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 Pihk on May 2, 2008 at 7:05pm: anyone who thinks mainstream news doesn't have an agenda.

Are there actually people who think it doesn't?!?!?

If anyone still gets their news only from the TV, please just let me shoot you now. It'll be quick and you'll be better for it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BeachBum on May 3, 2008 at 7:40am: The Wonder Years (1988 - 1993)
A not-so-standard coming of age show that offend delved into areas that were once again, not previously thought to be so TV friendly.

Life Goes On (1989 -1993)
The first show to really socially broadcast living with a developmental disability without being too woried about "political correctness".

Family Guy (1999 - Present)
Goodbye taboo. While it seems that we are always trying to "push the envelope" so to speak, Family Guy has shattered it. The only show to be canceled twice and brought back, Family Guy has tackled just about every possible social issue, many times in a musical (i.e. You Have Aids, The Freakin' FCC and Prom Night Dumpster Baby).

Flavor of Love/ I Love New York/ Rock of Love/ The Bachelor/ The Bachelorette/ Tila Tequilla/ Miss Rap Supreme... (Way to long ago - When will it end)
These are all socially significant, because it proves that armageddon is real and the end of the world is at hand. But at least we know that the second coming will be covered by a reality show.

(A number of shows were on my "list in my head" were omitted because they were previously posted on this forum.); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Whatchawatchin on May 3, 2008 at 4:46pm: Ahhh...BeachBum's post just made me flash on Married With Children, from the glory days when Fox was known for fun, inane drivel. That show was a real first and showed how little people resembled the typical family unit seen on TV, even in sitcoms.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Heliosity on May 3, 2008 at 7:40pm: Hannah Montana

You can't avoid Miley Cyrus in today's culture. references are unavoidable. Bigget selling concert ticket, bar none. Not even network, Not even profane. totally significant.

This is not to say I endorse the perpetuation of Hannah Montana but it's been doing pretty well without my input.

Other significant shows are the Jerry Springers. We all know what they are like and can do impersonations of "guests". Those shows have imprinted themselves on our culture making themselves sigificant.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Whatchawatchin on May 3, 2008 at 7:44pm: Hannah Montana

Suddenly I understand why emo kids want to cut themselves...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by NetflixJunkie on May 3, 2008 at 7:48pm: I watch The Biggest Loser.

Makes me feel so much better about myself.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krissy on May 4, 2008 at 4:38pm: Roseanne. Hilarity without airs -- paved the way for everything from Everybody Loves Raymond to My Name is Earl. Someone kind of just beat me to it, wtih Married with Children, but I feel Roseanne is more meaningful.

Also, My So-Called Life. (Or Wonder Years? I didn't really watch that one, though.)

Perry Mason. Began earlier than you were looking for, but worth a mention. Seems all the police procedurals and law shows everyone loves now are polished updates of Perry Mason/Murder She Wrote/Columbo.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Headcheese on May 4, 2008 at 4:43pm: Good call with Perry Mason.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Evil Herbivore on May 5, 2008 at 6:02pm: Morton Downey Jr. : he launched Jerry Springer, et al

Survivor: coined catch-phrases and played out the onanism of America

MXC: the king of all physical challenge programs

Iron Chef: Cooking as competition

MASH: war in all it's olive-green glory

The Swan: People as play-Doh

X-Files: Post cold-war paranoia, governement conspiracy, mythology, and serialized television altogether in one

Sports Night: Sorkin invents the four-minute-long-steady-cam-conversation

Deadwood: Not your Mom and Dad's western

Sopranos: Never watched it, but it legitimized cable serials; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by horrorfan247 on May 6, 2008 at 8:31pm: i like the facts of life. not sure what year it started. but anyway it delt with some serious topics and didnt sugar coat it. which is what i like. In reality not everything has a happy ending. It delt with a poor kid(jo) going to a prep school and bettering herself, there was an episode where tootie struggeled with a race issue, one episode there was a suicide. To me it was more realistic. It showed the issues the girls faced on a daily basis.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Whatchawatchin on May 6, 2008 at 11:07pm: After school specials. Nah, I kid, those things only appeal to housewives. The kids watch them and think, sweet! I never thought about smuggling booze in my perfume bottle before!

You want significant? Schoolhouse Rock. I'm just a bill, yes I'm only a bill and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill...Conjunction Junction, what's your function? I learned, and remembered, more from those than just about any class I took in school.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JWnPooh on May 7, 2008 at 7:40am: Along those lines Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. I watched them over and over when I was growing up. I believe that is where I actually learned to read at the sweet age of 4.

For some Drama with issues - there was Dallas & Dynasty ... yes I know it was mostly rich people issues, but the family issues like alcholholism, adultry, and abandonment (emotional more so than physical) were relevant here as well; ▶ Reply to This