Ahead of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy has unveiled a list of the 75 most impactful television moments, prominently featuring iconic moments from the music industry.
Music has significantly influenced television history, as evidenced by the inclusion of numerous musical milestones in this list. Among the highlights are the debut of MTV in 1981, the premiere of Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking “Thriller” video on the channel in 1983, and the launch of the reality TV show “The Real World” in 1992. These moments underscore MTV’s influential role in shaping music and pop culture on television.
The Super Bowl and The Ed Sullivan Show have contributed two of the top music moments each. The Super Bowl is represented by Whitney Houston’s unforgettable rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and a notable wardrobe malfunction during a halftime show. Meanwhile, The Ed Sullivan Show is celebrated for hosting the first performances of Elvis Presley and The Beatles, marking significant milestones in the history of televised music performances.
Significantly, the top two moments on the list are not music-related, underlining the diverse nature of impactful television. The number one spot is held by Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing in 1969, with his famous quote, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The second spot is dedicated to the live coverage of the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The TV Academy compiled this list by presenting several hundred programs and news moments, submitted by its peer group executive committees, to its members. The members then voted on those they felt have had the greatest impact on the viewing public over the past 75 years.
The Academy chose 75 moments to align with the 75th annual Primetime Emmys, an event that was originally scheduled for September but postponed due to strikes by Hollywood writers and actors.
Among the top 10 moments, The Beatles’ iconic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show ranks third, following the Apollo 11 moon landing and 9/11 news coverage. Elvis Presley’s performance on the same show is also notable, ranking at No. 11. Other music-related moments in the list include Live Aid at No. 37, Kelly Clarkson winning the first season of American Idol at No. 44, the debut of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video on MTV at No. 48, Justin Timberlake’s controversial Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show performance at No. 61, and Whitney Houston’s Super Bowl XXV performance of the national anthem at No. 65.
This diverse and reflective list not only celebrates the most impactful moments in television history but also highlights the integral role of music in shaping television and its influence on the viewing public.
