These beloved ’70s variety shows brought laughter and music into our living rooms, and they’ve never lost their charm.
Before streaming, before DVRs, even before cable, TV was a communal experience. If it was 8 p.m., you knew what your neighbors were watching, because you were watching the same thing. And nothing captured that shared magic quite like the variety show. With musical guests, comedy sketches, celebrity cameos, and the occasional talking Muppet, these shows offered something for everyone.
Today, we’re looking back at the best of the best, the variety shows beloved by millions. These shows brightened our screens and gave us some truly memorable moments in television history!
Why 70s Variety Shows Were So Popular
Variety shows were a lively mix of songs and sketches, often with a heartfelt or emotional moment tucked in between. Every episode was a mixed bag. One minute you were watching a young Steve Martin hilariously trying to pull a tablecloth off a table, the next an energetic musical number featuring The Jackson Five complete with elaborate costumes and complicated dance moves, and then a comedy sketch that left you rolling on the floor with laughter.
Variety shows gave us a chance to laugh, sing along, and enjoy a little glitz. Let’s look back at the 17 best variety shows of the 1970s. Which ones were the can’t-miss shows in your household?
- Why 70s Variety Shows Were So Popular
- The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: The Comedy Legends
- The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Sonny & Cher, then Sonny, then Cher, then Sonny & Cher
- The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Group Efforts
- The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Country Vibes and Good Times
- The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Fun for All Ages
The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: The Comedy Legends
1. The Carol Burnett Show
The gold standard of variety shows, this long-running series featured iconic sketch comedy, musical numbers, and plenty of audience interaction. Carol Burnett’s warm, goofy charm anchored the show, while her ensemble cast delivered standout performances week after week.
Everyone has a favorite sketch from the show, like the Mama’s Family skits or Tim Conway slowly falling down as an old man. It wasn’t just my family who ran to the TV the minute they heard that classic theme song music.
P.S. Cast member Vikki Lawrence has a surprise #1 hit in 1973 with her song, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia.”
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Carol Burnett Show
- CAST: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence
- AIRED: 1967–1978
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: So many to choose from! But, for me, it has to be the twenty-minute-plus “Gone with the Wind” parody, “Went with the Wind,” with its amazing curtain dress designed by Bob Mackie. Who can forget, “I saw it in the window and I just had to have it.”
- WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Peacock • Pluto • Tubi * Best of Episodes on Amazon
2. The Flip Wilson Show
Flip Wilson broke new ground as the first Black entertainer to host a hit variety show, bringing a fresh, joyful presence to prime-time television. He also pushed boundaries by playing Geraldine, a recurring female character who became a cultural icon in her own right.
With a rotating cast of top-tier musical guests, Flip’s easy charm and signature catchphrases (“The devil made me do it!”) were popular with both Black and White audiences and propelled his show into the Top 10.
P.S. Flip’s popularity led to the introduction of a popular doll with Flip on one side and his alter ego, Geraldine, on the other.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Flip Wilson Show
- CAST: Flip Wilson
- AIRED: 1970-1974
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Any skit with Geraldine was hysterical, but perhaps none more so than this parody of the TV show This is Your Life honoring Miss Geraldine Jones.
- WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on The Roku Channel • Best of Episodes on Amazon
3. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
Fast-paced and frenetic, Laugh-In was the variety show for the counterculture. It threw punchlines, political satire, and psychedelic visuals at viewers at breakneck speed, launching the careers of stars like Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn.
The show was surprisingly risque for the time, and it felt, at times, more like a living cartoon than a typical variety show. The show’s quick cuts, zany gags, and wall of jokes became instantly recognizable after the first episode. The show was also quite influential: SNL creator Lorne Michaels was a writer for Laugh-In during his early career.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
- CAST: Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin
- AIRED: 1968-1973
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: “Sock it to me!” gags with surprise celebrity cameos, including Richard Nixon. The phrase “Sock it to me!” was so popular it became part of 1970s slang.
- WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Pluto • Tubi • Amazon
The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Sonny & Cher, then Sonny, then Cher, then Sonny & Cher
Sonny & Cher ruled the variety show landscape during the 1970s, both as a duo and then as solo artists, and then again as a duo. So, it was hard to figure out how to present them in this list. I was tempted to include their various shows in one single entry, but each show had an interesting and unique impact, so separate entries it is!
