10 Best Television Families Of The 70s and 80s

Back in the 70s and 80s, television was comforting. There was no 24-hour news to bombard us with troubles. After a long hard day, families would hunker down to watch their favorite TV shows. There were many popular cop and lawyer shows and Gunsmoke continued to be one of TV’s most popular shows, but what reigned supreme were the comedies and dramas that involved families.

For every Mary Tyler Moore Show or Starsky & Hutch, there existed a show (either comedy or drama) that followed the lives of a family that viewers could relate to. Many became some of the most beloved shows in history. Here are 10 of the best-remembered TV show families.

10. The 80s: The Bundys – Married With Children

One of the surprise hits of the 80s was Married With Children. The show followed The Bundys – Al, Peg, Kelly, and Bud – and skewered the “happy family’ scenarios of most sitcoms.

What made the show special was its casting and scripts. Ed O’ Neil, Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate, and David Faustino played the family with skill. The writing lets the audience know that, although the family fought and always insulted one another, at the end of the day, they loved each other. There was always a sweetness after the sting.

9. The 70s: The Waltons – The Waltons

The Waltons was one of the most popular shows of the 70s. For nine seasons, it remained in the Neilson ratings top 10 due to its wholesome and realistic portrayal of a mountain family during WWII.

The show tackled subjects such as financial hardships, first love, and the futility of war. Richard Thomas is best remembered as the son, “John Boy,” and the phrase “Good night, John Boy” became a pop-culture staple of its decade and beyond.

8.The 80s: The Keatons – Family Ties

Before Michael J. Fox became a movie star with 1985’s Back to the Future, he became a TV star with NBC’s Family Ties. The show told the story of two ex-hippies (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter) who were raising their two daughters and conservative son, Alex (Fox).

The comedy came from the two liberals parenting a conservative, which begat many funny exchanges between Alex and his parents. The show tackled current issues, such as teen pregnancy and drug addiction. Extremely popular amongst families, the show ended its run with one of the 10 highest-rated series finales of its day.

7. The 70s: The Partridges – The Partridge Family

The Partridge Family was the “bubble gum pop” show of the 1970s. The series was a rainbow-colored comedy about a family (led by single mother, Shirley Jones) who was also a successful pop-rock band.

David Cassidy and Susan Day were Keith and Laurie, the teenaged siblings. Danny Bonaduce was Danny, the wisecracking middle son and Susan Crough and Brian Forster were Chris and Tracy, the youngest. All were in the band. The series followed comical day to day hijinks, while ending each episode with a musical performance.

6. The 70s: The Bunkers – All In The Family

Norman Lear made television history many times. It all began with his groundbreaking show All in the Family. The Bunkers were a messy family, to say the least. Daughter Gloria was a crybaby who was married to hippie-liberal, Mike. Mother Edith was a bit of a ditz from time to time and Father Archie was a grumpy bigot.

What made the show special was its heart. While it didn’t shy away from the issues of the day, it created real people. Edith was silly but human and very smart and Archie’s character was more than one-note. The arguments were real and the lessons would take root in the characters and the audience.

5. The 70s: The Evanses – Good Times

Norman Lear’s Good Times was much more than J.J.’s catchphrase, “Dy-no-mite!” The show took a seriocomic look at the problems of a Black family in the Chicago projects of the 70s. John Amos and Esther Rolle played the parents to two sons and a daughter. The most famous character was Jimmie Walker’s J.J., whose wild comic stylings made him a fan favorite.

One of the most influential Black-themed sitcoms of all time, the show smashed stereotypes to give viewers an honest look at the life of a struggling Black family. Stars such as Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, and Wanda Sykes cite it as influential.

4. The 80s: The Connors – Roseanne

Roseanne Barr fast became one of the most popular comedians of her day. Her comedy told hard truths about being a middle-class wife struggling for equality in a man’s world. Her self-titled show Roseanne pulled no punches either.

Her husband Dan (John Goodman) was her partner in the struggle to raise three very different kids, Becky, Darlene, and D.J. The family unit was explored through humor and some drama. Co-star Sara Gilbert was paramount in keeping the reboot of the show going after Barr was fired for racist comments/pictures on Instagram. The Connors was the new title and it deals with many issues and characters set up by the original show.

3. The 70s: The Bradys – The Brady Bunch

Everyone young and old knows The Brady Bunch and almost every TV fan can sing the theme song. The show followed Mike and Carrol Brady, the widower and widow who had three kids each, as they marry and try to maintain a household of three boys and three girls.

Along with their housekeeper, Alice, The Bradys took life one day at a time through five seasons. The cast, the song, and the house became famous staples of 70s TV.

2. The 70s: The Cunninghams – Happy Days

Happy Days was one of Garry Marshall’s great triumphs. This is a show that is forever a piece of 70s pop culture. One of its strengths was the portrayal of the main family, The Cunninghams. Ron Howard was the show’s main star, as Richie, but the entire family became popular with audiences.

Even The Fonz couldn’t resist his crush on “Mrs. C” and Howard was a soft and caring patriarch. Daughter Joanie was the bouncy younger sister of Richie, who bugged him but always loved him. The show was sweet and the family was endearing.

1.The 80s: The Huxtables – The Cosby Show

In the history of TV families, The Huxtables are, perhaps, the most beloved of them all. Bill Cosby’s massive ratings hit, The Cosby Show, warmed audiences and introduced them to the family. Cosby was Cliff and Phylisha Rashad was Clair, two successful parents of four modern children. Lisa Bonet was Denise, the adventurous and socially-conscious teen daughter. Malcolm Jamal Warner played Theo, the son, with Tempestt Bledsoe and Keisha Knight Pullam as the two younger daughters.

The family was loving and fun and handled issues with class and humor that endeared them to critics and audiences.