Days of Our Lives 2-week spoilers for February 23-March 06, 2026 find Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) is raging and Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey) returns.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Alex Hits Justin with Big News

On Monday, February 23rd, Alex shares exciting news with his dad, Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth). Alex tells Justin that he and Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) ran off and got married in Chicago. His fiancée surprised him with a wedding. Justin is going to be sad that he missed it, but everyone missed it. And it was just the two of them and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu). They plan to have a bigger ceremony later.

Plus, Bonnie Kiriakis (Judi Evans) is thrilled when she gets an update from Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). Her steamy book may be officially ready to be published by DiMera. Meanwhile, Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) makes a shocking discovery. It may be that Stephanie is missing, or she might find Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) in the closet.

DOOL Spoilers: The Mystery Kidnapper Targets Stephanie Johnson

The stalker makes his move on Monday. A guy in scrubs and a mask chats with and then chloroforms Stephanie in her office at the hospital. He stashes her down in a basement storage room. This is neither Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) nor Owen Kent who snatches her.

The kidnapper (Dan Coons) is an actor who plays bit parts on Days. It definitely looks like there is more than one stalker, or perhaps we have a stalker and a henchman, or full-fledged co-conspirators.

Jada is sifting through evidence with Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) as they check Stephanie’s office. This week, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) tells Kayla that Jeremy doesn’t fit the usual profile of a kidnapper. Kayla asks if Marlena thinks Jeremy is actually capable of kidnapping Stephanie.

Days Spoilers: Alex Kiriakis Vows Revenge and Punches Jeremy Horton

On Tuesday, February 24th, Alex makes a vow. He promises that if anyone lays a finger on Stephanie’s head, he will kill them. We know he soon corners Jeremy at the hospital and punches him.

Kayla lays into EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) at University Hospital while Alex and Jada listen. Kayla may be blaming EJ for Stephanie’s kidnapping, perhaps suggesting the budget cuts meant security cameras weren’t maintained. The DiMeras were involved in Stephanie’s past kidnapping where Owen was the perpetrator back in 2016.

Steve is out and about in Salem searching everywhere for his daughter, but they have her well-hidden. It looks like they never even left the hospital with her. The kidnapper confronts Stephanie in a showdown in the storage room. She is tied up, and Jeremy is there smirking at her, even though he wasn’t the one who physically snatched her.

Days of Our Lives Sweeps Week Climax: EJ DiMera’s Scheme and a Dangerous Shooting

Wednesday, February 25th, is the last day of sweeps. EJ makes an offer to a minor criminal named Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop). So, EJ rolls up and scares the young man because Liam is the one link tying Vivian Alamain’s (Louise Sorel) henchmen to the DiMera kidnapping.

EJ wants Vivian to pay and wants her in prison. He may ask Liam to lure the henchman Klaus so they can nab him. This could be what triggers Shawn-Douglas Brady’s (Brandon Beemer) shooting, as Jack Junior (JJ) Deveraux (Casey Moss) and Liam are with Shawn when the violence breaks out. It may be the “bad guy” Klaus who pulls the trigger.

Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Sarah bond over being moms. Chanel is up for a baby checkup and gets to hear the heartbeat, but Johnny isn’t there. Elsewhere, Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) and Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) are searching for Stephanie. Rafe gets into a secret lab because Cat has an ISA code-reading device. Rafe is shocked when he sees a mysterious tube.

Teen Drama Erupts: Holly’s Meltdown and Ariana’s New Romance on DOOL

Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) goes off on Arianna “Ari” Grace Horton (Marissa Reyes) after already raging at Tate Black (Leo Howard). If Holly finds out Ari was offered a spot in the sorority she wanted, she might blow up. Ari claps back and tells Holly to “snap out of this glitch” because it’s not cute. However, the poor girl is being drugged.

Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) works to convince Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) that they need to run because they aren’t able to get the evidence they need. Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) is encouraged by Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier), and his support works on her guilty conscience regarding the hidden bug that tanked Titan.

Ari has a “meet-cute” with Liam and gives the handsome criminal a kiss on the cheek. You know her mom is going to hate that. On Thursday, February 26th, EJ DiMera and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) talk about their agreement. EJ wants Johnny to stay CEO at DiMera, and Abe wants Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) out of the job for good. Reviving Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) may be part of EJ’s plan to push Theo out. Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) is supportive of Theo, but Abe may not agree with her.

