In honor of MioOlogy, TVOlogy is taking a look at groundbreaking modern day series who made their impact on the industry in the 90s-00s. We’ll be observing them five at a time, and this is our second look at a few of the most important shows in history.
MioOlogy: Five TV Shows That Changed The World
In the late 90s, bubblegum pop thrived under acts like Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, NSYNC, and at the epicenter of that cultural phenomenon that carried it through to the next millennium was none other than MTV (you know, back when they actually played music) and their flagship series Total Request Live. A daily spinoff of the recorded Total Request, it didn’t only host the most popular stars from music, movies, and television, but it turned Carson Daly and its subsequent VJs into bonafide celebs. Viewers tuned in and fans flocked to the show’s Times Square studio for even a glimpse at their new idols while voting for their favorite to top the countdown, determining the ultimate who’s-who in pop culture.
Friends (1994-2004)
Whichever way you slice it, Friends undoubtedly made its mark on the television world by the end of its 10-year run on NBC in 2004. Not only did the show represent the nearly-extinct sitcom era, but all six actors were being paid an unprecedented one million dollars per episode by season 8, which truly cemented the idea of an "ensemble" cast (thanks to the actors themselves insisting that they receive equal salaries). The show's relationship dynamics kept us tuned in every Thursday night while ratings soared and the cast swept Emmy after Emmy. Sure, their NYC apartments were unrealistically big and they conveniently got the same table at the same coffeehouse in the middle of every work day, but there's no denying that this show, at it's core, had real heart. And come on, we all secretly wished we had friends like them.
American Idol (2002-present)
I couldn’t possibly explain the American Idol phenomenon any better than you can: it’s not the first television talent competition, and it certainly won’t be the last. But it’s undoubtedly the largest, FOX's career-launching platform for some of the biggest names not just in music but in all of pop culture, putting the power in the hands of the people to choose the nation’s next superstar vocalist. Carrie Underwood? Kelly Clarkson? Jennifer Hudson? Adam Lambert? Ryan Seacrest? All at the top of the heap in the zeitgeist, despite the fact that some of them weren’t even winners- despite the fact that Grammys, Emmys, and Oscars are in all of their hands. And Ryan Seacrest? Despite heavy competition (America’s Got Talent, The Voice, The X-Factor)he’s just still reigning as the host of what’s the number one show on television for the past eight years. No big deal.
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)
Oftentimes, we forget the cultural impact that The CW has on TV. It's frequently left off the list of "big" networks and gets snubbed at awards shows just because of it's younger demo. But The CW (formerly The WB) hit gold with Dawson's Creek back in the 90s. The seemingly average show really dissected the idea of male-female friendship transitioning from platonic to not-so-platonic, and later into a full-blown love triangle that I think tops the list of all-time love triangles. And let's not forget this is also the show that introduced the first male gay kiss on network television ever -- in primetime, mind you. It may have been a smaller show riddled with unbelievable angst, wordy dialogue and ridiculously good-looking people, but it took huge risks and never really got the recognition it deserved. And hell, it launched the career of a then-unknown Mrs. Tom Cruise. So there's that too.
The Real World (1992-present)
That’s right. The first social experiment of putting together seven strangers in one house and watching the fists fly started TWENTY years ago. And guess what? It’s still thriving through its upcoming twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth seasons, as MTV continues to settle into different cities each season (Vegas! Los Angeles! Chicago! Hawaii! Denver!) with a brand new crop of—well, let’s be honest here—drama-lovers and fameseekers. The pull of The Real World, however, outside of its melodramatic scream-fests is the way that it realistically handles some of the world’s most hot-button issues, ranging from homosexuality to pregnancy, racism to substance abuse, and everywhere in between.
What are your favorite TV series ever? Let us know in the comments.
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