5 Strange ’70s Sitcoms Ranked: Why These Odd Ideas Didn’t Last

Unusual Ideas, Brief Runs

The 1970s sitcom landscape included acclaimed long-running shows, but also experiments that struggled to last. The featured programs ranged from outer-space farce to supernatural comedy and animal-centered family stories.

None of the sitcoms discussed ran longer than one season in live action. Some did not reach ten episodes, though The Ghost Busters made it to 15.

Mrs. Noah Goes Into Space

Come Back Mrs. Noah stars Mollie Sugden as Gertrude Noah, who wins a baking contest and receives a tour of the Britannia 7 spacecraft. The visit is televised on Far and Wide, but the craft launches by accident with her, two physicists, a maintenance worker and reporter Ian Lavender aboard.

Creators Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft brought their farcical style and double entendres to the series, while adding slapstick. Mrs. Noah repeatedly ends up in awkward situations, including being trapped in an escape tube and floating in zero gravity. The BBC did not commission more after its six episodes aired.

Ghosts, Monsters And Repetition

Filmation’s The Ghost Busters followed Jake Kong, played by Forrest Tucker, Eddie Spencer, played by Larry Storch, and gorilla Tracy, played by Bob Burns. Their unseen boss, Zero, sent them on missions through recorded messages to confront creatures including werewolves, Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula.

The series reused sets, story beats and a self-destructing message gag, and ran for 15 episodes. Columbia Pictures later licensed its name for the Bill Murray comedy. Filmation returned with an animated sequel series two years after the movie became a blockbuster; The Real Ghostbusters, the movie’s official cartoon spin-off, debuted less than a week later.

A Chimp Joins The Family

Dentist Mike Reynolds, played by Ted Bessell, first tries to find the animal’s owner. When that effort fails, he makes the chimp part of the family.