He gets star billing when the rest of the cast doesn't.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/127127921_2766400586942748_8656617195120230913_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=2&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=3sSp01dAOwkAX9i2MKH&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=83da5d026f76b1c547728ea0945a062a&oe=5FE4F1AD

He gets star billing when the rest of the cast doesn't.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/127127921_2766400586942748_8656617195120230913_o.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=2&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=3sSp01dAOwkAX9i2MKH&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=83da5d026f76b1c547728ea0945a062a&oe=5FE4F1AD


Looks that way because the movie was released in Nov of 1976 and the show finished that season as the 11th ranked show in the country. That was the show highest rated season