Some anniversary collections are worth celebrating early. CHiPs, Eight Is Enough, and Three's Company all premiered in 1977, which means their 50th anniversaries arrive in 2027—not 2026.
Three's Company: comedy built on misunderstandings
Three's Company premiered on ABC on March 15, 1977. John Ritter, Joyce DeWitt, and Suzanne Somers played Jack, Janet, and Chrissy, roommates whose living arrangement generated a steady stream of misunderstandings and farce. The show adapted the British sitcom Man About the House. Its exaggerated physical comedy and the Ropers' landlord antics remain especially recognizable.
Eight Is Enough: a very full household
ABC premiered Eight Is Enough on March 15, 1977. Inspired by journalist Tom Braden's book about raising eight children, the series centered on the Bradford family and blended family drama with warmth and humor. Dick Van Patten starred as father Tom Bradford. Its changing family relationships gave audiences something beyond the standard sitcom formula.
CHiPs: California highways and buddy chemistry
CHiPs debuted on NBC on September 15, 1977. Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada played California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers Jon Baker and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello. The combination of freeway action, light comedy, and the duo's contrasting personalities helped define the series.
Why begin celebrating now?
These three shows reveal how much range prime-time television had in the late 1970s: roommate farce, family storytelling, and highway adventure. Consider this a warm-up to their 2027 milestone year.
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