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Home , 60 Minutes, Adweek, Anthology series, Candid Camera, Columbo, Diahann Carroll

1. The Show (NBC) June 8, 1948 20. (CBS) Oct. 2, 1959 The original “Mr. ,” Milton Berle Sci-fi anthology at its best, with countless began as a rotating host on the Star episodes worth remembering, but never a Theater, which led to a permanent hosting gig. top 20 rated series.

2. The Show (CBS) June 20, 1948 21. (ABC) Sept. 30, 1960 Peaked on Feb. 9, 1964, as over 73 million The first animated series in and viewers tuned in to meet the Beatles. ONE beginning of a huge franchise.

3. (ABC) Aug. 10, 1948 22. The Show (CBS) Oct. 3, This classic hidden-camera chuckler from 1960 Ended its eight-season run as the top is the grandfather of reality TV. A rated series in 1967-68. Spawned spin-offs: young was one of the writers in , U.S.M.C. and R.F.D. later years. HUNDRED 23. The Show (CBS) Oct. 3, 4. Kukla, Fran & Ollie (NBC and ABC) 1961 Almost canceled after one season, co-star Nov. 29, 1948 Shot live, this ad-libbed puppet A VISUAL JOURNEY THROUGH TELEVISION’S MOST INFLUENTIAL SHOWS BY MARC BERMAN created a minor controversy show targeted to children actually became with her Capri pants. appointment television for adult viewers. et’s go back to the very beginning, back to when TV lished to test in the 1930s. CBS and one of the many sci-fi anthology series. News and non-script- fashion, and the networks began to recognize the value of the became an entertainment medium and shows that NBC were granted their commercial television licenses for ed programming like Candid Camera were100 viewing options, demographics with dramas like and St. Else- 24. The Beverly (CBS) Sept. 26, 5. Captain Video and His Video Rangers people wanted to watch and advertisers wanted to be their stations in 1941. There were roughly 7,000 TV too. Still, there was only a handful of options, yet there always where. In the 1990s, NBC’s dominance on Thursday escalated 1962 An immediate sensation, with a No. 1 (DuMont) June 27, 1949 TV’s first sci-fi series associated with were born. Let’s make a list, a big one. sets in American homes in 1945 and regularly scheduled pro- seemed to be something to watch. It was all of America, with , and ER and the network’s mammoth ranking in seasons one and two (and peaking on the long-forgotten DuMont network. in 1963-64, with a 39.1 household rating). Some of these shows topped the rating charts, some gramming began in 1946. before America fragmented. crime franchise Law & Order began. 6. Amos ‘N’ Andy (CBS) June 28, 1951 l didn’t. Many won , and many more were In the early going, favorites like , The Different themes prevailed. The was chock-full of The era of the forensic-based drama began, in 2000 with 25. (ABC) Sept. 17, 1963 First series to be filmed with 35mm cameras. A record 72 percent share of the audience Seen by many as fostering racial stereotypes. escapist fluff. But what they all have in common is some level Honeymooners and come to mind. Variety fantasy series like , and . CSI. HBO was setting the standard for originals with Sex and Variety like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and Westerns were the City and and the reality/competition, cour- tuned into see Richard Kimble catch the of influence on the medium as it evolved into a cultural force was popular, hosted by personalities like Milton Berle, Arthur “One Armed Man” in the . 7. I Love Lucy (CBS) Oct. 15, 1951 and a very big business. Godfrey, and, of course, Ed Sullivan. There were everywhere. With the came gritty sit- tesy of CBS’ Survivor and Fox’s , became sched- More people watched the birth of Little Ricky coms, , Mary Tyler Moore, . The 1980s ule mainstays, as is MTV’s Jersey Shore. 