20 Television History Once-Taboo Firsts

A big complaint older people have in the 2020s is that “things just ain't the way they used to be” and “they're just put anything on television these days.” They claims, of course, are for dorks and squares, but it's understandable. Compared to the television landscape of the mid-20th century, what we see today on network TV is a digital red light district. And when you consider some of these “firsts” happened on shows our grandparents love…man, the past isn't even past, man. But it all had to start somewhere. 

Lots of these landmarks are rebukes of petty network censorship practices that should have crumbled much earlier: the first times someone deigned to cuss, swear, or otherwise profane our sacred airwaves. That's kind of a “we see where you're coming from, but come on" category. 

But many are important milestones in representation for marginalized communities... that should also have been achieved much earlier. And that falls into a “the world is changing, and you need to get with the times” category. Anyway, here are some pretty amazing TV firsts: