Best TV Shows of the 1960s, from the ‘Andy Griffith Show’ to ‘Beverly Hillbillies’

The 1960s were an iconic and unforgettable era in television history. It was a time when the black-and-white images you grew up with exploded into color, and the television set transformed from a luxury item into the true emotional centerpiece of nearly every American living room.

The decade gave us everything from the wholesome charm of Mayberry to the pioneering fantasy of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone. 

We’re here to take you back on a nostalgic trip by revisiting the classics and calling out a few fan favorites that you might have forgotten existed.

The ‘60s Sitcoms That Made Us Laugh

‘The Andy Griffith Show’ (1960–1968)

It should come as no surprise that The Andy Griffith Show is at the top of our list. For millions, the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, felt less like a TV set and more like a real place. And that feeling is still very much alive today. 

Recent Nielsen data shows that The Andy Griffith Show continues to be a fan favorite in Raleigh-Durham! People love the show for its warm and heartfelt humor, especially the way Sheriff Andy Taylor handles his job, which he knew wasn’t about keeping folks in line, but “about keeping folks together.” (Season 1, Episode 16: “The Beauty Contest”)

• IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
• Seasons: 8 
• Episodes: 249
• Creator: Sheldon Leonard, Aaron Ruben, and Danny Thomas 
• Stars: Andy Griffith (Sheriff Andy Taylor), Ron Howard (Opie Taylor), and Don Knotts (Deputy Barney Fife)

‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ (1961–1966)

Whether he tripped over the ottoman or gracefully sidestepped it, the opening credits of The Dick Van Dyke Show always kicked off a half-hour of smart, sophisticated fun. The show gave us a peek behind the curtain at the life of TV writer Rob Petrie, splitting its time between the hilarious antics of the writers’ room for The Alan Brady Show and his charming home life in suburban New Rochelle.

It’s hard to believe the show was nearly canceled after its first season, but it was saved when sponsor Procter & Gamble threatened to pull advertising from the network. That turned out to be a smart move, as the show went on to win 15 Emmy Awards and capture the hearts of millions with its witty take on everyday life. 

• IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 158
• Creator: Carl Reiner
• Stars: Dick Van Dyke (Rob Petrie), Mary Tyler Moore (Laura Petrie), and Rose Marie (Sally Rogers)

‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ (1962–1971)

“Come and listen to a story ’bout a man named Jed”… and the rest is television history. When the Clampett clan struck oil in the Ozark Mountains and moved to Beverly Hills, it created one of the funniest culture clashes ever seen on TV. The family’s unsophisticated, simple lifestyle was a constant source of confusion and comedy for their wealthy new neighbors.

The show was an absolute sensation, ranking as the #1 series in the country for its first two years. In fact, the episode “The Giant Jackrabbit” remains the most-watched half-hour sitcom episode of all time. 

• IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
• Seasons: 9
• Episodes: 274
• Creator: Paul Henning 
• Stars: Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett), Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett), Irene Ryan (Granny)

‘Bewitched’ (1964–1972)

The premise was simple, yet brilliant: a powerful witch named Samantha marries Darrin, a mortal man, and vows to become a typical suburban housewife. The fun, of course, was watching that vow get tested every single week. With a twitch of her nose, Samantha could solve any problem, but the real challenge was dealing with her magical family (especially her mother, Endora) who completely disapproved of the mixed marriage.

The show was an immediate hit with audiences, finishing its debut season as the second-highest-rated show (second to Bonanza) in America. Viewers tuned in every week to see if Samantha could keep her promise of a normal life, especially with Endora constantly using her powers to meddle in the couple’s lives and wreak havoc on Darrin’s advertising career.

• IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
• Seasons: 8
• Episodes: 254
• Creator: Sol Saks
• Stars: Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha Stephens), Dick York (Darrin Stephens, 1964–1969), Dick Sargent (Darrin Stephens, 1969–1972), and Agnes Moorehead (Endora)

‘Gilligan’s Island’ (1964–1992)

After a storm turned a “three-hour tour” into a permanent stay on an uncharted island, seven castaways had to learn to survive. Every week brought a new, hilarious attempt to get rescued, and viewers were hooked on watching to see how poor Gilligan would accidentally ruin their chances this time.

The show was so popular that CBS assured its creator a fourth season would be picked up, but the network suddenly canceled it at the last minute to make room for the Western series Gunsmoke. 

• IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 99
• Creator: Sherwood Schwartz
• Stars: Bob Denver (Gilligan), Alan Hale Jr. (Captain Jonas Grumby, “The Skipper”), and Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III)

‘I Dream of Jeannie’ 1965–1970

When astronaut Tony Nelson crash-landed on a deserted island, the last thing he expected to find was a 2,000-year-old genie in a bottle. With a blink of her eyes and a fold of her arms, Jeannie could grant any wish, but all she really wanted was to please her new “Master.” The result was a constant, hilarious struggle for Tony to keep his magical secret from NASA, especially the ever-suspicious Dr. Bellows.

Fun fact: Creator Sidney Sheldon developed the show to compete with Bewitched and initially refused to cast a blonde in the lead role to avoid comparisons.

• IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 139
• Creator: Sidney Sheldon
• Stars: Barbara Eden (Jeannie), Larry Hagman (Major Anthony Nelson), and Bill Daily (Healey)

‘The Lucy Show’ (1962–1968)

Following the massive success of I Love Lucy was no easy task, but Lucille Ball proved she was still the queen of comedy. The show initially reunited her with Vivian Vance (as Lucy Carmichael and Vivian Bagley), this time as two single mothers raising their children and getting into one zany scheme after another. The series famously retooled for its fourth season, moving Lucy to California to work for her cantankerous, perpetually exasperated banker, Mr. Theodore J. Mooney.

Ball was initially reluctant to return to weekly television, agreeing to just one season to help save her and Desi Arnaz’s struggling studio, Desilu, on the condition that the show air on Monday nights, the way I Love Lucy had, and that she would be reunited with Vivian Vance and her former writers. Her brand of wacky humor was undeniable, and the show quickly became a huge hit.

• IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
• Seasons: 6
• Episodes: 156
• Creator: Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn Davis, and Bob Schiller 
• Stars: Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Gale Gordon (Mr. Theodore J. Mooney), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley)

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964–1969)

Surprise, surprise, surprise! The most lovable gas station attendant from Mayberry, North Carolina, enlisted in the Marines and gave America one of the most consistently top-rated sitcoms of the decade. The show was a classic “fish-out-of-water” comedy, with the naïve, good-natured Private Gomer Pyle constantly exasperating his high-strung drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter. 

Fans will forever remember the hilarious dynamic between the two main characters. Sergeant Carter’s explosive temper was always met with Gomer’s calm, wide-eyed innocence, culminating in some classic exchanges, like when Gomer, trying to assure his drill sergeant, said, “I’m gonna be a fighting fool, you’ll see,” to which Carter dryly replied, “Well, you’re halfway there.” (Season 1, Episode 18: “The Feudin’ Pyles”)

• IMDb Rating: 7/10
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 150
• Creator: Aaron Ruben
• Stars: Jim Nabors (Private Gomer Pyle), Frank Sutton (Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter), and Ronnie Schell (Duke Slater)

1960s Westerns That Ruled the Range

Gunsmoke (1955-1975)

Gunsmoke was the longest-running scripted American primetime television series for decades. Marshal Matt Dillon was the central lawman protecting the citizens of rough-and-tumble Dodge City, Kansas. The show, which began in the mid-50s as a gritty half-hour drama, centered on Dillon, saloon owner Miss Kitty Russell, the town physician “Doc” Adams, and Dillon’s deputy, originally Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) and later Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis).

CBS planned to cancel the series in 1967 after the twelfth season due to slipping ratings. However, widespread viewer reaction, including pressure from CBS President William S. Paley’s wife, Babe Paley, convinced the network to move the show to Monday nights (effectively canceling Gilligan’s Island and removing it from the Monday night lineup). This schedule change propelled it back into the Nielsen Top 10. 

• IMDb Rating: 8.1
• Seasons: 20
• Episodes: 635
• Creator: Charles Marquis Warren and Clyde Ware
• Stars: James Arness (Marshal Matt Dillon), Milburn Stone (Dr. Galen Adams “Doc”), and Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty Russell)

Bonanza (1959-1973)

Bonanza invited millions of viewers to visit the sprawling Ponderosa Ranch near Virginia City, Nevada, every Sunday night. The show followed the wealthy, thrice-widowed patriarch Ben Cartwright and his three highly dissimilar sons, the urbane Adam, the warm giant Hoss, and the hotheaded Little Joe. The show stood out as one of the first Westerns to focus less on gunfights and more on the struggles of family life and social issues of the day.

Bonanza was one of the first series to be filmed and broadcast entirely in color, a revolutionary move at the time. This was a deliberate marketing ploy by NBC’s parent company, RCA, which used the show’s gorgeous cinematography of Lake Tahoe in appliance stores to spur sales of color television sets across the country. 

