Defining Moments In Television That Changed The Course Of History Forever
What's fascinating about TV is the impact it's had on our lives. It sits in the living room where families gather to watch shows, news, and sports. Nonetheless, with so much going on, there have been a few moments where time stood still in front of the small screen.
We've all had that 'I remember when' moment when sitting in front of the TV. From Johnny Carson's goodbye to ending the longest championship drought in sports, there might be some old spoilers that will trigger your memory. Take a trip down memory lane with these iconic TV moments.
Really Big Show
Insanity ensued the year The Beatles made their way to America. February 9, 1964, would be the moment America, along with girls screaming their heads off, fell in love with John, Paul, Ringo, and George.
Even if Ed Sullivan never had them on, The Beatles would have still been larger than life.
One Small Step For Man
Americans came together on July 20, 1969, to witness something they had never seen before. Apollo 11 was the first space mission to accomplish the feat of landing on the moon. As soon as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first pair of humans to land on the moon, anything was possible.
Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?
There are so many wonderful moments from Sesame Street that it's actually hard to pick one that stands out.
From Big Bird, Bert & Ernie, The Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch, to many well-known celebrities making appearances, Sesame Street has been a hit since it first hit the airwaves on November 10, 1969.
Mr. 715
Long before baseball players were using steroids, Hank Aaron was the cleanest baseball player there was.
On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit home run number 715 off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers. That was the day he broke Babe Ruths 39-year old home run record and cement his place in the history books.
Kermit And The Gang
The combination of people and puppets was enough to make Jim Henson's muppets very popular. Before the show started, Henson's Muppets appeared on Saturday Night Live and before that on Sam and Friends all the way back on May 9, 1955. Oh, and a very young Elton John fit right into the goofiness of Henson's creation.
The Saga Of An American Family
Roots was a great example of television being our nation's shared cultural experience.
The miniseries received 37 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won nine. It received surprising Nielsen ratings for the finale, and the series introduced LeVar Burton to the world.
Miracle On Ice
Al Michaels was the man behind the microphone on February 22, 1980, in what was the best example of a great TV moment in sports history.
A bunch of college hockey players from the USA beat the mighty power of the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics. Do you believe in miracles?
The Day The World Lost A Beatle
Much like JFK's assassination, people remember where they were on December 8, 1980.
Howard Cosell announced on Monday Night Football that John Lennon was shot and killed. Mark David Chapman remains in jail and as long as Yoko Ono lives, along with Lennon's two sons, Chapman won't be seeing life outside of prison.
Video Killed The Radio Star
When MTV first signed on in 1981, record labels were really skeptical about its viability. How were short films based on songs going to sell records?
But, within a year, MTV was beginning to make huge amounts of money on music videos, all thanks to the first one they released 'Video Killed The Radio Star' by The Buggles.
Goodbye, Farewell And Amen
The final episode of M*A*S*H was broadcast on February 28, 1983, and it was almost three hours long.
The finale drew 105.97 million and a total audience of 121.6 million. That was much more than Super Bowl XVII and the Roots miniseries from the decade before.
Taking Down The Wall
For years, East and West Germany were divided thanks to the Berlin Wall. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the Hungarian government began dismantling the wall along its border with Austria. In 1989, government officials opened the wall, with demolition beginning in 1990 and ending in 1992.
So Long, Johnny
This was a moment full of heartbreak. Since October 1, 1962, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson established the modern format of the late-night talk shows.
On his last show on May 21, 1992, Carson's final guests included Robin Williams and music by Bette Middler.
The Story Of O.J.
June 17, 1994, was a day unlike any other on TV.
Arnold Palmer was playing his final round at the U.S. Open, and the New York Rangers were celebrating their Stanley Cup victory with a parade. Outside of Game 5 of the NBA Finals being played, people watched the riveting pursuit of the White Bronco chase of O.J. Simpson.
The President Has Been Shot
In what was one of the most stunning moments ever, November 22, 1963, will always be the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested but was never prosecuted due to his murder by Jack Ruby two days later. The footage of the moment it happens became a holy grail for conspiracy theorists.
The Funeral Of Princess Diana
The wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was something from a Disney movie. Unfortunately, the funeral of Diana was one of the most emotional events ever broadcast.
Media attention and public mourning were very extensive on September 6, 1997, as her funeral was televised a week after her death in a car crash.
The Finale
People scoff and roll their eyes, but in fairness, the finale of Seinfeld was the first time 76 million viewers would have to find another show about nothing.
Despite the beloved characters being completely unlikeable and mean, the show knew how to draw an audience. Years later, Curb Your Enthusiasm, would take up the mantle of the Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's brainchild.
Hurricane Katrina
Photo Credit: Kyle Niemi/US Coast Guard/Getty Images
In August 2005, New Orleans suffered a catastrophic event that put the city under water.
Hurricane Katrina did enough damage to flood the entire city, and helicopter shots of people holding onto the roofs of their damaged homes were nerve-racking. Of course, a televised fundraiser asking for support would help to introduce Kanye West to the whole world.
What Happened?
The part when Tony Soprano looks up when someone walks into the diner, then the screen cuts to black remains a mystery.
HBO's The Sopranos was one of the greatest television series of all-time. To this day, the finale is one of the most talked-about and most shocking moments ever.
The Inauguration
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.
This was the first time that the nation had a President of color and everyone felt pretty good about themselves. A new breath of freedom came on that day and Obama served as President over an eight-year span.
108 Years Later... See Ya Later Billy Goat
2016 proved to be a year of joy for the Chicago Cubs and their fans.
The loveable losers were playing in their eleventh World Series, and their first since 1945, against the Cleveland Indians. The Cubbies would go on to win the series in seven games, breaking the longest championship drought in North American sports history.
