Oh yeah — 1977 was a golden year for U.S. television. Disco was hot, bell-bottoms were flapping, and American living rooms were tuned into some iconic shows. Here are some fun and notable facts from that year in TV:
- “Laverne & Shirley” – The #1 show of the year! Audiences loved the antics of two working-class gals in Milwaukee.
- “Happy Days” – Still riding high in popularity, with The Fonz in full coolness mode.
- “Three’s Company” – Premiered in March 1977, and quickly became a hit thanks to its cheeky humor and John Ritter’s slapstick genius.
- “MASH” – The Korean War comedy-drama was at peak quality and remains one of the most respected shows in TV history.
- “Charlie’s Angels” – Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair and action-packed plots helped cement this as a cultural phenomenon.
- “Roots” – This was huge. The miniseries aired in January 1977 and became one of the most-watched events in TV history. It changed the landscape of television storytelling.
- Miniseries Mania – Roots opened the door for future epic miniseries. It proved TV could be powerful, emotional, and historic.
- Jiggle TV – A term used (sometimes mockingly) to describe shows like Charlie’s Angels and Three’s Company that featured attractive casts and flirty humor.
- Strong Women Characters – Women-led shows were on the rise. Think Laverne & Shirley, Wonder Woman, Maude, and The Bionic Woman.
- “The Love Boat” – Set sail in 1977! The show was campy, charming, and filled with celebrity guest stars.
- “Lou Grant” – A spin-off of The Mary Tyler Moore Show that turned the lovable news producer into a serious newspaper editor in a drama series.
- “Soap” – A satire of soap operas that was bold, controversial, and totally ahead of its time.
- Color TV was now standard — black and white was officially out in most households.
- VCRs were just beginning to enter homes (if you were rich), and the idea of “recording a show” was brand new.
- Cable TV was still in its early days — HBO existed, but it was just starting to expand.
