The 1960s: Your Guide to 60 Classic (and Not So Classic) TV Sitcoms and Where to Stream Them
These shows ranged from fantasies like 'Bewitched' and rural comedies like 'Green Acres' — it was a fun time for TV fans
Looking back at the sitcoms of the 1950s, they were generally gentle family comedies along the lines of Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best and The Donna Reed Show. But when you get to 1960s TV sitcoms, there is a marked change in approach, with many shows falling into the categories of “fantasy” or “rural” sitcoms. Bewitched is an example of the former and Green Acres one of the latter.
Pop culture historian Geoffrey Mark, who has written Ella: A Biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald and The Lucy Book: A Complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television, muses, “Once President Kennedy was assassinated, once the Civil Rights movement had started, once we were in Vietnam, the culture of television was not to portray anything that serious in a comedic sort of way.
“So,” he adds, “sitcoms could not reflect on death and despair and war and assassinations and anything racial. You just couldn’t do it. In response there began this fad, and it lasted for several years, of these fantasy sitcoms with genies, witches, aliens and monsters, because they were unreal and far removed from what was actually happening in our country.”
Whatever the reasons for their arrival, the television audience loved the “fantasy” and “rural” 1960s TV sitcoms presented to them, with occasional bouts of a bit more sophistication amongst the mix. What follows is a guide to 60 of them aired between 1960 and 1969, and where you can stream them.
1. The Jim Backus Show (1960 to 1961)
CAST: Jim Backus, Nita Talbot, Bobs Watson
THE SHOW: Our look at 1960s TV sitcoms kicks off with this series, which aired between 1960 and 1961. Jim Backus (previously of I Married Joan and before he played Mr. Howell on Gilligan’s Island) starred in The Jim Backus Show (also known as Hot off the Wire). In it, he plays Mike O’Toole, the owner and operator of a second-rate news service that he is struggling to keep alive. Nita Talbot and Bill McLean play reporters on the comedy.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Classix
2. My Three Sons (1960 to 1972)
CAST: Fred MacMurray, William Frawley, William Demarest, Tim Considine, Don Grady, Stanley Livingston, Barry Livingston, Meredith MacRae, Tina Cole, Beverly Garland, Dawn Lyn, Ronne Troup
THE SHOW: One of the biggest 1960s TV sitcoms, My Three Sons centers around widowed father Steve Douglas (played by Fred MacMurray) as he raises three sons with the help of their grandfather and housekeeper (later their uncle, played respectively by Frawley and Demarest). The show follows the gentle comic adventures of the Douglas family as they navigate the challenges of growing up, with characters getting married and moving on over the course of its long run.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Classix, MeTV
3. The Shari Lewis Show (1960 to 1963) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Shari Lewis
THE SHOW: This television series brought attention to puppeteer Shari Lewis, who made equal stars of her puppet pals Lamb Chop, Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
4. The Andy Griffith Show (1960 to 1968) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Andy Griffith, Don Knotts, Ron Howard, Frances Bavier, Hal Smith, Elinor Donahue, Howard McNear, Betty Lynn, Jim Nabors, Aneta Corsaut, Howard Morris, George Lindsay, Howard McNear
THE SHOW: Set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, the series follows the life of Sheriff Andy Taylor (played by Andy Griffith) as he navigated the challenges of law enforcement while imparting wisdom and moral lessons to his son Opie (played by Ron Howard) and the quirky residents of Mayberry. A big part of the show’s success was the chemistry between Griffith and Knotts as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife. On top of that, oftentimes Sheriff Taylor seemed like the only sane man in Mayberry.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Paramount+, Pluto TV, Classix and Spectrum, MeTV
5. The Flintstones (1960 to 1966) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone), Mel Blanc (Barney Rubble), Jean Vander Pyl and Bea Benaderet
THE SHOW: You may wonder how a cartoon made the list of 1960s TV sitcoms, but this one originally aired in prime time. This prehistoric animated sitcom was a true sensation, still enjoying great popularity today. Look closely (actually, you probably don’t have to look that closely) and you’ll see a lot of similarities between The Flintstones and The Honeymooners.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Max, Tubi, MeTV
6. Mister Ed (1961 to 1966) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Alan Young, Connie Hines, Larry Keating, Edna Skinner, Leon Ames and Allan “Rocky” Lane as the voice of Mister Ed.