Tate comforts Holly. She’s distraught about the video and Ari just read her the riot act. Her life is falling apart while Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) is cheering from the sidelines. Speaking of, Sophia blackmails Rachel Black (Alice Halsey). Sophia calls Rachel to tell her she has to give Holly a gift, but Rachel can’t tell Holly it’s from Sophia. Johnny tells Chanel he’s sorry for missing the baby appointment.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers: The Return of Owen Kent and the Search for Stephanie Intensifies

On Friday, February 27th, Leo and Dimitri are anxious. Steve and Jada are pounding the pavement to find Stephanie. Meanwhile, she is trying to get free from her chair in the storage room. Alex and Brady go out looking for her. Remember, Brady helped rescue her from Owen Kent way back when she was kidnapped before on Days of our Lives.

Wes Ramsey is back as Owen Kent. Steve grabs a guy in a black hoodie in the park expecting it to be Jeremy, but it is Owen. Brady is there when it happens. Again, neither Owen nor Jeremy are the ones who actually chloroformed Stephanie.

Salem’s Future: A Human Trial and New Love Connections on DOOL

During the week of March 2nd through the 6th, Ari continues crushing on Liam. Dating an ex-con might not be good for her social profile, even if he is handsome. Gabi digs up more of Stefan DiMera’s (Brandon Barash) writing samples to see if her divorce documents were forged.

The DiMeras will be furious if Gabi gets a cut of the estate when the will reading happens soon. The search for Stephanie intensifies. Since a “rando” snatched her, Jeremy should have an alibi, but he still looks guilty. Alex, Steve, Kayla, and Jada are all hands on deck to find her.

EJ pursues Cat to figure out their connection, and she kisses him soon. Is it for ISA business or for pleasure? Meanwhile, Rafe is nearly ready for a human trial of his serum combined with Versix. The “test tube lady” should be awake soon.

Jada is drawn to Shawn after his shooting, while Theo has his mind on Gabi. Shawn and Jack Junior face danger trying to find the person above Liam in the kidnapping food chain. That is likely what puts Shawn in the line of fire.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 1 hour ago

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” With these words, Charles Dickens described the terror and tumult of the French Revolution, an era in which wisdom clashed with foolishness. Of course, he could have easily been describing a different struggle altogether: the struggle for Millennials to find their favorite cartoons on streaming!

Historically, some of the best cartoons are owned by Warner Bros, but it has become increasingly hard to find these animated classics on HBO Max.  Fortunately, another streamer is about to get all your favorite old shows, and you won’t have to pay a thing to see them. That’s because on March 1, Tubi will begin streaming some of the animated hits that helped define your entire childhood!

Tubi Is In Its Cartoon Era

While the streamer tried to keep this animated extravaganza a secret, fans soon discovered that Tubi was planning a massive rollout of cartoons. In turn, the streamer revealed the whole list of what it will be streaming, proclaiming on X that it is entering its “cartoon era.” That’s a bold claim, but they have the animated lineup to back it up.

Superhero fans are sure to enjoy titles like The New Adventures of Batman, Justice League, and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Fans of vintage adventure shows will enjoy throwbacks like Jonny Quest, Captain Planet, The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show, and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. Fans of after-school comedies, meanwhile, will enjoy series such as Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Pinky and the Brain.

If you’re in the mood to relive classic Cartoon Network, Tubi will be adding titles likePower Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, and Ed, Edd ‘n Eddy. Certain franchises are getting more shows than others: for example, the streamer is adding eight different Scooby-Doo titles, five Looney Tunes titles, five different Tom & Jerry titles, and five Yogi titles.

Believe it or not, this is just a partial list of what’s coming to Tubi. Be sure to check out the full list to see how many of your favorites are coming to the streamer.

Nobody’s Changing Their Toon

Fans across the internet have been generally delighted to learn how many animated shows and movies are coming to Tubi on March 1. Some of these are younger cartoon fans who are eager to check out the glory days of their favorite franchises. However, most of the excited fans are Millennials who grew up watching these shows on Warner Bros. networks like Time Warner and TBS.

