1977/78 – Laverne & Shirley was #1 on ABC Tuesday.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1977 season; Maude was cancelled in the
sixth season.
Alternate Series: The Hardy Boys Mysteries and The Nancy Drew Mysteries were on ABC Sunday at 7 PM.
Anniversary:
Hawaii Five-O celebrated ten years on CBS.
Hee Haw celebrated ten years on TV.
60 Minutes kept on ticking for ten years on CBS.
Biggest New Hit: How The West Was Won was #11 on ABC Sunday. It was a popular miniseries with James Arness of Gunsmoke
fame. It also starred Bruce Boxleitner, later of Scarecrow And Mrs. King
Contract Dispute: Gretchen Corbett left The Rockford Files after a contract dispute. She appeared in The Rockford Files
movies in the 1990's as the same character.
Movies 2 TV:
How The West Was won was based on the 1962 all star movie.
Logan's Run was based on the 1976 Michael York movie.
Name Change:
Fernwood 2–Night to America 2–Night.
James At 15 to James At 16 on February 9, 1978.
Wonder Woman to The New Adventures Of Wonder Woman.
The Richard Pryor Show – some stars got their start on this variety show.
Sandra Bernhard was one of top-notch bisexual comedians. Her fame increased on Roseanne; she played Nancy Bartlett, an
lesbian.
Marsha Warfield joined Night Court in 1986. She replaced Florence Halop, who replaced Selma Diamond, as the bailiff. Both
Selma and Florence died from lung cancer in real life. Marsha joined Empty Nest in 1993 for the last two seasons.
John Witherspoon finally found TV success in 1995; he was the hugely funny father, John "Pops" Williams, on WB's The Wayans
Bros. It's a eighteen year gap between the two series.
The one and only, Robin Williams, had more success than any of them. He was funny enough to get a spin off from one appearance
on Happy Days. We all know how that turned out. From there, he conquered the movies and won a best supporting Oscar for Good
Will Hunting, the 1997 Matt Damon/Ben Affleck written/starred movie. He was on Laugh In in 1977; Richard Pryor was still his
first series - Laugh In was specials on NBC.
Paul Moody was the head writer for The Richard Pryor Show and the first season of In Living Colour, created Homey The Clown,
played by Damon Wayans. He wrote stand up material for Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. His greatest fame was Chappelle's Show
on Comedy Central till Dave Cappelle, the creator, abruptly quit the show after two seasons. It's a twenty-six year gap between
Richard Pryor and Chappelle's Show.
The Return: Baby, I'm Back! Well, not so fast, Demond Wilson! You wished you were declared legally dead. For a top
dog like you, you deserved something better. The New Odd Couple wasn't it either! It was such a shame that the producers didn't
meet you halfway. Could the son go on without his dad? We will never know the answer to that question. They didn't give you
a chance. Oh well. Life goes on. Then again, we ALREADY know the answer. Sanford wasn't the same without you in 1980. It just
proved that Sanford & Son need each other. Without one another, there was no point of going alone.
Simultaneous:
Patrick Duffy was The Man From Atlantic, but he made a much bigger splash on Dallas.
Robert Urich was on Soap and Tabitha.
Spin Off:
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye from The Rockford Files.
The Sanford Arms from Sanford & Son. Well, what can I say? It was a complete disaster all around. NBC shouldn't do
the spin off in the first place. Sanford & Son was good enough for the audience. What's a spin off without one of the
main stars? Demond Wilson was very interest of going on without Redd Foxx; the producers didn't want to meet his salary demands.
Redd Foxx jumped ship to host a variety show on ABC.
Switch Networks:
The Bionic Woman went from ABC to NBC.
Wonder Woman went from ABC to CBS.
Tidbits:
Dallas made the return of the prime time soap since Peyton Place. Dallas wasn’t successful at first, but Who Shot
JR storyline put Dallas on the map in 1979.
Walt Disney tied with Ed Sullivan with most TV seasons – twenty-four each.
20/20, the second longest running newsmagazine, premiered on ABC.
Rosetti & Ryan was Jane Elliot's first series. She joined the popular ABC daytime soap, General Hospital, in 1978,
then she appeared on Knots Landing in 1980 for a year. She returned to her greatest role ever, Tracy Quartermaine, in 1989.
She played the role on and off since then.
Bea Arthur left Maude and the series was cancelled, just like The Golden Girls in 1992.
Rob Reiner was co–writer and co–producer of Free Country. His famous father is Carl Reiner.
The Amazing Spiderman was a limited series. The following season, it aired as specials. Spiderman creator, Stan Lee, hated
the series, deeming it "too juvenile."
Joan Rivers created Husbands, Wives & Lovers. It lasted for a few months on CBS.
On Our Own was the only series to be produce in New York of this season.
