Among the highly successful shows that helped shape FOX as a strong TV network was the Simpsons. New episodes continue to air and they bring smiles and laughs to millions of fans across the globe. (Art by Matt Groening and property of FOX Broadcasting Network)
By: Jacob Elyachar
The FOX Broadcasting Network is celebrating its’ 25th Anniversary tonight. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest will host the two-hour special that will feature appearances from cast members and creators from past hit FOX shows that will include Beverly Hills 90210, Married…with Children, The X-Files and more.
In honor to celebrate the network’s milestone, jacobelyacharjournalist.com will look back to 10 shows that put the network on the map.
Married…with Children (1987 to 1997)
One of the network’s first major hits was Married…. with Children. For 10 years, Americans tuned in to see the misadventures of Al and Peggy Bundy (Ed O’Neil and Katey Sagal), their dysfunctional family and neighbors. While the show did win in the rating awards, it remained a fan-favorite and launched the careers of O’Neil, Sagal and Christina Applegate.
To watch Al Bundy in action, click here: http://youtu.be/ydfGnvUsFqk
The Simpsons (1989 to present)
While the Bundys only lasted for 10 years on the network, one dysfunctional family still remains on the air and beloved by millions of fans all across the globe. After over 500 episodes, numerous guest stars, a feature-length film and two rides at the Universal Studios theme parks, the world continues to turn to the Simpson family for laughs and sometimes insight every Sunday night on FOX.
Click here to watch some of the funniest moments of the show: http://youtu.be/2oYani0tb0I
In Living Color (1990 to 1994)
To counter NBC’s long running hit: Saturday Night Live, FOX turned to Keenan and Damon Wayans to create an alternative form of live television. The show centered on a heavily African-American cast that featured incredible skits, superb live performances and an in-house dance troupe called The Fly Girls. Among the stars that gotten their start on the show were Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier and Fly Girls Carrie Ann Inaba and Jennifer Lopez.
The show featured a lot of parodies of past moments in music, movie and television. One of the best parodies in the show was “We Are The World.” Click here to watch it: http://youtu.be/ZQLhOXlGnRE
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990 to 2000)
One of TV Mogul Aaron Spelling’s numerous hits in the 1990s was Beverly Hills, 90210. This show originally focused on the lives of twins Brandon and Brenda Walsh (portrayed by Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty respectfully) as they began their new lives in Beverly Hills. Overtime Beverly Hills, 90210 tackled hot button issues such as AIDS, teenage suicide and pregnancy, drug abuse, abortion and other topics while cast members Luke Perry, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth became household names overnight.
One of the show’s hottest love triangles was Brenda Walsh, Dylan McKay and Kelly Taylor. To watch one of the trio’s intense moments, click here: http://youtu.be/qt0bzJHndbQ
The X-Files (1993 to 2002)
If you asked any science fiction fan what show they liked to watch in the 1990s, they would say The X-Files. The show followed the careers and personal lives of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigated extraterrestrials and a government conspiracy to cover it up. While the show wrapped up production in 2002, the crew returned for one feature-length film: X-Files: I Want to Believe, which earned $68 Million at the Box Office.
One of the show’s most dramatic moments came when aliens abducted Mulder in a season finale. Click here to watch the event from Scully’s view: http://youtu.be/Sd0YFCE2hZc
24 (2001 to 2010)
For eight seasons, Kiefer Sutherland successfully brought Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer to life as he tackled to keep his country safe from terrorists. He suffered a lot on the show from the death of his wife, Teri, in season one to being declared an outlaw by the show’s end. By the end of the show’s final season, 24 beat out classic spy shows like Mission Impossible, the Avengers and Alias to become the longest running espionage-themed show of all-time.
To watch Jack at his finest, click here: http://youtu.be/frWYbVic6fA
American Idol (2002 to present)
American Idol has evolved from summer standout to a worldwide phenomenon. Originally brought over from the United Kingdom, Idol has made dreams come true for hundreds of artists including top-selling alums Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert. In addition, the show also rekindled the careers of Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler and made Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell household names. Currently, the show’s Top Six will sing for America’s votes on Wednesday and will crown its’ 11th winner on May 23, 2012.
To see Kelly Clarkson’s winning moment that launched the singing career of one of the most successful alums, click here: http://youtu.be/uC21yoI8Di8
Hell’s Kitchen (2005 to present)
After one successful season of hit show in the United Kingdom, celebrated chef Gordon Ramsay brought Hell’s Kitchen to the United States and put hundreds of chefs through the paces to prove themselves worthy of fronting one of his restaurants. So far, nine contestants survived backstabbing teammates and Ramsay’s many tirades to become successful winners. The show will return for its’ tenth season on May 29, 2012.
Throughout all of the seasons, Ramsay was known for his shouting and foul language, click here to watch some of Chef Ramsay’s best moments from season one: http://youtu.be/l0CvfEcn7YI
So You Think You Can Dance (2005 to present)
While American Idol has done wonders for the music industry, the show’s executive producer Nigel Lythgoe created a show to highlight up-and-coming dancers and introduced to a whole new generation different dance styles including: Contemporary, Broadway, Hip-Hop, Lyrical Jazz and even Bollywood. Several of the show’s alumni have become superstars including Travis Wall, Benji and Lacey Schwimmer, Dominic “D-Trix” Sandoval, Steven “Twitch” Boss, Chelsie Hightower and more. The show will return with Lythgoe and fan-favorite judge Mary Murphy heading the show’s judging bench this summer.
One of the show’s best routines from season seven’s Hip-Hop routine featuring Twitch and Alex Wong. Superstar choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo choreographed this piece, click here to watch it: http://youtu.be/TLtSfYX8tJk
Glee (2009 to present)
In 2009, the FOX Broadcasting Network got the world singing again as they launched Glee, a high school dramedy that focused on the New Directions show choir members at the fictional William McKinley High School. The cast of Glee has recorded numerous covers of hit songs and has broken numerous records on the Billboard charts, has toured across the states and United Kingdom, had an episode after the Super Bowl and won numerous awards. Even while their third season winds down, they continue to tell us to “Don’t Stop Believin’”
To watch the cast perform their hit song on Oprah, click here: http://youtu.be/auTnRlMOu00
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