Three's Company: At the time it was unheard of for an unmarried couple of the opposite sex to live together. Some people were outraged when they heard about the show.

Growing Pains: The whole thing about Carol being called fat taking its toll on Tracey Gold causing her eating disorder. Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.

On 'Maude', I think it was a big deal that she was the 1st character to get an abortion. I might be wrong. Maybe somebody can clear it up.

On 'I Love Lucy', when Lucille Ball was really pregnant, they couldn't say the word 'pregnant' on TV.

Ellen coming out.

Same-sex kissing - Roseanne?

Showing Barbara Eden's belly-button on 'I Dream of Jeannie'.

you're right about MAUDE; it WAS a big deal. In fact; when the episode aired some of the CBS affilliates refused to air it and CBS ran a disclamier before the show started. And some people complained to some stations that chose to air it.

and on I LOVE LUCY they wanted to hide her pregnancy on the show; but since they couldn't; they decided to show it which was a controversial thing back then. Like you said;they couldn't even say the word "pregnant". They had to say "expecting" or "in a family way" or something. When they filmed the episode where Lucy announces that she's pregnant; they had a priest on the set to make sure they did it in good taste.
My mother said once that when the episodes aired where she was pregnant; her mother (my grandmother) called it "disgusting" showing a pregnannt woman on TV. (my grandmother was a little "victorian" in her thinking)

when ALL IN THE FAMILY first started it caused a lot of controversy among people. I remember my father saying once that a lot of parents in our neighborhood wouldn't let their kids watch it. And Rev. Billy Grahm said he'd NEVER let his kids watch it. And Lucille Ball said "How can a network that I've worked for all these years; show something like that"?
In fact when CBS first screened the pilot for a handful of studio execs., the head of programming was among them, and after it was over, the lights went up in the screening room; he looked around and he was the only one still in there. He went out in the hall; looked around but didn't see anyone. Then he saw one of them, and he asked the guy what he thought of it; and the guy said "Let's just pretend we never saw that"!

Married With Children caused some controversy women in skimpy clothing, as well as The Simpsons for Bart's Eat my shorts and being proud of the title Underacheiver.
South Park

The Jeffersons - Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first interracial marriage, if I'm not mistaken.

It seems the sitcoms of the '70s took so many chances that paid off. It's sad how much things have regressed. Society is much too politically correct to make shows like that today. :(

Probably married with children... there wasn't an episode without "you know what" in it.

Growing Pains: The whole thing about Carol being called fat taking its toll on Tracey Gold causing her eating disorder. Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.
Also you can't forget about Mike's friend Boner

The Jeffersons - Tom and Helen Willis were TV's first interracial marriage, if I'm not mistaken.

It seems the sitcoms of the '70s took so many chances that paid off. It's sad how much things have regressed. Society is much too politically correct to make shows like that today. :(

"I Love Lucy" was TV's first interracial marriage, then Danny Thomas's two shows were next.

Also how Kirk Cameron got Julie McCullough fired due to his religious beliefs.

Please do the whole internet world a favor and get the facts straight before posting.

From my own personal opinion, after watching the E! True Hollywood Story about Growing Pains, it seems that she was bitter because he would not pay any attention to her amd was mainly using the religious angle as an excuse to vent that anger. Do not take this as fact, because like your story, I cannot prove it.

"I Love Lucy" was TV's first interracial marriage, then Danny Thomas's two shows were next.
Well, I guess I should have written TV's first Caucasian/African-American married couple. But mostly everyone knew what I meant, right?? :D

you're right about MAUDE; it WAS a big deal. In fact; when the episode aired some of the CBS affilliates refused to air it and CBS ran a disclamier before the show started. And some people complained to some stations that chose to air it.

and on I LOVE LUCY they wanted to hide her pregnancy on the show; but since they couldn't; they decided to show it which was a controversial thing back then. Like you said;they couldn't even say the word "pregnant". They had to say "expecting" or "in a family way" or something. When they filmed the episode where Lucy announces that she's pregnant; they had a priest on the set to make sure they did it in good taste.
My mother said once that when the episodes aired where she was pregnant; her mother (my grandmother) called it "disgusting" showing a pregnannt woman on TV. (my grandmother was a little "victorian" in her thinking)
Regarding the Lucy pregnancy episodes, Lucy in one scene during the episode RICKY HAS LABOR PAINS, she is not using the word "expecting" she uses another word that I have never heard or since other than in this scene. She is reading a column by Walter Winchell where he mentions the Cuban band leader, Lucy reads it aloud and states that Lucy Ricardo is "pregnant", but she doesn't state that word. I can't recall what the word is, I think it is "infant" something. It escapes me for the moment.

Also, there was a catholic priest, a rabbi and a protestant minister who approved the scripts and watched the filming taking place.

The Lucy character was also not shown smoking during the pregnancy episodes as it wouldn't look good for a mother to be with a cigarette in her mouth.

also; it was because of the pregnant episodes that the show invented the rerun-without meaning to. Because of her pregnancy; she couldn't work a full schedule. So they had little choice but to repeat some episodes.

Valerie(Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family)--supposedly the first time the word "condom" was used in primetime on a sitcom.

On Star Trek, Kirk and Uhura have the first ever Interracial kiss on Television.

One Day At A Time had the first gay series regular character (I'm pretty sure.....)

Roseanne went in for breast reduction surgery.

The was controversy about the shorts Janet and Chrissy wore on Threes Company.

Diff`rent Strokes had a lot of controversy surrounding it. Not only the behind the scenes downward spirals of the cast, but from the show itself. They used to get letters from groups such as the KKK, threatening them to stop doing the show. (They didn't believe mixed race families should have been allowed, especially on TV).

"I Love Lucy" was TV's first interracial marriage, then Danny Thomas's two shows were next.

