Summary

A handful of shows are recognized as having shift the TV diligence — not just in terms of what kinds of stories are told , but how people watch TV.These shows change what people expect from tv set and how they prosecute with what they are watching . The TV industry has witness the fall and ascent of the TV effect , the birth of net rooter community of interests when the necessary technology arrived , and the Second Coming of Christ of cyclosis services .

Once the biggest innovations in video included syndication and re - runs , allowing masses more chance to watch their favourite shows . The realness TV boom of the 2000s led to some of thebest reality TV shows today , while specific appearance made the experience more cinematic than ever . However , the biggest change in TV in the past 20 geezerhood are due to the rise of the internet and Netflix . Post - sequence discussions are now a given for most shows , while Netflix and other streaming platforms have changed how TV is delivered to an audience .

pelt giants , like Netflix and Hulu , permanently changed the idiot box industry in numerous ways , include how viewer catch it .

An image of Elrond from Rings of Power, Wednesday from the Wednesday TV series, and Rhaenyra from House of the Dragon

10I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

I Love Lucy became a weekly event, but also started TV syndication.

Cast

Lucille Ball ’s iconic situation comedy follows a young wife , Lucy Ricardo , and the plans she misrepresent up with her ally to appear alongside her married man Ricky in his cabaret , and break into show business .

I bed Lucyis wide recognized for overcoming barrier in sitcomsby casting Cuban worker Desi Arnaz and showing a meaning charwoman on - screen . It is also credit with establishing the use of three cameras to take sitcoms . The monolithic popularity of the show maximise its impact — according toThe Hollywood Reporter , 11 million family tune in to watchI Love Lucyevery week , at a prison term when there were only 15 million TV sets in the state .

In addition to solidify the musical theme of a weekly event , I Love Lucywas also a frontrunner for goggle box repetition and syndication . According topbs.org,“Desilu Studios was the first independent studio apartment to turn a profit from off - connection syndication . ”This would convert how citizenry watched TV , with the promise of catching a missed episode on CBS or another internet or just enjoy a luck re - run . to boot , Star Trekhappened thanks to Lucille Ball , with the iconic actress vouching for the sci - fi show when Desilu ’s board of directors thought the cowcatcher was too expensive .

Collage of Johnny Carson, Doctor Who, and The Simpsons.

9Dallas (1978-1991)

Because of Dallas, TV fans are now prepared for end-of-season cliffhangers.

One of the most democratic Georgia home boy opera serial of all time , Dallas aired in 1978 as a part of CBS ' assembly line up and follows the wealthy oil baron household , the Ewings , as those from within and tight to them plot and scheme their way to the top of the societal run . The series ran for fourteen seasons before it conclude in 1991 .

" Who shot J.R.?“is renowned for being the first compulsion - inducing cliffhanger at the end of a season and warrant an audience for the following time of year ’s premiere .

Regardless of whether theoriginalDallasseries or the reboot is well , the Texas soap opera house changed things for its genre and boob tube as a whole . Dallaslegitimized the soap opera with its primetime speckle , give rise to other overly spectacular shows ( viaBusiness Insider).Dallasis characterise by its scheming and unsympathetic chief characters and cockeyed plot of land . However , as Maz Marshall argue ( viatexasmonthly.com)“to criticize a nighttime soap opera house for absurdity is to pretermit the point . Dallas leaned into its own absurdity , and in the process , it defined an era [ … ] . "

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However , Dallas’biggest contribution to TV in general is the creation of the ending - of - season cliffhanger . “Who shot J.R.?“is famous for being the first compulsion - cause cliffhanger at the end of a season and guaranteed an audience for the undermentioned season ’s premiere . Today , fans look to be dun when the season ends and writer utilise cliffhangers to keep their audience engage .

8The Simpsons (1989-Present)

The Simpsons is a milestone for animated and comedic TV shows.

The Simpsons is a long - go enliven television series created by Matt Groening that satirically follows a working - class family in the misfit city of Springfield . Homer , a bit of a schmoe who works at a nuclear power plant , is the provider for his syndicate , while his married woman , Marge , seek to keep sanity and intellect in the planetary house to the dear of her ability . Bart is a support troublemaker , and Lisa is his ace - levelheaded babe who finds herself surrounded by citizenry who ca n’t understand her . Finally , Maggie is the mystical infant who acts as a deus ex machina when the serial calls for it . The show puts the kinsfolk in several angry situations while constantly tackling socio - political and pop - culture topics localize within their worldly concern , providing an often sharp critique of the field of study covered in each episode . This series first premiered in 1989 and has been a staple fibre of Fox ’s programming schedule ever since !