4. The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The first show starring Sonny & Cher, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, began as a summer replacement series in 1971. The ratings for the series were so strong that CBS kept them on the air that fall as well.
Each episode of the show began with a duet and then Sonny and Cher would banter, trading sarcastic (but loving) jabs. The show featured several popular recurring sketches, such as Cher protraying various “vampy” women of history and Sonny playing the owner of a pizza shop serving inedible pizza.
The show’s supporting players featured soon-to-be stars like Teri Garr, Murray Langston (later “The Unknown Comic”), and even Steve Martin, who was also a writer for the show.
Audiences loved the show. Unlike some of the more conservative variety shows, The Sonny & Cher Comedy album appealed to a younger audiences, who liked the music, the costumes, and Cher’s Empowered Woman persona.
A fourth season was planned, but Sonny and Cher separated in the fall of 1974 and the show was cancelled.
P.S. The pair was known for their funny, but heartwarming, Christmas specials.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- CAST: Sonny Bono, Cher, Steve Martin, Teri Garr, Murray Langston
- AIRED: 1971–1974
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Anytime the pair brought out their adorable child, Chaz (then known as Chastity)
- WHERE TO WATCH: Some episodes can be found on YouTube
5. The Sonny Comedy Revue
Sonny Bono returned to TV first with The Sonny Comedy Revue on ABC. The show retained many of the writers and performers from the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and even repeated some of the same skits, like “Sonny’s Pizzeria.”
ABC had high hopes for the show, but they didn’t realize the ingredient that brought the magic to the Sonny and Cher formula was Cher, not Sonny. Audiences recognized that fact, though, and responded by … not tuning in. The show was canceled after 13 episodes.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Sonny Comedy Revue
- CAST: Sonny Bono
- AIRED: 1974
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Sonny attempting to recreate his signature banter solo. No clips appear to exist.
6. Cher
After Sonny’s solo effort fizzled, Cher made her triumphant return to television in February 1975. And, where Sonny struggled, Cher soared.
Instead of opening the show with awkward banter, she embraced her strengths and made every entrance an event. Standing alone under a spotlight, she’d begin with a ballad in a dramatic Bob Mackie cloak, then whip it off to reveal a dazzling, daring Mackie gown as the music swelled and the audience erupted.
The show leaned into full-throttle glamour with Cher’s undeniable star power. With Cher’s powerhouse vocals and guest stars like Elton John and Bette Midler, the show was a masterclass in solo reinvention and a glittering highlight of 70s variety television.
P.S. Cher’s variety show was so iconic that her Cher doll even outsold Barbie during the 1976 holiday season.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Cher
- CAST: Cher
- AIRED: 1975-1976
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Cher’s dramatic costume reveals.
- Where to Watch: Some episodes can be found on YouTube
7. The Sonny & Cher Show
Cher’s solo show was a triumph, but she reportedly found hosting a variety show alone to be overwhelming. Sonny may not have been a strong enough performer to host a show alone, but he was a master at handling the behind-the-scenes logistics of a successful show.
Recognizing they worked best together, the two reunited as a duo and took over Cher’s Sunday night time slot with a revamped (pun intended) Sonny & Cher show.
The opening banner was more subdued this time and often a little awkward. Cher had married Gregg Allman at this point and was pregnant with their child, Elijah Blue, during the first season.
The show was successful enough to be renewed for a second season, but the variety show genre was in a sharp decline in the late 1970s, and it was canceled in 1977.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Sonny & Cher Show
- CAST: Sonny Bono, Cher
- AIRED: 1976-1977
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Anytime the two made fun of their awkward situation. This star-studded opener for the second season pokes fun at their history and shows off their famous chemistry.
The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Group Efforts
8. Donny & Marie
I don’t know if you can really call Donny & Marie one of the best variety shows of the 1970s. It was often cheesy; after all, the show opened with an ice skating dance team. Their iconic song numbers that began with their hit “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock and Roll” often fell flat as neither was country nor rock and roll. And some of their musical numbers inspired a strong level of cringe when brother and sister sang love songs to each other.
