14 Impressive Firsts In TV History
It’s hard to imagine a time when streaming wasn’t readily available and the F-bomb wasn’t dropped on the daily. It feels weird even censoring “the F-bomb” considering it’s so commonplace in TV shows. But someone had to say it on TV first, and it wasn’t that long ago that network TV (and thus the FCC) had a stronghold on television consumption. Luckily, our TV shows nowadays aren’t all Leave It To Beaver (read on to see what taboo even the stereotypical wholesome show touched on) and are more reflective of the audience watching, including their language use.
Pop culture is often representative of the larger culture so historic moments in TV history can reflect changing social views. From the shocking (at the time) implication that humans use the bathroom (gasp!) to showing the first gay kiss, we can see how social norms have shifted in the relatively short time span that television has existed.
The Adventures of Champion
Source: Chicago Tribune
The First Birth
Source: AV Club
First Gay Couple
Source: ABC News
First Animated Show
Source: ScreenRant
First Black Person to Have Their Own Show
Source: National Museum of African American History & Culture
First Drama
Source: PBS
First Interracial Kiss
Source: The Guardian
Leave It to Beaver
Source: Snopes
First Abortion Storyline
Source: MIC
First Trans Actor Who Played a Trans Character
Source: Out
First Reality Show
Source: Guinness Book of Records
First Kiss Between Two Men
Source: Bustle
First Same-Sex Kiss
Source: Bustle
First U.S. Sitcom, First Time a Married Couple Shared a Bed, and First Time a Woman's Pregnancy Was Shown
Source: Snopes