THE SHOW: Wilbur Post (Alan Young) discovers that his horse, Mister Ed, can talk — but will do so only to him. The show follows the comedic escapades of Wilbur and his equine buddy while Wilbur frequently comes across as crazy to his wife and people around him due to this obsession with his horse.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
7. Car 54, Where Are You? (1961 to 1963)
CAST: Joe E. Ross, Fred Gwynne, Beatric Pons, Al Lewis, Charlotte Rae
THE SHOW: Set in the fictional 53rd precinct of the New York City Police Department, the show follows the comedic misadventures of bumbling officers Gunther Toody and Francis Muldoon as they navigate their beat in the Bronx. Filled with slapstick humor and witty banter, the series provides a lighthearted glimpse into the daily antics and eccentric characters encountered by the officers patrolling their urban neighborhood. Obviously nothing too deep here, but it was the audience’s introduction to Fred Gwynne prior to The Munsters.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Fubo, Peacock, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, Shout TV, Plex, freevee
8. The Hathaways (1961 to 1962)
CAST: Peggy Cass, Jack Weston, Mary Grace Canfield, Harvey Lembeck, Barbara Perry
THE SHOW: This sitcom — ranked right up there with My Mother the Car as one of the worst sitcoms ever — follows a suburban family who adopts a chimpanzee named Amy as their daughter. Yeah, you read that right.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available.
9. Hazel (1961 to 1966)
CAST: Shirley Booth, Don DeFore, Whitney Blake, Bobby Buntrock, Ray Fulmer, Lynn Borden, Julia Benjamin
THE SHOW: Based on the newspaper comic strip of the same name, Shirley Booth plays the title character, a housekeeper who works for the Baxter family. The episodes deal with her iinfluence on them, as well as Hazel’s friendship with others around the neighborhood.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Antenna TV
10. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961 to 1966)
CAST: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Carl Reiner
THE SHOW: Created by Carl Reiner, this sitcom stars Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie, a comedy writer for the fictional The Alan Brady Show, and Mary Tyler Moore as his wife Laura. A sophisticated sitcom in a lot of ways (that could certainly embrace the sillies), it offers up a a comedic behind-the-scenes look at the world of TV.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: fubo, Peacock, Peacock Premium, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Crackle, Pluto TV, Plex, freevee, Xumo Play, Pure Flix, MeTV
11. Top Cat (1961 to 1962)
CAST: Arnold Stang (Top Cat), Marvin Kaplan (Choo-Choo), Maurice Gosfield (Benny the Ball), Leo Dy Lyon (Brain and Spook), John Stephenson (Fancy-Fancy) and Allen Jenkins (Officer Dibble)
THE SHOW: We’re including this one, because, like The Flintstones, it aired in prime time. Take the ’50s sitcom The Phil Silvers Show and reimagine it with talking cats as the leads, and you’ll get an idea of the set-up. These alley cats (led by the voice of Arnold Stang in the title role) are always scamming to get ahead and earn a quick buck. Their nemesis is a cop named Charles Dibble.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Boomerang, Spectrum
12. The Beverly Hillbillies (1962 to 1971)
CAST: Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Max Baer Jr., Raymond Bailey, Nancy Kulp
THE SHOW: A family of rural hillbillies, the Clampetts strike it rich when they discover oil on their land and move to Beverly Hills. Led by patriarch Jed Clampett (played by Buddy Ebsen), the family is so out of touch with the world they’re living in that they constantly clash with high society — though they normally come out looking the better.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Pluto TV, Prime Video, fubo, The Roku Channel, hoopla, Vudu, Crackle, Classix, MeTV
13. The Jetsons (1962 to 1963)
CAST: George O’Hanlon (George Jetson), Penny Singleton (Jane Jetson), Daws Butler (Elroy Jetson and Astro the Space Mutt), Janet Waldo (Judy Jetson), Jean Vander Pyl (Rosey the Robot), Mel Blanc (Mr. Spacely)