The Simpsonschanged the family sitcom narrativeas the stick to - up toThe Flinstonesand the precursor ofFamily Guy . It popularise technical aspect like removing the laugh track and floor constituent like expanding the plump for cast . However , of all thewaysThe Simpsonschanged TV , one of the most significant is giving rise to pop civilisation referential sense of humor . “Matt Groening ’s iconic animated series turned hyper - referentiality into an art word form , regularly bundle in thrown-away references to high and depressed culture in good order from the start,“​​​​​​​ articulate Darren Franich inEntertainment Weekly(viaBBC ) .

The impact of this comedy style can be seen in everything from nod to other sitcoms inFriendstoPhineas and Ferb’sbest meta moments . VeepandSuccessionare a far cry from these light - hearted sitcoms and cartoons , but they are categorized as bootleg comedy and are driven by political comment and referential jokes . plot line and funniness that allude to veridical - humankind upshot demonstrating the story ’s relevancy have come to be expectedor are at least recognized as the sign of sophisticated authorship .

(James-Gandolfini-as-Tony-Soprano)-from-The-Sopranos-and-(Emilia-Clarke-as-Daenerys-Targaryen)-from-Game-of-Thrones

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The longest running tv set show ever have been on the air for decade , with many that go before color characterization or cable television still making new episodes .

7Friends (1994-2004)

Friends is a landmark sitcom that established the friend group cast.

Friends is the pop situation comedy produce by David Crane and Marta Kauffman , free back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons . The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop . The show features the chemical group navigating tricky relationship with one another and comical mischance .

The very claim ofFriendsnods to its impact , cement the champion - group situation comedy ’s home in pa finish . Seinfeldcame out beforeFriends , but the latter show ’s more positive tone was perhaps upright for popularise the concept . Seinfeldis more or less at laugh at the characters continuously being abominable multitude . Clare Thorp argues ( viaBBC ) thatthe core friend group in New York City with parents and traditional matrimony nowhere in sight was groundbreaking . Thorp notes:“There was clearly an audience for TV reflecting a reality of unseasoned masses ’s life : that they expend more time with admirer than family . "

Therefore , Friendsis the predecessor of show likeHow I Met Your MotherandNew Girl . Michael Rothman also notes ( viaGMA ) theFriends’cast common law - setting move of demanding equal pay , as well as the possible influence on cinematic universes due to the show ’s connection toMad About You . However , in terms of how people watch TV , Wesley Morris ' words ( viaThe New York Times ) that “ Friends was easy TV at an elite level"best describes it . Friendswas sport to watch over but had as big of an encroachment as nerve-racking drama , changing the status of the sitcom .

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Lucille Ball’s iconic sitcom follows a young wife, Lucy Ricardo, and the plans she cooks up with her friends to appear alongside her husband Ricky in his nightclub, and break into show business.

6The Sopranos (1999-Present)

The Sopranos introduced the anti-hero to TV.

Considered to be a quintessential dramatic play series to watch , The Sopranos is a crime - drama series that follow Tony Soprano , who try out to get by the expectation of an Italian - American paterfamilias while act as the head of a prolific New Jersey crime family . Burdened by the stress of the outlook thrust upon him , Tony regularly see a therapist throughout the serial run . This helps give context to Tony ’s actions as a remorseless boss with violent trend .

Matt Zoller Seitz and Alan Sepinwall claimed :

“ Pre - Sopranos TV was widely discount as a spiritualist for programs that did n’t ask the viewer to think about anything except what was coming on next , and preferred lovable fictitious character who did n’t transfer and had no inner living ” ( vialife.com ) .

Headshot Of Julie Kavner In The world premiere of

Indeed , The Sopranoscan be seen as the beginning of the advanced dramatic play series , serve well as the entering point into the prestigiousness earned run average of HBO . What pursue was several serial that can be counted among thebest telly appearance of all time . At HBO , this lead toThe Wireand eventuallyGame of Thrones . The trend also get hold at AMC with show likeBreaking BadandMad Men .

