Where were you 50 years ago? If you were watching television in 1975, then you witnessed the arrival of some of TV’s biggest hits as a wide variety of shows made their debut. And it’s really quite a list, ranging from Wheel of Fortune to the one-two punch of Norman Lear’s The Jeffersons and One Day at a Time, classic comedies like Barney Miller and Welcome Back, Kotter, Saturday Night Live (still going strong in the show’s 50th year) and Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman, among others.
So join in on the celebration as we turn the clock back to 1975 and relive the primetime magic all over again!
Clockwise from top left: Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie, Green Acres and Lost in Space.
Entertainment
13 Iconic TV Shows From 1965 That Are Celebrating Their 60th Anniversary
1. ‘Wheel of Fortune’ (NBC Daytime, 1975–1989)
Created by: Merv Griffin
Cast: Chuck Woolery (host, 1975–1981), Susan Stafford (co-host, 1975–1982), Pat Sajak (host, 1981 to 2024 of the syndicated version), Vanna White (co-host, from 1982 of the syndicated version)
Premise: A game show where contestants solve word puzzles, similar to Hangman, to win cash and prizes by spinning a large carnival-style wheel.
Behind-the-scenes facts:
The show was initially intended to be called Shoppers Bazaar.
The original wheel was manually operated and much smaller than the current one.
Contestants originally “bought” prizes with their winnings instead of taking cash.
Pat Sajak became the longest-serving game show host in 2019
sausage wheel of fortune
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‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fail: Contestant Guesses Sausage and Steals the Show!
2. ‘Baretta’ (1975–1978)
Created by: Stephen J. Cannell
Cast: Robert Blake (Tony Baretta), Tom Ewell (Billy Truman), Michael D. Roberts (Rooster), Dana Elcar (Inspector Shiller)
Premise: A gritty detective drama focusing on Tony Baretta, a street-smart, unorthodox cop who often goes undercover to solve crimes. Known for his pet cockatoo, Fred, and his catchphrase, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”
Behind-the-scenes facts:
The show was a reworked version of Toma after its original lead, Tony Musante, refused to continue
Fred the cockatoo became a cultural icon.
The show’s theme song, “Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow,” was performed by Sammy Davis Jr.
Robert Blake reportedly improvised much of his dialogue.
3. ‘The Jeffersons’ (1975–1985)
Created by: Norman Lear
Cast: Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson), Isabel Sanford (Louise “Weezy” Jefferson), Marla Gibbs (Florence Johnston), Roxie Roker (Helen Willis), Franklin Cover (Tom Willis), Mike Evans/Damon Evans (Lionel Jefferson)
Premise: A spin-off of All in the Family, The Jeffersons follows George and Louise Jefferson as they “move on up” to a luxury apartment in Manhattan, chronicling their lives as an affluent African-American family and their interactions with neighbors and the help — throughout it all mining great humor!
Behind-the-scenes facts:
Isabel Sanford was the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy.
The series was the longest-running African-American-led sitcom until Tyler Perry’s House of Payne surpassed it.
Marla Gibbs’ Florence became so popular she almost got her spin-off, Checking In.
The show’s theme song, “Movin’ On Up,” is one of TV’s most iconic.