THE SHOW: Going to prehistoric times paid off like gangbusters for producers Hanna-Barbera, so why not try and duplicate that success by going into the future? That’s exactly what they did with The Jetsons, their space-age family consisting of George Jetson, daughter Judy, Jane his wife, their boy Elroy and let’s not forget Astro the dog, who, based on the way he speaks, we’re convinced is a descendant of Scooby-Doo.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Max, Tubi, Boomerang, Spectrum, MeTV
14. The Lucy Show (1962 to 1968)
CAST: Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, Gale Gordon, Mary Jane Croft, Candy Moore, Ralph Hart, Jimmy Garrett
THE SHOW: Could lightning strike twice, especially when the first bolt resulted in I Love Lucy? The answer for Lucille Ball was a decided yes with this follow-up series. Initially the set-up is that Lucy is widower Lucy Carmichael who has two kids. Co-starring for a time was the former Ethel Mertz, Vivian Vance, as Vivian Bagley; Candy Moore as her daughter, Chris; and Ralph Hart as son Sherman. Eventually Gale Gordon would become part of the cast as Mr. Mooney, manager of the bank that Lucy worked at. The premise went through continual changes as did the cast, but the audience never seemed to mind. In fact, during its sixth and final season it came in at #2 in the ratings. It was obvious that America still loved Lucy!
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Redbox, Plex, Xumo, Tubi, Pluto TV, freevee, Vudu
15. McHale’s Navy (1962 to 1966)
CAST: Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Joe Flynn, Bob Hastings
THE SHOW: Set during World War II, McHale’s Navy followed the misadventures of the crew of PT-73, led by Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale (Borgnine), as they outsmarted their bumbling superior officers and navigated life on a small Pacific island. Filled with slapstick humor and camaraderie, the show was a lighthearted take on military life during wartime.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Antenna TV
16. The Patty Duke Show (1963 to 1966)
CAST: Patty Duke, William Schallert, Jean Byron, Paul O’Keefe, Eddie Applegate
THE SHOW: Patty Duke is identical lookalike cousins Patty and Cathy Lane, who often found themselves in comedic situations as they navigated adolescence and family life — highlighted by the fact that their personalities were completely different.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Pluto TV
17. Petticoat Junction (1963 to 1970)
CAST: Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Linda Kaye Henning, Jeannine Riley, Pat Woodell, Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, Meredith MacRae, June Lockhart
THE SHOW: Petticoat Junction aired from 1963 to 1970. Set in the fictional rural town of Hooterville, the series revolved around the daily lives and misadventures of the Bradley family, who owned and operated the Shady Rest Hotel. The show primarily focused on Kate Bradley, the widowed matriarch, and her three daughters – Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo – as they navigated the challenges and joys of small-town life.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Crackle, Pluto TV, Prime Video, fubo, The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi, Redbox, Classix, MeTV
18. My Favorite Martian (1963 to 1966)
CAST: Ray Walston, Bill Bixby
THE SHOW: The series followed the comedic escapades of Tim O’Hara, a newspaper reporter, who discovers an extraterrestrial he names Uncle Martin that has crash-landed on Earth. Taking on the guise of a human, Uncle Martin possesses an array of extraordinary powers, including telekinesis and the ability to become invisible. Together, they navigate the challenges of concealing Martin’s true identity while getting into a series of humorous and often fantastical situations.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Peacock, Peacock Premium, The Roku Channel, Vudu, Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, freevee, Xumo, Antenna TV
19. The New Phil Silvers Show (1963 to 1964)
THE CAST: Phil Silvers, Stafford Repp, Herbie Faye, Berty Convy, Pat Renella, Jim Shane
THE SHOW: Phil Silvers starred in this sitcom as Harry Grafton, a scheming hotel manager who constantly concocts get-rich-quick schemes. Despite Silvers’ comedic talents and previous success with The Phil Silvers Show, probably better known as Sgt. Bilko, the new series failed to capture viewers’ interest and was canceled after one season.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
