Socially Significant Television

We all know the place in pop culture history occupied by shows like That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, and All in the Family. Which shows from the 1980s to today do you consider socially significant, and why?

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Permalink Reply by wowwee123 on May 1, 2008 at 1:38pm: Seinfeld. Comedic look @ life.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on May 1, 2008 at 2:31pm: Oddly enough, I think the reality programming that started several years ago (Survivor, game shows, American Idol, etc.) will prove to be fairly socially significant, but not for the same reasons as the ones the OP mentions above. Reality TV seems to have come from the anti-TV movement that rebelled against sit-coms and dramas that had been the staples for several decades. I also think the maturing of Gen-X and Gen-Y has had something to do with the proliferation of reality programming (i.e. MTV, Youtube, gaming). But, of course, as all genres, reality TV will one day be a thing of the past.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by wowwee123 on May 1, 2008 at 2:57pm: OP = other person?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on May 1, 2008 at 3:15pm: sorry... OP = original poster; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by eviltimes on May 1, 2008 at 4:21pm: Reality TV flourishes because it is very cheap to make.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on May 1, 2008 at 8:50pm: Reality TV flourishes because it is very cheap to make.
That is very true, but I don't think they'd continue to make it if people didn't watch it by the millions. Cheap to make doesn't necessarily translate to popular.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Whatchawatchin on May 1, 2008 at 10:39pm: It'll really be socially significant when they start using it to identify the taste challenged a'la Gattaca. Do you watch Fear Factor? Here's your helmet!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cat G on May 2, 2008 at 3:18am: THE SOONER THE BETTER!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Josh Hitch on May 1, 2008 at 3:06pm: The Cosby Show. It was a racial pioneer in that it starred a black family and then steadfastly ignored the concept of race, at least for the most part. It was a show about people, not a show about people who were different and funny because they were black. A significant step for television, which often feels the need to essentiallize people and characters.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kaotikitty on May 1, 2008 at 4:58pm: Nice call Josh! I agree with your opinion.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Secret Agent Gal on May 1, 2008 at 3:16pm: For the 1980's:

The Golden Girls challenged stereotypes and showed the positive and negative side of growing older.

The Cosby Show challenged stereotypes about African American families.

If you want to look at the 1990's .... My fave series is Frasier. A hilarious, witty, thoughtful look at relationships and "psychological problems." Just loved this show (except for the last season and a half, where it went downhill!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mort in Detroit on May 1, 2008 at 10:07pm: Golden Girls was a great show. I only hope that I can find a Rose, Dorothy and Sophia to share a house in Miami when I retire--which at my current savings rate should be some time around 2274.

I (big puffy heart) Bill Cosby and everything I've seen him do, from comedy to the films with Sidney Poitier to the Cosby Show.; ▶ Reply to This