Many such WB titles have been disappearing with alarming regularity from HBO Max. This has baffled fans who are suddenly asking why the streamer isn’t taking advantage of its extensive library of content. Now, fans are about to flock to Tubi for their cartoon fix, and not for the first time: Looney Tunes proved to be an immense success when it went from Max to Tubi, paving the way for a long-awaited franchise revival.

Mark Your Calendar, Cartoon Fans

All of the above titles and more are dropping on Tubi on March 1. Animation fans need to mark their calendar and start streaming their favorites right away. Don’t forget that this is the perfect time to introduce your friends to a new show or two.

These days, we pay with our clicks, and Looney Tunes is proof that fan interest can help revive old franchises. Clicking on your favorite titles this March is a great way to show companies like Warner Bros. that you want more of a certain franchise. Plus, you can do it in the best possible way: by reliving your childhood, one classic cartoon at a time!

John Davidson has been a hot topic online for going on 24 hours. The Tourette’s advocate sparked tense reactions after he shouted the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting during the BAFTA Awards. Despite airing hours after the show wrapped, the BBC did not edit out the racial slur. Meanwhile, they seemingly edited “Free Palestine” from a speech and alleged other tics Davidson exhibited throughout the show. As Black online spaces demand accountability across the board, Davidson is clearing the air on his intention and his controversial tic.

RELATED: BAFTA Awards Moment Sparks Backlash After Man With Tourette’s Yells N-Word During Michael B. Jordan & Delroy Lindo’s Presentation

John Davidson Apologizes For Offensive Tic 

According to Deadline, John Davidson broke his silence on the BAFTA Awards incident on Monday. In a statement, Tourette’s campaigner clarified that he feels “deeply mortified if anyone” considers his “involuntary tics to be intentional or carry any meaning.” 

“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” John Davidson reportedly said in the statement. He added, “I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so.”

Additionally, Davidson said he chose to leave the BAFTA Awards early into the ceremony given that his tics were causing “distress.” Variety previously shared that Davidson had shouted other offensive things like “shut the f*ck up” during  a speech and “f*ck you” during a win annoucement for a family and kids’ movie.

Delroy Lindo Says No One Checked On Him And MBJ, BBC And BAFTA Apologize

At a BAFTA Awards afterparty on Sunday, Delroy Lindo admitted that he and Michael B. Jordan did what they had to after John Davidson yelled the n-word. He told Variety that he wished someone had checked on him and MBJ after their presentation, indicating no one did.

Elsewhere, in a statement obtained by The Shade Room, BBC didn’t explain why they failed to edit out the racial slur. However, the British outlet apologized for not doing so.

“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”

Meanwhile, in a statement BAFTA apologized to MBJ and Delroy Lindo and to “all those impacted” by John Davidson’s tic. “We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism,” it wrote.

People With Tourette’s Are Speaking Out

Amid the heated backlash on the internet, people with Tourette’s have begun sharing their experiences. Some have admitted to also having the n-word as a tic, while defending the “uncontrollable” nature of tics associated with Tourette syndrome. Others have shamed violence and ableist suggestions, and still some have pointed the finger at BBC for not going the extra mile, and airing the disheartening moment.

TAP BELOW TO FOR A GLIMPSE AT ONLINE REACTIONS. 

BAFTA Awards Moment Sparks Backlash After Man With Tourette’s Yells N-Word During Michael B. Jordan & Delroy Lindo’s Presentation

RELATED: Prayers Up! Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi Shocks Fans After Revealing Cervical Cancer Diagnosis (VIDEO)

Many stars went to the chapel and said “I do” in 2026.

Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White rang in the new year with a wedding to her now-husband, John Donaldson.

White wasn’t the only star to walk down the aisle this year. Love Is Blind season 2 alum Iyanna McNeely, for her part, married boyfriend Alex Lewis on January 17 in a dreamy Chicago ceremony.

Stranger Things star Maya Hawke, for her part, said “I do” to longtime boyfriend Christian Lee Hutson in a surprise Valentine’s Day ceremony the next month. February also brought a wedding for Dance Moms alum Brooke Hyland and longtime love Brian Thalman.