And did I mention that neither of the two could be considered comedians?
Still, it was entertaining, and I spent more Friday nights watching the show than I care to admit. The comedy sketches often featured talented popular singers and comedy veterans Ruth Buzzi and Paul Lynde, who could both make even the worst material funny.
The show began to decline when it encountered one of the most common problems on 1970s TV shows: the stars grew up. Donny Osmond got married before the final season, breaking the hearts of his female fans, and Marie cut her hair into a Pat Benatar-like pixie and began wearing glamorous gowns and singing mature songs. The show tried a few new tactics, like bringing in the entire Osmond family and a season featuring only a grown-up and glammed-up Marie. Still, the show eventually fell victim to the decline in popularity of all variety shows and was canceled.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Donny & Marie
- CAST: Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond
- AIRED: 1976 – 1981ish
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Opening the show with a disco version of the song “Baby Face,” followed by ice skaters dancing to the song.
- Where to Watch: Streaming on Plex
9. Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn premiered in summer 1974 and earned a primetime spot that fall, filling the gap left by The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. Led by Puerto Rican-American Tony Orlando and supported by Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, the show broke new ground as the first U.S. variety series to star a Latino man since Desi Arnaz and the first to feature a fully integrated Latino and Black lead cast.
The show leaned heavily into nostalgia with musical numbers that featured barbershop harmonies and classic standards, as well as tributes to beloved celebrities such as Jerry Lewis, Danny Thomas, and, rather shockingly, Captain Kangaroo.
The show ended after two seasons when TV audiences began to tire of variety shows and ratings declined, but it’s still a fun watch even now.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Tony Orlando and Dawn
- CAST: Tony Orlando, Telma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent Wilson
- AIRED: 1974 – 1976
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: A fun re-imagining of the songs of Stephen Foster as if they were performed by contemporary performers like Charlie Rich, Ray Charles, and Sly and the Family Stone.
- Where to Watch: You can find some episodes on YouTube.
The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Country Vibes and Good Times
10. Hee Haw
Part classic country music showcase and part cornpone sketch comedy, Hee Haw brought southern flair and banjo pickin’ charm to living rooms across America. Co-hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark, it was unapologetically country. The jokes groaned, the music twanged, and the Hee-Haw Honeys strutted across the set in gingham and fringe, doing absolutely nothing other than being pretty to look at. They didn’t even dance.
City critics may have rolled their eyes, but audiences loved it. The show aired on CBS from 1969 to 1971. But CBS decided that the show didn’t align with the network’s priorities. In a programming move now known as the “rural purge,” CBS canceled Hee Haw, along with a slew of rural-leaning programs, in an effort to modernize its image.
The joke was on CBS. Hee Haw found even greater success in syndication, which ran for two more decades.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Hee Haw
- CAST: Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Minnie Pearl, Junior Samples, Lulu Roman, Archie Campbell
- AIRED: 1969–1992
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: The classic “PFFFFT, You Were Gone” sketches featuring Hee Haw cast members and guest stars singing a lonesome love ballad that ended with everyone blowing a raspberry.
- Where to Watch: Streaming on RFDTV • Fubo • Plex
11. The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour
Launched as a summer replacement, Glen Campbell’s easygoing charm and musical talent turned this show into a full-fledged hit. The show emphasized Campbell’s country roots while featuring musical guests like Johnny Cash and the Smothers Brothers, many of whom were major stars in their own right. The show also combined comedy sketches with a rotating cast of familiar faces.
Although it had dropped out of the top 30 shows by 1971, it was one of the few rural-leaning programs to survive CBS’s so-called “rural purge.” The network believed that Glen Campbell’s warm presence transcended genre. Unfortunately, viewership declined, and it was canceled in 1972.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour
- CAST: Glen Campbell
- AIRED: 1969–1972
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Merle Haggard showing off his talent for impressions by singing as Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, and Buck Owens, among others, before being surprised by the real Buck Owens and Johnny Cash.
- Where to Watch: You can find some episodes on YouTube.
12. The Johnny Cash Show
My dad never missed this show. Taped at the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, The Johnny Cash Show felt more like a live concert than a TV variety program. While it included occasional comedy sketches and guest appearances from comedians, the focus was squarely on music.