20. Bewitched (1964 to 1972)
CAST: Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, Dick Sargent, David White, Erin Murphy
THE SHOW: Witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) marries mortal advertising executive Darrin Stephens (originally played by Dick York, later by Dick Sargent). As Samantha tries to balance her magical abilities with the demands of suburban life, she frequently finds herself in comedic situations, often with the help of her magical relatives.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Roku, freevee, Tubi, Antenna TV
21. The Addams Family (1964 to 1965)
CAST: Carolyn Jones, John Astin, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, Blossom Rock, Ken Watherwax, Lisa Loring
THE SHOW: Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, The Addams Family followed the eccentric and macabre Addams family as they navigated everyday life in their spooky mansion. Led by patriarch Gomez (John Astin) and matriarch Morticia (Carolyn Jones), the family embraced their dark and unconventional interests with humor and style with an array of supporting characters.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: fubo, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Spectrum
22. Karen (1964 to 1965)
CAST: Debbie Watson, Richard Denning, Mary LaRoche, Gina Gillespie
THE SHOW: Starring Debbie Watson as the title character, this sitcom followed the adventures of a young woman trying to navigate life and romance in New York City. The show never found an audience, but it nonetheless lasted for 28 episodes.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
23. The Munsters (1964 to 1966)
CAST: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Beverly Owen, Pat Priest, Butch Patrick
THE SHOW: A comedic take on the classic Universal horror films, the Munsters was focused on a family of legendary beings living in suburban America. Led by patriarch Herman (Fred Gwynne), essentially Frankenstein’s Monster; the family included his vampiress wife Lily (Yvonne De Carlo), Grandpa (Al Lewis), who was hinted at being Dracula; and son Eddie (Butch Patrick), a Wolfboy.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Peacock Premium,
24. My Living Doll (1964 to 1965)
CAST: Bob Cummings, Julie Newmar, Jack Mulraney, Doris Dowling
THE SHOW: Bob Cummings psychiatrist Dr. Bob McDonald, who is assigned to care for Rhoda (played by Julie Newmar), a lifelike robot created by the government. Despite Newmar’s striking performance and the show’s innovative premise, it failed to connect with viewers, largely because the scripts just didn’t hold up.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Hooopla, Tubi
25. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964 to 1967)
CAST: Jim Nabors, Frank Sutton, Ronnie Schell
THE SHOW: Spinoff from The Andy Griffith Show, this stars Jim Nabors as the good-natured, but bumbling, title character who enlists in the Marines and is stationed at Camp Hamilton in California. Throughout the show his drill instructor is Sgt. Carter (Sutton). The audience loved this show.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Pluto TV
26. Gilligan’s Island (1964 to 1967)
CAST: Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, Dawn Wells
THE SHOW: If you know the show’s theme song, you’re certainly aware of the premise: seven people are stranded on a deserted island after their ship, the S.S. Minnow, is shipwrecked. Led by the bumbling first mate Gilligan (Denver), the survivors include the Skipper (Hale), millionaire Thurston Howell III (Backus) and his wife Lovey (Schafer), movie star Ginger Grant (Louise), the Professor (Johnson) and Mary Ann (Wells). They would later be featured in two animated series and three live action reunion TV movies.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Tubi, MeTV
27. Hank (1965 to 1966)
CAST: Dick Kallman, Howard St. John, Dabbs Greer, Linda Foster, Katie Sweet, Lloyd Corrigan
THE SHOW: Hank Dearborn is a college student navigating life and romance, and the show follows him as he tries to find his place in the world. One season only!