1977/78 Fall Season
One Season (1977/78)
Carter Country – 1977–1979, ABC, comedy, Victor French, Kene Holliday
Chips – 1977–1983, NBC, crime drama, Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox
Lou Grant – 1977–1982, CBS, drama, Edward Asner
The Love Boat – 1977–1986, ABC, comedy, Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell
Operation Petticoat – 1977–1979, ABC, comedy, John Astin, Jamie Lee Curtis
Soap – 1977–1982, ABC, comedy, Robert Mandan, Katherine Helmond
Cancelled TV Shows
The Betty White Show – CBS, comedy, Betty White
Big Hawaii – NBC, adventure, Cliff Potts
The Fitzpatricks – CBS, drama, Bert Kramer
Logan’s Run – CBS, sci-fi, Gregory Harrison
The Man From Atlantis – NBC, adventure, Patrick Duffy, Belinda Montgomery
Mulligan’s Stew – NBC, comedy/drama, 6 episodes, Elinor Donahue
On Our Own – CBS, comedy, Dixie Carter, Bess Armstrong
The Oregon Trail – NBC, western, 6 episodes, Darleen Carr, Andrew Stevens
Rafferty – CBS, drama, Patrick McGoohan
The Redd Foxx Show – ABC, variety, Redd Foxx
The Richard Pryor Show – NBC, variety, 4 episodes, Richard Pryor
Rosetti & Ryan – NBC, law drama, Tony Roberts, Squite Fridell
San Pedro Beach Bums – ABC, comedy, Christopher Murney
The Sanford Arms – NBC, comedy, 5 episodes, Theodore Wilson, LaWanda Page
We’ve Got Each Other – CBS, comedy, Tom Poston, Joan Van Ark
Young Dan’l Boone – CBS, adventure, 4 episodes, Rick Moses
6 out of 22 new series SURVIVED for 1978/79
ABC – 5/7, Carter Country, Love Boat, Operation Petticoat, Soap
& What’s Happening!!
CBS – 2/9, Lou Grant & New Adventures Of Wonder Woman
NBC – 1/9, Chips
Mid season shows
Dallas – April 1978–1991, CBS, soap, Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy
Fantasy Island – January 1978–1984, ABC, romantic drama, Richardo Montalban, Herve Villechaize
How The West Was Won – February 1978–1979, ABC, western, James Arness, Bruce Boxleitner
The Incredible Hulk – March 1978–1982, CBS, adventure, Bill Bixby
Joe & Valerie – April 1978–1979, NBC, comedy, Paul Regina
Lucan – December 1977–1978, ABC, adventure, Kevin Brophy
Operation: Runaway – April 1978–1979, NBC, drama, Robert Reed
Project U.F.O. – February 1978–1979, NBC, drama, William Jordan
Szysznyk – August 1977–1978, CBS, comedy, Ned Beatty
20/20 – June 1978–present, ABC, newsmagazine, Hugh Downs, Geraldo Rivera
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
ABC Saturday Comedy Special – ABC, comedy anthology
A.E.S Hudson Street – ABC, comedy, Gregory Sierra
The Amazing Spiderman – CBS, adventure, Nicholas Hammond
Another Day – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, David Groh
Baby, I'm Back – CBS, comedy, Demond Wilson, Kim Fields
Celebrity Challenge Of The Sexes – CBS, sports, Tom Brookshier
The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show – NBC, comedy variety, Chuck Barris
Free Country – ABC, comedy, 5 episodes, Rob Reiner
The Hanna–Barbera Happy Hour – NBC, comedy/variety, 4 episodes
Having Babies – ABC, comedy, Susan Sullivan
Headliners With David Frost – NBC, talk/interview, David Frost
Husbands, Wives & Lovers – CBS, comedy, Jesse Welles
James At 15 – NBC, drama, Lance Kerwin
Quark – NBC, comedy, 7 episodes, Conrad Janis
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye – NBC, detective drama, 5 episodes, Dennis Dugan
The Roller Girls – NBC, comedy, 4 episodes, Joanna Cassidy
Sam – CBS, crime drama, Mark Harmon
Tabitha – Nov 1977–August 1978, ABC, comedy, Lisa Hartman, Robert Urich
The Ted Knight Show – CBS, comedy, 6 episodes, Ted Knight
What Really Happened To The Class Of '65? – NBC, dramatic anthology, Tony Bill
Syndication
Family Feud – 1977–1985, syndication, quiz, Richard Dawson
Sha Na Na – 1977–1981, syndication, musical variety, Jon Bauman, Lennie Baker
Second City TV – 1977–1981, syndication, comedy, John Candy
That's Hollywood – 1977–1982, syndication, documentary, Tom Bosley
Two Seasons (1976/77)
Alice – 1976–1985, CBS, comedy
America 2–Night – July 1977–1978, satire
