure 70s escapism. A pop culture phenomenon that was one of the most iconic shows of the period. An action adventure series that had it all. It was a secret agent show, a sci-fi show, a super hero show, and a few times, an unusual type of cop show. The adventures of Steve Austin are just pure fun to watch. Then of course there is the 70s fashion sense of Steve Austin. No one ever looked better running in bell bottoms and leisure suits.
3. The Bionic Woman – Like it’s parent show but with a bit of feminist power thrown in. This was a hard one to pick. Sure, there were other series with empowered women for viewers to choose from. Police Woman was good but Pepper Anderson just wasn’t quite as memorable as Jaime Sommers. There was Charlie’s Angels. The only real power going on there was jiggle power. It came down to a choice between Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman or Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime Sommers. Both were super hero shows but The Bionic Woman seemed to have just a bit more heart. That’s not to say that Lynda Carter’s portrayal of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman wasn’t good. It was. She was honest and sincere in the role, but Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime Sommers was just be bit better.
4. The Brady Bunch – The show that refuses to die. While at the time it was not a ratings winner nor was it even considered relevant it has since become a show that is most identified with the early 70s. True, it is pure fluff but it’s pop culture significance can’t be denied. Like it or not, the Brady’s are here to stay.
5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show – The Emmy winning series is a joy to see. The show has a warm feeling from the first episode to the last. It was one of the best series to ever grace the TV screen. The first show about a single, career minded woman rightfully deserves its place in TV history.
6. The Bob Newhart Show – I chose this show over another show (that will be discussed later) mainly because it’s a personal favorite. The Bob Newhart Show was just a well written and well acted series.
7. NBC Sunday Movie Mystery – Ok, I admit it. This was a bit of a cheat. However, since none of the original three shows (Columbo, McCloud and McMillan & Wife) contained within this ‘wheel’ series were ever aired as three individual series, I think the choice is defensible. This series had the best detective/police shows of the period. All three were very distinct. McCloud was pretty much a straight forward police drama. McMillan and Wife was the genuine mystery series. Finally Columbo was a top notch detective series.
8. The Carol Burnett Show – The historical importance of this show is undisputed. Probably the best variety show that ever aired. The first couple of years the show struggled to find the right direction, but from season 3 or 4 through the 10th season represents the series at its very best. The series poked fun at just about everything 70s and more. Also, The Carol Burnett Show is an American TV treasure.
9. Saturday Night Live (Seasons 1-5) – Today it’s hard to understand just how revolutionary Saturday Night Live was when it came on the scene in 1975. Watching those first five years gives you a glimpse into the college age/young adult’s mindset at the time. This show was the 1970s like no other series.
10. WKRP In Cincinnati – Even though only the first year and a half were in the 70s, this show never lost its late 70s sensibilities. The show is also a great time capsule of the late 70s and therefore needs to be on the list. And the series is just plain hilarious.
Now there were four series that were honorable mentions. These almost made the list and are essential 70s shows but I had to pick just 10.
Barney Miller – It came down to a choice between Barney Miler and Bob Newhart and I chose Bob. However, Barney Miller is just as good and just as deserving of its place in 70s TV history.
Starsky & Hutch – Another personal favorite that just about made the list. Not quite as important as others, but the pop culture significance made it a close contender.
M.A.S.H. – Probably on most critics list of one of the all time best TV shows it just didn’t make my list. Not that I don’t love M.A.S.H., I do. And I’m not disputing its historical and cultural value, it just came down to a choice between this one and All In The Family. I felt All In The Family was just a tiny bit more important.
The Midnight Special – Before MTV there was The Midnight Special. Some might argue that Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert was a better series, The Midnight Special was first. It was a great look at the music of the 70s. The only thing that kept this off my list was the really poor representation on DVD. There isn’t one complete unedited episode on DVD. Therefore watching just the highlights of the series really doesn’t give you a good sense of what this series was really like. It was a mix of American Bandstand, Soul Train and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert all rolled into one. It’s a shame that we will never see the complete series as it aired again.
Well, there is my list for the 70s. Anyone want to tackle the 50s, 60s or 80s? Or do you have a different take on the 70s? It should be fun to see what others feel are essential shows for their favorite period.
So, since 90% of my TV on DVD collection is 70s TV I’ll take a stab at that decade.