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
28. Mona McCluskey (1965 to 1966)
THE CAST: Juliet Prowse, Denny Scott Miller
THE SHOW: Starring Juliet Prowse as the titular character, this sitcom followed the adventures of an actress who marries a U.S. Air Force officer and tries to balance her career with her new role as a military wife. Unfortunately, this one didn’t connect either.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
29. My Mother the Car (1965 to 1966)
CAST: Jerry Van Dyke, Maggie Pierce, Ann Sothern (voice only)
THE SHOW: Attorney David Crabtree discovers that his mother has been reincarnated as a 1928 Porter automobile. Voiced by actress Ann Sothern, the car communicates with David and serves as both his confidante and comedic companion. It’s kind of like Mister Ed, but with a car instead of a horse. Oh, and not as funny.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
30. Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (1965 to 1967)
CAST: Patricia Crowley, Mark Miller
THE SHOW: Based on the 1957 book and 1960 film of the same name, the series follows the suburban adventures of the Nash family, headed by college professor Jim Nash and his wife Joan, a former actress turned stay-at-home mom and newspaper columnist.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
31. Green Acres (1965 to 1971)
CAST: Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, Pat Buttram Tom Lester, Frank Cady, Hank Patterson, Barbara Pepper, Alvy Moore, Arnold the Pig
THE SHOW: New York City lawyer Oliver Wendell Douglas (Albert) and his glamorous wife Lisa (Gabor) leave city life behind to embrace a simpler existence on a farm in Hooterville (sharing the same universe with The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction). Despite their best efforts to adjust to rural living, they often find themselves at odds with the eccentric locals and the challenges of farm life.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Fubo, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Spectrum, MGM+, MeTV,
32. Gidget (1965 to 1966)
CAST: Sally Field, Don Porter, Betty Conner, Pete Duel, Lynette Winter
THE SHOW: The comic adventures of Frances “Gidget” Lawrence (Field), a teenage girl who loves surfing and the beach culture of Southern California. It’s based on the 1959 novel and subsequent film.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: The Roku Channel
33. Hogan’s Heroes (1965 to 1971)
CAST: Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, John Banner, Robert Clary, Richard Dawson, Ivan Dixon, Larry Hovis, Kenneth Washington
THE SHOW: Set in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, the show follows the exploits of Allied prisoners led by Colonel Hogan (Crane) as they outwit their bumbling captors, led by Colonel Klink (Klemperer) and Sergeant Schultz (Banner). Despite its controversial premise (WWII had ended only two decades earlier), the audience loved it.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Pluto TV, freevee, MeTV
34. I Dream of Jeannie (1965 to 1970)
CAST: Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Rorke
THE SHOW: I Dream of Jeannie followed the romantic and comedic exploits of astronaut Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) and his genie, Jeannie (Barbara Eden), after he discovers her bottle on a deserted island. Despite Tony’s attempts to keep Jeannie’s magical abilities a secret, her mischievous antics often lead to humorous situations.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: The Roku Channel, Tubi, Antenna TV
35. The John Forsythe Show (1965 to 1966)
THE CAST: John Forsythe, Guy Marks, Elsa Lanchester, Ann B. Davis, Peggy Lipton, Page and Brook Forsythe
THE SHOW: John Forsythe starred in this sitcom as a bachelor attorney who takes in his orphaned niece and nephew. Despite Forsythe’s previous success in Bachelor Father and on the big screen, it didn’t work for the audience and was connected after one season. Some interesting casting here: Ann B. Davis would go on to play Alice the Housekeeper on The Brady Bunch and Peggy Lipton would end up on The Mod Squad.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
36. Get Smart (1965 to 1970)
CAST: Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Ed Platt
