18. The Tonight Show
While there have been many hosts behind The Tonight Show, there was only one Johnny Carson. The first show with Carson aired October 1, 1962. He set the pace and standard by which nighttime talk shows would all use as a template. He opened with a witty and timely monologue on current events, then mixed up sketch comedy with guest interviews. For three decades, Carson dominated late night television. For his final show, some 50-million viewers tuned in to say goodbye to the king of late night.
17. The All-Channel Receiver Act
Early on in broadcast television, many standards forced the networks to broadcast in such a way that consumers didn’t have to buy multiple sets to watch competing networks. The result was that one television could toggle through channels to pick up one’s desired channel. The last hurdle was the split between VHF and UHF signals, not unlike AM and FM on radios. Again, in the name of consumer protection, the U.S. Congress passed an act called the All-Channel Receiver Act in 1962. This forced TV set manufacturers to turn out televisions which could carry either signal.