1. All In The Family – Setting aside the historical significance, I believe it goes without saying that All In The Family is very representative of what was happening in the 70s. The issues, the attitudes, the look and the feel of the decade. Growing up in the 70s I saw many a household that looked like the Bunker’s home. The old furniture, the drab faded wall paper, the worn carpet, and the oh so 50s window curtains. In spite of trying not to look 70s, the show managed to look very 70s. Then of course there were the issues. Many of which are still with us today. Yes, All In The Family certainly typified the 1970s.
2. The Six Million Dollar Man – Pure 70s escapism. A pop culture phenomenon that was one of the most iconic shows of the period. An action adventure series that had it all. It was a secret agent show, a sci-fi show, a super hero show, and a few times, an unusual type of cop show. The adventures of Steve Austin are just pure fun to watch. Then of course there is the 70s fashion sense of Steve Austin. No one ever looked better running in bell bottoms and leisure suits.
3. The Bionic Woman – Like it’s parent show but with a bit of feminist power thrown in. This was a hard one to pick. Sure, there were other series with empowered women for viewers to choose from. Police Woman was good but Pepper Anderson just wasn’t quite as memorable as Jaime Sommers. There was Charlie’s Angels. The only real power going on there was jiggle power. It came down to a choice between Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman or Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime Sommers. Both were super hero shows but The Bionic Woman seemed to have just a bit more heart. That’s not to say that Lynda Carter’s portrayal of Diana Prince/Wonder Woman wasn’t good. It was. She was honest and sincere in the role, but Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime Sommers was just be bit better.
4. The Brady Bunch – The show that refuses to die. While at the time it was not a ratings winner nor was it even considered relevant it has since become a show that is most identified with the early 70s. True, it is pure fluff but it’s pop culture significance can’t be denied. Like it or not, the Brady’s are here to stay.
5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show – The Emmy winning series is a joy to see. The show has a warm feeling from the first episode to the last. It was one of the best series to ever grace the TV screen. The first show about a single, career minded woman rightfully deserves its place in TV history.
6. The Bob Newhart Show – I chose this show over another show (that will be discussed later) mainly because it’s a personal favorite. The Bob Newhart Show was just a well written and well acted series.
7. NBC Sunday Movie Mystery – Ok, I admit it. This was a bit of a cheat. However, since none of the original three shows (Columbo, McCloud and McMillan & Wife) contained within this ‘wheel’ series were ever aired as three individual series, I think the choice is defensible. This series had the best detective/police shows of the period. All three were very distinct. McCloud was pretty much a straight forward police drama. McMillan and Wife was the genuine mystery series. Finally Columbo was a top notch detective series.
8. The Carol Burnett Show – The historical importance of this show is undisputed. Probably the best variety show that ever aired. The first couple of years the show struggled to find the right direction, but from season 3 or 4 through the 10th season represents the series at its very best. The series poked fun at just about everything 70s and more. Also, The Carol Burnett Show is an American TV treasure.
9. Saturday Night Live (Seasons 1-5) – Today it’s hard to understand just how revolutionary Saturday Night Live was when it came on the scene in 1975. Watching those first five years gives you a glimpse into the college age/young adult’s mindset at the time. This show was the 1970s like no other series.
10. WKRP In Cincinnati – Even though only the first year and a half were in the 70s, this show never lost its late 70s sensibilities. The show is also a great time capsule of the late 70s and therefore needs to be on the list. And the series is just plain hilarious.
Now there were four series that were honorable mentions. These almost made the list and are essential 70s shows but I had to pick just 10.
Barney Miller – It came down to a choice between Barney Miler and Bob Newhart and I chose Bob. However, Barney Miller is just as good and just as deserving of its place in 70s TV history.
Starsky & Hutch – Another personal favorite that just about made the list. Not quite as important as others, but the pop culture significance made it a close contender.
M.A.S.H. – Probably on most critics list of one of the all time best TV shows it just didn’t make my list. Not that I don’t love M.A.S.H., I do. And I’m not disputing its historical and cultural value, it just came down to a choice between this one and All In The Family. I felt All In The Family was just a tiny bit more important.
The Midnight Special – Before MTV there was The Midnight Special. Some might argue that Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert was a better series, The Midnight Special was first. It was a great look at the music of the 70s. The only thing that kept this off my list was the really poor representation on DVD. There isn’t one complete unedited episode on DVD. Therefore watching just the highlights of the series really doesn’t give you a good sense of what this series was really like. It was a mix of American Bandstand, Soul Train and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert all rolled into one. It’s a shame that we will never see the complete series as it aired again.
Well, there is my list for the 70s. Anyone want to tackle the 50s, 60s or 80s? Or do you have a different take on the 70s? It should be fun to see what others feel are essential shows for their favorite period.