Television’s impact on society and culture

There is no doubt that since television’s emergence, it has been a significant part of the American culture. When television was first introduced, its combination of sight and sound mesmerized a lot of people. Since then, the device has been a constant presence of millions of Americans.

Because of its fast-moving, visually stimulating and very entertaining way of presenting programs, television commands a lot of people’s attention for many hours every day. While watching TV may seem a harmless pass time, too much of TV can be an unhealthy habit as well. Up until the age of the Internet, mobile gadgets and social media, no other thing could compete for a person’s attention with his family, friends, school and church than the “boob tube.”

Like many other things, television can bring a lot of people together despite differences in age, race, ethnicity and economic background. It can be a great source of inspiration, creativity and even good communication and socialization. Watching television can be a positive experience if it is regulated well.

For better or for worse, television is a big influence on how we think, say, act, interact and how we view ourselves (and even how and what we eat). It shapes and mirrors our lives. Television disseminates information, provides us entertainment and imparts cultural values as well as prevailing ideology. Television tends to easily influence a lot of people. That’s why choosing the right TV shows and regulating people’s viewing habits will help them to acquire good values. We just hope that TV networks should also be responsible in their programming so that they won’t create a negative impact on the viewers, especially the younger ones.

Some of classic TV’s greatest quotes and one-liners (by decades)

(1950s)

“This is the city…” (Dragnet)
“Nip it!” (The Andy Griffith Show)
“Baby, you’re the greatest.” (The Honeymooners)
“To the moon, Alice!” (The Honeymooners)
“Lucy, you’ve got a lot of ‘spalinin’ to do!” (I Love Lucy)
“Lucy, I’m home!” (I Love Lucy)
“We’ve got a really big show!” (The Ed Sullivan Show)
“Say goodnight, Gracie” (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show)

(1960s)

“Sock it to me.” (Rowand & Martin’s Laugh-In)
“Heeeere’s Johnny!” (Tonight Show)”
“Space: the final frontier” (Star Trek)
“Live long and prosper” (Star Trek)

(1970s)

“Aaay!” (Happy Days)
“’Cause I’m the Fonze, heyyy…” (Happy Days)
“Stifle!” or “Stifle it, Edith!” (All in the Family)
“You look mah-velous!” (Saturday Night Live)

“You’ve got spunk…” (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
“Who loves you, baby?” (Kojak)
“Up your nose with a rubber hose” (Welcome Back, Kotter)
“Dynomite!” (Good Times)
“Elizabeth, I’m coming!” (Sanford and Son)

(1980s)

“I love it when a plan comes together.” (The A-Team)
“Norm!” (Cheers)
“Book it, Danno” (Hawaii Five-O)
“How’s a beer sound, Norm?” (Cheers)
“Watcha talkin’ about Willis?” (Diff’rent Strokes)

(1990s)

“No soup for you!” (Seinfeld)
“Yada, yada, yada.” (Seinfeld)
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” (Seinfeld)
“Do’h!” (The Simpsons)
“The truth is out there.” (The X-Files)
“Resistance is futile.” (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
“Is that your final answer?” (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?)
“I’m listening.” (Frasier)
“Eat my shorts” (The Simpsons)
“How you doin’?” (Friends)
“Well, middle class was fun.” (Roseanne)