by Tom Stewart

Created on: May 28, 2009

Television was a lot different in the 1960's than it is today. There were only three channels to choose from. Most sets were black and white and the reception had to be finely tuned with a set of rabbit ears. And the closest thing to a remote control was telling your youngest child to 'go change the channel'. But one thing that was unique about television in the 60's was how it brought families together. The 'boob tube' was the centerpiece of most living rooms in the United States and families would faithfully gather to watch and laugh at some of television's greatest funny people. Here are just some of the best TV comedies of the 1960's.

Bewtiched-

Every week advertising executive Darrin Stevens would have his hands full with his wife Samantha, an attractive and crafty witch who tries her best to be a normal housewife. But her special powers, derived by the wiggle of her nose, would always get her in trouble as Darrin would run ragged trying to hide his wife's secret powers from his boss and co-workers. The comical and silly 'Bewitched' aired from 1964 to 1972 and starred Dick York and later Dick Sargent as Darrin and Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha.

I Dream of Jeannie-

Similar to 'Bewitched', and from the same producers, 'I Dream of Jeannie' features Tony Nelson, an astronaut, played by Larry Hagman, who crash lands on a beach and finds a bottle. A scantily clad genie played by Barbara Eden, pops out of the bottle and devotes herself to her new master. The two eventually wed and Tony Nelson finds himself trying to hide his wife's secret powers as she causes havoc week after week. This funny and popular comedy aired on NBC from 1965 to 1970.

The Beverly Hillbillies-

As the theme song explains, the Clampett's, a family of hillbillies, strikes it rich when oil is discovered on their land. So they packed up their belongings and moved to Beverly Hills, California. J.D., Granny, Elly May, and Jethro find themselves in the middle of two cultures, the uncivilized country ways they're used to and the civilized and extravagant ways of the Beverly Hills elite. Each week the two cultures would clash leading to lots of laughs and hi-jinx. 'The Beverly Hillbillies' ran on CBS from 1962 to 1965 in black and white and then in color from 1965 to 1971. The show starred Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr.

The Addams Family-

'The Addams Family' was another comedy about an outcast family of eccentric and dark characters trying to fit

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>