“Captain Jack”, an early episode of Leave It to Beaver shoes a toilet for the first time on TV (only the tank, the censors wouldn’t allow the whole toilet to be shown and the ensuing delay in approving it resulted in the episode missing being the pilot)
“The Boys in the Bar”, S1:E6 of Cheers: barflies Norm and Cliff become agitated at the thought of gays patronizing the bar, warning Sam of it becoming “a fern bar.” The two embark on a gay hunt, ferreting out suspicious customers until two men surprise them with a kiss.
“Homeward Bound,” S6:E7 of Roseanne: DJ has been spending quite a bit of time in the bathroom, and he’s “that age,” so the family pieces together what he’s been doing. It wasn’t the first show to openly discuss masturbation – that would have been an episode of Seinfeld three years earlier – but this episode actually used The M-Word and didn’t dance around it, like Seinfeld did.
Mary Kay and Johnny - The DuMont Network show from 1947 was the first to have a married couple share a bed and the first to show a woman’s pregnancy.
The Nat “King” Cole Show - First television appearance of a Black person (Cole), who also hosted the show (1956).
Linda Bove began appearing on Sesame Street in 1971, and was first credited in January, 1972. Before then, no one ever thought it was important to use Deaf or disabled actors in roles as such. It was also the first time someone was shown using ASL correctly.
The other Cheek - Chicago Hope: First uncensored broadcast of the word “shit” on a scripted show in the US.
“Captain Jack”, an early episode of Leave It to Beaver shows a toilet for the first time on TV (only the tank, the censors wouldn’t allow the whole toilet to be shown and the ensuing delay in approving it resulted in the episode missing being the pilot)
“The Boys in the Bar”, S1:E6 of Cheers: barflies Norm and Cliff become agitated at the thought of gays patronizing the bar, warning Sam of it becoming “a fern bar.” The two embark on a gay hunt, ferreting out suspicious customers until two men surprise them with a kiss.
“Homeward Bound,” S6:E7 of Roseanne: DJ has been spending quite a bit of time in the bathroom, and he’s “that age,” so the family pieces together what he’s been doing. It wasn’t the first show to openly discuss masturbation – that would have been an episode of Seinfeld three years earlier – but this episode actually used The M-Word and didn’t dance around it, like Seinfeld did.
Mary Kay and Johnny - The DuMont Network show from 1947 was the first to have a married couple share a bed and the first to show a woman’s pregnancy.
The Nat “King” Cole Show - First television appearance of a Black person (Cole), who also hosted the show (1956).
Linda Bove began appearing on Sesame Street in 1971, and was first credited in January, 1972. Before then, no one ever thought it was important to use Deaf or disabled actors in roles as such. It was also the first time someone was shown using ASL correctly.
“The Other Cheek” - Chicago Hope: First uncensored broadcast of the word “shit” on a scripted show in the US.
Star Trek: The Original Series - “Plato’s Stepchildren” (1968), thought to include the first - or one of the very first - interracial kisses on American broadcast TV
“Captain Jack”, an early episode of Leave It to Beaver shows a toilet for the first time on TV (only the tank, the censors wouldn’t allow the whole toilet to be shown and the ensuing delay in approving it resulted in the episode missing being the pilot)
“The Boys in the Bar”, S1:E6 of Cheers: barflies Norm and Cliff become agitated at the thought of gays patronizing the bar, warning Sam of it becoming “a fern bar.” The two embark on a gay hunt, ferreting out suspicious customers until two men surprise them with a kiss.
“Homeward Bound,” S6:E7 of Roseanne: DJ has been spending quite a bit of time in the bathroom, and he’s “that age,” so the family pieces together what he’s been doing. It wasn’t the first show to openly discuss masturbation – that would have been an episode of Seinfeld three years earlier – but this episode actually used The M-Word and didn’t dance around it, like Seinfeld did.
