It's Been 50 Years Since These Classic 1976 TV Shows Premiered

The 2020s have been pretty major in terms of television changes. In fact, can it even be called television anymore? As per PBS, 49% of people don't even watch shows on that old piece of tech. Indeed, these days it's all streaming services, sharing log-in details, and watching clips of shows on TikTok or Instagram. Of course, this isn't the first time the small screen landscape has shifted in a major way. '70s television, like the 2020s, saw a lot of change that is still apparent today, whether it was mini-series like scoring major ratings or child-focused programming coming to the fore.

Take, for example, 1976. That year shows premiered that are still on air today and intellectual property hit screens that remains deep inside the public consciousness. The only difference being you couldn't decide when to watch it. "You really had to decide what you were going to pick to watch," recalled one nostalgic television viewer on Reddit. "During rerun season you could at least get a chance to watch a competing show you missed the first time around." Well, actually, the actors have changed too. Here's what the surviving stars from the '70s biggest shows look like today.

Sure, it was the year of America's bicentennial and Gerald Ford losing to Jimmy Carter in the election, but those weren't the only history-defining moments of 1976. Let's take a look at the classic shows that premiered on television half a century ago.

If "Family Feud" were a song, it'd be The Eagles' album "Hotel California." If "Family Feud" were a drink, it'd be a Big Gulp. If "Family Feud" were a piece of tech, it'd be something made by Apple or Microsoft. That is to say, it's an American institution that began in 1976.

Back then, the show looked a little different than how it does today. There was no Steve Harvey, no superstar families like the Kardashians competing, and it was on ABC instead of being syndicated to networks. Originally, the show was a purely local — not nationwide — affair, with it airing in Baltimore before being broadcast further afield in 1978. However, the hallmarks of what fans still love about the show were there, from host Richard Dawson's chemistry with contestants to, of course, the catchphrase "survey says" (which was originally the title of the show). Heck, even the stage layout has remained essentially the same, but for a subtle makeover or two.

"I was inspired by a game show called 'Concentration' that had a similar survey-based format," said the "Family Feud" creator Bob Stewart when speaking to the Baltimore Sun (via St. James' Park). "I thought, 'This can be fun, but we can make it even more entertaining by adding a family element.'" That simple idea created a game that'd be beloved for years and, according to YouGov, the fifth-most popular show of all time. Now, that's a classic.

These days, if you hear "Charlie's Angels," you might picture Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. However, it was originally a show that began in 1976, not just a film from 2000, and the first Angels of Charlie's were Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, and Jaclyn Smith on ABC.

The pilot that premiered in September 1976 is about as '70s as it gets, with super-wide flares, charmingly hokey fight sequences, and a whole lot of funky guitar licks. "This wasn't Shakespeare," admitted Smith, who played Kelly Garrett, when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2026. "It was make-believe. And you know what? The audience needed illusion. They loved illusion. We need escapes," she added. "And 'Charlie's Angels' was an escape."

It was also pretty groundbreaking for its time. In the opening titles, the Angels start out as pen-pushers at the LAPD but quit and join Charles Townsend's private investigation agency. Hence, "Charlie's Angels." Although some did decry the show for being an example of "jiggle TV," in reference to how women's bodies were depicted through voyeuristic camerawork, it was one of the first shows to display women in roles that were usually occupied by the opposite sex. "It was three women chasing danger instead of being rescued from it," added Smith during a 50th anniversary Q&A, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. "Independent, not defined by the man in their life, and it gave women permission to step out of the mold."

"Charlie's Angels" didn't offer its audience Shakespeare, but "Live from Lincoln Center" sure did. From 1976 to 2019, the Manhattan-based show brought the American Ballet Theatre performing Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," Luciano Pavarotti, and, literally, Shakespeare plays to American TV screens.

Like a proto-VR headset, the show transported viewers away from their sofas and into the best seats in the house, with the first broadcast seeing a pianist play the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor. The show premiered on PBS, and it was indeed public service broadcasting. "We're not doing opera for opera nuts," said John Goberman, the show's executive producer, when speaking to The New York Times. "If we did something so recherché, we'd be better off putting it on cassettes and mailing it to people." His approach worked, and PBS has been going live from the Lincoln Center for the best part of 50 years. The show's got an Emmy or two to show for it. Heck, it won two in its inaugural year: outstanding achievement in tape sound mixing and outstanding classical music program.