26. Bewitched (ABC) Sept. 17, 1964 Finished on Jan. 19, 1953 (40 million) than the When we think of the beginning, the black-and-white countess Westerns, including and The . come to mind. But the first American television picture to be Quiz shows like The $64,000 Question, Truth or Consequences introduced three very different families: The Huxtables (The What follows are 100 shows worth noting. Beginning with season one second behind with a Eisenhower inauguration the next night. 31.0 household rating. Peaked at a 67.3 rating in season two. broadcast (a weather map from Arlington, Va., to Washington, and What’s My Line seemed ubiquitous. Dragnet was an early Cosby Show), the Ewings () and the still very present The Milton Berle Show in 1948 and ending with The Walking D.C.) was actually in 1926. Experimental stations were estab- pioneer of crime drama storytelling. The Twilight Zone was Simpsons. Also in the decade, injected pastels into Dead on AMC, we have something for everyone. 27. The Munsters (CBS, Sept. 24, 1964) 8. Dragnet (NBC) Jan. 3, 1952 28. The Addams Family (ABC, Sept. 26, “Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are 1964) Debuting just two days apart, both about to hear is true. Only the names have only lasted two initial seasons. been changed to protect the innocent.” 1953: ceremony 1963: All three networks go live for the 1964: See How They Run on NBC is 1954: first color is televised for the first time. first time for news coverage of John F. the first made-for television movie. commercial is telecast. 29. Gilligan’s Island (CBS) Sept. 26, 1964 9. The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet (ABC): Kennedy’s assassination. TV at its dumbest. Who takes clothing Oct. 3, 1952 At 14 seasons, Ozzie & Harriet is and money on a three-hour cruise? the longest-running, live-action scripted in the history of television. 30. I Spy (NBC) Sept. 15, 1965 is the first black actor to have a 10. The Marriage (NBC) July 8, 1954 featured role on a regularly scheduled series. The first network series to be broadcast solely in color was this short-lived sitcom.. 31. Batman (ABC) Jan. 12, 1966 Two weekly episodes each cracked the top 11. Lassie (CBS) Sept. 12, 1954 Second 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 10 in season one (peaking at a 27.0 rating). behind current occupant as the 1940s longest-running Sunday night anchor. 32. The Avengers (ABC) March 28, 1966 The first British TV series to be broadcast 12. Father Knows Best (CBS and NBC) Oct. in prime time by an . 3, 1954 The wholesome antics on TV was any- thing but in real life for (Jim), 33. (NBC) September 8, 1966 Billy Gray (Bud) and Lauren Chapin (Kathy). Countless TV spin-offs and TV’s first interracial kiss. 13. (ABC, CBS and NBC) Oct. 27, 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 1950s 1954 This feel-good anthology started on ABC 34. The Comedy Hour in 1954, moved to NBC, then CBS, and stayed (CBS) Feb. 5, 1967 A victim of network on the air for 29 consecutive seasons. censorship, the variety hour was put out to pasture by CBS when the brothers refused 14. The $64,000 Question (CBS) June 7, to meet the pre-air delivery dates. 1955 An immediate smash hit, with a 47.5 rating in season one. Quiz show scandals led 35. The Show (CBS) Sept. 11, to an early demise in 1958. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 1967 Lasted 11 seasons, peaking in season three with a 22.1 household rating. 15. Gunsmoke (CBS) Sept. 10, 1955 Now tied with Law & Order as the longest, 36. Mission: Impossible (CBS) Sept. 17, scripted drama in the history of television, 1967 “Your mission, should you choose to topping prime-time from 1957 to 1961. accept it . . . ”

16. (CBS) Oct. 1, 1955 37. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC) Jan. Seen initially as a sketch within The Jackie 22, 1968 This frantic mix of comedy skits was Gleason Show (and afterwards as well), only 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. an overnight sensation, peaking at a 31.8 39 episodes were produced. 1970s household rating in season two.

