Time Magazine chose the most influential TV Show of each decade for the past 50 years (American TV). Here are their picks, what do you think?????



1950's - I love Lucy

1960's - Seasme Street

1970's - The Mary Tyler Moore show

1980's - The Cosby Show

1990's - Beavis & Buthead

2000's - Survivor

kpowers said:

I might have to change The Simpsons for 90's, or possibly Seinfeld.

Actually Survivor could be nixed and add The Real World to the 90's.

beavis & butthead over seinfeld or even roseanne? really? huh.

NDRU said:

Perhaps, but Survivor is when the major networks saw reality shows could get big ratings and copied it ad nauseam. The Real World was on for eight years before reality TV really caught fire.

NDRU said:

I agree Senfield for the 90's. I don't know if they didn't choose the Simpsons since it started in the late 80's.

Pure piffle.

The Sopranos belongs in at least the 90's
there would be no Rescue Me or The Shield
amongst others...it's an iconic show

sextonseven said:

True, Survivor lit the fire. I guess I feel the Real World doesn't get enough credit (or blame!)

JAMIESTARR said:

Yeah the Sopranos shifted attention away from networks and onto cable TV shows. Aside from simply being a great show.

Here's a better question to ask, IMHO:

IS THERE ANY ACTOR THAT HAS INFLUENCED POP CULTURE MORE THAN JOHN TRAVOLTA?

If you're under 40, you might not appreciate what John Travolta did. But let me recap:

1. He completely changed the way we danced and dressed with "Saturday Night Fever". Also, his movie changed our musical tastes.

2. A few years later, he completely changed the way we danced and dressed AGAIN with "Urban Cowboy".

Both these movies brought forth a style that permeated the American fabric and hung around for decades. Indeed, disco and country/western are STILL dominant cultures in America and owe much of that fact to John Travolta's movies.

Can anyone think of an actor that has changed American culture so dramatically even once? To think that Travolta has done it twice puts him at the top of the list, IMHO.

RodeoSchro said:

START YOUR OWN JOHN TRAVOLTA THREAD.

Would choose Star Trek for the 60's.

kpowers said:

Sorry, this is my first hijack.




How am I doing?

Without Twin Peaks we would have no Lost, Northern Exposure, X-Files and numerous others...

far more deserving.

sosgemini said:

I was just watching Inland Empire & wondering how in the world David Lynch ever got a TV show!

Sometimes TV amazes me by making a daring & creative move.

sosgemini said:

twin peaks was way ahead of its time.

The list aint complete 'til this is on it...




[Edited 10/11/07 13:26pm]

roodboi said:

LORD! I used to watch that as a kid!!!

kpowers said:

Ahhh..Survivor!

Sowhat said:

Be afraid, be very afraid

PaisleyPark5083 said:

Since the Real World basically set the stage for all these reality shows...I would definitely pick Real World over Survivor as "Most Influential" (as opposed to "most popular").

I would pick Friends or Sex and the City as most "influential" for the 90's.

sosgemini said:

But it was on for such a small period in TV history, that it's impact was really only on cult TV.

I would say LOST is sort of influential in that it's uppped the ante for good TV (regardless of what you think of the show, it's influenced a lot of other TV shows and the industry as a whole), however, the fact that it follows the success of Survivor, I suppose makes Survivor more influential.

Though there is American Idol which is a force upon itself and the music industry.

I'd say the issue I have with this list is that there ARE many other shows that have had just as much impact as those mentioned...

Simpsons
Seinfeld
Rosanne
Star Trek (original and Next Gen)
Twin Peaks
Friends
ER
Law and Order

to name a few...