It’s easy to look at the 1970s and get a little envious. There was an awesome soundtrack by David Bowie, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Elton John, to name a few. Modern computing was just getting started. Social movements such as environmentalism and civil rights gained traction. The cost of living was significantly cheaper.
If you find yourself wishing you lived back then, you can escape into one of the 10 shows on this list. This will tide you over until you figure out how to make a time machine. Plus, these series will have you saying “far out” and “groovy” in no time.
That 70s Show
It seems a little on the nose to include this Fox series on the list, but it’s just too perfect to exclude it. This show ran for eight seasons and introduced audiences to stars such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. The plot centers around six teenagers growing up in the ’70s in Wisconsin. You can stream it on Peacock while the ’90s version is on Netflix.
Three’s Company
This popular ABC sitcom ran from 1977 to 1984. The plot centers around three roommates who have to lie because of their landlord's conservative nature. Janet Wood, played by Joyce DeWitt, and Chrissy Snow, played by Suzanne Somers, need a third roomie. After a fun party, the young women stumble on Jack Tripper, played by John Ritter, in their bathtub. They decide to let him move in but pretend he is gay so the landlord will allow it. What could go wrong? Stream this on Pluto TV or Sling TV to find out.
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Gaslit
This limited Starz series shows a darker side of the ’70s and is available to stream on Hulu. It is based on Leon Neyfakh’s podcast “Slow Burn” and tells the story of the Watergate scandal from the perspective of Martha Mitchell, played by Julia Roberts. She is married to President Nixon’s attorney general, John N. Mitchell, and has a tendency to speak out, even when her husband wishes she wouldn’t. History has her to thank for revealing some of Nixon’s wrongdoings.
The Offer
Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece The Godfather was first released in 1972. This almost didn’t happen. The Paramount+ series tells this story and features an ensemble cast made up of stars such as Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Giovanni Ribisi, Colin Hanks, Dan Fogler, and Juno Temple. It is the brainchild of Michael Tolkin, who partnered with Nikki Toscano to make it happen.
Mrs. America
This FX miniseries was created by Davhi Waller. In 1972, Congress approved the Equal Rights Act, but not everyone was happy about this, including conservative political lobbyist Phyllis Schlafly, played by Cate Blanchett. This series tells the story of her working against the ERA and the feminists who tried to stop her, such as Gloria Steinem, played by Rose Byrne. This is a timely topic, as the Amendment is still in limbo today, waiting on states' ratification.
The Deuce
This HBO show created by David Simon and George Pelecanos was always intended to just be three seasons. It tells the story of the adult film industry in New York City, in the ’70s and ’80s, so it’s a spicier option. James Franco plays both Vincent and Frankie Martino, who are twin brothers. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Eileen Merrell, a former prostitute turned actress and director.
Fargo
Every season of this FX series stands alone with some minor overlaps. It’s based on the movie of the same name, but originally the Coen brothers were not involved. After liking what they saw after reading the script, they came on as executive producers. To get your ’70s fix, focus on season 2 of the show. It features an ensemble cast of Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, Patrick Wilson, and Ted Danson. There’s a triple homicide to solve on Hulu.
Trust
This FX limited series created by Simon Beaufoy is set in 1973. The plot centers around the real-life mega-wealthy Getty family. It asks the question: Does money really buy happiness or cause more problems? Donald Sutherland stars as the patriarch, J. Paul Getty. Hilary Swank plays Gail Getty. You can stream it on Hulu.
Minx
This comedy series began on HBO and then moved to Starz. It was created and written by Ellen Rapoport and ran for two seasons. The plot and jokes come from the tension between Joyce Prigger, a feminist, who starts the first women's erotic magazine. To accomplish this task, she teams up with Doug Renetti, a not-so-feminist adult entertainment professional. What could go wrong? Stream on Amazon and Hulu to find out.
Daisy Jones and the Six
This Amazon Prime series is for all the music lovers out there. It’s based on the book of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reed. It tells the behind-the-scenes story of the fictional band Daisy Jones and the Six, who seem to share a lot of similarities with Fleetwood Mac. Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, Riley Keough, stars as Daisy Jones. Hunger Games star Sam Claflin plays lead singer Billy Dunne.