THE SHOW: It was the time of Bondmania in the 1960s, so leave it to Mel Brooks and Buck Henry to come up with a concept to spoof the whole spy thing. It followed the adventures of bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart (Adams) as he tackled absurd missions and faced off against the evil organization KAOS, often with the help of his capable partner (and eventual girlfriend and wife) Agent 99 (Feldon). Known for its slapstick humor and clever wordplay, Would you believe it created catchphrases that entered the popular vernacular? You don’t? Sorry about that, Chief.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
37. Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965 to 1966)
CAST: Jack Warden, Gary Collins, Mike Kellin, Mark Slade
THE SHOW: Loosely based on the 1960 film starring Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson, this dramedy followed the crew of the USS Kiwi, a dilapidated World War II-era ship tasked with performing various missions in the Pacific during the early days of World War II.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
38. That Girl (1966 to 1971)
CAST: Marlo Thomas, Ted Bessell, Lew Parker, Bernie Kopell, Rosemary DeCamp
THE SHOW: Marlo Thomas stars as aspiring actress Ann Marie, trying to make it in New York City. The show follows her pursuit of that dream while navigating the challenges of career, romance, and independence. That Girl began the road that shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Ally McBeal would follow.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Peacock, Peacock Premium, The roku Channel, Tubi, Redbox, Pluto TV, Filmrise, Plex, freevee
39. The Monkees (1966 to 1968)
CAST: Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones
THE SHOW: If you were to take the 1964 Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night and turn it into a half-hour TV series, The Monkees is a look at what that would be like. The show combined sitcom elements with musical performances by the actors playing a band, who would ultimately become a band in its own right. Known for its catchy theme song and zany humor, the show became a cultural phenomenon and launched the Monkees to superstardom.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
40. Family Affair (1966 to 1971)
CAST: Brian Keith, Sebastian Cabot, Kathy Garver, Johny Whitaker, Anissa Jones
THE SHOW: Bachelor engineer Bill Davis (Keith) takes in his orphaned nieces and nephew, Cissy (Garver), Buffy (Jones) and Jody (Whitaker). With the help of his British butler Mr. French (Cabot), he learns valuable lessons about family, love, and responsibility.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: The Roku Channel, Tubi, Pluto TV, freevee, Xumo, Peacock, Peacock Premium, Hoopla
41. It’s About Time (1966 to 1967)
CAST: Frank Aletter, Jack Mullaney, Imogene Coca, Joe E. Ross, Cliff Norton, Mike Mazurki
THE SHOW: The show follows the comedic adventures of two astronauts, Mac and Hector, who accidentally travel back in time to prehistoric Earth and find themselves amongst cavemen and dinosaurs. With their contrasting personalities and the clash between modern technology and primitive society, the astronauts attempt to adapt while navigating various misadventures and find a way back to their own time. When ratings were low and simply didn’t rise at all, they decided to do exactly that by switching things around by bringing the astronauts and the cave-people back to the present for a different kind of culture clash. It didn’t help.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
42. Accidental Family (1967 to 1968)
CAST: Jerry Van Dyke, Lois Nettleton
THE SHOW: Jerry Van Dyke is a widower trying to raise his young son with the help of his parents and housekeeper. Between this and My Mother the Car, the ’60s were not so good to the actor.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
43. Run, Buddy, Run (1966 to 1967)
THE CAST: Jack Sheldon, Bruce Gordon
THE SHOW: Jack Sheldon is Buddy Overstreet, a man who accidentally overhears a conversation about a murder plot and goes on the run to save his life. Each episode followed Buddy’s attempts to evade capture while trying to clear his name — think of it as a (much) lighter version of The Fugitive. It lasted 16 episodes.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
44. The Tammy Grimes Show (1966 to 1967)
CAST: Tammy Grimes, Hiram Sherman, Dick Sargent
THE SHOW: Grimes plays spendthrift heiress Tammy Ward, who’s under the financial control of her Uncle Simon (Sherman), who owns the bank that she and her twin brother (played by Sargent) works.
