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Variety, 'the bible of show business', in honor of the Emmys , picked 25
shows that they thought changed the small screen. In some cases I agree
and others I disagree, starting with their first choice of "The Ed
Sullivan Show". There is no history of television without Milton Berle's
"The Texaco Star Theatre". On Tuesday evenings at 8 PM The United
States of America stopped whatever they were doing to get near a TV to
watch this show. It is said that he sold more television sets than any
other entertainer.
My
generation was brought up on Hollywood films and happily ever after
but we were there from the beginning of TV. In chronological order
Variety picked:
"The
Ed Sullivan Show" which ran for 23 years on Sunday night. Ed was a
columnist who was stone faced and lacked personality but he brought
vaudeville to the small screen with guests pleasing a wide variety of
people.
"Your
Show of Shows"--1950-1954--featured the creme of comedic players
including Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris.
1951-1957--What is there left to say about "I Love Lucy" that hasn't been said before?
"Gunsmoke"--1955-1975--I am one of the few who never saw this show--anyone want to comment on it?
"Playhouse
60"--1956=1960--I never missed this show--Great writers, stars and
directors brought the best of theater to television--plays, like "The
Miracle Worker" became stage and screen classics.
"The
Johnny Carson Show"--1962-1992--I disagree with Variety on this as they
give Carson credit for the late show hosts of today but if it wasn't
for Jack Paar and Steve Allan he would have remained unknown.
"I
Spy"--1965-1968--Known mainly for the 'ground breaking ' casting of an
African-American actor in a lead dramatic role. Years later Bill Cosby
would change TV again with "The Bill Cosby Show".
"The
Carol Burnett Show"--1967-1978--just say "Went With The Wind" and
anyone who watched the show will crack up laughing. Carol shared the
stage with 4 funny clowns; Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Lyle Wagnor and
Vickie Lawrence and the laughs never stopped!
"60 Minutes"---1968-present introduced the television magazine
"Monday Night Football"--1970-present--it was love or hate the men in the booth and football became FOOTBALL!
"All
In The Family"--1971-1979--32 years later it is still shocking people
and making them laugh uncontrollable on TVLAND cable--and I watch it every day--there is only one
Archie Bunker!
"Saturday Night Live"--1975-present--good years, bad years, but has made household names of many in the casts over the years.
"Roots"--1977--for 8 consecutive nights held the nation spellbound.
"Hill Street Blues"--1981-1987--winner of 21 Emmy awards for bringing maturity, adult themes to television drama.
"The Cosby Show"--1984-1992--changed the 'look' of television and sitcoms
"Seinfeld"--1989-1998--though about nothing people loved it--not me.
"The Simpsons"--1989-present--shamefully I say I have never seen an episode.
"Law & Order"--1990-2010--a favorite of mine that I still watch reruns on TNT and USA
"The
Civil War"--1990--Ken Burns turned living rooms into history
classes--it made documentaries an important part of TV viewing.
"The Real World"--1992-present--for good or bad, in this case good, brought reality shows to television.
"The Wire"--20023-2008--didn't have HBO then so I missed this one--I keep on hoping for a repeat but HBO seldom does repeats.
"American Idol"--2002-present--I was a fan and now I just watch the last 3 episodes of the season.
"Mad Men"--2007-present--still haven't seen an episode.
ANY
YOU THINK VARIETY MISSED--REMEMBER NOT JUST GOOD SHOWS BUT THOSE THAT
CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF TV--I WOULD SAY "DEXTER" BELONGS ON THE LIST.
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"The best way to cheer yourself up
is to cheer someone else up."
Mark Twaid, 1835-1910 American Writer and Humorist