Mary Kay and Johnny - The DuMont Network show from 1947 was the first to have a married couple share a bed and the first to show a woman’s pregnancy.
The Nat “King” Cole Show - First television appearance of a Black person (Cole), who also hosted the show (1956).
Linda Bove began appearing on Sesame Street in 1971, and was first credited in January, 1972. Before then, no one ever thought it was important to use Deaf or disabled actors in roles as such. It was also the first time someone was shown using ASL correctly.
“The Other Cheek” - Chicago Hope: First uncensored broadcast of the word “shit” on a scripted show in the US.
Star Trek: The Original Series - “Plato’s Stepchildren” (1968), thought to include the first - or one of the very first - interracial kisses on American broadcast TV
All in the Family – “Judging Books by Covers:” (1971), believed to have featured the first openly-gay character, Archie’s friend and former NFL linebacker Steve (played by Philip Carey)
“Captain Jack”, an early episode of Leave It to Beaver shows a toilet for the first time on TV (only the tank, the censors wouldn’t allow the whole toilet to be shown and the ensuing delay in approving it resulted in the episode missing being the pilot)
“The Boys in the Bar”, S1:E6 of Cheers: barflies Norm and Cliff become agitated at the thought of gays patronizing the bar, warning Sam of it becoming “a fern bar.” The two embark on a gay hunt, ferreting out suspicious customers until two men surprise them with a kiss.
“Homeward Bound,” S6:E7 of Roseanne: DJ has been spending quite a bit of time in the bathroom, and he’s “that age,” so the family pieces together what he’s been doing. It wasn’t the first show to openly discuss masturbation – that would have been an episode of Seinfeld three years earlier – but this episode actually used The M-Word and didn’t dance around it, like Seinfeld did.
Mary Kay and Johnny - The DuMont Network show from 1947 was the first to have a married couple share a bed and the first to show a woman’s pregnancy.
The Nat “King” Cole Show - First television appearance of a Black person (Cole), who also hosted the show (1956).
Linda Bove began appearing on Sesame Street in 1971, and was first credited in January, 1972. Before then, no one ever thought it was important to use Deaf or disabled actors in roles as such. It was also the first time someone was shown using ASL correctly.
“The Other Cheek” - Chicago Hope: First uncensored broadcast of the word “shit” on a scripted show in the US.
Star Trek: The Original Series - “Plato’s Stepchildren” (1968), thought to include the first - or one of the very first - interracial kisses on American broadcast TV
All in the Family – “Judging Books by Covers:” (1971), believed to have featured the first openly-gay character, Archie’s friend and former NFL linebacker Steve (played by Philip Carey)
The Brady Bunch - In a backdoor pilot entitled “Kelly’s Kids” (which did not get picked up), the Bradys’ neighbors — a childless couple played by Ken Berry and Brooke Bundy — are looking to adopt a young boy from the local orphanage. Eventually, they decide not to separate him from his two best friends, and adopt all three boys: one white, one black, and one Asian.
I have no idea whether the episode made much of an impact at the time, but I feel like interracial adoption was a bit of a bold topic for a family sitcom in 1974.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Promotion”; Season 7, Episode 22 of Cagney & Lacey. Everyone celebrates Chris’ promotion to sergeant.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Promotion”; Season 7, Episode 22 of Cagney & Lacey. Everyone celebrates Chris’ promotion to sergeant.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Promotion”; Season 7, Episode 22 of Cagney & Lacey. Everyone celebrates Chris’ promotion to sergeant.
“Cold Slither,” G.I. Joe A Real American Hero - Members of the Joe team get to sing a rocking version of their theme to a stadium of fans after stopping Cobra’s mind control scheme.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Promotion”; Season 7, Episode 22 of Cagney & Lacey. Everyone celebrates Chris’ promotion to sergeant.
“Cold Slither,” G.I. Joe A Real American Hero - Members of the Joe team get to sing a rocking version of their theme to a stadium of fans after stopping Cobra’s mind control scheme.