• IMDb Rating: 7.3
• Seasons: 14
• Episodes: 430
• Creator: David Dortort and Fred Hamilton
• Stars: Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright), Michael Landon (Joseph ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright), and Dan Blocker (Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright / Big Jack Slade)

‘60s Science Fiction: Adventures in the Final Frontier (and Beyond)

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

“There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow…” With those opening words, host and creator of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling, invited viewers into a weekly anthology of psychological horror, fantasy, and dystopian sci-fi.

In the 60s, it wasn’t uncommon for networks and sponsors to censor controversial material in live dramas. To get around this, Serling cleverly hid his social commentary in fantasy stories. Through allegories and parables, the show addressed challenging subjects like nuclear war, McCarthyism, and mass hysteria long before other shows dared to touch them.

• IMDb Rating: 9
• Seasons: 5
• Episodes: 156
• Creator: Rod Serling
• Stars: Rod Serling, Robert McCord, and Jay Overholt

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

In 1966, Gene Roddenberry introduced Captain James T. Kirk, First Officer Spock, and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy on the starship USS Enterprise. Roddenberry, who had extensive experience writing Westerns, famously pitched the show as “Wagon Train to the stars,” offering a weekly, self-contained adventure set on a continuing voyage through the galaxy. And much like The Twilight Zone, Star Trek found ways to comment on the big social issues of 1960s America, like racism and global war, disguised in a futuristic setting.

Despite its current legendary status, the show struggled with low Nielsen ratings and was initially canceled after only three seasons.

• IMDb Rating: 8.4
• Seasons: 3
• Episodes: 80
• Creator: Gene Roddenberry
• Stars: William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), and DeForest Kelley (Leonard H. “Bones” McCoy)

The Rise of Color and the Television Generation

If the 1950s were when TV sets first moved into American homes, the 1960s were when they truly took over, and as you probably remember, it was mostly because of color TV.

By the beginning of the decade, nearly 90% of American households already owned a television set. But actually watching shows in color was still a novelty because those early color sets were quite expensive. That changed fast in the middle of the decade thanks to NBC. They saw an opportunity and took it! Their parent company, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), made the color sets, so NBC started broadcasting popular shows like Bonanza in beautiful color to encourage viewers to buy a new TV.

Suddenly, the other networks realized they were losing the ratings battle, so they scrambled to switch over, too. That big “color breakthrough” hit hard around September 1965. You likely remember when your favorites made the switch, because by the 1966–1967 season, all three major networks had flipped their entire prime-time schedules to color.

What Were The Most Popular Shows of the ’60s?

Early 1960s

At the beginning of the 1960s, Westerns and classic variety shows were the main topics of conversation across the country.

The table shows the most popular primetime TV shows of the 1960-61 season, according to Nielsen ratings.

Late 1960s

By the time the 60s closed, we moved on from the old Westerns and fully embraced two new types of programming: urban variety/sketch comedy and the rise of medical drama. 

The table shows the most popular primetime TV shows of the 1969-70 season, according to Nielsen ratings.

Although Gunsmoke and Bonanza held firm in the top three, the top spot was taken by the fast-paced, contemporary humor of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, and Marcus Welby, M.D., made its way into the Top 10. 

What 1960s Shows Had The Most Loyal Followers?

Not every great show becomes an immediate ratings sensation or a decade-defining hit. The 1960s also produced a set of distinctive programs that, despite short runs or mid-level ratings, have a loyal fanbase.

Do you remember watching The Fugitive? This crime drama starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, a physician wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder who spends 120 episodes in a cross-country chase for the real killer.

Or what about The Invaders? The plot follows architect David Vincent (Roy Thinnes), who witnesses an alien spacecraft landing. He spends the series (43 episodes total) trying to convince a disbelieving public that aliens who look exactly like us are secretly infiltrating society. The show was essentially The Fugitive with aliens.

Ready to Reconnect? Take Your Nostalgia One Step Further With Classmates

Did you just get swept away to Mayberry, or maybe you’re still humming the theme song to The Beverly Hillbillies? The television shows of the 1960s had a certain charm that created shared moments of humor and warmth across America.

If all this reminiscing about classic TV has you thinking about the people you shared those moments with, why not take that nostalgia one step further? We invite you to explore Classmates®, a place where you might browse a library of yearbooks from that iconic era (or any era.)

You may see what your school’s yearbook looked like in the 60s, and have the chance to connect with old schoolmates. Take a moment to see if those familiar faces from your past are ready to reconnect.

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