Television Genres History

In the Beginning In the 30’s, radio programming consisted of soap operas, minstrel shows, news, and commentary and sporting events.

The 50’s In the early days of television, television producers found advertisers to sponsor the production of an entire show. They bought the entire program. This put great pressure on the producers for ratings. Television was mostly in the afternoons and the evenings. This was an age of conformity and confidence. Television programming consisted of variety shows from vaudeville radio. Many were based on ethic humor.

Sitcoms were popularized. They could be shown in rerun for additional profit. Sitcoms replaced the variety shows which were complicated to produce and quickly dated. Games shows were popularized.

Sitcoms were popularized. They could be shown in rerun for additional profit. Sitcoms replaced the variety shows which were complicated to produce and quickly dated. The 50’s saw the spread of television to less urban areas. Therefore, TV began to portray the typical American conforming to suburban white-bred ideals. Everything important happened in New York.

The 60’s Networks turned away from live production in prime time to filming a tapped series which was more predictable and safer to sponsors. Amendments were made to the Communications Act. It was illegal for the outcome of any contest of skill or knowledge to be put forward in any way that was prearranged. Stations had to make it clear on the air when money or other considerations is received from broadcast material.

TV producers took full control of content and production. They produced a show and sold commercial time. Advertisers bought amounts of time in the form of commercials. Removing advertisers from direct involvement eliminated the urge to interfere with the content to boost ratings. In the 50’s and 60’s, networks usually contract a series for one season. It was rare to cancel the show before the season ended.

Escapist comedies, westerns and detective shows replaced the game shows of the 50’s.

70’s In the 70’s, networks would cancel a show after only a few months or weeks on the air. There was little chance to build an audience. Applause tracks were used on most variety shows. Production returned to the studio audience.

Westerns declined during the 70’s. The main cause was over-exposure; however, the advent of the space program opened viewers to a new frontier. The civil rights movement and war created doubt in the values of Americans.

The 80’s Soaps were replaced by Talk Shows and Reality TV.

The 90’s Reality TV continued to thrive and game shows were once again popularized.