“Lisa on Ice,” The Simpsons - Bart and Lisa, hockey opponents, are expected to try to slaughter one another at the end of the final game but instead remember childhood joys together like raiding a cookie jar, playing shadow puppets on the wall, bandaging each others wounds, and sharing ice cream, and declare the game a draw.
TV episodes where the characters are sharing a joyful moment:
“Mia Famiglia,” S2E14 of Everybody Loves Raymond. Zia (Aunt) Serena visits from the Old Country. There’s a scene where the family sits around the table singing “C’ e La Luna Mezzo Mari,” (forgive the spelling and punctuation) a joyful and kind-of bawdy folk tune.
“Data’s Day,” ST:TNG - it includes, among many other things, a joyful celebration of the wedding of Chief Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa.
“Hot Potato,” The Flintstones - Fred buys Wilma a piano for their anniversary. Barney and Bedrock policeman sing happy anniversary to the couple.
“Eagleton” (S3:E12), “London” (S6:E17), Parks and Recreation - In both episodes Leslie surprises Ron with thoughtful gifts that delight both of them. (The former, a surprise birthday party; the latter, a scavenger hunt.)
“Lurch Learns To Dance”, The Addams Family, Wednesday teaches the butler how to move it, move it.
“Promotion”; Season 7, Episode 22 of Cagney & Lacey. Everyone celebrates Chris’ promotion to sergeant.
“Cold Slither,” G.I. Joe A Real American Hero - Members of the Joe team get to sing a rocking version of their theme to a stadium of fans after stopping Cobra’s mind control scheme.
“Lisa on Ice,” The Simpsons - Bart and Lisa, hockey opponents, are expected to try to slaughter one another at the end of the final game but instead remember childhood joys together like raiding a cookie jar, playing shadow puppets on the wall, bandaging each others wounds, and sharing ice cream, and declare the game a draw.
“The Zazzy Substitution,” The Big Bang Theory - Penny learns about “Shamy”, much to her delight.
“Funeral,” S7E13 of Young Sheldon. The funeral of family patriarch George Cooper, who died of a heart attack. “My mother’s pecan pie is the reason we needed an extra-large coffin at my dad’s funeral.”
“Funeral,” S7E13 of Young Sheldon. The funeral of family patriarch George Cooper, who died of a heart attack. “My mother’s pecan pie is the reason we needed an extra-large coffin at my dad’s funeral.”
“Chuckles Bites the Dust”. S6E7 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary, who has been chastising her co-workers for making jokes about the death of the station’s children’s show host, Chuckles the Clown, finds herself unable to keep from giggling while delivering his eulogy.
“Funeral,” S7E13 of Young Sheldon. The funeral of family patriarch George Cooper, who died of a heart attack. “My mother’s pecan pie is the reason we needed an extra-large coffin at my dad’s funeral.”
“Chuckles Bites the Dust”. S6E7 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary, who has been chastising her co-workers for making jokes about the death of the station’s children’s show host, Chuckles the Clown, finds herself unable to keep from giggling while delivering his eulogy.
“Free Churro.” S5E6 of BoJack Horseman. BoJack delivers a highly introspective eulogy at his mother’s funeral.
“Funeral,” S7E13 of Young Sheldon. The funeral of family patriarch George Cooper, who died of a heart attack. “My mother’s pecan pie is the reason we needed an extra-large coffin at my dad’s funeral.”
“Chuckles Bites the Dust”. S6E7 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary, who has been chastising her co-workers for making jokes about the death of the station’s children’s show host, Chuckles the Clown, finds herself unable to keep from giggling while delivering his eulogy.
“Free Churro.” S5E6 of BoJack Horseman. BoJack delivers a highly introspective eulogy at his mother’s funeral.
“Pilot,” S1E1 of Six Feet Under. Funeral home owner Nathaniel Fisher dies after getting hit by a bus.