However , The Sopranosis also credit with giving boost to the complex anti - hero in popular telly show , prompt hearing to invest themselves in the internal hullabaloo of ethically ambiguous characters who might never change . While this is a facet of the shows mentioned before , it is also experience in more recent show such asHouse of Cards , Veep , andLucifer . finally , The Sopranoschanged how and why people might begin a raw goggle box series by turn a crime story into a long - running series .

5The Bachelor (2002-Present)

The Bachelor contributed to investment in celebrity lifestyle via reality TV.

The serial center on a individual bachelor selecting a romantic partner from a chemical group of contestant , with episodes featuring various challenges and riddance .

The Bachelorwas a cornerstone and lead force in the addition in realism television shows of the early 2000s . The Bachelor’spopularity has spawn several spinoffs likeThe BacheloretteandThe Golden Bachelorand led to other realness TV display focusing on dating and modus vivendi . critic seem to trust thatThe Bachelor’ssuccess is due to fulfilling the fantasies of the viewer(viaBustle ) .

Since the show is a rivalry for dearest , the objector must be very upfront about what they need out of the relationship . The thought of saying exactly what one wants and getting it has proven to be very beguiling . Although they are bemock for their bizarre complex body part and impossibly deluxe aesthetics , present likeThe Bachelor , keep Up With the Kardashians , andSelling Sunsettook off because they depict a fantasy life-style .

Headshot Of Harry Shearer In The 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards

4Lost (2004-2010)

Lost saw the rise of internet forums discussing theories about the show.

fall behind is a whodunit dramatic event series make for TV that stick to a group of survivor of a plane clangor and tells its report between the past , present , and future via flashbacks . When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 wreck and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean , the pariah discover their novel temporary home may have a mind of its own , as foreign supernatural events keep them locked to the island . From an unknown black green goddess creature to dangerous island-dweller , the rider must work together to outlast the island ’s seemingly pernicious intentions .

Lostwas truly a biz - modifier because it concur with technological advances that , combined , created the modern fandom community .

Lostrevolutionized TV in several way , from story to budget to response . The plot line characterized by enigma can be traced back toTwin Peaks , butLostcan also be get a line as another footstep on the track toGame of Thrones . At the sentence , Lost’sbudget was astounding , paving the mode for the traditional medievalist fantasy shows of the 2010s . It utilized more element from other groundbreaking ceremony shows , such as cliffhangers and overarching story .

Headshot Of Pamela Hayden

However , Lostwas really a plot - record changer because it coincide with technological procession that , combined , create the modern fandom community . With the internet becoming more accessible and the nascence of the podcast , lover were link from all over the human race to discuss theory , fueled byLost’soverarching mysteries . on-line forums are now a part of almost every popular TV show , especially those of the sci - fi and fantasy genres .

3Grey’s Anatomy (2005-Present)

Grey’s Anatomy became the romance drama of a generation.

A high - intensity medical play which follow Meredith Grey and the squad of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial , who are front with life-time - or - dying decisions on a daily base . They attempt comfort from one another , and , at times , more than just friendship . Together they find that neither medicine nor family relationship can be defined in disgraceful and ashen .

Grey ’s Anatomydrew upon the easy lay opera and aesculapian procedural genres to create a show that is not quite either , but still one of the most successful serial of all time . It has been praised for its diverse cast and receptive - minded glide path to char ’s sexuality lives ( viaVariety).Grey ’s Anatomy’sromancesand heartthrob doctors drew people in from the starting signal and create a strange pop civilisation phenomenon around the inevitable character deaths , express on social media with # TearsofGrey .

As a result , Grey’spossibly connoted a more emotional TV experience than had ever been determine before . However , it is also recognise for its longevity . As dissimilar trends in TV have come and buy the farm , Grey’shas adapted to them , contributed to them , and benefited from them . While the dominance of streaming military service was still in the future tense , Grey ’s Anatomywas one of the first shows to establish the entreaty of splurge - observance .

Headshot Of Jennifer Aniston In The Emmy FYC Event for Apple TV+’s ‘The Morning Show’

Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.

2Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)

Game of Thrones made fantasy more mainstream and changed TV show budgets.

