by Mj Ferruzza

Created on: January 14, 2009

The TV era of the 1970s was filled with social issues, bubble gum, and spin offs. It was the time when Aaron Spelling, Norman Lear and Garry Marshall ruled the air waves. Comediennes made their mark. Sports themes would abound. Variety shows flourished. And some Bicentennial moments leading to one heck of a party.

Coming out of the psychedelic 60s, The 1970s were an era of social change. It was reflected no better than in its television show of the decade, All in the Family starring Carrol O'Connor as Archie Bunker. The gloves were off and Norman Lear pulled no punches. This was not Jackie Gleason. This was not Robert Young. Here was a bigot of a man speaking his mind and throwing his working man attitude out every week on our TV sets. It covered a lot of social issues that had never seen the light of day in any previous TV or radio broadcast script. There were episodes that covered heavy themes like racism, homosexuality, rape, abortion, draft dodging and more.The popularity of All in the Family led Lear to create a plethora of spin offs during that time. The Bunker's African American neighbors, the Jeffersons, moved on up to the East side and created one of the most popular and long running shows on TV. Edith Bunker's cousin Maude was a liberal frick to stalwart Archie's frack, she got her own show. Maude's maid Florida got her own spin off and Good Times was born. Lear was able to spin off from his original key show and spread his message all across the TV schedule.

The comediennes had arrived during the 70s. Viewers may of had a hard time seeing Mary Tyler Moore stepping away from her Laura Petrie personna to play a single independent career woman, but she took no time in capturing a large audience and go on to create her own TV production company (run with then husband Grant Tinker). The Mary Tyler Moore show was well written and survived spin offs from popular characters like her best friend Rhoda (Valerie Harper) and land lady Phyllis (in a show starring the recent Academy award winning actress Cloris Leachman). Moore's company MTM spawned the Bob Newhart show another popular show of the era keying in on the laid back humor of that comedian. Other comediennes that took center stage were Carol Burnett with her popular variety show along with a supporting cast of crazies and Cher from the Sonny & Cher variety show.

In fact, it was a good time to be a comedian and get a sitcom. The late Freddie Prinze landed in a garage and ended up on Chico and the Man.

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