Make a journey again in time and discover one of the best sci-fi TV exhibits of the Nineteen Seventies with us.
We’re winding via the many years to ship a complete, curated checklist of the best small-screen science fiction to ever grace your console shade tv set. In case you thought the Fifties or Nineteen Sixties have been powerful to prime, then buckle down your house helmet as we blast off into the Swingin’ Seventies for a galaxy of glittery disco-age delights.
Energized by the affect of Hollywood movies like “Planet of the Apes,” “Star Wars,” and “Shut Encounters of the Third Sort,” this absorbing time capsule of sci-fi tv historical past is among the most revered, with its many classics. It’s attention-grabbing to mirror on simply what number of candidates right here adopted these blockbusters with developed storytelling, futuristic manufacturing values, and respectable particular results of their very own.
Plug within the nostalgia generator and let’s run down one of the best sci-fi TV exhibits of the Nineteen Seventies!
10. Ark II
Broadcast in 1976 for one 15-episode season as a part of CBS’s live-action Saturday morning roster, “Ark II” was focused for adolescent children and youths in search of a science-based present with a post-apocalyptic angle.
The collection was set within the twenty fifth century aboard a slick futuristic ATV that regarded one thing like a bloated 6-wheeled Tesla Cybertruck on steroids. This hi-tech automobile and cell lab was piloted by a trio of younger scientists and a speaking chimp who scoured the wastelands of a future Earth in search of different survivors after a brand new Darkish Ages had fallen as a consequence of excessive air pollution and limitless wars.
Its character names of Jonah, Ruth, Samuel, and Adam additionally gave the sci-fi journey collection attention-grabbing biblical implications not usually seen in community TV.
9. Planet of the Apes: The Sequence
Emanating out of the immensely fashionable “Planet of the Apes” movie franchise that ended with 1973’s “Battle for the Planet of the Apes,” this small display screen mission tried to draw the identical viewership with various outcomes.
Because of the budgetary and format limitations of Nineteen Seventies tv dramas, this cheap present compares to the narrative of “The Fugitive,” the place the trio of two astronauts and an clever chimpanzee roam the far future countryside serving to the place they will whereas being chased down by the ape police.
Starring Ron Harper and James Naughton, with the incomparable star of the “Apes” movie franchise, Roddy McDowell, the one-and-done collection handled topical problems with race relations and humankind’s thirst for destruction. It was an trustworthy try that was sadly minimize quick earlier than it might grow to be one thing even deeper.
8. Logan’s Run
- Initially aired: 1977-1978
A brief-lived however memorable entry on our checklist is “Logan’s Run”, a TV adaptation of the 1976 sci-fi movie of the identical title that depicted a Twenty third-century domed utopian society the place everybody’s wants are seemingly met, however you are not allowed to stay previous the age of 30.
A police murderer named Logan 5 goes on an undercover mission to find a legendary place referred to as Sanctuary the place fleeing residents have escaped to. Starring Gregory Harrison as Logan 5, Randolph Powell as his “Sandman” colleague now turned nemesis, Francis 7, and Heather Menzies as Jessica 6, the collection adopted Logan and Jessica as they roamed the wastelands of a post-apocalyptic Earth. The good D.C. Fontana of “Star Trek” fame served as story editor for the 14-episode run.
7. The Tomorrow Folks
- Initially aired: 1973-1979
Largely seen within the UK on the ITV Community and beloved by of us of a sure age, “The Tomorrow Folks” was a curious long-running children present that centered round a group of genetically-advanced youngsters often called Homo Superiors, every with supernatural powers or paranormal expertise that acts as a type of psychic superhero workforce.
These evolutionarily gifted kids work out of The Lab, a headquarters that was as soon as a London Underground station. They’re additionally linked to a cosmic authority referred to as the Galactic Federation that screens some of these particular beings across the universe. Consider it as much like “X-Males” meets “Physician Who.”
A reboot aired on The CW for one wild season of teleportation, telekinesis, and telepathy from 2013-2014.
6. Buck Rogers within the twenty fifth Century
- Initially aired: 1979-1981
Citing the rear of the last decade is tremendous creator Glen A. Larson’s second sci-fi collection, made to capitalize on the beautiful success of “Star Wars” and to bridge the hole till “The Empire Strikes Again” was launched in 1980.
This NBC present didn’t have fairly the funds of “Battlestar Galactica” nevertheless it made up for cheaper units and particular results by delivering a sunny, adventurous tackle the traditional cartoon hero.
Starring Gil Gerard because the charming galactic adventurer Buck Rogers and a spandex-clad Erin Grey as Colonel Wilma Deering, this rollicking (and sometimes corny) collection was born out of the success of Common Photos’ 1979 TV and theatrical movie of the identical title. “Buck Rogers within the twenty fifth Century” lasted two full seasons, spanning 37 episodes which are nonetheless recalled fondly by followers as we speak.