Keep scrolling to see the stars who exchanged vows in 2026:

Beyond the Gates spoilers for Feb 23-27, 2026are seeing Katherine “Kat” Richardson (Colby Muhammad) reaching an absolute breaking point—honestly, she’s looking a bit unhinged—and June (Jasmine Burke) is about to spill some major tea that could bring down a whole house of cards. Plus, Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) takes her health crisis to the national stage.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Katherine “Kat” Richardson Reaches Her Breaking Point and Snaps Over Clinic Drama

First off, let’s talk about Kat. Kat has been under so much pressure lately, and this week, it looks like she finally snaps. Spoilers for Wednesday and Thursday show her locking horns with Dana “Leslie” Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) and Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) over the clinic.

Kat is trying to protect her legacy, but Leslie is just relentless. By Thursday, things take a darker turn when Kat gets some news about Laura Peterson’s (Destiny Love) unsolved accident from a year ago.

This news sends her into a tailspin, and she is absolutely set off. We’re hearing that her confrontation with Leslie and Eva is going to escalate on Friday to a point of no return. Kat is usually the composed one, but she is officially unhinged this week.

BTG Spoilers: June Spills the Tea: The Truth About Hayley Lawson’s Ring Exposed

Now, over at Orphey Genes June is playing a very integral role. We know June sees and hears everything as a server, and this time, her observation skills are going to be a total game-changer.

She noticed Lynette Wise (Domini Madison) flashing that ring around—the one that actually belongs to Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings). On Monday, June gives Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) a valuable tip about that ring. This is the big spill everyone has been waiting for.

With Joey getting this intel, the net is finally tightening around Hayley’s mugger, and it looks like Lynette, Hayley, and Randy Parker’s (Maurice P. Kerry) little scheme is starting to crumble.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Anita Dupree Goes Public with Cancer Diagnosis on the Gayle King Show

Speaking of big moves, Anita makes a massive decision this week. On Monday, she decides to go public with her cancer diagnosis, and she’s doing it in a big way—appearing on the Gayle King Show.

Yes, we’ve got Gayle King guest starring as herself! By Thursday, Anita’s televised interview turns into a citywide call to action. It’s a huge moment for the Dupree matriarch, but you have to wonder how the rest of the family—and her enemies—are going to react to her being so vulnerable in the spotlight.

BTG Spoilers: Samantha Richardson Faces a Difficult Choice Between the Clinic and High Society

Elsewhere in Fairmont Crest, Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson) is struggling. She’s trying to balance school, the debutante ball, and her work at the clinic. It’s a lot for anyone, and she’s reaching her limit.

Luckily, June is there for her too, offering some sage wisdom to help her figure out where her heart truly lies. It’s looking more and more like the clinic is going to be her main focus, despite Leslie’s efforts to push her out.

Joey’s Shocking Escape and More Beyond the Gates Spoilers for the Week

We’ve also got Joey orchestrating a shocking escape on Tuesday, while Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) gets some intel that leaves him absolutely enraged. And keep an eye out for Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges), who runs into a familiar face while working undercover on Wednesday.

It is going to be a wild week on Beyond the Gates. Who do you think Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) is meeting with on Friday? And is Kat finally going to take Leslie down, or is she just going to destroy herself in the process?

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 18 seconds ago

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show that fans love to endlessly rewatch because they always find something new to appreciate. However, those fans are increasingly finding something old to hate: the character of Xander Harris. He was written to be an adorkable male presence in a female-dominated show, but many of his jokes and actions (like that time he magically roofied every single woman at Sunnydale High so they’d fall in love with him) just seem wildly problematic in retrospect.

Honestly, the best thing Xander ever did was date Anya, but he left her at the altar, becoming nothing but “bad joke support character” by the show’s final season. However, Buffy came dangerously close to improving Xander in the most shocking way: by brutally killing him off. Even more surprisingly, he was going to be the final form adapted by the First Evil, effectively making one of Buffy’s oldest, closest friends into the series’ final Big Bad.

