Back in the day, with music, if you made it on The Ed Sullivan Show, you had a great chance to really make it big, much like “The Tonight Show” helped comedians, especially if he invited them on the couch.
What’s the most influential thing now? Podcasts is a new thing, but to get on someone popular like Joe Rogan, you have to be popular somewhat already, and on the times I browse, I hardly ever see musicians, and if I do, they’re older and already established.
But what about Film? Doesn’t have to be a traditional show… A re-tweet from someone perhaps?
JMHO but I don’t think there is anything like a major influencer anymore. There are too many media outlets targeted to too many limited audiences. I can’t think of any source that is “universally” (even colloquially speaking) watched/read/listened to/respected/trusted. There’s no more Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, or Walter Cronkite. And no potential for one either.
The purpose of an influential show is to expose you to a big audience. Ideally, one that is likely to appreciate your talent. After exposure, you are or are not well liked.
There are still influential shows, but none of them have the dominance of an old TV show due to so many alternatives. If you were on Colbert or Jimmy or The Voice, lots of people would see you. I’m sure that is also true of movies, Internet sites and the right recommendations. But no one has forty percent of the viewing public anymore. (This is my profoundly inexpert opinion).
I enjoyed Larry King Live. Especially in the heyday which I would say was the 1990s. He was a great interviewer of powerful people in politics and business but just the sheer volume of shows he did must have meant a lot of people went on as unknowns and got their 15 minutes of fame in front of a large audience before fading back into obscurity.
As far as traditional television goes, you’re probably right. Apparently the way most up and coming entertainers get their big break now is by having a current celebrity share their work on social media.