The 1960s has the reputation of being the decade for dramatic social change in America, but for television content, it was the 1970s that saw a sea change. That was the decade that saw such envelope-pushing sitcoms “All in the Family,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Jeffersons,” and “M*A*S*H.” As well, the decade provided opportunities for British entertainment to cross the pond and find audiences here. (For those interested in longer form entertainment, these are the most successful movies of the 1970s.)
To determine the best TV episodes of the 1970s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed audience rating data from IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon. Television episodes that aired between 1970 and 1979 were ranked based on IMDb user rating as of mid-February 2023. Only TV episodes with at least 1,000 user ratings were considered. In the case of a tie, the episode with the greater number of user votes was ranked higher.
Two shows absolutely dominate the list – the long-running British fantasy series “Doctor Who” and the hit Korean War-set dramedy “M*A*S*H.”
“Doctor Who” ran from 1963 to 1989 and was resurrected in 2005. The series depicts the adventures of a time-traveling extraterrestrial in human form who combats villains, saves civilizations, and helps those in need. Thirteen different actors have played the title character, and the series is a significant part of contemporary British culture.
Episodes of the British comedies “Fawlty Towers” and “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” also earned places on the list. (Neither, though, makes the list of the most popular TV comedies according to IMDb.)
Click here to see the best TV episodes of the 1970s
M*A*S*H” broke barriers by addressing issues such as PTSD and homosexuality. It ran for 11 years starting in 1972 and won 14 Emmys. The show’s finale aired 40 years ago this month and was watched by 77% of the television viewing audience, the largest percentage ever to watch a single TV show up to that time.
40. 5 O’Clock Charlie (1973)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (749 votes)
> Directed by: Norman Tokar
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
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39. Pyramids of Mars: Part One (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (756 votes)
> Directed by: Patricia Russell
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Bernard Archard, Michael Sheard
38. The Seeds of Doom: Part Six (1976)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (503 votes)
> Directed by: Douglas Camfield
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Tony Beckley, John Challis
37. The Party (1979)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (563 votes)
> Directed by: Burt Metcalfe
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
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36. A Harvest of Friends (1974)
> Show: Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (568 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Landon
> Starring: Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson
35. The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Part Six (1977)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (580 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Michael Spice, Deep Roy
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34. A Night of Fright Is No Delight (1970)
> Show: Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (590 votes)
> Directed by: Joseph Barbera, William Hanna
> Starring: Nicole Jaffe, Casey Kasem, Don Messick, Vic Perrin
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33. The Seeds of Doom: Part One (1976)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (591 votes)
> Directed by: Douglas Camfield
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Tony Beckley, John Challis
32. Point of View (1978)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (634 votes)
> Directed by: Charles S. Dubin
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
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31. The Interview (1976)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (655 votes)
> Directed by: Larry Gelbart
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
30. Dear Sigmund (1976)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (658 votes)
> Directed by: Alan Alda
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
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29. Deal Me Out (1973)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (737 votes)
> Directed by: Gene Reynolds
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
28. Adam’s Ribs (1974)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (741 votes)
> Directed by: Gene Reynolds
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
27. Welcome to Korea (1975)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (747 votes)
> Directed by: Gene Reynolds
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
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26. Spam (1970)
> Show: Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (867 votes)
> Directed by: Ian MacNaughton
> Starring: Terry Jones, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Graham Chapman
25. Life Time (1979)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (567 votes)
> Directed by: Alan Alda
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
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24. Good-Bye Radar: Part 2 (1979)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (595 votes)
> Directed by: Charles S. Dubin
> Starring: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit
23. City of Death: Part Three (1979)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (633 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Hayes
> Starring: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Julian Glover, Catherine Schell
22. The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Part One (1977)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (723 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, John Bennett, Christopher Benjamin
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21. City of Death: Part One (1979)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (746 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Hayes
> Starring: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Julian Glover, Catherine Schell
20. Sometimes You Hear the Bullet (1973)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (853 votes)
> Directed by: William Wiard
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
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19. Gourmet Night (1975)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (2,024 votes)
> Directed by: John Howard Davies
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
18. City of Death: Part Two (1979)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (649 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Hayes
> Starring: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Julian Glover, Catherine Schell
17. Genesis of the Daleks: Part Three (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (775 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
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16. The Hotel Inspectors (1975)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (2,086 votes)
> Directed by: John Howard Davies
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
15. City of Death: Part Four (1979)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (662 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Hayes
> Starring: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Julian Glover, Catherine Schell
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14. Genesis of the Daleks: Part Four (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (772 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
13. Genesis of the Daleks: Part Two (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (785 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
12. Tuttle (1973)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (986 votes)
> Directed by: William Wiard
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
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11. The Spanish Inquisition (1970)
> Show: Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974)
> IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1,175 votes)
> Directed by: Ian MacNaughton
> Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones
10. Genesis of the Daleks: Part Five (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (789 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
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9. Genesis of the Daleks: Part One (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,015 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
8. The Kipper and the Corpse (1979)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,963 votes)
> Directed by: Bob Spiers
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
7. Basil the Rat (1979)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,966 votes)
> Directed by: Bob Spiers
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
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6. The Psychiatrist (1979)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 9.1/10 (2,087 votes)
> Directed by: Bob Spiers
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
5. Genesis of the Daleks: Part Six (1975)
> Show: Doctor Who (1963-1989)
> IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (862 votes)
> Directed by: David Maloney
> Starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher
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4. Communication Problems (1979)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (2,174 votes)
> Directed by: Bob Spiers
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
3. The Germans (1975)
> Show: Fawlty Towers (1975-1979)
> IMDb user rating: 9.3/10 (2,688 votes)
> Directed by: John Howard Davies
> Starring: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
2. Abyssinia, Henry (1975)
> Show: M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
> IMDb user rating: 9.4/10 (1,294 votes)
> Directed by: Larry Gelbart
> Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit
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1. Turkeys Away (1978)
> Show: WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
> IMDb user rating: 9.6/10 (961 votes)
> Directed by: Michael Zinberg
> Starring: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders
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