The Big Bad That Never Was

This information comes to us courtesy of the original DVD commentary tracks for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (just in case you needed another reason to embrace physical media). In the commentary for the episode “Dirty Girls,” writer Drew Goddard said that the writing staff considered ending Xander’s first encounter with Caleb (a minion of the First Evil, played by Nathan Fillion) in a very different way. Instead of simply having the henchman rip our hero’s eye out, Caleb would have immediately killed Xander!

Obviously, the writers ultimately decided against this plan: in Season 7, Xander narrowly survives his encounter with Caleb and makes it through the final episode intact, although his former fiancée Anya dies. However, I can’t help but feel like the writing staff made the wrong call here. Had Caleb killed off Xander, it would have legitimized him as a major threat while making the First Evil’s final appearances that much more chilling.

The Change That Would Have Made Season 7 Unforgettable

You see, the First Evil’s gimmick is that she can take the form of anyone who has previously died. This is how she impersonates Buffy (who died twice) to torment the Slayer and to manipulate others, including Spike. When Buffy’s former boytoy vampire comes back with a new soul and a muddled brain, the First manages to deceive him, ultimately transforming Spike into her murderous attack dog.

It was always fun seeing the First Evil take the form of various deceased characters, but how much cooler would it be if it took the form of Xander after Caleb killed him? Buffy would suddenly be receiving taunts and threats from someone wearing the face of her closest friend. This would have made the First that much scarier to audiences because taking Xander’s appearance would be a constant reminder of just how deadly this ancient evil really was.

Joss Whedon’s Self-Insert Character Nearly Died Onscreen

Plus, the writing for Xander’s character had gotten increasingly worse over the years, so killing him off would be an effective (if drastic) way of making the character interesting again. Additionally, Joss Whedon has frequently stated that Xander is his own self-insert character, which is why the young man serves as the quip-spewing class clown of the Scooby Gang. Now that Joss Whedon has been canceled (both for allegedly cheating on his wife with unnamed cast members and for allegedly abusive behavior on the Justice League set), some fans might find it downright cathartic to see his surrogate character get killed onscreen.

The Buffy revival is right around the corner, and it may very well retroactively redeem Xander, making him a more likable character. Until that happens, though, he will be remembered by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom as a guy who gets just a little creepier every time they rewatch the show. Because of this and (let’s be honest) how weak sauce the First Evil was as a final villain, it would have been better for the show if Xander had been killed off so he could take his rightful place as the scariest Big Bad of them all.

Sydney Sweeney
Severs Business Ties With Ex-Fiance Jonathan Davino

Published
February 23, 2026
12:35 PM PST

A little more than a week into its theatrical run, the movie Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die‘s box-office fate seems to have been sealed. It’s going to need a miracle to bounce back from its current state, having recouped only one-fourth of its reported production budget. The sci-fi time-travel film probably has only another couple of million dollars left in it, which certainly won’t be enough for it to break even at the box office. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die marks the return of director Gore Verbinski after a decade; his last film was the psychological horror movie A Cure for Wellness, another commercial underperformer that failed to recover its budget. A Cure for Wellness was a soft comeback itself, after Verbinski was thrown in director jail following the critical and commercial drubbing of The Lone Ranger.

With little reason to celebrate so far, Verbinski can take pride in minor victories. For instance, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die has outgrossed fellow time travel film Safety Not Guaranteed, which marked the directorial debut of Colin Trevorrow, who’d go on to direct Jurassic World and Jurassic World Dominion. Safety Not Guaranteed starred Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, and Aubrey Plaza in the lead roles, and like Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, it earned positive reviews. Verbinski’s film currently holds a “Certified Fresh” 84% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads, “A gleeful high-concept comedy with a serious message at its core, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die lets Sam Rockwell rip with thrilling results while marking a very welcome return of director Gore Verbinski in peak form.”

