Survivor Reshaped The Television Landscape

Television has continually evolved, but only a select group of shows has changed the medium. These shows introduced audiences to new ways of telling a story, redefined genres, pushed standards, and altered our perspective on plot and character. From groundbreaking formats to long-form storytelling, here are 20 shows that made history and broke barriers.

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1. I Love Lucy

This series transformed TV production by pioneering and championing the three-camera setup filmed in front of a live audience. This improved visual quality, preserved episodes for reruns, and would eventually become the standard for decades. 

CBS Television In the 1950s and 1960s, it was not unusual for television networks, studios and program sponsors to use either advertising or publicity agencies to distribute publicity materials. In this case, CBS used the Bureau of Industrial Service, which was a division of advertising agency Young & Rubicam, to distribute the information. on Wikimedia

2. The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone reimagined and redefined storytelling for TV audiences through a blend of fiction, fantasy, and morality. Each standalone episode explored imaginative scenarios that challenged viewers in ways that TV had previously not dared. It made viewers think differently about fear, the world, human behavior, and reality.

CBS Television via the Bureau of Industrial Service. During the 1950s and 1960s, television networks, program sponsors and studios often used either advertising or public relations agencies to distribute publicity materials. The Bureau was a division of ad agency Young & Rubicam. on Wikimedia

3. Star Trek

The original Star Trek series was groundbreaking. It presented a hopeful vision of the future and took audiences on a voyage to explore the unknown. It also introduced serialized world-building and complicated moral dilemmas. 

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4. All in the Family

All in the Family reconceptualized the American sitcom by grounding it in realism and social commentary. By entering the living room of the Bunkers, you were witnessing your home life in some manner. It was raw, funny, and changed cultural norms, and proved that character-focused storytelling appealed to audiences.

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5. M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H married comedy and drama in a way that was new to TV audiences. Set during the Korean War, it was funny and achieved an impressive emotional depth. This series normalized the dramedy format and proved that audiences could engage with tonal shifts.  

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6. Saturday Night Live

SNL changed television by bringing live, fast-paced sketch comedy into the late-night programming arena. Its rotating cast and topical humor created a new segment that is still around today in various formats and ways. The show introduced audiences to a new model for talent development and proved that TV and comedy could keep up with the pace of news and culture.

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7. Roots

Roots made TV history by producing a multi-night, serialized event that encouraged audiences to watch together. It's long-form storytelling that expanded TV's ability to tell larger and more complex stories with emotional weight. 

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8. Cheers

Cheers was not only a hilarious romp, but it was a character-driven sitcom that was almost entirely set in a single location. It influenced how sitcoms approached character development and presented a humor that was rooted in relationships and personality.

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9. The Simpsons

The Simpsons revolutionized animated television by appealing to both adults and kids. Its use of layered humor and an expansive character roster influenced countless animated series and proved to networks and audiences the creative potential of animation. 

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10. Seinfeld

Seinfeld wasn't your typical sitcom. It broke most of the format's conventions by building stories around everyday situations and avoiding emotional resolutions. The "show about nothing" shifted comedy toward more observational comedy.

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11. The X-Files

This paranormal series was a huge cult hit that mixed serialized episodes with standalone ones. Its blend of mystery, science fiction, and procedural drama paved the way for countless shows after. 

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12. Friends

Friends is the sitcom that defined an era. It centered on relationships, comedic timing, and the chemistry of its well-cast ensemble. It broke barriers through its relatability, as this series wasn't about high-concept plots. It was just about friends living in New York City and trying to be adults.

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13. ER

ER revolutionized medical procedures by amping up the speed of its editing, using overlapping dialogue, and presenting realistic emergency room intensity. It raised the bar for production value on network TV. 

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14. The Sopranos

This series marked a turning point in television history. It provided complex characters, moral conflict, and layered storytelling, proving that these prestige elements can find success with a wide TV audience.

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15. Survivor

Survivor is the grandfather of reality TV. It reshaped the segment by combining competition, strategy, and storytelling. We were hooked on alliances and season-long narratives. It was hard not to get invested, and the show is still going strong today.

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16. The Wire

The Wire doesn't get enough credit for its impact on TV. It redefined realism in television drama and the structure where each season explored interconnected stories and systems, encouraging viewers to invest their time in a show that didn't offer easy answers.

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17. Lost

Lost brought cinematic spectacle to primetime TV. Its mythology was complex to the point of indecipherability, and the nonlinear storytelling has been borrowed numerous times in other shows, but rarely to the level of Lost's success. 

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18. Mad Men

Mad Men elevated prestige TV through its meticulous production detail, subtle character development, and thematic ambitions. It showed that dialogue-driven dramas could be needlessly compelling.

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19. Breaking Bad

This series demonstrated the power of the anti-hero and long-term character transformation. Its carefully structured storytelling allowed for gradual change that was more impactful than sudden twists.

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20. Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones made history by proving that TV could offer the same scale, scope, and budget of blockbuster movies. This show had a lasting impact on budgets, expectations, and global viewing habits.

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