Television Timeline by Kiki Brawner

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-11 16:23:47 UTC

The 1950s was a time period where the stereotypical American Dream was highly advertised. It was shown throughout the many television shows that debuted during this era. The 50s became known as the Golden Age of TV because of the growth of television. Despite there only being 108 stations at the time, over 70 million TV sets were sold throughout the decade. Most of the shows on TV were recorded live and featured nuclear, white, suburban families living the 'American Dream'. However, other events, like the 1956 Winter Olympics were also broadcasted live!

I Love Lucy

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-12 17:19:07 UTC

I Love Lucy was a popular show that first aired in 1951. The show followed a multiethnic couple, Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, as they lived their lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Lucy was a housewife who dreamed of a life outside of her kitchen and the show followed her adventures as she attempted to achieve said dream. I Love Lucy was one of the only shows, during this time period, to feature a diverse couple, which made the show more relatable for the diverse American population. It also featured themes that were prominent in Americans' every day lives - like the struggle of being a housewife but wanting more, and how men handled this struggle with the women in their lives.

Leave it to Beaver - 1957

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-12 17:34:57 UTC

Leave it to Beaver was centered around one of the sons of a white, nuclear American family. The son - beaver - lived with his mom, dad, and brother, and often found himself in unfortunate situations. The show resonated with a lot of American families, because Beaver's family had your typical dynamics - arguments and all. Despite the lack of diversity within the show, it was a model of the 'American Dream' - big house, white picket fence, two parents, two kids, etc - which is what a lot of people strived for.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-12 17:44:37 UTC

The 1960s was a decade filled with political events, like the Vietnam War and the assassination of President Kennedy, all of which were covered on television. As technology enhanced TV's ability to go live, more and more people started tuning into the nightly newscasts to see what was going on across the country and the globe.

Around this time is when colored television started getting more popular, and therefore, more profitable.

The Andy Griffith Show

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-12 17:56:24 UTC

The Andy Griffith Show followed the tales of Andy, the widowed sheriff of a small North Carolina town, his son Opie, his aunt Bee, his deputy Barney, and a few other townsfolk. The show was one of the firsts to shoot without a studio audience and with only one camera. This allowed the show to be filmed outside of just a set. This show aired during a tumultuous time in the world - when the Vietnam War was being fought. The entertainment and innocence of the show attracted so many Americans who felt fear, anger, and anxiety about what was going on in the world, and provided them an opportunity to relax and laugh.

Gilligan's Island

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-12 18:21:24 UTC

Seven people, four men and three women, set sail on 3-hour tour, but end up caught in a storm and inevitably stuck on an island, in the 1960s show Gilligan's Island. The chaos, humor, and non-linear plotline that the show featured pulled in viewers of all ages. The show covered contemporary topics, like the Space Race, which kept it modern. Many Americans resonated with at least one of the seven main characters, but the show did fall short with it's portrayal of different cultures, like when the Native Americans featured in one episode were only there for comedic purposes. Not to actually honor and recognize that culture.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-13 13:57:13 UTC

The 1970s saw a shift in television, in which more shows featured more diversity and complex topics. Americans saw different family structures and more main characters that were people of color. As mentioned before, more complex topics were covered - like the topics discussed on Sesame Street! Near the end of the decade, cable television networks began being produced. News events were still being broadcasted across the country as well. For example, Richard Nixon's resignation.

The Jeffersons - 1975

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-13 14:08:19 UTC

The Jeffersons followed a wealthy Black couple, George and Louise Jefferson, through their misfortunes and adventures. Some of the other main characters in this show were Lionel, their son, Florence, their maid, and two of their friends, Tom and Helen Willis. This show was one of the firsts to feature a great amount of diversity. For starters, most of the main cast was black. The show also featured an interracial couple, Tom and Helen, which was pretty uncommon up to that point. Also, the show not only had a black couple as the main characters, it had a wealthy black couple as the main characters. This reached Black Americans across the country who had previously felt misrepresented in television. The show was also one of the most successful spin-off series to the show All in the Family.

Sesame Street - 1970

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-13 14:16:26 UTC

Truthfully, Sesame Street actually aired at the very end of 1969, but the show had its greatest impact starting in the 70s. Sesame Street was a different format of television, seeing as it wasn't a family sitcom or a comedy sketch show. It was a show designed to teach and entertain younger kids. This comforted parents who started to worry about the amount and kind of television their kids were watching. The show featured special guests - celebrities - and taught lessons about a range of topics, from how to handle conflict to the fundamentals of reading and writing. The show had a very lasting impact, and is still referencing in classrooms today.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-15 13:54:15 UTC

Cable television and family sitcoms saw unprecedented growth in the 80s. Americans had previously stuck to broadcast TV, where they watched whatever show was on whatever station their TV's signal picked up. However, cable television brought a much wider array of shows to the homes of American families. Family sitcoms also explored more complex family dynamics and themes, like those shown in Full House. Americans were also watching other pieces of media on their TVs... like the music videos launched on MTV!