Here’s the Time Travel Comedy that ‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’ Is Trailing By a Huge Margin

The film has grossed around $6.5 million so far against a reported budget of $20 million. For context, this is roughly one-tenth of the $65 million that time-travel comedy Hot Tub Time Machine grossed globally in 2010. Starring John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Lizzy Caplan, and Chevy Chase, the movie earned mixed reviews. It’s currently sitting at a 64% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Its flagrantly silly script — and immensely likable cast — make up for most of its flaws.” The movie inspired a sequel, which crashed with just $13 million at the box office and earned poor reviews. You can watch Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

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February 13, 2026

Runtime

134 Minutes

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Director

Gore Verbinski

Writers

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Matthew Robinson

Producers

Erwin Stoff, Oly Obst, Robert Kulzer

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Before the 1960s gave way to the 1970s, sitcoms were generally seen as an escape from the turbulent reality of the decade. At a time of civil and international unrest, we had sitcoms such as The Andy Griffith Show still showing us what America was, wholesome and down-to-earth. But going into the 1970s, show creators could no longer showcase that Andy and Opie vibe in a truthful way. Social change was afoot, whether people liked it or not, and sitcoms of the decade began to reflect that change.

Whereas sitcoms of the ’50s and ’60s featured women who largely stayed at home and took care of the kids and the home, the ’70s featured a proud single woman putting her career first. Instead of the occasional African American, we had an entire Black family who showed suburban America that life in the inner cities at the time was no picnic. To punctuate how uncomfortable societal change was to those who were used to the peace and tranquility of the ’50s, the ’70s brought us a sitcom about a grumpy old man who longed for the “good old days.” Sitcoms of the ’70s aimed to be daring, a vehicle for how American society truly was, not what it once was; and that made some of the decade’s biggest shows truly timeless to this very day.

1

‘Happy Days’ (1974–1984)

Image via ABC

While sitcoms in the ’70s leaned hard into the social changes of the decade, there was a segment of the TV viewer who longed for the days sitcoms were sanitized. Enter Happy Days, created by Gary Marshall, Happy Days saw a market in giving viewers the scenes of a time that once was, when kids hung out at the diner and the coolest kid dressed and acted like Fonzie (Harry Winkler).

Happy Days fostered the ideal view of what the 1950s were all about, and it kick-started the ’50s nostalgia craze, and it certainly was more family-friendly than most sitcoms of the decade. With Happy Days winning over audiences with its unflinching nostalgia, it brought the apolitical, clean-cut sitcom back into vogue, which would become a staple of shows in the 1980s. Happy Days is timeless because it was a prime example of escapism TV, a bit rebellious, yet harmless.

2

‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ (1970–1977)

In the 1960s, Mary Tyler Moore was the lovable housewife on The Dick Van Dyke Show, fitting the common character trope for women in the ’50s and ’60s. While women did land starring roles in sitcoms, they were always the sidekick to the husband, and presenting to America that women cared more about taking care of the home than chasing a career. Then the calendar flipped to the ’70s, and Mary Tyler Moore was done being a housewife.

Premiering in 1970, The Mary Tyler Moore show presented a different kind of woman, one that was more career-focused than home-focused. The show redefined how women were portrayed on TV, tackling such issues as feminism, equal pay, and gay rights through fascinating characters rather than preaching to the audience. Not only that, but The Mary Tyler Moore Show was also the first successful workplace sitcom, in which the sitcom was mainly set within Mary Richard’s workplace, with her co-workers just as important to the show as Mary herself. In the end, The Mary Tyler Moore Show cemented its status as a timeless sitcom of the decade.

3

‘Sanford and Son’ (1972–1977)

Image via NBC

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In the 1970s, a major cultural shift was happening on the television landscape. Instead of the landscape being mainly white, television finally wised up to the fact that African Americans had stories that needed to be told as well. Enter the late Norman Lear, who, alongside Bud Yorkin, created Sanford and Son, the pioneering sitcom that focused on the working-class life of African Americans.

Starring comedian Red Foxx, the show followed a father and son who ran their own business in South Central Los Angeles. In some respects, Sanford and Son was the Black version of All in the Family, although it wasn’t nearly as bigoted as that famous show (more on this later). It was bold, brash, and unapologetic, and it also broke down barriers. It showed TV executives that African American leads could rake in Nielsen success. Sanford and Son wasn’t just a success in Black homes, it achieved something that few thought it could at the time, crossover success, thanks to its edgy comedy, mainly provided by Foxx. Sanford and Son‘s legacy is very much secured, a timeless sitcom that had a major impact on the sitcom genre as a whole.

