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Browse American detective shows by decade or return to the TV Detective Database:
Below is a complete list of American detective/mystery/crime shows from the 1970s. This includes shows that started in the 1960s and continued into the 70s, as well as shows that started in the 1970s and continued into the 80s.
Source acknowledgement: The list below was compiled largely by referring to David Martindale’s excellent reference book Television Detective Shows of the 1970s.
Clicking on a title link in the list below will take you to my post about that specific show (if I have created one). Additionally, the list also includes links to places where you can watch/stream the show online.
A-C
- Adam-12 (1968-1975) [stream here]
- Adams of Eagle Lake (1975)
- The American Girls (1978)
- Amy Prentiss (1974-1975)
- The Andros Targets (1977)
- Archer (1975)
- Banacek (1972-1974) [stream here]
- Banyon (1972-1973)
- Baretta (1975-1978)
- Barnaby Jones (1973-1980)
- Bert D’Angelo/Superstar (1976)
- Big Shamus, Little Shamus (1979)
- B. J. and the Bear (1979-1981) (comedy)
- The Blue Knight (1975)
- Bronk (1975-1976)
C-D
- Cade’s County (1971-1972)
- Cannon (1971-1976)
- Caribe (1975)
- Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981) [stream here]
- Chase (1973-1974)
- CHiPs (1977-1983) [stream here]
- Chopper One (1974)
- City of Angels (1976)
- Columbo (1968, 1971-1978, 1989-1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003) [stream here]
- Cool Million (1972)
- The D.A. (1971-1972)
- Dan August (1970-1971)
- David Cassidy–Man Undercover (1978-1979)
- Dear Detective (1979)
- Delvecchio (1976-1977)
- Dog and Cat (1977)
- Dragnet 1967 (1967-1970) [stream here]
- The Duke (1979)
E-H
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978-1979)
- The Edge of Night (1956-1984) (a mystery soap opera)
- Eischied (1979-1980)
- Ellery Queen (1975-1976) [stream here]
- Faraday and Company (1973-1974)
- The F.B.I. (1965-1974)
- The Feather and Father Gang (1976-1977)
- Get Christie Love! (1974-1975) [stream here]
- Get Smart (1965-1970) [stream here]
- Griff (1973-1974)
- The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-1979) [stream here]
- Harry O (1974-1976)
- Hart to Hart (1979-1984, 1993+) [stream here]
- Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980) [stream here]
- Hawkins (1973-1974)
- Hec Ramsey (1972-1974)
I-L
- Ironside (1967-1975)
- Jigsaw (1972-1973)
- Jigsaw John (1976)
- Joe Forrester (1975-1976)
- Kate McShane (1975)
- Kaz (1978-1979)
- Khan! (1975)
- Kingston: Confidential (1977)
- Kodiak (1974)
- Kojak (1973-1978) [stream here]
- Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-1975) [stream here]
- Lanigan’s Rabbi (1977)
- The Law (1975)
- The Lawyers, a.k.a. The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (1969-1972)
- Longstreet (1971-1972)
M-N
- Madigan (1972-1973)
- The Magician (1973-1974)
- The Manhunter (1974-1975)
- Mannix (1967-1975)
- Matt Helm (1975-1976)
- McCloud (1970-1977) [stream here]
- McCoy (1975-1976)
- McMillan and Wife, a.k.a. McMillan (1971-1977) [stream here]
- McNaughton’s Daughter (1976)
- The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979-1981)
- Mobile One (1975-1976)
- The Mod Squad (1968-1973)
- The Most Deadly Game (1970-1971)
- Most Wanted (1976-1977)
- Mrs. Columbo (renamed to Kate Columbo, then Kate the Detective, then Kate Loves a Mystery) (1979-1980)
- Nakia (1974)
- The Name of the Game (1968-1971)
- Nashville 99 (1977)
- The New Adventures of Perry Mason (or simply The New Perry Mason) (1973-1974)
O-R
- O’Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971-1972)
- Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971-1974)
- Paris (1979-1980)
- Petrocelli (1974-1976)
- Police Story (1973-1978, 1979, 1980, 1987)
- Police Woman (1974-1978)
- The Protectors (1972-1974) [stream here]
- Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
- Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (1978)
- The Rockford Files (1974-1980) [stream here]
- The Rookies (1972-1976)
- Rosetti and Ryan (1977)
S-Z
- Sam (1977-1978)
- Sarge (1971-1972)
- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969-1970) [stream here]
- Serpico (1976-1977)
- Shaft (1971, 1972, 1973, 1973-1974)
- The Silent Force (1970-1971)
- The Snoop Sisters (1973-1974)
- Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979) [stream here]
- Storefront Lawyers, a.k.a. Men at Law (1970-1971)
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972-1977)
- S.W.A.T. (1975-1976) [stream here]
- Switch (1975-1978)
- Sword of Justice (1978-1979)
- Tenafly (1973-1974)
- Toma (1973-1974)
- Vega$ (1978-1981)
- The Young Lawyers (1969-1971)
If you know of a show that is missing from the list above, or if you have any other additions or corrections, please let me know in the comments!