17. Perry Mason (CBS) Sept. 21, 1957 38. Julia (NBC) Sept. 17, 1968 As Nurse Julia Initial run was nine seasons, which led to a Baker, became the first black series of reunion movies and a short-lived female to star in her own comedy. remake in 1973-74. 39. 60 Minutes (CBS) Sept. 24, 1968 18. (CBS and ABC) Oct. 4, The clock keeps ticking on prime time’s 25. 50. 1957 The first series to show a bathroom toi- 21. 22. 23. 24. 46. 47. 48. 49. longest running newsmagazine. let. And then there was, of course, slimy Eddie 1960s Haskell, one of the all-time great TV kids. 40. Marcus Welby, M.D. (ABC) Sept. 23, 1969 1960: The first animated Also in 1960: The presidential debates, A more seasoned Robert Young proved an 19. Bonanza (NBC) Sept. 12, 1959 A 14-season series in prime time. between John Kennedy and , 1967: The first Super Bowl telecast actor could find more than one successful staple, no discussion of the classic are broadcast for the first time. regularly scheduled series role. is complete without the Cartwrights. 6 | ADWEEKEDIA | 3.28.2010 3.28.2011 | ADWEEKMEDIA | 7 41. (ABC) Sept. 26, 1969 A 61. Murder, She Wrote (CBS) Sept. 30, 1984 71. Seinfeld (NBC) May 31, 1990 80. Friends (NBC) Sept. 22, 1994 Cast Three scripted spin-offs, one animated half THE AD GAME HISTORY No matter where went a dead The little show about “nothing” turned into climbed the ladder of success to $1 million they can’t lock in must-have programming. that can cook a whole turkey in two hours. hour, two theatricals, three made-for TV BY ANTHONY CRUPI body miraculously appeared. the center of NBC’s classic Thursday night per episode in the final season. movies and a reality series . . . so far. sitcom lineup. They wind up paying through the nose in Following the tongue-in-cheek placement, 1941 The first U.S. TV advertisement was rated shows, but that all changed in the 62. The Golden (NBC) Sept. 14, 1985 scatter, and for lesser series. viewers are treated to actual :30s for the GE 81. (CBS) Sept. 42. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) Only one of three in which all the lead 72. Law & Order (NBC) Sept. 13, 1990 13, 1996 A top 10 hit, peaking at a 12.8 broadcast on July 1. Bulova paid $9 for a aftermath of the quiz show scandal. The 1992 A bombshell explodes at February’s kitchen gizmo. The 2011 Kabletown merger Sept. 19, 1970 Won a truckload of Emmys, placement on New York’s WNBT before an political fallout allowed the networks to seize actors won Emmy Awards ( Spinoffs to date: SVU, Criminal Intent, spells the end of the recurring gag. household rating in 2001-02. and spun-off , Phyllis and . and Will & Grace are the others). Trial by Jury and Law & Order . ANA Television Forum, when afternoon Dodgers- control of programming from their sponsors. JWT, P&G and Y&R join forces to call for an 2007 Nielsen C3 ratings are adopted as 82. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (WB and UPN) 43. All in the Family (CBS) Jan. 12, 1971 Phillies game. 1962 ABC invents the fall TV season. 63. (ABC) Sept. 22, 1987 One of 73. Beverly Hills, 90210 (Fox) Oct. 4, 1990 end to the upfront marketplace. The roaring the currency, offering a look at viewership March 10, 1997 Central to The WB’s quest to Five consecutive years as the top-rated series, the most successful elements of ABC’s once The second longest running series from reach young female viewers. five spin-offs and the beginning of the 1948 CBS and ABC join NBC in the broad- Needing a ratings boost, the network pre- prosperous T.G.I.F. kidcom block. (behind 7th Heaven). economy had other ideas, as clients invest- data for average commercial ratings in live Norman Lear era of issue-driven comedy. cast biz. The Big Three begin to divide the mieres its new lineup in a one-week period ed nearly $4 billion in TV. programming, plus three days of time-shift- 83. (HBO) June 6, 1998 pie and every spot is sold upfront. Deals for after Labor Day. 64. America’s Most Wanted (Fox) April 10, 74. Home Improvement (ABC) Sept. 17, 1991 1999 TiVo is introduced at the Consumer ed viewing. The new data stream gets mixed One of the few prime-time series to 44. (NBC) Sept. 15, 1971 100 percent of the following season’s inven- 1988 This weekly nationwide manhunt has An eight-season hit for ABC and the top-rated reviews, as some agency heads say C3 is a successfully migrate onto the big screen. The rumpled detective continued on ABC 1967 ABC and American Home Products helped find and put away over 1,000 criminals. sitcom in 1993-94, with a 20.4 rating. Electronics Show. Networks scoff at the high more than a decade after its original run. tory are wrapped by the end of February. negotiate the first CPM pact, which led to price point, not recognizing the threat of half-assed effort. If there is a consensus, it’s 84. The Sopranos (HBO) Jan. 10, 1999 1950 After buying out competitor C.E. the establishment of ratings guarantees. 