Baa Baa Black Sheep – 1976–1978, NBC, drama
The Big Event – 1976–1981, NBC, various
Busting Loose – January 1977–1978, CBS, comedy
Charlie’s Angels – 1976–1981, ABC, crime drama
Eight Is Enough – March 1977–1981, ABC, drama
Fish – February 1977–1978, ABC, comedy
The Gong Show – 1976–1980, syndication, comedy/audience participation
The Hardy Boys Mysteries – January 1977–1979, ABC, adventure
In Search Of... – 1976–1982, syndication, documentary
The Joker's Wild – 1976–1986, syndication, quiz
The Life & Time Of Grizzly Adams – February 1977–1978, NBC, adventure
Liar's Club – 1976–1978, syndication, quiz
The Muppet Show – 1976–1981, syndication, variety
The Nancy Drew Mysteries – February 1977–1978, ABC, adventure
The New Adventures Of Wonder Woman – December 1976–1979, CBS, adventure
The $128,000 Question – 1976–1978, syndication, quiz
Quincy, M.E. – 1976–1983, NBC, crime drama
Shields And Yarnell – June 1977–1978, CBS, variety
Sugar Time! – August 1977–1978, ABC, comedy
Tony Randall – 1976–1978, ABC, comedy
Three’s Company – March 1977–1984, ABC, comedy
What’s Happening!! – 1976–1979, ABC, comedy
Three Seasons (1975/76)
Bionic Woman – January 1976–1978, ABC, adventure
The Bobby Vinton Show – 1975–1978, syndication, musical variety
The Cross–Wits – 1975–1980, syndication, quiz
Donny & Marie – January 1976–1979, ABC, variety
Family – March 1976–1980, ABC, drama
Laverne & Shirley – January 1976–1983, ABC, comedy
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman – January 1975–1978, syndication, soap
Match Game P.M. – 1975–1982, syndication, game
Nashville On The Road – 1975–1983, syndication, music
One Day At A Time – December 1975–1984, ABC, comedy
Saturday Night Live – 1975–present, NBC, variety
Starsky & Hutch – 1975–1979, ABC, crime drama
Switch – 1975–1978, CBS, crime drama
Welcome Back, Kotter – 1975–1979, ABC, comedy
Four Seasons (1974/75)
Baretta – January 1975–1978, ABC, crime drama
Barney Miller – January 1975–1982, ABC, comedy
Chico & The Man – 1974–1978, CBS, comedy
The Jeffersons – January 1975–1985, CBS, comedy
Little House On The Prairie – 1974–1983, NBC, drama
Lorne Greene's Last Of The Wild – 1974–1979, syndication, wildlife/nature
Police Woman – 1974–1978, NBC, crime drama
Pop! Goes The Country – 1974–1982, syndication, music
Rhoda – 1974–1979, CBS, comedy
Rockford Files – 1974–1980, NBC, crime drama
The $25,000 Pyramid – 1974–1979, syndication, quiz
Weekend – 1974–1979, NBC, newsmagazine
Five Seasons (1973/74)
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert – 1973–1981, syndicated, music
Good Times – February 1974–1979, CBS, comedy
Happy Days – January 1974–1984, ABC; comedy
Kojak – 1973–1978, CBS, crime drama
The Six Million Dollar Man – January 1974–1978, ABC, adventure
The Tomorrow Show – 1973–1982, NBC, talk
The Wild, Wild World Of Animals – 1973–1978, syndication, wildlife
Six Seasons (1972/73)
Barnaby Jones – January 1973–1980, CBS, crime drama
Bob Newhart – 1973–1978, CBS, comedy
M*A*S*H – 1973–1983,CBS, comedy
Maude – 1973–1978, CBS, comedy
The Midnight Special – February 1973–1981, NBC, music
The Waltons – 1972–1981, CBS, drama
Eight Seasons (1970/71)
All In The Family – January 1971–1979, CBS, comedy
Monday Night Football – 1970–2006, ABC, sports
That Good Ole Nashville Music – 1970–1985, syndication, music
Ten Seasons (1968/69)
Hawaii Five-O – 1968–1980, CBS, crime drama
Hee Haw – 1971–1993, syndication, variety
60 Minutes – 1968–present, CBS, newsmagazine
Eleven Seasons (1967/68)
The Carol Burnett Show – 1967–1978, CBS, variety
Wild Kingdom – 1971–1988, syndication, wildlife
Seventeen Seasons (1961/62)
The David Susskind Show – 1961–1987, syndication, talk
Twenty four Seasons (1954/55)
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1971–1982, syndication, music
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962–1992, NBC, talk/variety
Wonderful World of Disney – 1954–1983, anthology
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