One of television's most popular sitcoms (situation comedies; see entry under 1950s—TV and Radio in volume 3) during the late 1970s and early 1980s was Taxi. The show depicted the comic antics of the drivers of New York's Sunshine Cab Company. The series aired from 1978 until 1983 and was one of the most critically acclaimed and awarded programs of its era. It boasted superior writing and one of the best ensemble casts on television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3). Unlike on many previous sitcoms, blue-collar characters that struggled to make ends meet populated the sets of Taxi.

The blue-collar characters on the series Taxi dealt with realistic issues that audiences could relate to. Danny DeVito (center) is surrounded by (clockwise from upper left) Andy Kaufman, Christopher Lloyd, Carol Kane, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, and Tony Danza. Archive Photos, Inc. Reproduced by permission.

Taxi was based...