65. (ABC) Oct. 18, 1988 Finished in 75. The X-Files (Fox) Sept. 10, 1993 generic DVRs coming down the road. that C3 is better than nothing. Mobbed up original hit, peaked at 11.9 million 45. Bar (ABC) June 21, 1972 Hooper, Nielsen begins compiling exclusive the top four through the first six seasons. Conspiracy theories, extraterrestrial life . . . no 2009 In what may have been the most pro- viewers in season six. The first TV series to feature a recurring 1970 The campaign that asked the immor- subject was out of bounds for one of Fox’s 2002 In an unprecedented move, CBS character (played by Vincent Schiavelli). TV ratings data. That year, the most watched tal question, “How many licks does it take to 66. (CBS) Nov. 14, 1988 longest running scripted dramas. sales boss Joe Abruzzese jumps to cable, tracted upfront period in history, networks 85. (NBC) Sept. 22, 1999 program is NBC’s . get to the Tootsie center of a Tootsie Pop?” Made the headlines in 1992 when Vice President accepting the top sales post at Discovery. don’t start doing deals until mid-June, and TV’s most successful politically themed 46. Maude (CBS) Sept. 12, 1972 The first Quayle criticized M.B. for “ignoring the impor- 76. (NBC) Sept. 16, 1993 The longest series and winner of 27 Emmy Awards. Hosted by Milton Berle, the show averages debuts. The original spot and variants of the Abruzzese becomes the first cable sales won’t wrap up until late August. series to show a main character () 6.28 million viewers per night. tance of fathers by birthing a child alone.” running live-action spin-off sitcom and record deciding to have an abortion. same have run on U.S. TV ever since. Emmy winner with 37 in its 11-season run. capo to book $1 billion in annual deals. 2010 This summer marks the first upfront 86. Freaks and Geeks (NBC) Sept. 25, 1999 1951-61 CBS enjoys a decade of ratings 1970-71 The last televised advertisement 67. Life Goes On (ABC) Sept. 12, 1989 2005 Walmart’s Julie Roehm proposes in which cable nets are on even footing with It only aired for 18 episodes. But Judd Apatow’s 47. The Waltons (CBS) Sept. 14, 1972 dominance, as I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke and Two firsts: an actor with Down syndrome in 77. N.Y.P.D. Blue (ABC) Sept. 21, 1993 One the broadcasters, landing $8 billion in early nostalgic tale of high school in the ’80s Facing The Mod Squad and The for a cigarette ran just before viewers a lead role and an HIV-positive character. quarter of the ABC affils preempted the first killing off the upfront with an auction-based remains a cult favorite. Show was considered a death sentence. the $64,000 Question make the Tiffany Net greeted the new year on Jan. 1. The 30-sec- episode of TV’s first R-rated network drama. marketplace, but the idea dies on the vine. 2010-11 commitments. But the feel-good Walton clan prevailed America’s favorite TV destination. 68. Baywatch (NBC) Sept. 22, 1989 87. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC) ond spot for Virginia Slims was broadcast 2006 NBC and General Electric devise 2010 DVRs are now deployed in 40 percent with a nine-season run. 1956 Zenith introduces the “Space on NBC’s . After a one-season run on NBC, enjoyed a 78. Ellen (ABC) March 30, 1994 The first of all U.S. TV households, per Leichtman Jan. 8, 2000 An enormous hit following a 10-year stint in syndication beginning in 1991. series to feature a female character (played what may be the most fiendishly clever summer test, “saved” struggling 48. M*A*S*H (CBS) Sept. 17, 1972 At 11 sea- Command” remote control, freeing 1975 The first major agency sits out the by Ellen DeGeneres) outing herself. product integration in history, as erstwhile Research data. ABC, but four telecasts per week killed the sons on the air, M*A*S*H lasted more than Americans from the tyranny of having to get 1975-76 upfront in protest of double-digit (as 69. (Fox) Dec. 17. 