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ethnic and middle class sitcoms in the 50s - ✔✔The Aldrich Family, The Goldberg's,
Mama, The Life of Riley. These sitcoms were focused on east coast audiences who were
primary buyers of TV sets. As TV sales became national, a blander style of
programming would develop.
5 types of sitcoms in the 60s - ✔✔Family sitcoms, rural sitcoms, goofy sitcoms, occult
sitcoms, military sitcoms
Beulah - ✔✔(1950 - 1953) The only other show to feature African Americans besides
Amos n' Andy. Hattie McDaniel played the role of a maid to a white family
Paul Henning - ✔✔Guiding force behind rural sitcoms, masterminded the "big three"
rural sitcoms. The Beverly Hillbillies was the most popular, featured the Clampett
family who moved from Arkansas to California, seen by 60 million people in the first 2
seasons
Occult Sitcoms - ✔✔Samantha, the wife was a witch who used her powers to make life
better for her husband Darrin. It was the second most popular prime time program
during its premier season
Bewitched (1964-72) She's a witch because power fantasy for housewife
All in the Family - ✔✔Premiering of Norman Lear's show _____________ in 1970
changed the sitcom landscape (1970-1979), signaled a "maturing" of the genre. It dealt
openly and contentiously with social problems and issues. Was not afraid to put a bigot
on primetime. This was followed by Archie Bunker's Place (79-83)
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, Leave It to Beaver - ✔✔family based sitcom. Defines "golly gee" wholesomeness of
1950s 60s TV.
Beverly Hillbillies - ✔✔featured the Clampett family who moved from Arkansas to
California, seen by 60 million people in the first 2 seasons. One of the "big three" rural
sitcoms
Gilligan's Island - ✔✔American sitcoms produced by Sherwood Schwartz. Followed the
comic adventures of seven castaways as they attempted to survive the island on which
they had been shipwrecked. Was a staple for the boomer generation
Jefferson's - ✔✔Norman Lear produced this show featuring an upwardly mobile black
family who were originally the Bunkers' neighbors
Maude - ✔✔sitcom focused on race. another show created by Norman Lear, featuring
Beatrice Arthur who played the main character __________, Edith Bunker's liberal
cousin
Good Times - ✔✔sitcom that focused on race. A show that portrayed life in the ghetto
(spin off from Maude)
Mary Tyler Moore - ✔✔The second major show of the early 70s. It was produced by
MTM productions. Tried to depict modern gender roles in the workplace as well as life
of a single woman. Divorce was just becoming popular, so they made her a single
woman instead.
Mash - ✔✔liberal vs. imperial
Three's Company - ✔✔A guy pretends that he's gay so he can room with two other
women.
Family Ties - ✔✔created by Gary David Goldberg, this show reflected the move in the
United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of
the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young
Republican Alex P. Keaton and his ex-hippie parents, Steven and Elyse Keaton.
Cosby Show - ✔✔American television sitcom. Black upper middle class family leading
life of suburban family
Cheers - ✔✔The show is set in a bar named Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts, where a
group of locals meet to drink, relax, and socialize. Produced by
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