It is easy to take on a hectoring, mocking tone when referring to the 1970s.
Certainly, much decent about the world had been lost following the social upheavals of the 1960s - a respectable dress sense was in short supply, and it was difficult to find a good club with comfortable leather seats, a men-only policy, and an affable partner to pass the time with a rubber of bridge.
But there was some terrific television.
It Ain't Half Hot Mum was terribly amusing - the show followed the hilarious goings-on of the Royal Artillery Concert Party in India, who were are doing their utmost to keep themselves away from the front line.
Battery Sergeant Major Williams was determined to knock his boys into shape, but the lads just kept getting thrust into situations that called for more than just the ability to apply greasepaint and lipstick.
Absolutely hilarious.
Then there was The Good Life, with an early, droll take on food sustainability, or Man About the House, with the side-slapping japes associated with mixed flatting.
Humour almost of that quality comes anew to TV One from Thursday, April 17, when series two of Citizen Khan hits our screens in the 10pm slot.
Mr Khan is self-appointed Muslim community leader and long-suffering family man from Birmingham, with an amusing Pakistani accent that would not have been out of place in a British sitcom 40 years ago.
He is a small man with big dreams and strident opinions; a man not keen to part with money.
Episode one of series two features this sort of humour: Mr Khan needs a plumber, and his long suffering wife suggests a Polish tradesman.
''Not a Polish,'' Mr Khan says, ''Keep Britain British - we'll get a Pakistani in.''
Mr Khan's daughter wants a bridesmaid at her wedding.
''We Pakistanis don't have bridesmaids in our culture,'' he responds.
''Your bride becomes your maid - your house maid, chamber maid, tea's made ...''
In other amusing scenes, Mr Khan farts in the bath, wears a purple onesie with rabbit ears, and pretends to be a Catholic to get his daughter a school scholarship.
In the UK the show copped criticism for stereotyping Muslims, and sparked a show titled Politics and Media: Citizen Khan - racist stereotypes or harmless fun.
Others noted how important it was for all cultures to be able to laugh at themselves.
Citizen Khan has no shortage of writing talent, with Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto (The Kumars at No 42, Goodness Gracious Me) behind the scripts, alongside the show's creator and star Adil Ray.
But its corny one-liners would more likely be appealing to those attracted to the simple humour of a '70s sitcom.
- Charles Loughrey