1989 Head of East Coast Television and 2011 With scatter up as much as 40 per- golden goose prematurely. three times as long as the Korean War. An esti- up and manually switch channels. The longest running sitcom in TV history. 79. ER (NBC) Sept. 19, 1994 A top 10 hit for mated 105.9 million viewers saw its finale. much as 25 percent) CPM hikes. J. Walter 10 straight seasons. Peaked in 1995-96 with Microwave Programming Jack Donaghy cent over 2010-11 upfront pricing, ad sales 88. Survivor (CBS) May 31, 2000 1959 like Texaco, Philco, Kraft, Thompson elects to hold out for more rea- 70. America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC) a first-place 22.0 rating. (Alec Baldwin) touts the wonders of the GE chiefs are banking on what should be the One of the most successful competition series, 49. Happy Days (ABC) Jan. 15, 1974 This slice Geritol and Colgate literally owned the top- sonable rates, but its clients get stung when Jan. 14, 1990 Not brain surgery, but one of Trivection Oven, a souped-up microwave most lucrative upfront season in history. with editions 23 and 24 confirmed for 2011-12. of life in the 1950s morphed from a segment TV’s most durable performers. on comedy anthology Love, American Style. 89. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) Oct. 6, 2000 Forensic crime solving is still the 50. Charlie’s Angels (ABC) Sept. 22, 1976 hot ticket thanks to CSI. Two spin-offs to date: An immediate sensation, finishing No. 5 overall CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. in season one with a 25.8 household rating. 90. The Osbournes (MTV) March 5, 2002 51. (ABC) Jan, 23, 1977 Blazed a trail for C-level looking to The most successful in the history have their lives filmed. of television, with nine Emmy Awards and over 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 100 million viewers for the finale. 1980s 91. American Idol (Fox) June 11, 2002 Peaked in 2005-06 with an average 17.6 52. Three’s Company (ABC) March 15, 1977 household rating and still topping the charts, Best known, perhaps, for the abrupt departure no show this long into its run dominates the of . way American Idol does.

53. (ABC) Sept. 24, 1977 92. NCIS (CBS) Sept. 23, 2003 NCIS is Former Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Gavin now the most-watched scripted drama with MacLeod found series success on Saturday for 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. an average 20.1 million viewers. 16 consecutive seasons. 93. (ABC) Sept. 22, 2004 Flight No. 815 54. Dallas (CBS) April 2, 1978 76 percent of out of , proved there is a all TV households tuned in to see who shot J.R. hunger for unorthodox storytelling. on Nov. 21, 1980, the highest rated episode in the history of television. 94. (ABC) Oct. 3, 2004 Comedy mixed with drama proved to be 55. (NBC) Jan. 15, 1981 a successful formula. Peaked in 2005-06 with Influenced many subsequent crime-solving 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. a 13.8 household rating. dramas. Nominated for 98 Emmys. 2000s 95. Dancing with the Stars (ABC) June 1, 56. (NBC) Sept. 30, 1982 Started out 2005 ABC’s most-watched series with an slow, but rose to first overall in prime time in average 21.4 million viewers for the fall 2010 season nine with a 21.3 household rating. performance show. Spawned mega-hit Frasier. 96. Keeping Up with the Kardashians (E!) 57. Newhart (CBS) Oct. 25, 1982 Oct. 14, 2007 Continues to evolve, with Series finale with former TV wife Suzanne 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. endless spin-offs. Pleshette waking Bob up after a dream lands this eight-season entry on our list. 97. (Fox) May 19, 2009 Critics crowed and iTune sales went 58. St. Elsewhere (NBC) Oct. 26, 1982 through the roof. Mass hit, no. But a young adult demographic success story thanks to its combination of 98. (ABC) Sept. 23, 2009 quirky comedy and medical drama. Named Outstanding Comedy Series at last year’s Emmy Awards. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 59. Miami Vice (NBC) Sept. 16, 1984 2010 Cool music and trendy fashion set this apart. 1990s 99. Jersey Shore (MTV) Dec. 3, 2009 1997: The first HDTV receivers A monster hit for MTV, with over 7 million 60. (NBC) Sept. 20, 1984 are released to the public. viewers in season three. Hit No. 3 in season one (24.2 household rating) and first overall in all of prime time from 1985 100. The Walking Dead (AMC) Oct. 31, 2010 to 1990. Breaks records at AMC with 5.3 million 8 | ADWEEKEDIA | 3.28.2010 3.28.2011 | ADWEEKMEDIA | 9 viewers for its series-opener.