Cash used his platform to honor country legends like Bill Monroe, who were rarely seen on national television and to highlight upcoming talent like James Taylor a very young and beautiful Linda Rondstadt.
Cash infused the show with his own values, performing his own socially conscious songs like “Man in Black,” and including guests like Pete Seeger. He also presented a two-part series as part of the show, called “The Country Music Story,” that featured clips from early country stars like Hank Williams and live performances from modern-day stars like Tammy Wynette. I’d give almost anything to be able to find that now.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Johnny Cash Show
- CAST: Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, The Tennessee Three
- AIRED: 1969–1972
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: An appearance by one of my heroes: renaissance man, Shel Silverstein, who wrote cartoons for Playboy, the beloved children’s book The Giving Tree, and the Cash song “A Boy Named Sue,” among other accomplishments.
- Where to Watch: You can buy DVDs of the best performances from the show from Amazon and find some episodes on YouTube.
13. The Jim Nabors Hour
After years of playing the bumbling Gomer Pyle, Jim Nabors shocked audiences when they heard him sing. His rich baritone felt worlds apart from the twangy Southern drawl he’d used on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..
Nabors had already released several best-selling albums in the 1960s, and his musical talents were no secret. A frequent and beloved guest on The Carol Burnett Show, Nabors was a familiar face and voice to viewers, so when Gomer Pyle wrapped, CBS offered him a variety show of his own.
The Jim Nabors Hour reunited Nabors with his former co-stars Frank Sutton, who had played Sgt. Carter and Ronnie Schell, who played Gomer Pyle’s best friend, Duke Slater. They, along with Jim and cast member Karen Morrow, provided the comedy in the traditional variety show sketches.
Music was the heart of The Jim Nabors Hour. Each week, Nabors performed multiple solos, covering a wide range of songs, from the counterculture anthem “Aquarius” to the emotional “Danny Boy” and old-school gospel standards. Guest stars like Glen Campbell and Wayne Newton often performed unexpected selections, showing off their musical versatility.
Despite performing well in its time slot and regularly landing in the top thirty shows on television, The Jim Nabors Hour didn’t align with CBS’s shifting priorities. Nabors’ show, despite its success, was one of the casualties of the Rural Purge. The final episode aired on March 11, 1971.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Jim Nabors Hour
- CAST: Jim Nabors, Frank Sutton, Ronnie Schell, Karen Morrow
- AIRED: 1969–1972
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Jim and The Jackson Five absolutely killing a cover of The Beatles “Let it Be”
- Where to Watch: You can find clips from some episodes on YouTube.
14. The Bobby Goldsboro Show
Handsome Bobby Goldsboro starred in this under-the-radar syndicated series. Only 30 minutes long, the show focused mostly on music and had some solid musical guests like Johnny Mathis and B.J. Thomas.
There was, however, a hand puppet named Jonathan Rebel to provide a bit of comedy. I am shaking my head along with you.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Bobby Goldsboro Show
- CAST: Bobby Goldsboro
- AIRED: 1972-1975
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: Bobby singing some of his many hits to a rapt studio audience.
- Where to Watch: The show appears lost to history.
The Best Variety Shows of the 1970s: Fun for All Ages
15. The Muppet Show
By 1975, the Muppets were already household names thanks to their appearances on Sesame Street, frequent cameos on talk shows, and even a stint on Saturday Night Live. But despite their growing popularity, Jim Henson still couldn’t convince American network executives to give the Muppets a show of their own. It wasn’t until British impresario Lew Grade backed the project that The Muppet Show found a home and proved just how wrong those American network executives had been.
Once it hit the air, The Muppet Show became a sensation. Kermit the Frog hosted each episode alongside a cast of larger-than-life personalities: Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, and the Muppet band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. The backstage chaos was all part of the fun, and it mirrored the real-life whirlwind of Henson’s team, who often compared his management style to “an explosion in a mattress factory.” Adding a hilarious layer of meta-commentary were Statler and Waldorf, the cranky old men heckling the show from their balcony box, delivering eye-roll-worthy punchlines about the evening’s performances.