Full House - 1987

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-15 14:08:39 UTC

Full House was a show that launched in the late 80s, that was centered around an unusually full house - hence the name. After his wife's death, Danny invites his best friend and brother in law to live with him and his three daughters. Throughout the 8 seasons, the most people to live in the house reached 9 - 5 kids and 4 adults. The show didn't feature a great amount of diversity, but it did explore previously untouched themes. For example, the episode that covers peer pressure and drunk driving and the episode that talks about eating disorders. The unusual family dynamic and chaos of the characters caused a lot of Americans to find relatability and humor in the show.

The Cosby Show - 1984

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-15 14:52:35 UTC

The Cosby Show followed the life of a wealthy, upper-class Black American family. The show covered controversial topics like race and social inequality. The show was shot in front of a live studio audience and aired for 8 seasons. Many black Americans found inspiration within the show, and one of the lead actors of the show, Bill Cosby, quickly became beloved by Americans across the country. However, following a serious sexual assault lawsuit, Bill was ousted by Hollywood, and the show was removed from almost all networks.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:04:15 UTC

The 1990s served as a bridge between the early decades and the current decades. TV sets got smaller, but television shows continued to feature more diversity within their cast as well as within the topics the shows covered. However, it still had it's limits. During the 90s is when the internet really started to take off, which allowed people to research and tell their own stories about their favorite television stars. The 90s also saw in increase in non-fictional shows, like reality TV, sketch comedy shows, and real life events - like the OJ Simpson trial!

In Living Color - 1990

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:12:16 UTC

In Living Color was a sketch comedy show that debuted at the beginning of the 90s. It featured a main cast who participated in skits that oftentimes covered current world events. The main cast was very diverse, seeing as most of them were black, which was inspiring to many Black Americans. The show also gave many current celebrities their start - Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, and Jim Carrey were all featured on the show at one point!

Friends - 1994

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:30:03 UTC

Friends was a sitcom centered around a group of (you guessed it!) friends living in New York. The show included both humorous and emotional plotlines. Many Americans found relatability with one of the six main characters. Although all of the main cast was white, the show did feature a good amount of diversity. The show continued to grow in popularity over its 10 seasons, and remains a pillar in pop culture even today.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:37:37 UTC

The 2000s saw a big shift in what was on TV and how you could watch it. This decade featured a lot more reality TV shows, like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Americans could now watch their favorite shows at any time, using streaming services like Netflix. TVs continued to get smaller, but all the possibilities of the TVs continued to get bigger. Television coverage of big events was still a prominent source of news for many Americans, like the coverage of 9/11.

Gilmore Girls - 2000

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:43:33 UTC

Gilmore Girls was a show that followed the lives of mother-and-daughter duo, Lorelei and Rory. Their dry humor, relationships, and everyday adventures attracted so many Americans who tuned into all of the show's seven seasons. The show featured a great amount of diversity and covered a great deal of topics. A lot of people found relatability in some of the dynamics shown in the show, like the strained relationship between Lorelei and her parents. The show had humorous, serious, exciting, and emotional moments, and continues to be a popular show even 20 years after its release.

KUWTK - 2007

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-16 17:58:45 UTC

Keeping up with the Kardashians was a reality TV show that followed the Kardashian family. The show followed Kris and her daughters, Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Kendall, and Kylie. The family was rich, and their eccentric lives, personalities, and the drama that followed them pulled viewers in. The show gained massive popularity and it lasted 20 seasons. The show was not without controversy, however, seeing as during the show, the family was accused of everything from blackface to cheating to stealing work. People often criticized the family's lack of awareness of their privilege, but continued to watch the show.

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-17 02:46:47 UTC

The 2010s saw a growth in streaming services and how most of America watched TV. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO continued to grow, and even started producing their own series. By the end of the decade, streaming services was the most common way people watched TV, with cable television being utilized less and less. The 2010s also saw the physical progression of TVs, as the got smaller, flatter, and wider. People also started to watch shows on more than just a TV. Phones, laptops, and iPads became a common way to watch TV and to stay updated on worldly news, like the impeachment trial of Donald Trump.

Game of Thrones - 2011

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-17 02:58:59 UTC

Game of Thrones is a fantasy show about a medieval country's civil war. The show features heavy special effects and editing. Despite the show being fantastical, many people find relatability in the show's exploration of universal human experiences, like romance, confrontation, and grief. Game of Thrones became a beloved show quickly after its release. However, despite the show being produced in the 20th century, it is often criticized for its lack of diversity.

Stranger Things - 2016

brawnerk4501 — 2024-11-17 03:06:22 UTC

Stranger Things is a show that one could argue is loved by everyone. This show debuted in 2016, and was one of its kind. The show fits into the science fiction/fantasy genre, and follows a group of young boys as they try to locate their missing friend. The show is set in the 80s and manages to capture the quintessential elements of the decade, while also remaining diverse and culturally respectful. The show features extremely heavy special effects and editing. Despite the genre, setting, and editing of the show, so many people connect to the humor, romance and emotion portrayed between all the characters and plotlines.