45 Short-Lived and Easily Forgotten TV Shows From the 1970s
How many of these short-lived TV series from the 1970s do you remember? Left top: "Nashville 99"; Left bottom: "The Snoop Sisters"; Center: "Dog and Cat"; Right top: "Gemini Man"; Right bottom: "Three for the Road."
Remembering Obscure '70s TV
Today we're going to take a nostalgic look at 45 short-lived television series that are among the most easily forgotten shows of the 1970s. In some cases it's difficult to say why these shows couldn't attract an audience. In other cases, there were poor casting decisions, bad time slots, and/or silly plot lines.
There are many other '70s series that could fit on this list, but I believe we have a pretty decent start. So, let's begin our journey back in time.
1973's "Adam's Rib" co-starred Ken Howard and Blythe Danner
1. Adam's Rib (1973)
Adam's Rib, a sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 14, 1973, and concluded its run on December 28, 1973, featured Ken Howard in the role of Adam Bonner, with Blythe Danner as his wife, Amanda.
The series drew inspiration from the renowned Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn film of the same name. Much like the movie, the television adaptation portrayed Adam as an assistant district attorney and his wife as a partner within a legal firm. This dynamic often led to them being in opposition due to their professional roles, and this clash extended beyond the courtroom, frequently manifesting in conflicts within their domestic life.
Dena Dietrich, celebrated for her iconic Chiffon/Mother Nature advertisements during the 1970s, assumed the role of Amanda's secretary. The dashing Edward Winter brought life to the character of Kip Kipple, Amanda's partner at the law firm. Ron Rifkin portrayed Assistant D.A. Roy Mendelsohn, and Norman Bartold undertook the role of District Attorney. These two figures consistently represented the "good old boys" faction on Adam's side.
Priscilla Barnes (left) and Debra Clinger starred in "The American Girls" (1978)
2. The American Girls (1978)
The American Girls was billed as an adventure drama and it aired on CBS beginning on September 23, 1978, wrapping up on November 10, 1978.
Priscilla Barnes starred as Rebecca Tomkin with Debra Clinger as Amy Waddell. The two women worked for The American Report, a television news program. Rebecca was an experienced reporter, while Amy was fresh out of college. The pair embarked on journeys across the nation in a technologically-advanced van, equipping them to cover stories even in the most secluded locations.
In the ensemble cast, David Spielberg assumed the role of their producer, Francis X. Casey, and William Prince portrayed Jason Cook, the anchor and host of the news program. The series aired in the 9-10 pm time slot, vying with ABC's popular show, The Love Boat, which pretty much guaranteed its failure.
As an interesting tidbit, Debra Clinger also made an appearance on Saturday morning TV as Super Chic on The Krofft Supershow in 1977, as a member of Kaptain Kool and the Kongs, the musical group who hosted the series.
3. Bearcats! (1971)
Bearcats! aired on CBS for a single season, starting on September 16, 1971, and concluding on December 30, 1971. This action-adventure series was set in 1914 and revolved around the escapades of Johnny Reach (Dennis Cole) and Hank Brackett (Rod Taylor), who journeyed across the American Southwest in a Stutz Bearcat.
The duo functioned somewhat as mercenaries, tackling a variety of perilous assignments for wealthy clients. The payment for their services was determined upon the completion of each mission, with the fee escalating for more hazardous tasks. After all, how else could the duo afford their Bearcat!?
Despite CBS' efforts to promote the show, it faced strong competition from NBC's highly popular The Flip Wilson Show and ABC's well-received Alias Smith and Jones. Perhaps a more fitting name for the series might have made a difference?
James Sutorius (left) and Roy Poole, the stars of "The Andros Targets"
4. The Andros Targets (1977)
Debuting on CBS on January 31, 1977, and concluding its run on July 9, 1977, The Andros Targets featured James Sutorius in the role of Mike Andros, a newspaper journalist employed by The New York Forum. Andros' main goal was to uncover the many instances of corruption within the city, which was difficult as it was often concealed by people of influence.
In his mission against these corrupt practices, he was aided by his associate, Sandi Farrell (portrayed by Pamela Reed). The ensemble also included Roy Poole, Alan Mixon, Ted Beniades, and Jordan Charney.
Regrettably, The Andros Targets struggled to find its audience. It didn't help that critics were not impressed, stating that the show's depiction of investigative reporting wasn't based in reality.
David Groh and Joan Hackett starred as husband and wife in "Another Day" (1978)
5. Another Day (1978)
This comedy series aired on CBS from April 8, 1978, to April 29, 1978. It featured David Groh as Don Gardner, a young businessman struggling with his finances. Joan Hackett played his wife Ginny, who was working to alleviate their financial burdens.
The family's challenges were compounded by their two children: son Mark, portrayed by Al Eisenmann, and daughter Kelly, played by Lisa Lindgren. Completing the ensemble was Hope Summers as Olive Gardner, the archetypal nagging mother-in-law living with the family.
Groh was initially hesitant to take on another comedy series so soon after concluding Rhoda. He was actively seeking a gritty, realistic dramatic series. However, CBS informed him that such shows weren't appealing to viewers at that time. Unfortunately, audiences also did not embrace this particular comedy, leading to its cancellation after just four episodes.
6. Chopper One (1974)
This Aaron Spelling police drama aired on ABC for 13 episodes, beginning on January 17, 1974, and concluding on April 11, 1974. Officers Don Burdick (Jim McMullan) and Gil Foley (Dirk Benedict) served as chopper pilots, offering an aerial perspective to officers on the ground pursuing criminals.
This setup bore similarities to later shows like Blue Thunder and Airwolf, though the Chopper One helicopter lacked the elaborate technological modifications seen in those series.
Certain critics drew parallels between the show and Adam-12, but with rotary blades. The production cost for each half-hour episode amounted to around $140,000, which was notably higher than the average cost of producing an hour-long show at that time—approximately $90,000.
The elevated expense was attributed to the necessity of using two helicopters and two pilots to capture the extensive aerial sequences on film. Even the director received stunt pay wages, given their involvement in directing scenes while flying in the helicopter.