4

‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ (1978–1982)

Image via CBS

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As soon as you read the title of this entry, you immediately thought of the iconic theme song, didn’t you? Of course, you did, and who could blame you if you’re humming it now. But WKRP in Cincinnati was a lot more influential beyond that famous theme song. The sitcom was iconic in its character-driven ensemble cast, and it further cemented the workplace sitcom as a major part of the genre’s base.

WKRP in Cincinnati was a timeless sitcom in the fact that it was a very real depiction of the radio business. I feel like a lot of readers may not know this, but the main plot followed the station as it transitioned from Top 40 to rock to lift sagging ratings, and the station’s DJs having to adapt to the change in formats, with hilarious results. Radio stations suddenly changing formats is a real thing, and WKRP in Cincinnati captured the struggle that comes with having to switch formats, especially as a small business. This was one of those sitcoms that actually got more popular in syndication, which makes it timeless thanks to its perfect blend of humor and workplace social commentary.

5

‘M*A*S*H’ (1972–1983)

Image via CBS

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While the “dramedy” sitcom has become quite commonplace on television today, it was nuanced in the 1970s. Before M*A*S*H premiered in 1972, sitcoms followed a general script: introduce a problem the main protagonists had to solve, keep the audience laughing, and make sure everything was solved at the end of each episode. That all changed with M*A*S*H, which refused to follow the same sitcom tropes, and pioneered the dramedy, which blended the intense drama that comes with war, with traditional sitcom humor.

By molding serious subject matter with humor, it formed an whole new subgenre that would later become a staple within the sitcom genre. Make no mistake, M*A*S*H was very much aware of the social upheaval that was happening during the time. The sitcom reflected the anti-war sentiment of the decade, realistically showing the changing views of morality and conflict. As much as M*A*S*H had heavy dramatic moments, it certainly didn’t let you forget that it had comedy as well, creating a timeless classic that many sitcom fans will forever remember.

6

‘Good Times’ (1974–1979)

Image via CBS

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With Sanford and Son breaking down the door for black-led sitcoms, Norman Lear went to work creating his next big hit surrounding the plight of an inner-city Black family. This time, he teamed up with Eric Monte to create one of the decade’s most timeless sitcoms, Good Times. While Sanford and Son provided edgy, rapid-fire jokes, Good Times was a family sitcom that, for the first time, featured a Black household that had two parents, the tough and caring James Evans (John Amos) and the loving but stern Florida Evan (Esther Rolle).

Despite their seemingly dire financial situation, the Evans proved that as long as you had fight and family, you could get through any challenge, and the Evans family certainly went through challenges. The sitcom was mirrored into what society was like for Black families, but it also made sure to show its resilience. And, we can’t talk about Good Times without mentioning J.J. Evans (Jimmy Walker), James and Florida’s eldest child who became the breakout star of the series with his trademark catchphrase “Dyn-o-mite!” Despite some iffy seasons after Amos left the series, Good Times is still an influential sitcom with a very, very catchy theme song. Oh, and for what it’s worth, that final lyric in the theme was “hanging in a chowline.” You’re welcome.

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‘All in the Family’ (1971–1979)

Image via CBS

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“Those were the days.” You can hear the theme song that the Bunkers were wishing for the “good old days” to come back after a decade of social change. Let’s be real for a second — a sitcom like All in the Family would be cancelled in a heartbeat, as modern audiences would probably be repulsed with the main protagonist being classified as a “lovable bigot.” But, what many modern audiences would miss is how Norman Lear, the show’s creator, used the Bunker family to tell raw, socially relevant storylines.

In a sense, All in the Family was the anti-Happy Days. There was no lighthearted escapism celebrating nostalgia. This was a show that broke taboos and showed, in an unflinching way, the struggle between an American culture that was changing and the older generation that was struggling to adapt to the changing times. All in the Family showed the sitcom world that it could tell relevant social commentary without the fluff, and still be humorous in the process. The ’70s sure were the days, weren’t they?

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All In The Family

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Release Date

1971 – 1979-00-00

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Showrunner

Norman Lear

Directors

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Norman Lear

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  Carroll O’Connor

  Archie Bunker

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• 

  Jean Stapleton

  Edith Bunker

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