To the surprise of many, the quality of commercial programming on television improved dramatically in the 1970s. Perhaps programmers were responding to complaints about the poor quality of TV in the 1960s, or they were trying to fill the void left by the decline of political and social activism. For a number of reasons, TV shows in the 1970s tackled some difficult social problems. These shows proved that the medium of television was capable of making a contribution to the national debate about social change. The 1970s also saw the emergence of cable TV, which offered Americans alternatives to the standard programming on the big three networks.

One of the most popular programs of the decade was All in the Family (1971–79). Set in a working-class household in the Bronx, the show provided a forum for the discussion of race, sexuality, and generational tensions—all...