Aired: 1970-1999
Budget: $6,000 per episode
One of the best-known sitcoms of the twentieth century, The Partridge Family, starred Shirley Jones. The family traveled around the world, playing music. The show aired as a part of ABC’s Friday-night lineup and would later go on to have reruns in syndication.
The family was based on a real-life family band that was popular in the sixties and seventies, The Cowsills. “The Patridge Family” had it all, comic books, animated series, movies, and CDs – not to mention various spin-offs of the show.
Harlem Globetrotters
Aired: 1970-1973
Budget: $10,000 per episode
"Harlem Globetrotters" was a cartoon based on the famous basketball team of the same name. Each episode ran for thirty minutes, and there were a total of twenty-two episodes of the show. Of course, Hanna-Barbera was the producer behind the show.
The show featured an animated version of the basketball players as well as a fictional bus driver, manager, and Dribbles the dog - the team's mascot. The series followed the team as they traveled, usually getting into a local conflict that led to one of the players proposing a basketball game to settle the issue.
Fat Albert
Aired: 1972-1985
Budget: $360,000 per season
Filmation produced the show, and it ran from 1972 until 1985. New episodes were released sporadically during that time, so the show consisted mainly of reruns. The show was based in North Philadelphia, and most episodes had an educational lesson to them.
"Fat Albert" was widely known for its episodes ending song the gang would play. The show was directed by veteran Tv executive Hal Sutherland and featured the voice of Bill Cosby.
Birdman
Aired: 1967-1968
Budget: $10,000 per episode
"Birdman" was based on the adventures of the superhero Birdman, part bird, part human. The show's original name was "Birdman and the Galaxy Trio," but was often referred to as just "Birdman."
The superhero who was also a lawyer was voiced by Keith Andes and was not originally written as a comedic superhero. "Birdman" made him into a comedic character, though he was still a superhero who drew his power from the sun's rays, and managed to fly using his solar-powered wings.
The Monkees
Aired: 1966-1968
Budget: $10,000 per episode
The family-friendly sitcom, "The Monkees," aired on NBC between 1966 and 1968. The premise focused on a four-man-band trying to make a name for themselves before becoming famous.
The show stood out at the time because it introduced a whole new genre of filming techniques that helped it win two Emmys for Outstanding Comedy. Even after the show went off the air, it was rerun for many years overseas and in syndication.