WHERE TO WATCH/STREAM: Not currently available
45. Captain Nice (1967)
CAST: William Daniels, Alice Ghostley, Ann Prentiss
THE SHOW: Created by Buck Henry, this sitcom follows the adventures of a mild-mannered police chemist who becomes a reluctant superhero. It was created in the aftermath of the Adam West Batman TV series of the time.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
46. Good Morning, World (1967 t0 1968)
CAST: Ronnie Schell, Joby Baker, Billy De Wolfe, Goldie Hawn, Julie Parrish
THE SHOW: This sitcom followed the lives of two disc jockeys and their wacky producer at a Los Angeles radio station. It was created by Bill Persky, Sam Denoff, Carl Reiner and Sheldon Leonard. With that kind of talent, it definitely should have gone more than one season.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
47. Mr. Terrific (1967) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Stephen Strimpell, Dick Gautier, Paul Smith, John McGiver
THE SHOW: The series followed the adventures of Stanley Beamish, a mild-mannered janitor who gains superhuman abilities after he inadvertently becomes the test subject for a secret government experiment. Transformed into the superhero “Mr. Terrific,” Stanley utilizes his newfound powers, including super strength, speed, and the ability to fly, to fight crime and protect the city. Like Captain Nice, it’s a spoof of superhero shows, particularly Batman.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
48. Rango (1967) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Tim Conway, Guy Marks, Norman Alden
THE SHOW: Tim Conway is Rango, a bumbling and eccentric cowboy who becomes the sheriff of the fictional Wild West town of “Dirty Gulch.” Despite his lack of traditional cowboy skills, Rango is determined to bring law and order to the unruly town, often with hilarious and unconventional methods.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
49. He & She (1967 to 1968) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Jack Cassidy
THE SHOW: This sitcom explores the married life of a young couple living in New York City. Despite receiving critical acclaim for its witty writing and realistic portrayal of marriage, the show only lasted a single year, but should have gone longer. One of those shows that was ahead of its time.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
50. The Flying Nun (1967 to 1970) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Sally Field, Madeleine Sherwood, Marge Redmond, Shelley Morrison, Alejandro Rey, Linda Dangcil, Vito Scotti
THE SHOW: Sally Field is Sister Bertrille, a novice nun at the Convent San Tanco in Puerto Rico. The series centered around Sister Bertrille’s extraordinary ability to fly, which she discovers is due to her small stature and the large cornet-shaped hat she wears as part of her nun’s habit. Yes, it’s as bizarre as it sounds, but lasted three seasons and 82 episodes. Field hated it, but the audience didn’t agree.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Prime Video, The Roku Channel
51. The Mothers-in-Law (1967 to 1969) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard, Herbert Rudley, Roger C. Carmel, Richard Deacon, Jerry Fogel, Deborah Walley
THE SHOW: Created by I Love Lucy‘s Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis, with Desi Arnaz serving as producer and frequent director, the premise of the show revolves around the comedic clashes between two neighboring families brought together by the marriage of their children. The main characters are Eve Hubbard (Arden) and Kaye Buell (Ballard), who play the mothers-in-law to their respective children’s spouses.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi, Xumo
52. The Good Guys (1968 to 1970) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Bob Denver, Herb Edelman, Joyce Van Patten, Jack Perkins
THE SHOW: Created by Leonard Stern, the premise of this entry of the 1960s TV sitcoms revolves around friends Rufus Butterworth (Denver), driver of a 1924 Lincoln turned taxi; and Bert Gramus (Edelman), owner of a local diner and neighborhood hangout. Together, they’re always attempting get-rich schemes that never pan out.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
53. Julia (1968 to 1971) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Diahann Carroll, Lloyd Nolan, Marc Copage, Michael Link, Betty Beaird, Lurene Tuttle
