A Potential Return to The “Golden Age” of Television
A 1950s family watches as the new "Golden Age" of television is born.Designed by Mia Wallace '28 via Canva; Original photo from StockCake and idea inspired by Philosophy Talk
As I scrolled past yet another meaningless video, the TikTok algorithm pleasantly surprised me with a hilarious compilation of elementary school teachers struggling with their classroom and slipping in out-of-pocket remarks to their coworkers.
Little did I know this suggestion from social media would soon become one of my all-time favorite TV shows: “Abbott Elementary.”
It’s easy to assume that a return to the “Golden Age” of television may be unattainable at this point, given the rise of TV clips being featured on TikTok and the commercialization of streaming services.
That being said, I believe that with adversity comes innovation. These bumps in the road form a path to an evolved “Golden Age"; one that is more suitable for our generation’s time commitments and individual preferences.
In the years following the Second World War, the first “Golden Age” of television was born. Classics like “I Love Lucy” and “The Twilight Zone” defined this era of technological advancement and filled up the newly founded leisure time, especially for housewives.
Flash forward about fifty years to the turn of the millennium, and television started becoming more cinematic, with the series that epitomized this: “The Sopranos.” According to Screen Rant, this “Long-Form creative drama,” has “prompted several other ‘serious’ dramas with cinematic budgets, such as ‘The Wire’ and ‘Grey's Anatomy.’”
This newfound quality and the “blockbuster budget” that “The Sopranos,” as well as shows like “Breaking Bad” and “Game of Thrones,” brought to the industry marks a significant shift in the way society views television. Screen Rant continues that “television lost its stigma as a lower form of art.”
Some may argue that this honor is not upheld by current television programs, mainly because of the competitive nature of streaming services. But this competition may be vital for the success of television.
The options that varying streaming services offer open endless opportunities for better TV because it allows each platform to tap into its own niche that wouldn’t otherwise be featured on primetime TV.
To increase revenue and set them apart from other platforms, several members of the industry have prioritized quantity over quality in the past few years.
The Vulture Spring 2022 programming analysis highlights how, in the span of only ten weeks, “streaming platforms and cable networks rolled out more than 50 new and returning high-profile series.” The source goes on to quote the opinion of a cable marketing executive: “It’s almost hurting consumers at this point. It’s just too much.”
However, cutting-edge series like “Abbott Elementary” demonstrate the quality that exists amongst the quantity.
With four Emmy Awards and the ability to be streamed on ABC or Hulu, this four-season network show has single handedly revived the sitcom.
Quinta Brunson, the creator, writer and star, tells the realistic story of elementary school teachers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania struggling to get by on limited resources. Every character has their own quirks that fuse together to develop the plot in a way that touches on serious issues in education while never failing to entertain the audience.
An article by 34th Street champions this sentiment, stating that “what makes ‘Abbott’ so refreshing and a show that the industry is rushing to embrace is that it’s authentically funny and heartwarming without trying to be something that it’s not.”
Though the cinematic quality of television's “Golden Age” was defined by a lot of drama series, this era also offered no shortage of funny, well-established sitcoms like “The Office" and “Parks and Recreation,” which paved the way for future comedies like “Abbott Elementary” to shine.
“Abbott Elementary” often gets compared to these shows because of its mockumentary style: a genre that pokes fun at serious documentaries. Others have quickly recognized these similarities, even through short clips on TikTok.
“It’s a lot like ‘The Office’ because they look over at the camera and break the fourth wall. I haven’t come around to actually watching it. I just don’t have time right now, so TikTok is easier.” said Jadyn Fahey ‘28.
A time-saving convergence of media like this may appear to threaten the television industry, but Jadyn and Emma Walker ‘28 are here to assure us that this is not the case.
The TikTok algorithm knows way more about you than you think: what you watch, how much time you spend on each video and the keywords you search. Nevertheless, this invasion of privacy can lead to some pretty accurate suggestions.
According to Fahey, “TikTok works more as a promotional sort of thing. If you really like it on TikTok, then you’re going to go watch it.”
She supports this statement through an example of her own: “I kept seeing ‘The Rookie’ on my TikTok. I was watching this one relationship develop, and I really wanted to know what happens, so I found what streaming service it was on and finished the whole thing over the summer.”
On the other hand, Walker discovered an older sitcom through TikTok: “I would see little clips of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ that would grab my attention, and once I saw it was on Netflix, I got hooked, and I started watching the whole show.”
The commonality of this occurrence is reinforced by a 2022 Wired article: “One immediate upside to the algorithmic glut of content clogging our attention is the delight in being introduced to a genre or series otherwise overlooked.”
As we evolve, so must our entertainment. We live in a fast-paced world with little time to sit down, relax and be entertained. So, when we get those rare moments, we don’t want to spend them sifting through every channel for something we may remotely like.
TV clips on TikTok and the multitude of streaming services offered act as efficient tools to maximize the viewer experience through more options and personalized suggestions. Without these tools, Fahey and Walker wouldn’t have discovered the shows they got so invested in.
The increased ability to find something we truly enjoy sounds like a perfect definition for a new “Golden Age” of television.
So buy that streaming service. Scroll through TikTok.
Whether it be old or new, your next favorite show could be waiting for you.