5. Mork & Mindy
- Initially aired: 1978-1982
Shazbot! We certain miss foolish sci-fi exhibits like this traditional that debuted on ABC in 1978.
Standup comic Robin Williams bought his TV begin on this sitcom set in Boulder, Colorado, a couple of frisky grad pupil (Pam Dawber) who takes in an extraterrestrial from the planet Ork who’s right here to check the habits of Earthlings and report again to his boss, Orson.
This was truly a “Comfortable Days” spinoff from the dream-drawn 1978 episode, “My Favourite Orkan.” At a time when broadcast selections have been restricted to a few networks and a handful of impartial UHF channels, it is onerous to explain how fashionable these lighthearted exhibits of the ’70s actually have been. “Mork & Mindy” was a showcase for Williams’ zany improvised habits that rocketed the actor from his egg-shaped spaceship to superstardom after the collection led to 1982 after 4 seasons.
4. Battlestar Galactica
- Initially aired: 1978-1979
Govt producer Glen A. Larson’s first space-based present landed within the wake of that little movie set in a galaxy far, far-off and cemented itself as one of the best fraking “Star Wars” clone on TV.
With its rag-tag fleet of colony ships led by the honorable Colonel Adama (Lorne Greene), commander of the titular spaceship, “Battlestar Galactica” was simply the antidote for imaginative youth in search of a family-friendly house opera beamed weekly into their dwelling rooms.
Hunted down by the warlike Cylons, these silver robotic centurions with the eerie digital voice, Adama and his heroic survivors battled their approach throughout the cosmos looking for a “shining planet often called Earth.” The miserable trendy reboot was an enormous hit, however we’ll nonetheless take this enjoyable and recent authentic. Additionally famous for the on-screen camaraderie of Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict’s gung-ho Colonial Viper pilots.
3. Area: 1999
- Initially aired: 1975-1977
Created by the legendary Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, “Area: 1999” truly arrived on TV earlier than the popular culture sensation of “Star Wars” and was far forward of its time when it first hit the air on Sept. 5, 1975.
The British present adopted the courageous crew of Moonbase Alpha after a nuclear waste explosion precipitated the moon to shift its orbit and go drifting into deep house. Its severe tone and unbelievable sci-fi episodes of derelict spacecraft, cosmic viruses, and unique aliens have been a revelation for its time.
The stable solid of Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Barry Morse, Nick Tate, Zenia Merton, and others gave it knowledgeable gravitas not like any present of its period. And the miniature visible results of the Eagle One spacecraft and lunar outpost from Brian Johnson (“Alien,” “The Empire Strikes Again”) have been excellent. We solely bought two seasons of this influential sci-fi jewel, nevertheless it holds up extraordinarily nicely as we speak as a retro-cool traditional that must be revisited usually.
2. The Six Million Greenback Man
- Initially aired: 1974-1978
“Gents, we are able to rebuild him. Now we have the know-how. Now we have the potential to make the world’s first bionic man.”
This was absolute must-see ’70s TV as viewers tuned in to the adventures of astronaut Steve Austin (Lee Majors), a check pilot in a crash of an experimental NASA glide spacecraft (the precise Northrop M2-F2 footage from 1967) who turns into the planet’s first cyborg and an secret agent for the sneaky Workplace of Scientific Intelligence (OSI).
Famous for its insertion of cool bionic know-how and an actual science-based narrative, this was some of the fashionable collection on ABC for a half-decade as we watched our enhanced hero tackle a colourful number of villains and worldwide threats… even Bigfoot! Certain, Lindsay Wagner’s “The Bionic Girl” was an honest spinoff, however the authentic nonetheless stands tall for its 5 speed-running seasons.
1. UFO
- Initially aired: (1970-1971 UK) (1972-1973 USA)
If there’s one collection on this rating checklist that deserves a reboot or function movie adaptation it is this British manufacturing from supermarionette masters Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. The fashionable present depicts an anti-extraterrestrial invasion league referred to as SHADO (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation) that deflects UFO threats from a London movie studio doubling because the Earth-bound headquarters and a secret lunar outpost referred to as Moonbase.
Headed up by the enigmatic Colonel Ed Straker (Ed Bishop), SHADO’s world spawned a whole line of “UFO” plastic mannequin kits, lunch containers, and die-cast toys that at the moment are coveted as invaluable collectibles. Famous for its mod stylings of the early Nineteen Seventies like silver mini skirts, groovy zip-up jumpsuits, go-go boots, and vibrant purple wigs, “UFO” calls for to be honored among the many very best of its period, particularly for the only season’s wonderful miniature units and entertaining particular results.
