Remember when some television truly was 'must watch'?

[bamamick]

amc channel showed 'Lonesome Dove' yesterday in it's entirety and it brought back memories of when I was about 20 years old and it came on for the first time. I remember how this boiler plant I was working in was so completely energized over this television program, discussing every single detail and bits of dialog. It was truly a world-changing event for some of us, if anything on television can be called something like that. And I remember how 'Roots' had the same effect on so many people. And finally, I remember a class I had in college getting up en masse and walking out because our professor was droning on about something and the final episode of M*A*S*H coming on in a few minutes.

Was there anything from the entertainment industry from your generation that had that sort of effect on you or your friends? Of course, all of us have memories of music, books, and movies, but it just struck me yesterday how the way we view television has changed, with so many channels and so much programming, yes, but I think it takes a lot more to impress us these days, and and are conditioned now to expect to be amazed.

I don't know. I was just thinking about and thought I'd ask.

Mickey Lake

[BrianW]

"Roots" yeah. It seemed important.

"Lonesome Dove"... not so much.

[fishrswim]

Nope. Not even when all we had were three channels.

[Flying Orca]

Having managed to live without television for a long long time, I can safely say that there is no such thing as "must-watch" television. There are only people who think that television programs are important.

[McMike]

Important, no. Fun, yes.

I watch, maybe 6 - 8 hours of TV per week and mostly just before bed. There are a few shows I try to catch but mostly they're on cable. "Game of Thrones", "Big Bang Theory", "Ancient Aliens" (guilty pleasure), that show about the universe with Morgan Freeman is awesome.

[S.V. Airlie]

"Must watch", not often. The only thing I watched, as in must, was the Kennedy/Nixon debate.There might be some programs on the History chanel I'd like to watch, but I don't kick myself around if I don't.

[SchoonerRat]

Howdy Doody.

My priorities were different then.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I remember Ethan Frome staring Julie Harris on GE Theatre.

[jackster]

May- August, 1973....
Watergate hearings!

[wardd]

i remember when tv was new and everything was must see

like gudalcanal diary all week

[John Smith]

amc channel showed 'Lonesome Dove' yesterday in it's entirety and it brought back memories of when I was about 20 years old and it came on for the first time. I remember how this boiler plant I was working in was so completely energized over this television program, discussing every single detail and bits of dialog. It was truly a world-changing event for some of us, if anything on television can be called something like that. And I remember how 'Roots' had the same effect on so many people. And finally, I remember a class I had in college getting up en masse and walking out because our professor was droning on about something and the final episode of M*A*S*H coming on in a few minutes.

Was there anything from the entertainment industry from your generation that had that sort of effect on you or your friends? Of course, all of us have memories of music, books, and movies, but it just struck me yesterday how the way we view television has changed, with so many channels and so much programming, yes, but I think it takes a lot more to impress us these days, and and are conditioned now to expect to be amazed.

I don't know. I was just thinking about and thought I'd ask.

Mickey Lake

I never cared who shot JR. I do remember the final MASH episode and wishing Flag (crazy CIA guy or some such) wasn't part of it. I pictured him running around saying, "Okay, this war is over. I know just how to start another one. That Vietnam place has potential."

[Shang]

Back in them days we wuz so poor we dint have no telebision.
For "must watch" we jest made hand-shadows on thu wall and telled stories about 'em.

[purri]

"Roots" yeah. It seemed important.

I heard the KKK ran the tape in reverse to give it a "happy ending".

[Robert Meyer]

Kukla, Fran and Ollie

[BrianW]

I heard the KKK ran the tape in reverse to give it a "happy ending".

A "happy ending" like with a massage?

Oh! Duh! You mean Toby becomes Kunta Kinte again.

We could do that with Star Trek, and Geordi could regain his sight!

[Paul Pless]

'Lonesome Dove'

Never seen it. . .

[Ted Hoppe]

The best show of all time - victory at sea. As a kid, i would get so excited to see that show that had the best footage and clips and hear the unfolding of world war 2 done to the best music sound track in television history.


For a youngster with limited television - Star trek, Seaquest, Combat, Ed Sullivan and strangely - Laugh In which were must see as they were the few shows carried on the single channel American armed forces radio and television service. All old shows but it never mattered as good old tv is better than nothing in a time before VCRs and multichannel broadcasts.

[bamamick]

Never seen it. . .

That's because you were just a whippersnapper. As I said, I was about 20, maybe not even there. I am 54 now, so you were probably just a wee lad.

Mickey Lake

[Paul Pless]

so you were probably just a wee lad.

six. . .