My Journey Through 1970s TV: Thursday Nights, 1978

Thursdays in 1978 did not come to mind when I thought back on standout nights of television from my youth. But when I looked back at the schedule it was surprising how many shows that are still fondly recalled all aired on this same night. Nine of the 11 shows across all three networks would get DVD releases and are still streaming somewhere, a testament to their enduring popularity. ABCMork & MindyWhat’s HappeningBarney MillerSoapFamilyMork & Mindy was a huge and immediate success following Robin Williams’ first appearance as Mork on Happy Days. Williams was fortunate in not becoming defined by that character, the way Henry Winkler couldn’t shake The Fonz for decades (he got there eventually). Not sure how well the show still holds up outside of Williams’ improv flourishes that forced poor Pam Dawber to keep up, but viewers loved it, propelling the series to #3 for the season. This was the final go-round for What’s Happening, and a strong timeslot lead-in boosted the series to #28…