Television tagged with 70s - 5/10

Laverne and Shirley

Any successful television series is likely to have a spin-off or two, and the enormously popular Happy Days was no exception. But, while most spin-offs are lucky if they last a full season, this time lightning struck twice. Following the lives of two lovable brewery workers who lived in 1950s-era Milwaukee, Laverne and Shirley won the hearts of television viewers almost immediately and enjoyed a longevity that few spin-offs have ever managed to achieve.

Little House on the Prairie

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For nine seasons, television viewers tuned in to follow the travels, trials and tribulation of the Ingalls family as they made a life for themselves in the American frontier on Little House on the Prairie. Loosely based upon the popular series of Little House books by author Laura Ingalls Wilder, the weekly prime-time adventures of the Ingalls family proved to be a huge hit for NBC.

Logan’s Run

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Based upon a popular 1967 science fiction novel written by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, as well as feature film that followed in 1976, Logan’s Run premiered as a weekly television series on CBS in 1977, starring Gregory Harrison (Trapper John M.D.) as Logan 5. And, although it's airwave presence was brief, fond memories persist for this futuristic series.

Love, American Style

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Long before the Love Boat set sail in a search of romance on the high seas, there was another series where love was perpetually in the air. From 1969 – 1974, Love, American Style gave television viewers a comedic glimpse into the lives of those caught up in the various stages of romance. And while it seemed at the time like there must be something lewd about the show, looking back it was all pretty innocent. It did, however, bestow a priceless gift upon television viewers that many would forever cherish. For had it not been for this quirky little amorous show, we might never have come to know Fonzie.

Marlo and the Magic Movie Machine

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The best and quirkiest shows often start small and cheap, but what they lack in viewership or budget, they more than make up for with imagination and improvisation. Producer Sanford Fisher used a treasure trove of educational and entertaining film clips to capture the minds and hearts of a young 70s audience, via Marlo and the Magical Movie Machine.

Match Game

Mission: Magic

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If an association with The Brady Bunch was good enough for Davy Jones, why couldn’t another emerging teen idol use the power of Brady to spark some increased career exposure. In the case of Mission: Magic, Australian singer Rick Springfield lent his likeness, name and music to this animated Saturday morning series, an offshoot of The Brady Kids, to conjure up a little extra name recognition with record-buying youngsters.

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

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From 1968 to 2000, Fred McFeely Rogers invited viewers to spend some quality time in his little yellow television house. Soft-spoken, but with strength of purpose and complete sincerity, Mister Rogers offered a simple but powerful message: “I like you just the way you are.” And, in retrospect, we liked him just the way he was. Today, we look back at this iconic and educational children's show that left many of us with such fond memories.

Monster Squad

Mork & Mindy

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Living in Milwaukee in the 50’s could be pretty boring for a young teenager. Even with the occasional excitement of Fonzie jumping his motorcycle over a bunch of garbage cans and water-skiing over sharks, Ritchie’s life remained, in a word, humdrum. That is, until one fateful night, when he received a visit from a quick-witted extraterrestrial named Mork from the faraway planet of Ork. This particular episode of the iconic sitcom Happy Days was a huge crowd-pleaser and made a relatively unknown stand-up comedian named Robin Williams into an instant star. A spin-off series was a no-brainer for television execs and in 1978, Mork and Mindy made its debut on ABC.