Wow, I never ever thought of Lucy's & Ricky's marriage as interracial but now that I think of it....

In fact, I also heard that the studio, or executives, or some big wig, didn't even want Desi to play her husband. They wanted to get a caucasian actor.

Roseanne-was one of the first shows to have so many reaccuring gay characters. Also the episode where Roseanne goes to a gay bar and another woman kisses her. ABC in the beginning refused to air the episode but Roseanne said if they didn't she would take her show to another network. In the end they aired the episode.

Will and Grace-The first sitcom to have the leading role being a gay man

Murphy Brown- not exact on the details. But I beleive she decided to have a child and raise him on her own.

Roseanne-was one of the first shows to have so many reaccuring gay characters. Also the episode where Roseanne goes to a gay bar and another woman kisses her. ABC in the beginning refused to air the episode but Roseanne said if they didn't she would take her show to another network. In the end they aired the episode.

Will and Grace-The first sitcom to have the leading role being a gay man

Murphy Brown- not exact on the details. But I beleive she decided to have a child and raise him on her own.
Yes, the Murphy Brown pregnancy storyline got a great deal of attention because then-VP Dan Quayle took a very vocal stand against it. I was only a kid at the time, but I remember the whole commotion about it.

Maude was a big deal. Also Ellen was a Huge deal when Ellen Degeneres came out as a lesban.

Soap - Had someone who was gay for one and many more was meant for adults. I remember my mom and dad wouldnt let me watch it and the network moved it to 9:30 because of all the adult content and people were complaining

no; Kirk & Uhura DIDN'T have the first interraciel kiss. Nichele Nichols tells what really happened with that in William Shatners book "Star Trek memories". After they filmed it, the network "suits" got nervous about what the reaction would be to it; ecspecially in the south. So they had them film the scene again; only without them kissing (just seeming to) and they said they'd decide later which version they'd show. They chickened out and showed the 2nd version.
I don't know why this story is never heard; but it's in that book-read it and see for yourself.

also; it was because of the pregnant episodes that the show invented the rerun-without meaning to. Because of her pregnancy; she couldn't work a full schedule. So they had little choice but to repeat some episodes.
They had filmed some episodes prior to Lucy giving birth. They were filmed early in Lucy's pregnancy. These episodes would resort to "flashbacks" although they weren't really "flashbacks". Lucy and Ricky were seen in the beginning of the episode talking and reminiscing while Lucy was in the bedroom "sleeping" or "resting" after giving birth. Ethel and Ricky talked abt how Lucy did this and did that and that's when the flashback began. Just some info for those who didn't know the story behind this.

Welcome Back, Kotter - In Boston, the local ABC affiliate (WCVB) refused to air the show. The city was going though a tumultuous school busing program to enhance racial equality and the local affiliate felt Kotter's fictional integrated classroom would only add fuel to the fire. However, the show became an early ratings success and the affiliate relented, picking it up from its fifth episode.

what about the episode when ellen de generes's character ellen came out as a lesbian and of her coming out as a lesbian in real life; the controversey and media attention it gained afterwards was incredible. doesn't that count?

Julia - Diahann Carroll often mentioned how she tired by the controversies caused by the show. It is hard to image that stations throughout the south initially refused to air the show.

God, The Devil and Bob...anyone remember this show from 2000????
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221751/

What was that show with Aidan Quinn from a couple of years ago -- The Book of Daniel?? I understand that got many church groups in a frenzy. I never watched it, so I'm not sure. :confused:

"the Facts Of Life", Which Was First Aired 8/24/79, Was Set In An All Girls School. In The Very First Ep, Blair Makes Accusations That One Of Her Fellow Students And Supposed Friend, Cindy, Is Too Much Into Things Boys Like, Including Girls. She Makes The Claim That She Is A Little Too Friendly With Some Of The Girls, Which Has Cindy Question Her Own Sexuality.

Housemother, Edna Garrett (mrs. G) Lovingly Talks With Cindy, And Then Proceeds To Talk With Blair. Mrs. G Basically Accuses Blair Of Being A Slut Because Of The Way She Flirts And Dresses. Blair Is Offended, And Says It's All An Act, And That She Does Not Do Anything With The Boys. Mrs. G Teaches Blair Not To Judge A Book By Its Cover. Excellent Ep!

I Think This Ep Laid The Foundation For The Jo And Blair Relationship. Because Let's Face It, Jo Was Even A Bigger Tomboy And Outcast Than Cindy Ever Was.

I Think The Series On The Whole Could Be Listed As Controversy, Based On The Fact That Almost Weekly There Was "a Fact Of Life". Rape, Attempted Rape, Breast Cancer, Suicide, Attempted Suicide, Death, Marital Affair, Lose Of Virginity, Interracial Dating, Shoplifting, Hotwiring, Etc.

In Fact, There Are Some Ep's That Some Cable Stations Still Will Not Show. The Main One That Comes To Mind Is The Ep, "the First Time", Where Natalie Loses Her Virginity, And The Whole Ep Is Based Around It. Open Discussions With Her Friends, Especially When Her Boyfriend Has Not Contacted Her Since. In The 80's, When The Show Came On, And When I Just Saw It Here This Week Again On A Local Channel, It Had The Same Disclaimer, "due To The Subject Matter, Parents May Want To View Tonight's Episode Of Facts Of LifE With Their Children." This Ep Was Aired In 1988, And Is Still "banned" Overall.

This Show Had A # Of Firsts, Including A Regular Black FEMALE Star On A Series, The First Show That Featured A Physically Handicapped (cerebral Palsy); AND To This Day, It Is Still The Longest Running Sitcom By An All Female Cast! (9 Years)

Awesome, Awesome Show, That Is Still Relevant Today As It Was The Very First Time It Was Aired!