10 Hit Sitcoms From The 70’s That Wouldn’t Fly Today

Times change, and so do the attitudes we tolerate. The 70s may have a lot of classic sitcoms, but not all of them would do well today.

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Television viewing in the 1970s was at an all-time high and could be attributed to the popularity of situational comedies. Prominent sitcoms often mirrored the social climate of the times and explored things like sex, race, politics, and war.

Ironically, it is those very same subjects that TV shows tackled head-on in the ’70s that would undoubtedly keep them from airing within today’s television landscape. TV networks are hesitant to put anything on the air that could upset or alienate potential viewers. For those reasons, here are 10 hit sitcoms from the ’70s that wouldn’t fly today.

10 I DREAM OF JEANNIE

The premise seems innocent enough – an astronaut walking along the beach discovers a magic lamp, rubs it and POOF, a genie pops out. The first thing Jeannie does after being freed from the lamp is to kiss her surprised liberator on the lips. That scene alone would most likely land the script in the trash bucket. In today’s post #metoo world, no network would greenlight a TV show about a scantily clad woman who calls her man “Master” and caters to his every whim.

This show technically debuted in the mid-sixties but found its biggest success in the 70s through repeats and TV movies on NBC.

9 SANFORD AND SON

Often considered NBC’s answer to CBS’s All in the Family, Sanford and Son stared comedian Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford, a junk dealer living in South Central Los Angeles with his son.

The show was extremely popular and finished in the top 10 for its first few seasons. Unfortunately, Fred Sanford was somewhat of a bigot. When not faking heart attacks for attention, the feisty widow was often cracking racist jokes and using racial slurs, which would not fit in well these days as part of NBC’s must-see line up.

8 HOGANS HEROES

Television shows dealing with war can be extremely popular. But a comedy that takes place within a German prisoner of war camp – not so much.

The popular comedy followed a ragtag band of POW’s lead by Colonel Hogan (Bob Crane) as they did their best to sabotage the German war efforts. Although the atrocities of war were never really on display, a comedy set in Nazi Germany is not something most networks would be itching to make these days.

7 CARTER COUNTRY

Victor French left his co-starring role of Mr. Edwards on Little House on the Prairie to play the lead in this terrible sitcom that aired on ABC for two seasons. While not a huge hit, Carter Country was proof that no subject matter was deemed “off-limits” in the 1970s.

Set in a small town in the state of Georgia, the home turf of then-President Jimmy Carter, the fact that a show like this lasted for two seasons and even made it into the top 40 during its first year is mind-boggling. Carter Country’s plot usually revolved around stereotypical southern racism and even featured a police officer who was a known member of the Ku Klux Klan. And yes, this show was billed as a comedy.

6 BRADY BUNCH

A show about a lovely lady and her three lovely daughters who shack up with a single father and his three boys. The Brady Bunch was the epitome of wholesome family viewing. The characters and storylines were so sugary sweet one could almost be at risk for diabetes just by watching.

Aside from the wholesome goodness, which could potentially be off-putting to viewers who prefer family shows like The Goldbergs and Modern Family, The Brady Bunch is just too white. The parents don’t have any black co-workers or minority neighbors and the kids don’t seem to have any non-white friends. What kind of message does that send?

5 HAPPY DAYS

There is nothing wrong with Happy Days – a show about a simpler time when things were easy. Basked in 1950’s nostalgia the series was positioned as a coming of age comedy centered around the Cunningham family and their friends – The original Wonder Years.

Unfortunately, ratings weren’t great in the beginning so changes were made. Happy Days became a show centered around The Fonz and his wild behavior ( jumping a shark). Serious issues facing teenagers in the ’50s were replaced with outlandish plots like meeting an alien named Mork, and all this worked 40 years ago. The show was a huge hit, but audiences are too smart for that now. A TV sitcom centered around simpler times in the 1950s better be just that or viewers won’t buy it.

4 THREE’S COMPANY

The show has a catchy theme and made superstars out of John Ritter and Suzanne Somers. The premise was simple yet unheard of – three roommates lie to their landlord so they can all live together. Jack is straight but pretends to be gay to ensure there would be no bedroom shenanigans between himself and two female roomies.

The idea that the main character pretended to be gay to better his living situation probably wouldn’t sit well with viewers today. Besides that, Jack was a womanizer and producers liked to dress the ladies in scantily clad clothing at every turn. Feminist groups would have a field day.

3 MAUDE

Bea Arthur played the title character in this spin-off of All in the Family. She was the cousin of Archie Bunker’s wife, Edith. The comedy sometimes dealt with serious topics and the humor on the show was darker than a lot of hit comedies from that era.

Maude was a boozy feminist who loved to speak her mind, pop pills, and even had an abortion at age 47. While there are plenty of darker characters like this on TV today, Maude aired on CBS in primetime. She could potentially find a home on cable, but it’s doubtful Maude would do well as a lead-in to Young Sheldon.

2 THE JEFFERSONS

Another All in the Family spin-off, the Jeffersons and Bunkers were neighbors before George and Weezy moved on up to the east side.

George Jefferson was a racist. He often insulted an interracial couple from the building and never missed a chance to sling insults with a fellow bigot – mainly Archie Bunker. The show was a huge hit and ran for 11 seasons but the often risque dialogue and frequent racial slurs would make The Jeffersons a no-go today.

1 ALL IN THE FAMILY

It’s sad that one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, in all likelihood, wouldn’t fit within today’s television landscape. There’s just no chance someone like Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) would be tolerated in living rooms across America.

There’s no denying Archie Bunker was a bigot who had no qualms about using racial slurs and speaking his mind, regardless of who it would offend. He was constantly berating and arguing with his more enlightened son-in-law, Michael, otherwise known as Meathead (Rob Reiner) and anyone else who might oppose his beliefs – such as George Jefferson and Maude. While this was all deemed “hilarious” in the 1970s, today a script for a show like All in the Family wouldn’t even make it passed the intern’s desk.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/sitcoms-70s-wouldnt-fly-today/