1. One Step Beyond
That host, John Newland, always set a mood, didn't he? And those stories, often "based on fact," about the unexplainable – they burrowed into your mind. This was early television, stark black-and-white, relying on atmosphere and quiet dread rather than special effects. It proved you didn't need much, just a good tale and a chilling delivery, to make the hair stand up on your arms. A true ancestor to all those later supernatural anthologies.
2. Car 54, Where Are You?
This was pure, unadulterated broadcast comedy, right from the minds behind Phil Silvers. Toody and Muldoon, two New York cops, stumbling through the most delightful, low-stakes mayhem. And the ensemble, oh, what characters! It’s the kind of broad, physical humor that you don't see much anymore, relying on perfectly timed gags and goofy misunderstandings, all played out in glorious, simple black-and-white. A real comfort watch, then and now.
3. East Side/West Side
For its time, this was a jolt to the system. George C. Scott as a social worker tackling raw, uncomfortable issues in New York City. And it wasn't always tidy, or heartwarming. In fact, it was often grim and unflinching, portraying a side of life rarely seen on network television then. Broadcast in monochrome, it felt immediate and important, a genuine effort at serious, serialized drama before it was truly fashionable.
4. The Invaders
David Vincent, forever on the run, trying to convince a world that couldn't see the aliens among us. This was primal paranoia packaged for prime time. And with those stiff-fingered invaders, it gave you chills. But it also established a long-form continuity, where each episode built on the last, pushing Vincent closer to the truth, yet always just out of reach. A gripping, early example of serialized sci-fi suspense.
5. He & She
Remember Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin? This was a sophisticated, witty sitcom, almost ahead of its time. He played a TV star, she his wife, and their marriage was the center of it all, with charming meta-humor about the absurdity of their world. And it was smart, really smart, with sharp dialogue and a clear affection for its characters. A shame it only lasted one season, because it had real heart and brains.
6. The Prisoner
Number Six, trapped in The Village, constantly battling unseen forces. What an enigma! And Patrick McGoohan, who also created it, pushed the boundaries of what television could be. Every episode was a puzzle, an allegory, a mind-bending exercise in control and rebellion. And the visuals, from those Rover balloons to the surreal settings, remain iconic. It’s still talked about, and rightfully so, as pure broadcast artistry.
7. Doomwatch
A British series tackling environmental and scientific dangers, often with a distinctly chilling realism. These weren't monsters from outer space, but threats born from our own hubris. And it felt genuinely urgent, a bit gritty, exploring topics like genetic engineering and pollution with a serious, almost documentary-like tone. It was a thoughtful, often unsettling look at the future, well before such concerns were mainstream.
8. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Norman Lear pushed every boundary with this one. A satire of soap operas, but so deadpan and bizarre it became its own strange beast. And Mary, reacting to the most absurd tragedies with a blank stare. Filmed in a slightly washed-out style, it felt like a hallucination, yet it captivated audiences with its sheer audacity and long-form narrative. It was truly unlike anything else on the air.
9. The Singing Detective
Dennis Potter’s masterpiece, a late-period entry for this list, but pure broadcast gold. A bedridden author escapes into a noir musical fantasy, blending reality and illusion. And it was daring, emotional, and utterly original, using song and dance to explore a man’s psyche. Shot with cinematic ambition for television, it proved that the small screen could deliver profound, complex storytelling that stayed with you.