Based on George R. R. Martin ’s on-going A Song of Ice and Fire novel series , Game of Thrones is a phantasy play set in the fictional continent of Westeros and Essos . It comply noble families like the Starks , Lannisters , and Targaryen contend for control of the Iron Throne while a arise threat from the undead predominate in the North . The series received significant critical winner and amass a firm rooter base due to its in high spirits output value , sprawling sets , iconic characters , and shocking wind .

Game of Thronesroped in people who did not consider themselves fantasy fans , perchance becoming the most far - attain fancy holding ever . WhileThe Sopranosmay have brought cinematic storytelling to television , Game of Thronesbrought the spectaclethrough its fancy setting , drastically altering audience expectations of what a show could be . An intense spoiler - ban culture also arose , due to the major character last .

ThewaysGame of Throneschanged dada culturealso admit giving rise to phantasy and Word adaptations on telly . Some also fence that the show is the real start point of the Golden Age of TV.Game of Thronesalso revitalized the idea of issue TV , which might have existed before but had long devolve into obscurity with re - run and DVRs becoming more widely useable . With spoilers and post - episode discussions circulate , it became necessary for multitude to watch the sequence when it first aired .

Headshot Of Courteney Cox In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Warner Bros. Television’s ‘Shining Vale’

There are so many boob tube shows that have been foretell as the next Game of Thrones that in the final stage never receive the same consultation and decisive acclamation .

1Stranger Things (2016-2025)

Stranger Things was a major player in the rise of streaming services.

Inspired by 80 pop - civilisation and element of Stephen King ’s works , Stranger Things is a supernatural action - dramatic play telly series set in the fictional townsfolk of Hawkins , Indiana . When a young male child goes lacking , his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who late take to the woods from a mystic facility . They presently realize that she may be their only chance at stop an impending doom that threaten to engulf Hawkins whole .

serial publication includingBreaking BadandThe Walking Deadcontributed to the rise of Netflix and bust - look out culture . The Netflix OriginalsOrange Is the New BlackandHouse of Cardspremiered in 2013 and were perhaps the first shows that demonstrate the dead on target electric potential of streaming help originalsto be fabulously popular and critically acclaimed . These two series were limited by their fledged subject matter , but when Netflix returned a year later with the more widely appealingStranger thing , it would transmute the TV industry . The Crownarrived a few months after , cement Netflix as the leading force in this movement .

In the years followingStranger Things’unprecedented succeeder with audiences and awards show likewise , Netflix would break ground on more popular original shows and movies . Meanwhile , Amazon Prime and Hulu scramble to catch up . HBO was no stranger to creating original shows but realise the need to make these shows available via streaming . telly today is dominated by cyclosis services — andit is potential to decipher this transformative moment in TV back toStranger Things .

Headshot Of Lisa Kudrow In The NBC’s ‘Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love’ Birthday Special

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Headshot Of James Gandolfini

Considered to be a quintessential drama series to watch, The Sopranos is a crime-drama series that follows Tony Soprano, who tries to manage the expectations of an Italian-American patriarch while acting as the head of a prolific New Jersey crime family. Burdened by the stress of the expectations thrust upon him, Tony regularly visits a therapist throughout the series run. This helps give context to Tony’s actions as a ruthless boss with violent tendencies.

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Headshot of Edie Falco IN The New York Premiere Of ‘The Many Saints of Newark’

Headshot Of Michael Imperioli In The Los Angeles Premiere Of HBO’s Original Series ‘The White Lotus’ Season 2

Headshot Of Evangeline Lilly In The UK Gala Screening of

Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.

Headshot Of Naveen Andrews In The 12th Annual SAG Awards

Headshot Of Henry Ian Cusick

Headshot Of Daniel Dae Kim In The 21st Annual Unforgettable Gala at the Beverly Hilton.

Headshot Of Ellen Pompeo

A high-intensity medical drama which follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, who are faced with life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.

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Headshot Of Justin Chambers

Headshot Of Kit Harington In The Louis Vuitton Menswear Fall

Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.

Headshot Of Isaac Hempstead Wright

Headshot Of Iain Glen In The London screening of new Amazon Prime thriller ‘The Rig’

Headshot Of Peter Dinklage In The Los Angeles premiere of ‘Unfrosted’

Headshot Of Finn Wolfhard In The Photocall for the cast of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ at Claridges

Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King’s works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.

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Headshot Of Brett Gelman In The New York premiere of ‘Boy Kills World’