Television has evolved decade after decade and is nothing like it was when syndication first began. Not only are they visually different, but even the way viewers interact with the show has been influenced by extremely popular and influential episodes like the ones below.
Whether it was narrative structure, social commentary or fan interaction, each one made an impact and left a lasting mark on television as an art form.
twilight saga (1959-1964)
It seems appropriate to start with one of the most influential shows in television history, so here’s the thing: The Rod Serling-created series popularized the anthology television show format – its presentation of speculative fiction and its take on real-life issues. Do it with thinly veiled comments. From horror to science fiction to outright spiritual fantasy, each story in the show transcends genre and begins to tell a story about people and society, just like several shows starting in the 1960s.
The Simpsons (1989—)
If there’s any show that can convince TV networks that animation isn’t just for kids, it’s this The Simpsons— a nuclear family situation comedy (literally) that brings mature storytelling to mainstream animation. It also popularized another common trend in modern comedy television: Halloween specials. “Treehouse of Horror” uses spooky interludes to whet people’s thirst for something more suitable for the mood in late October.
The X-Files (1993-2018)
Speaking of all things creepy, procedural police show has it all in The X-Files. Not to mention the obvious “Scully Effect,” where seeing a female star take on a science role gave girls across America a similar boost, and the show championed the “arcs and plots” of such shows The series structure, which combines “Monster of the Week” episodes with more big projects, requires a few follow-up episodes from Agent Scully and Agent Mulder.
i love lucy (1951-1957)
Lucille Ball’s famous sitcom introduced the three-camera setup with a live audience and brought many other firsts to television, including mainstream depictions of pregnancy. The show also focused its attention and narrative agency on the woman in the married couple rather than the man, making the series unexpected and refreshing from other situation comedies of its time.
Ball is also the first woman to become the head of a major television studio, thanks to the success of a show she co-created and stars in with her real-life husband and costar Desi Arnaz.
yes (1994-2009)
Paving the way for other powerful examples such as electric wireone show that truly provided an authentic depiction of dramatic content that pushed the boundaries of mainstream television and captivated audiences. yesa jargon-filled and never-silly medical drama from jurassic park Author Michael Crichton takes carefully calculated risks in a domain-specific context, using clever and nuanced language, to create realism on television on an unprecedented scale.
game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Fantasy TV makes its biggest attempt yet game of Thrones premiered on HBO—but that’s not the show’s only contribution. Led by writer George R.R. Martin, the studio used his unfinished series A Song of Ice and Fire fostering a dark and compelling tradition rarely seen in narrative television until this point: killing off the protagonist. Just like Martin did in his books, the series took no prisoners and promised no one safety until the writers took their own direction and really departed from the show and the spirit of the series in its final seasons.
stranger things (2016—)
Like standing on the shoulders of giants house of cardsperhaps it is easy to understand why this social giant stranger things What really put streaming web studios on the map. It wasn’t the first show to succeed in this new format, but it was one that set the zeitgeist. when stranger things As this trend emerged, everyone realized that original series from streaming networks could be truly impactful, popular, and engaging.
office (2005-2013)
very similar stranger thingsThis sitcom mockumentary isn’t the first of its kind, or even the first. It begins as an American love letter to the original series titled office The show, which aired in the UK and starred Michael Scott as Dunder Mifflin’s bumbling manager, gave the mockumentary style an irrevocable foothold in modern television lineups.
Read more: Haha, yada yada: The golden age of American sitcoms
lost (2004-2010)
Fandoms have existed online before lost happened, but they weren’t involved in active storytelling in such a grand way until this show aired. In addition to pioneering film budgets in television (making it possible to pursue shows such as this) breaking Bad and game of Thrones Later reaching even greater heights), the series captivated fans and online forums in a way that television storytelling had never succeeded before.
friends (1994-2004)
previous situation comedy friends Tends to look for a central character, a name (cough, seinfeld) is marked as a designated person of interest. Setting the tone for many to follow, in Multiple Shots friends is the iconic ensemble situation comedy, applying its now popular tradition to such what do we do in the shadows or how I Met Your Mother.
buffy the vampire slayer (1993-2003)
The granddaddy of teen supernatural television and “conventional television” buffy does more than introduce supernaturalism and cheesy quips to a young audience. From the show’s timely and effective introduction of a long-term romantic relationship between two women to its focus on season-long storylines following “Big Bad,” shows like L word, smallvilleand supernatural Success is attributed to BuffyAbility to pave the way in multiple storytelling aspects.
Star Wars: The Original Series (1966-1969)
No one can talk about innovative television without mentioning StarCraft. Featuring a dedicated cast that traveled through space, the sci-fi series depicted a future where humanity was very united and even showed audiences the first interracial kiss on American television in the 1960s.
Issues about politics, race, gender and religion are all present in this show to make contemporary commentary and challenge today’s audiences. StarCraftNarrative choices over the years have paved the way for nearly every modern television show designed to make viewers think.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Create a drama show where the main character is not a good guy, Montenegro family Television is popular for more than one reason. In addition to popularizing TV anti-heroes, they gave film and TV a run for their money, showing what high-quality television could and should look like. Following this, a profound crime drama fascination emerged in modern dramas, making breaking Bad, electric wireand seaside empire This is just a small part of a series that owes its existence to being the first cable TV series to win an Emmy since Tony Soprano of “Making Man.”
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Looking back at these shows, it’s obvious that there are others that fit the description, but we wanted to point out which ones were critical to the industry. Some groundbreaking programs offer examples of success – after all, there have been mockumentaries before office— but it was the series’ popularity that created a real pathway for more of its kind to become mainstays of modern television.
But there are still true pioneers in genre or production. With that in mind, scroll through these scripts to see a wealth of work that made entertainment history.
Read more: Why The Sopranos, The Wire, and Mad Men Are Three of the Best TV Shows of All Time
