There are great TV shows and then that are TV shows that changed the game.

This doesnt necessarily relate to the subject matter of the show, even the storytelling.

It is sometimes because the show truly made an impact on the way television content is delivered.

Stills from The Simpsons, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones

Image by Federico Napoli

They had nice homes, decent jobs, and financial strife wasnt part of their equation.

ButRoseannewas the first sitcom to portray a lower-middle-class family struggling to pay bills and dealing with more realistic challenges.

The show was lauded for its believable and relatable portrayal of the average working-class family.

The cast of Roseanne sitting on a couch in the living room posing

Image via ABC

The spin-off seriesThe Connerswas born, and that show lasted for seven seasons.

Hes partnered with his equally amoral wife Claire (Robin Wright).

Its two main aspects of the show itself.

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SinceHouse of Cards, streaming services producing their own content and attracting top-tier talent is commonplace.

No one saw it coming.

But that wasnt always a thing.

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But it holds an important part in television history.

ABC was forced to add a parental advisory at the beginning of every episode and viewership declined.

With a weekly show release schedule, what happens next isnt found out for another week.

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Thats in large part because of the value of the cliffhanger.

Even with shows that are bingeable, cliffhanger endings are popular, encouraging fans to keep watching.

Its the soap operaDallas, however,thatwas one of the first shows, if notthefirst to do this.

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remains one of themost famous TV show cliffhangers of all time.

Sure,anime has existed for some time, which appeals to adult audiences as well.

But itsThe Simpsonsthat brought forth the concept of the adult animated sitcom.

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But itsSurvivorthat is widely considered to be the reality competition show that completely changed the face of television.

Together, they must survive on minimal resources, compete, strategize, and test their internal fortitude.

Reality TV is now a genre on its own, and thats in large part thanks toSurvivor.

Frank (Kevin Spacey), Claire (Robin Wright), and Doug (Michael Kelly) holding their hands over their hearts on House of Cards

Image via Netflix

NEXT:The Highest-Rated TV Shows on IMDb, Ranked

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Ned Stark standing in a green field and holding a sword in Game of Thrones

Image via HBO

Game of Thrones Poster

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Lucille Ball looks shocked next to Desi Arnaz who holds a wad of cash in ‘I Love Lucy’

Image via Desilu Productions

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The main characters of the sitcom Ellen

Image via ABC

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Patrick Duffy and Larry Hagman in Dallas

Image via CBS

Dallas TV Poster

Marge, Homer, Lisa, Maggie and Bart standing together in their living room in The Simpsons

Image via 20th Television

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The young cast of Friends sitting in front of the fountain for promotional photos

Image via NBC

Friends TV Series Poster

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The cast stand together looking somber in black suits in a graveyard in The Sopranos.

Image via HBO

The Sopranos Poster

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Jeff Varner, Sarah Lacina, Zeke Smith, and Debbie Wanner at a tribal council  in Survivor

Image via CBS

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The Sopranos