It wasn't just an intellectual achievement when it first hit screens, but a technical one too. The production used small cameras, long lenses, and sneakily placed microphones to bring high-quality broadcasting to audiences while not compromising on performance. Bravo.

It's a show that has one of the most classic TV Halloween episodes from the '60s and '70s. It's a show that was and remains a cultural phenomenon. It's the origin of one of your favorite memes. It's "The Muppet Show," and Jim Henson's puppet pals made their first appearance on television screens in September 1976.

"The Muppet Show" of 1976 was as assured a work as the later classics like "The Muppet Christmas Carol." It was Kermit the Frog, Gonzo, and Fozzie Bear's first outing, but they' looked like they'd been on TV for years. As Jane Henson, wife of Jim Henson, put it, the show always had the quintessential Muppet spirit. "It was camp right from the beginning," she said in the documentary "Henson's Place: The Man Behind the Muppets" (via People). "[I]t was that campy, somewhere between child and adult feeling that we wanted to continue. And I think, really, 'The Muppet Show' was a mature version of our original Sam and Friends show."

It was that Muppetian vibe that fans loved right from the start. "Feels timeless," wrote one user on Reddit about the first ever episode. "I think it would feel completely normal for this to come out as brand new today." Another user on Reddit added, "I love how Jim Henson's shows could be enjoyed by adults as well as kids. It was good old fashioned family fun!"

Speaking of pop culture-shifting talents on TV in 1976, "The Jacksons" TV show also debuted that year. The titular stars were, of course, the Jacksons of "Blame It on the Boogie" fame.

The variety show that hit CBS screens in the summer of '76 featured guest stars like Muhammad Ali and, in its premiere episode, Sonny Bono. But the real stars were the Jacksons, with the family singing, dancing, and even acting in sketches. But even back then, one Jackson in particular stood out: Michael Jackson, the future King of Pop. "The other siblings look slick and practiced," said one user on Reddit. "But Michael's motions look totally effortless." "That was always the mind-blowing thing about Michael. You'd see a performance, and you knew he had the absolute best backup dancers in the business," replied another user to that comment. "But they'd still look like they were having to put in effort, and he was just operating on a whole different level." 

However, Michael himself wasn't as much of a fan of doing the variety show. Per the biography "Michael Jackson: Rewind: The Life and Legacy of Pop Music's King," he apparently believed the series was a "dumb move" and he hated every moment of it. Talk about sacrificing for your art.

There might not be a more famous family on American television than the Brady Bunch. However, their 1976 show, "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour," isn't what they'll be remembered for. In fact, it's one of the lost sitcoms of the '70s that is best left forgotten.

After ABC canceled "The Brady Bunch" two years prior, the original cast members (sans Eve Plumb) reunited for a 60-minute variety show in the late autumn of 1976 and, after impressive one-off ratings, filmed eight more. It was rather meta, with Mike Brady (Robert Reed) leaving his job as an architect to move to California and shoot the variety show. However, despite that kind of meta-ness being popular these days, the Bradys' show hasn't aged well, with TV Guide Magazine naming it the fourth-worst show of all time in 2002, according to Remind.

The hour was so bad it's non-canonical in the Brady-verse and it remains the only incarnation of the bunch that didn't involve series creator Sherwood Schwartz. To this day, the audience has issues too, with the show scoring a 3.8 average on IMDb. "[A] really crummy, stinky and really terrible series and again, one of THE worst [spinoffs] ever created," wrote one user on the movie database in 2020. It's classic because it's Brady, but for all the wrong reasons.

If you're a fan of long-forgotten variety shows, we've got another treat for you. This time, courtesy of the amazing Dolly Parton. Although it might not be the most classic television show of all time, it certainly was hosted by a classic pop star. So, let's take a look at the country-variety show named "Dolly."

Not to be confused with her series with the same name that premiered in 1987, the "Dolly" that debuted in 1976 lasted a mere 26 episodes. It was Parton's first TV solo outing after her long understudyship to Porter Wagoner.  The concept of the show saw the "Jolene" singer... sing. That's it. The only addition was the weekly rotation of guests that included Parton's longtime friend Kenny Rogers and powerhouse disco-funk outfit KC and the Sunshine Band. Despite that starry lineup, we feel you'd probably get just as much satisfaction from putting a Parton playlist on Spotify. Or, in '70s terms, putting one of her long plays on your vinyl player. Regardless, it was a hit.

