6. The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968–1970)

Based on the acclaimed 1947 film of the same name, this charming sitcom starred Hope Lange as Carolyn Muir, a young widow who packed up her family and moved into a beautiful seaside cottage in the fictional village of Schooner Bay, Maine.

She quickly discovered that her new home was heavily haunted by its former owner, the stubborn and blustery 19th-century sea captain Daniel Gregg.

Played with theatrical brilliance by Edward Mulhare, the ghostly captain initially tried to scare the family away but eventually grew quite fond of them. Charles Nelson Reilly provided consistent, magnificent comic relief as the captain’s cowardly descendant, Claymore Gregg.

Despite Lange winning two consecutive Emmy Awards for her lead performance, the show struggled in the ratings, shifting from NBC to ABC before being permanently canceled after just two seasons.

7. Then Came Bronson (1969–1970)

Arriving just as the counterculture movement fundamentally reshaped American society, this hour-long drama tapped directly into the era’s overwhelming desire for existential freedom. Michael Parks starred as Jim Bronson, a disillusioned newspaper reporter who abruptly quit his job following the tragic suicide of his best friend.

Donning a signature watch cap and riding a 1969 Harley-Davidson Sportster, Bronson traveled the backroads of America taking odd jobs and searching for personal meaning. The show’s quiet, philosophical tone was a stark departure from standard, fast-paced network fare.

The opening sequence featured Bronson paused at a traffic light alongside a harried commuter in a station wagon, perfectly capturing a generational divide and the overwhelming desire to simply drop out and ride away.