THE SHOW: A groundbreaking entry of the 1960s TV sitcoms with Diahann Carroll as the titular character. The show followed Julia Baker, a widowed single mother working as a nurse at a Los Angeles aerospace company, as she balanced her career with raising her young son, Corey. Julia broke racial barriers on television by showcasing an African American woman as the lead character in a sitcom, making it a significant milestone in.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
54. Here’s Lucy (1968 to 1974) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Lucille Ball, Gale Gordon, Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., Mary Jane Croft
THE SHOW: This time out Lucille Ball is Lucy Carter, a widowed mother who works for her brother-in-law at his employment agency. With her children Kim (Lucie Arnaz) and Craig (Desi Arnaz Jr.) by her side, Lucy finds herself in a series of comedic situations as she tries to balance work, family, and her larger-than-life personality.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Vudu, Tubi, Prime Video, Pluto TV, Peacock, Peacock Premium
55. The Doris Day Show (1968 to 1973) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Doris Day, Denver Pyle, Philip Brown, Todd Starke, Jampes Hampton, McLean Stevenson, Rose Marie, John Dehner
THE SHOW: Doris Day is Doris Martin, a widowed mother who moves to San Francisco to start a new life with the help of her two sons and their grumpy handyman Buck (Denver Pyle). Over the course of five seasons and 128 episodes, the show would go through multiple format changes. In a way, it’s surprising that it lasted as long as it did.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Peacock
56. The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968 to 1970) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Hope Lange, Edward Mulhare, Reta Chaw, Charles Nelson Reilly
THE SHOW: Based on the 1947 film of the same name, this sitcom blends comedy and supernatural elements as it tells the story of a young widow, Carolyn Muir (Lange), who moves into a seaside cottage haunted by the ghost of a charming sea captain Daniel Gregg (Mulhare).
WHERE TO STREAM: It airs on Plex
57. Mayberry RFD (1968 to 1971) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Ken Berry, Frances Bavier, George Lindsey, Buddy Foster
THE SHOW: This 1960s TV sitcom was the second spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show (Gomer Pyle was the first) and followed the residents of Mayberry after Sheriff Andy Taylor’s departure. The show focused on the daily lives of farmer Sam Jones (Berry) and his family, as well as the colorful characters who populated the small town.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Only available to purchase on Apple TV+, Amazon and Google Play
58. The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1969 to 1972) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Bill Bixby, Brandon Cruz, Miyoshi Umeki, James Komack, Kristina Holland
THE SHOW: Based on the 1963 film, the show deals with widower Tom Corbett (Bixby) and his young son Eddie (Cruz) as they navigate life and love in San Francisco, with Eddie constantly trying to set his Dad up with different women. Joining them is housekeeper Mrs. Livingston (Umeki) and Tom’s friend and colleague Norman Tinker (Komack).
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Only available to purchase on Apple TV+, Amazon and Google Play
59. Love, American Style (1969 to 1974) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Alternating
THE SHOW: Think of this anthology 1960s TV sitcom as an early version of The Love Boat or Fantasy Island, only it was made up of short vignettes all focused on the subject of love and romance with a wide variety of guest stars.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Not currently available
60. The Brady Bunch (1969 to 1974) 1960s TV Sitcoms
CAST: Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen, Ann B. Davis
THE SHOW: Another iconic creation from Sherwood Schwartz, which rounds out this guide to 1960s TV sitcoms. The focus is on a blended family of two parents and six kids, along with their housekeeper. Besides the fact that The Brady Bunch lasted five seasons and still lives on in terms of reruns, it’s inspired almost as many spinoffs as Star Trek.
WHERE TO STREAM/WATCH: Priime Video, Paramount+, Pluto TV, MeTV
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