Shows That Changed TV- (A Few That Didnt Make The List).

[Mitchell]

I was just looking at a link from Time magazine from a few years ago, discussing "17 shows that changed TV forever". While the article mentioned such shows as Mary Tyler Moore, The Cosby Show, etc. It omitted certain shows which really changed the landscape of TV forever as well. These are some of my picks, and I will be interested to see if people agree or disagree.

1. First on my list, would have to be All In The Family. Yes, Archie Bunker could act absolutely awful at times, with his bigoted views, but.. before that show, when did they ever conceive of having such a character on TV?

2. The Jeffersons. George Jefferson, while not "educated", like the later characters on The Cosby Show, was in reality the first affluent African American ever shown on TV. He had seven cleaning stores in NYC, and lived in his "Deluxe Apartment In The Sky".

3. Dallas. Sex, Greed, Money, Backstabbing, And Evil. J. R, Ewing was the first character shown on TV engaging in all those things, and in repeated adultery on his wives. What other show seemed to almost condone adultery? Also, his nemsis, Cliff Barnes, lived with women who he wasn't married to, for most of the series run. The first "Domestic Partners" to be shown on TV.

4. Party Of Five: That show's run wasn't as long as some of the others that changed TV, but.. when before on TV did you have a group of orphans, who had lost their parents in an accident, and the family had to be supported and headed by a 24 year old?

Those are some of my choices for shows that changed TV.

Other thoughts on this?

Mitch

 

[General Zod]

I was just looking at a link from Time magazine from a few years ago, discussing "17 shows that changed TV forever". While the article mentioned such shows as Mary Tyler Moore, The Cosby Show, etc. It omitted certain shows which really changed the landscape of TV forever as well. These are some of my picks, and I will be interested to see if people agree or disagree.

1. First on my list, would have to be All In The Family. Yes, Archie Bunker could act absolutely awful at times, with his bigoted views, but.. before that show, when did they ever conceive of having such a character on TV?

2. The Jeffersons. George Jefferson, while not "educated", like the later characters on The Cosby Show, was in reality the first affluent African American ever shown on TV. He had seven cleaning stores in NYC, and lived in his "Deluxe Apartment In The Sky".

3. Dallas. Sex, Greed, Money, Backstabbing, And Evil. J. R, Ewing was the first character shown on TV engaging in all those things, and in repeated adultery on his wives. What other show seemed to almost condone adultery? Also, his nemsis, Cliff Barnes, lived with women who he wasn't married to, for most of the series run. The first "Domestic Partners" to be shown on TV.

4. Party Of Five: That show's run wasn't as long as some of the others that changed TV, but.. when before on TV did you have a group of orphans, who had lost their parents in an accident, and the family had to be supported and headed by a 24 year old?

Those are some of my choices for shows that changed TV.

Other thoughts on this?

Mitch

Some great choices friend. 🙂 If I am not mistaken,Maude on CBS was the first show to use the word abortion.
I Love Lucy.
Showed a man of Cuban heritage married to a white woman.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, Zod.

I watched Maude sometimes, but I dont recall the episode with the word abortion.

You're right about I Love Lucy. I wasnt really a fan of that show.

Another show that changed TV: One Day At A Time, which was on CBS from 1975 to 1984. The first show, to show a single mother, as head of household, with no father present in the household.

Mitch

 

[Snail Shell]

Batman: The Animated Series
Star Trek
The Simpsons

and, for my money,

The Boondocks.

SS

 

[milagros317]

The Real World (MTV, 1992-present) certainly changed TV for the worse.

 

[Snail Shell]

The Real World (MTV, 1992-present) certainly changed TV for the worse.

That goes without saying Mils. All of MTV, save for Daria, has changed TV for the worse.

SS

 

[PiedPiper]

Ok,... this list may go back a ways,...

That's because I do, too,...... but these shows were milestones in their respective genres:

"That Was The Week That Was" or TW3 as it was called at the time. David Frost's imported British political satire show laid the groundwork leading eventually to Jon Stewart.

"Ruff 'n Reddy" .... the first Hanna Barbera cartoon show,.... that should say enough.

"The Twilight Zone" Not only because it helped pioneer sci-fi & fantasy on TV (along with One Step Beyond) but also because it used a different cast & writer each week, thereby launching dozens of careers.

"The Smothers Comedy Brothers Hour" A politically and culturally-charged variety show which included satire,.... perfect for the late 60's,.... broke a lot of boundaries and paved the way for others.

"Rocky and Bullwinkle" One of the most intelligent adult cartoon shows ever made and, by many accounts (including my own), still the best.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

I have not seen this article myself, but I would be surprised if M*A*S*H* did not make the cut, seeing as how the finale held the title of being the most watched television episode in U.S. television history at the time. Looney Tunes I think also has had a decent impact on cartoons as a whole; you still find young children today who love Bugs Bunny. As for modern day programming, CSI has had a large impact, spawning CSI series in other cities and other shows such as NCIS, Bones, and other imitators of the whole "murder mystery/forensics" genre.

 

[Mitchell]

Turtles, I believe M.A. S.H did make the list. I guess I just didnt mention it in my original post is all.

Mitch

 

[kopfhorer]

I vote for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (or just "Laugh-In"). I believe it laid the groundwork for Saturday Night Live! And while we're on the subject, the first five years of that show (authored by among others, National Lampoon humorists like Michael O'Donoghue) broke a lot of rules, and ground!

 

[tickler101:)]

breaking bad most definitly did , believe it or Mister Rogers , That 70's show, roseanne some what , king of the hill , sesame street, twilght zone , how its made ,

 

[Coup de Grace]

Johnny Carson's late night show
Good Times
Batman: the animated series
Married with Children- the first raunchy show
In Living Color

 

[paracarl44]

Are you aware that "The Flintstones" was the first show that the couple slept in the same bed?

 

[PiedPiper]

Are you aware that "The Flintstones" was the first show that the couple slept in the same bed?

________________________

The Flintstones was also significantly cast as a cartoon version of Jackie Gleason's The Honeymooners. Think about it.

 

[b0xr]

Cosby
Married with Children
Honey West