Let’s turn back the clock to 1975—a time when TV was buzzing with big new concepts, iconic characters, and programs that would set the stage for pop culture dominance for decades. Whether you saw them when they first aired or caught them on reruns, these shows didn’t just debut—they burst onto the scene and left a mark that’s still being felt today. Here’s a countdown in reverse of the largest TV premieres that year.
14. One Day at a Time
Norman Lear was TV royalty at this point, and One Day at a Time was the reason why. The show centered on Ann Romano, a single mother with two teenage daughters in Indianapolis. Starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, Valerie Bertinelli, and Pat Harrington Jr., the show addressed real-life issues such as feminism and single parenthood, while maintaining a sense of humor. Schneider, the quirky building superintendent, was a fan favorite from day one. Its impact was so great that Netflix revived it decades later for another generation.
13. Wonder Woman
In the years before superheroes dominated television and film, Lynda Carter played Diana Prince on Wonder Woman. The early season was more WWII-centric, with later seasons bringing her forward to the current era, with flashy costumes and action episodes. Carter did a lot of her own stunts, and her star-studded costume was immediately iconic. She wasn’t just a heroine, though – she was an inspiration.
12. Saturday Night Live
In 1975, NBC rolled the dice on a new format: live sketch comedy with rotating celebrity hosts and musical acts. Saturday Night Live—then called NBC’s Saturday Night—was born, with George Carlin as its first host. It launched careers for Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Dan Aykroyd, and over nearly 50 years, it has become one of TV’s longest-running institutions, racking up more Emmys than any other show.
11. Fawlty Towers
Alas, there are but a dozen episodes, yet Fawlty Towers is the comedy gold standard. Conceived by Connie Booth and John Cleese, the show ran about Basil Fawlty, England’s most mannerless hotelier, as he stumbled his way through catastrophe after catastrophe. Andrew Sachs and Prunella Scales round out the cast, and every episode is unadulterated farce—and extremely re-watchable.
10. Welcome Back, Kotter
Inspired by Gabe Kaplan’s own high school experiences, this sitcom centered on a teacher who returns to his Brooklyn alma mater to instruct a class of lovable goofballs called the “Sweathogs.” John Travolta’s Vinnie Barbarino was a breakout star, and the show’s theme song was a chart-topping hit. The show’s humor, slang (“Up your nose with a rubber hose!”), and heart made it a pop culture phenomenon of the time.
9. Match Game PM
The evening edition of Match Game ratcheted up the laughs with more risqué humor, bigger prizes, and a team of quick-witted celebrities. Hosted by Gene Rayburn—always wearing his signature long microphone—the show was a laugh-filled playpen where stars like Richard Dawson became American icons.
8. Phyllis
Cloris Leachman brought her Mary Tyler Moore Show role into a new series, Phyllis, where her character struggled with widowhood, career, and raising her daughter in San Francisco. Though it lasted but a few seasons, the show was an innovation in having a widowed female star—a novelty then—and earned Leachman a Golden Globe.
7. Space: 1999
Half science fiction, half space adventure, Space: 1999 followed Moonbase Alpha after a nuclear explosion propelled the Moon into space. Featuring Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, it was one of the more expensive programs of its era, with complex special effects that would serve as a benchmark for the genre for years to come. Though brief, it is a cult classic among sci-fi fans.
6. Ryan’s Hope
This afternoon soap added a twist by featuring an Irish-American family running a bar in New York City. It dealt with real issues—mental illness, abortion, family loyalty—while paving the way for the career of Kate Mulgrew, who went on to commandeer Star Trek: Voyager. To audiences, it was one of the most actor-driven soaps of its time.
5. S.W.A.T.
Before it became a Hollywood hit and modern remake, S.W.A.T. was a high-speed TV drama about a special police unit. Its pulse-pounding theme song by Barry De Vorzon even topped the Billboard charts. Even though the show only had two seasons, its action and toughness made it a cult classic.
4. Barney Miller
This cop comedy, shot almost entirely within a New York police station, centered on people, not shootouts. With Hal Linden starring as Captain Barney Miller, the show rose and fell on witty writing, quirky suspects, and the deadpan humor of its detectives. Abe Vigoda’s Detective Fish even got his own spin-off. Barney Miller was celebrated in writing and is still a benchmark for character-based comedy.
3. The Jeffersons
Another of Norman Lear’s gems on the tube, The Jeffersons featured George and Louise Jefferson moving to a Manhattan high-rise luxury apartment. Isabel Sanford was the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy, and the theme song “Movin’ On Up” became an anthem. It lasted for 11 seasons and was among the longest-running African-American-produced and starring sitcoms ever.
2. Baretta
Robert Blake lent grit and character to portraying Tony Baretta, a rebellious cop with a pet cockatoo, Fred. His reputation for improvisation helped make Baretta stand out from the stereotypical TV detective. With its catchphrase of the day—”Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time”—and theme song by Sammy Davis Jr., the show was one not to miss.
1. Wheel of Fortune
Beginning in 1975 as Shoppers Bazaar, the program shortly changed to Wheel of Fortune and became virtually home immediately. Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford hosted the program initially before Pat Sajak and Vanna White hosted it. Wheel spinning and puzzle solving became an oldie but goodie format. Players once spent their winnings on prizes instead of cash, and the giant wheel itself became modified over the years—but the rush never went away. Today, it’s among the oldest shows still on the air.
1975 was not only another year of TV debuts—it was a turning point. From pioneering sitcoms to iconic game shows, the class of ’75 gave us tales, laughter, and characters still resonating through pop culture. Almost 50 years on, these programs remind us why that year was indeed a golden one for TV.