Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983) - Produced by Garry Marshall as a spin off of Happy Days it stars his daughter Penny Marshall and roommate Cindy Williams as two single Milwaukee brewery workers. Bowling, pizza places and boy pests Lenny and Squigy make a show that could be said to be Lucy Ricardo on steroids. Also starring Betty Garrett, Michael McKean, David Lander, Phil Foster, Leslie Easterbrook and Eddie Mekka as Shirley's sometimes boyfriend Carmen.
The Muppet Show (1976–1981) -Musical Variety show starring the Sesame Street muppets of Jim Henson who also produced the show. Starring Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy among others. Vaudevillian slapstick humor with celebrity hosts who mostly fell over themselves to do the show. Also puppet work by Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathy Mullen, Eren Ozker and John Lovelady.
Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) - The Centerpiece of Fred Silverman's ABC Jiggle TV proved a big success for this trio of private eye-fulls, the first to star in once male detective roles. Starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle and the voice of John Forsythe as "Charlie". Charlie's Angels Anniversary page
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976–1978 -Norman Lear does a Soap Opera satire from Fernwood, Ohio. Believing that Soap Operas repeat every line twice Lear named the show twice. Though playing to the same themes and issues as day time soaps, this series took it over the top and didn't mince words. It became a controversial success lasting only two seasons. It starred Louise Lasser, Greg Mullavey, Dody Goodman and Mary Kay Place. After Lasser left in the second season there were two spin offs, Forever Fernwood and Fernwood 2-Night each lasting another year. Fernwood Central!
The Bionic Woman (1976–1978) - A spin off from the Six Million Dollar Man, Lindsay Wagner starred as Jaime Sommers a tennis pro turned Bionic crime fighter. She outrun cars and hears through walls. It was successful for its two year season but ABC did not renew it for demographic concerns.
Also starring Richard Anderson and Martin E. Brooks. The Bionic Woman Files!
Family Feud (1976 - present)
What's Happening!! (1976–1979)
The P.T.L. Club premieres (1976–1987)
Family (1976–1980)
Alice (1976–1985) Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983)
Series End 1976
The Rookies (1972—1976)
May—Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
Cannon (1971—1976)
Medical Center (1969–1976)
Most Watched 1976 - 1977
1 Happy Days
2 Laverne and Shirley
3 The ABC Monday Night Movie
4 M*A*S*H
5 Charlie's Angels
6 The Big Event
7 The Six-Million-Dollar Man
8 The ABC Sunday Night Movie
9 Baretta
10 One Day at a Time
11 Three's Company
12 All in the Family
13 Welcome Back Kotter
14 The Bionic Woman
15 The Waltons
16 Little House on the Prairie
17 Barney Miller
18 60 Minutes
19 Hawaii Five-O
20 NBC Monday Night at the Movies
Television News 1976
Gong Show Gene Gene the Dancing Machine
The Gong Show (1976 -1979) -Chuck Barris who enjoyed mega hits producing and writing The Dating Game and the Newlyweds tried his hand at presenting his own show. The Unknown Comic, stage hand Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, celebrity judges and nutcake Chuck Barris made it the most watched afternoon program for unemployed stoned people.Gong Show funniest daytime show ever.
The Killer Bees sing King Bee
John Belusi and Dan Akryod as The Blues Brothers debut on NBC's Saturday Night Live singing "I'm a King Bee" in their Killer Bees costumes. Later in the year SNL producer Lorne Michaels made an on-air offer to pay The Beatles $3,000 to reunite on the show. The following week he upped the ante to $3,200. The Beatles were watching!
Lorne Michaels makes an offer they refuse
Leaving the Today Show to Jane Pauley, Barbara Walters became the first women on nightly news. She co-anchored with Harry Reasoner who did not like Walters or the idea of co hosting. The bitter relationship could not be hidden and viewership sagged, Walters was forced out in 1978 and given various special event projects for ABC. Walters and Reasoner
Rich Man, Poor Man - This, the first mini-series was from a Irwin Shaw novel of the same name chronicling the post war lives of the rich CEO brother ad odds with the poor boxer brother. It aired on ABC for an hour on 12 sequential Monday nights and starred Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, Susan Blakely and Ed Asner. Rich Man Poor Man, first miniseries.
Jane Pauley comes to The Today Show and with the help of co hosts (until 1989) with Tom Brokaw and Bryant Gumble puts the show on top of the morning.
The Emmy's for 1976 - 1977
Outstanding Drama Series - Masterpiece Theatre: Upstairs, Downstairs
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - James Garner, The Rockford Files
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series - Lindsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman
Outstanding Continuing Performance By a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Gary Frank, Family
Outstanding Continuing Performance By a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Kristy McNichol, Family
Outstanding Comedy Series - The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series - Carroll O'Connor, All in the Family
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Beatrice Arthur, Maude
Outstanding Continuing Performance By a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Gary Burghoff, M*A*S*H
Outstanding Continuing Performance By a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Mary Kay Place, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series - Van Dyke and Company
Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983) - 
The Muppet Show (1976–1981) -
Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) -
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976–1978 -
The Bionic Woman (1976–1978) -
John Belusi 
