1976 in television

Overview

1976 in television marked a transformative year in both U.S. and global broadcast history. It was a period of genre expansion, character-driven storytelling, and technical innovation—laying the groundwork for modern television as we know it. This year saw the premiere of long-running hits like QME Wiki:Quincy, M.E. and the rise of investigative and medical procedural shows.

Notable U.S. Television Events

• October 3: Debut of Quincy, M.E., produced by NBC Universal. The series pioneered the forensic crime genre.
• September 22: Charlie’s Angels premieres on ABC, becoming a cultural icon.
• February: PBS airs the first season of Masterpiece Theatre: I, Claudius in the U.S.
• Saturday Night Live, entering its second season, further revolutionizes sketch comedy.

Major Television Debuts

• Quincy, M.E. (NBC)
• Charlie's Angels (ABC)
• Family (ABC)
• Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
• The Muppet Show (UK, syndicated globally)
• I, Claudius (BBC/PBS)
• What's Happening!! (ABC)

Television Finales and Cancellations

• The Dean Martin Show ends its run (NBC)
• The Waltons experiences a decline in ratings after peaking in 1975

Technology & Broadcasting Advances

• Color television becomes more widely adopted in U.S. homes.
• Japan debuts its first commercial HDTV test broadcast.
• Teletext technology expands in the UK.

International Television Highlights

• BBC launches a full-color programming block.
• Fawlty Towers airs its first season on BBC Two.
• Lupin III (Japan) gains cult status with its second season.

External Links

• IMDb – 1976 TV Series Index
• Wikipedia – 1976 in Television Overview
• Quincy Examiner: 1976 in Television Retrospective

Related QME Wiki Articles

• QME Wiki:Quincy, M.E. (Season 1)
• QME Wiki:NBC Universal Studios – Quincy Era
• QME Wiki:1970s in American Television
• QME Wiki:Television Technology of the 1970s