Each week featured a celebrity guest star gleefully joining in the madcap sketches and musical numbers. Rudolf Nureyev danced “Swine Lake” with Miss Piggy. Elton John sang “Crocodile Rock” to a chorus of crocodiles. Alice Cooper admitted to Miss Piggy that he actually was working for the devil and tried to buy the Muppets’ souls. It was all over the top and thoroughly enjoyable.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Muppet Show
- CAST: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz
- AIRED: 1976–1981
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: While it’s hard to pick just one moment, but the “Pigs in Space” sketch with Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker reprising their “Star Wars” characters really demonstrates the fun and chaos of the show.
- Where to Watch: You can watch full episodes on Disney+.
16. Sha Na Na
An exuberant throwback to 1950s rock ’n’ roll, Sha Na Na became a surprise hit when it premiered in 1977. The show featured the real-life group Sha Na Na, who played covers of 1950s hits. With their ducktail haircuts, leather jackets, and a whole lot of attitude, the band played up caricatures of 1950s Fonzie-style “greasers.”
Jon “Bowzer” Bauman emceed each episode, flexing imaginary muscles, grinning like a cartoon tough guy, and closing the show with the rallying cry, “Grease for Peace!”
The show was set on a stylized city street and balanced upbeat musical performances with corny comedy sketches. Each band member leaned into their exaggerated persona: Johnny was the dreamy balladeer, Lennie the cheerful sax player, Denny Greene the intellectual, and Screamin’ Scott was the unhinged piano player. The comedy was goofy, the energy was high, and the vibe was pure fun. Even TV Guide couldn’t resist, calling the cast “ten little boys—average age late 20s—having fun in Hollywood.”
Regular guest stars included 1950s legends like Chuck Berry and the Shirelles, plus a rotating crew of comics like Avery Schreiber and Soupy Sales. The combination of good-natured humor and toe-tapping hits made Sha Na Na a favorite for audiences of all ages.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: Sha Na Na
- CAST: Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, Lennie Baker, Johnny Contardo, Frederick “Dennis” Greene, “Dirty Dan” McBride, John “Jocko” Marcellino, Dave “Chico” Ryan, “Screamin’ Scott” Simon, Tony Santini (Scott Powell), Donald “Donny” York
- AIRED: 1977–1981
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: The Sha Na Na family meets the Ramones “family.”
- Where to Watch: You can find full episodes on YouTube.
17. The Lawrence Welk Show
It wasn’t hip, but it was loved. The Lawrence Welk Show began in 1955 and quietly became one of the longest-running and most enduring variety shows in TV history. Known for its “champagne music” and relentlessly wholesome tone, the show featured a roster of squeaky-clean performers, elaborate musical numbers, and …. bubbles.
Critics scoffed at its debut, calling it too bland to succeed, but audiences disagreed. Welk’s formula of melodic pop, big band standards, and gentle dance tunes struck a chord with millions, especially older viewers. The show ran on ABC until 1971, when it was dropped because its audience was considered not too small, but “too old”. Undeterred, Welk launched a syndicated version that lasted another 11 years.
Welk led a tight-knit troupe he referred to as his “musical family.” The Lennon Sisters were early favorites, and Myron Floren, Larry Hooper, Jo Ann Castle, Bobby and Cissy, Ralna and Guy, and Norma Zimmer were just a few of the many longtime regulars. The show’s moral code was strict (Alice Lon was infamously fired for showing “too much knee”), and Welk carefully tracked viewer mail to decide which performers stayed in the spotlight.
Despite being the punchline of endless jokes, Welk’s show endured because it delivered exactly what its fans wanted: a safe, sentimental weekly celebration of old-fashioned American music. And if that included a few accordion solos and tap numbers along the way? All the better.
QUICK FACTS
- SHOW NAME: The Lawrence Welk Show
- CAST: Lawrence Welk, The Lennon Sisters, Norma Zimmer, Myron Floren, Larry Hooper, Bobby Burgess, Cissy King, Ralna English, Guy Hovis
- AIRED: 1955-1982
- MOST ICONIC MOMENT: The show was never better than when Lawrence and his band performed one of their signature polkas.
- Where to Watch: You can find full episodes on YouTube.
