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1. “The Texaco Star Theater” (1948 to 1953). Mr. Television -- Milton Berle -- proved that television was more than a toy and a passing fad. 2. “I Love Lucy” (1951 to 1957): Began the family sitcom as we know it, and introduced a number of television techniques and conventions that are still in use today. 3. “Guiding Light” (1952 to present): Proved that the radio serial could make it on television, and introduced soap traditions that greatly affected not only daytime television but prime time as well. 4. “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” (1962 to 1992): In a medium where comics were thought to have a short shelf life, Carson lasted 30 years, emerged as one of America’s most important political commentators, and introduced some of the best stand-up comics in the country. 5. “60 Minutes” (1968 to present): Adapted the documentary format, and proved that non-fiction programming could be riveting, powerful, and profitable. 6. “Sesame Street” (1969 to present): Invented children’s television as we know it, teaching kids by using the same techniques Madison Avenue had developed to hook them. 7. “Donahue” (1970-1996): Opened the nation’s closet, bringing taboo subjects and audience participation, to the Television talk show -- with consequences both good and bad. 8. “All in the Family” (1971 to 1979): Norman Lear’s groundbreaking and enormously popular comedy brought realism, a bigoted lead character, and controversial issues to prime-time entertainment, proving that America would embrace grown-up humor. Its repercussions are still being felt. 9. “Saturday Night Live” (1975 to present): Introduced a whole new sarcastic and iconoclastic type of humor to television, and proved that there was life in the Saturday-night dead zone. 10.
“Hill Street Blues” (1981 to
1987): Revolutionized the hour-long drama, introducing large ensemble casts, multiple story lines, blending of humor with tragedy. The Top 10 Moments in TV’s History l. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and funeral (Nov. 22-25, 1963): The images, including those of JFK Jr., saluting his father’s coffin, were searing, and brought a grieving nation together. 2. Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon (July 20, 1969): Unforgettable television, a moment that had seemed impossible less than a decade before. 3. The “Who Shot J.R.?” episode of “Dallas” (March 21, 1980): Who was the unseen gunman who’d pumped two slugs into J.R. Ewing, and started an international obsession, at the end of the show’s second season? 4. The final episode of “M*A*S*H” (Feb. 28, 1983): The special,“Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen,” remains the most widely watched television program of all time. 5. The Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan (Feb. 9, 1964): The Fab Four took America by storm, started a cultural and musical revolution, and gained overnight fame, with that unforgettable appearance. 6. “Roots” (January, 1977): Over eight nights, this 12-hour saga about slavery, based on Alex Haley’s book, drew an estimated 130 million viewers. 7. Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now” on Sen. Joseph McCarthy (March 9 1954): Murrow’s courageous program contributed to the toppling of McCarthy, and the end of a frightening era. 8. The Challenger explosion (Jan. 28, 1986): Many television viewers saw this tragedy live, but even after endless replays, it was horrifying and never to be forgotten. 9. “The Puppy Episode” of “Ellen” (April 30, 1997): Ellen DeGeneres came out of the closet on her show, after having come out on the cover of Time magazine. 10. The O.J. Bronco chase (June 17, 1994): Live television brought us a real-life sequence, involving a sports hero turned accused murderer, that seemed as if it belonged in a drama series. It was a surrealistic, once-in-a-lifetime moment.
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