Per Balladeer's Blog, though the show earned high ratings, it ultimately got the chop because the singer wanted out of her contract due to a demanding production schedule hurting her voice. It was a short-lived program, but to some, it's still classic. "I remember watching this and liking it," wrote one reminiscing Facebook poster. "The only episode I specifically recall is when Captain Kangaroo was the guest." 

There's something about music-based shows and 1976. But perhaps the most successful of which, long-term, has been "Austin City Limits." Not to be confused with the music festival of the same name, "ACL" is the longest-running music show in television history.  Technically, it started in 1974 with a Willie Nelson-fronted pilot, and that episode is listed as Episode 0 of Season 1 on IMDb. So, Season 1 proper started with Asleep at the Wheel and Bob Wills' Original Texas Playboys in 1976. 

"Forty-five years ago our band appeared on a newly formed show highlighting the Austin music scene called 'Austin City Limits' ... this was our introduction to the world," said the Asleep at the Wheel bandleader Ray Benson in the 2020 special "ACL Presents: 50 Years of Austin City Limits." "It was the beginning of what they would call the cosmic cowboy or outlaw music scene here in Austin where hippies and cowboys came together for some really amazing music." 

Over 50 seasons later, it isn't just the cowboys and hippies, but also the ballad-belters, the rappers, and the indie rockers that have shared some amazing music. Heck, the Texas-based show is still going strong with the creme de la creme of pop music like Olivia Rodrigo appearing on the series in 2026.  When it comes to classic shows from 1976, or the '70s writ large, not many others can lay claim to being awarded the National Medal of the Arts. But "Austin City Limits" can.

In television terms, it doesn't get much more classic than Andy Kaufman. In addition to his legendary work on "Saturday Night Live" and the multi-Emmy-winning sitcom "Taxi," he also appeared on "Van Dyke and Company," a variety show hosted by the "Mary Poppins" star.

Although it may be a television minnow compared to "SNL," with a mere 11 episodes compared to the NBC show's 50-plus years on the air, the Dick Van Dyke-fronted hour certainly featured a fair few beloved Kaufman bits. The highlights of his so-called unscheduled appearances include his Foreign Man character, a side-splitting lookalike contest, and an unironically impressive Elvis Presley impression. "Andy was a breath of fresh air in the 70s and 80s," wrote one user on Facebook under a clip of the show. "Not everyone's capable of appreciating him, but that was always part of the gag," they added. "There was one skit where Kaufman was sad and thought he was ruining Dick Van Dyke's show," recalled a commenter on YouTube. "He started crying and kept saying, 'I'm gonna ruin your show, hee, hee' ... until he started playing the bongos, and Dick started dancing," they continued. "Hilarious skit!"

Kaufman wasn't the only star to grace the series, with John Denver and Lucille Ball also popping up on the show. So, "Van Dyke and Company" was definitely star-studded, and then some. 

"Very funny show in its prime," wrote one user on Reddit about "Laverne & Shirley" upon its 50th anniversary. "Penny [Marshall] and Cindy [Williams] were wonderful performers and had great chemistry," they added. "Cindy especially could take lines that weren't funny on paper and make them funny with her line readings." Another Reddit user added, "Laverne and Shirley was literally my mf jam as a kid." Needless to say, the 1976 "Happy Days" spinoff left many people happy.

The 1950s-set ABC series saw the characters, who first appeared as potential love interests for Richie on its parent show, get up to all manner of hijinks, including thief catching and talent competitions, as they worked their jobs at a brewery and lived together. According to the show's creator, Garry Marshall, much of the success is from the fact the characters were relatable and that they weren't like all the Mary Tyler Moore-types on screen at the time. That relatability was reflected in the ratings, with the show heading straight to the top of the Nielsen charts upon its premiere.

It wasn't all about the leads, though. Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski and Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman, a comedic duo of Michael McKean and David Lander that they'd perfected in their college days, were the title characters' greaser next-door neighbors. "I loved the show, especially Lenny and Squiggy. I don't think it would have been the same without them," added another user on Reddit.