My picks:

1. Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek/Star Trek-The Next Generation)
2. Chris Carter (The X-Files/Millennium)
3. Norman Lear (All in the Family/One Day At A Time)

Rod Serling
Norman Lear
Aaron Spelling

Norman Lear
Michael Landon
Aaron Spelling

1. Mr. Rod Serling
2. Mr. Fred Silverman
3. Miss Lucille Ball

fred silverman norman lear pat weaver

Desi Arnaz
Norman Lear
...I dunno.

Philo Farnsworth
William Paley
Fred Silverman/Brandon Tartikoff tied.

SYLVESTER "PAT" WEAVER
PHYLO FARNSWORTH
DESI ARNEZ

http://bigheaddc.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/roseanne.jpg

Roseanne Barr...

For creating the first show to portray a woman as the head of the household -- feminism.

For creating the first show to portray working-class as smart and liberal instead of ignorant and conservative (ie: "All In The Family").

For creating one of the most realistic TV families that dealt with real, difficult issues (money, drugs, sex, abuse etc.) in unconventional ways.

For pushing the boundaries of network TV and being one of the first shows to portray homosexuality regularly. This paved the way for many shows in the future.

Roseanne... the true Lucy of the late '80s and early '90s ("Roseanne" had the same number of hit seasons as "I Love Lucy" -- it just went on a little too long! Oh well!)

Doing just three won't cut it for me, sorry.

First and foremost, Mr. Aaron Spelling. All that has to be said is that this man served as executive producer to at least one show on network TV for the last thirty-nine years of his life, not to mention one of his shows continued on after his death. Spelling's genius is best illustrated by the wide variety of his shows...police shows, detective shows, family dramas, romantic comedies, primetime serials, teen dramas, supernatural shows, and it goes on and on.

Second, Mr. Norman Lear, who changed the landscape of situation comedy by making it more realistic. While it's a shame that other forms of the sitcom fell out of favor because of Lear's accomplishments, his work is still to be applauded. Many of the sitcoms he produced continue to be rerun across the world.

Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, pioneers of the game show genre. They were responsible for most of America's favorite game shows and many of them still exist today, either here or in other countries. Think of a long-running classic game show that isn't "Jeopardy!" or "Wheel of Fortune" and nine times out of ten, it's probably a Goodson-Todman production.

Last but never least, the legendary, fearless, genius Irna Phillips. She single-handedly created a genre from the ground up by following the simple instructions to create a "daily program about a family." From there, she began the soap opera genre and created or had a hand in numerous radio and television successes. She also worked closely with and mentored Agnes Nixon and William J. Bell, soap opera legends themselves. Because of her influence on them, every single soap opera currently on the air, except for "General Hospital," can trace their beginnings back to Irna Phillips.

Doing just three won't cut it for me, sorry.

Agreed, Aside from the 3 I've already named, I'd like to add the following to my list.

Merv Griffin
Carol Burnett
Jackie Gleason

Matt Groening :D

Walt Disney
Rod Serling
Gene Roddenberry

Aaron Spelling, Garry Marshall, Glen Larson

My Picks:
1. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz-They proved an interracial marriage on tv could work, to prove it they took their act on the road. Desi revolutionized tv by having three cameras filming. They built an empire together and she took it over after their divorce.

2. Norman Lear-Creating ground breaking tv series that dealt with serious issues in a funny way.

3. Quin-Martin-They created several police detective shows in the 70's.

4. Irwin Allen-Created sci-fi shows during the 60's and disaster films during the 70's. Famous for cliffhanger action seen in Lost In Space.

5. Paul Henning-Creator who gave us country comedies The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres.

Quin-Martin-They created several police detective shows in the 70's.

Quinn Martin was actually just one person and served as producer of many series during the 70's but I'm not sure if he created any of the shows he was associated with.

Marty and Sid Kroft (for being new life to children's tv)
Peter Engel and Brandon Tartikoff (for creating TNBC and changing the face of saturday mornings exciting tweens)
Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft (for breaking the taboos, opening the way for much what is on TV today and beyond)

and of course:
Dezi Arnaz (for perfecting filming of weekly TV programs)
Jack Webb (for making crime programs realistic)

Ozzie & Harriet Nelson -- who pioneered and sustained the establishment of the family TV sitcom, growing the format from its radio roots. Their great contribution to TV history is all too often overlooked.

Jackie Gleason, Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, and others -- who pioneered sketch and variety TV and the establishment of varied characters.

Quinn Martin was actually just one person and served as producer of many series during the 70's but I'm not sure if he created any of the shows he was associated with.
you beat me to it, zoneboy!:lol: I was gonna say that!:lol:

Another visionary was Danny Arnold. The fact that he could write such wonderful romantic comedy on Bewitched and go on to create/produce/write such a gritty police comedy (Barney Miller) is a testament to his talents. Barney Miller really changed the way a lot of people looked at police officers.

Ozzie & Harriet Nelson -- who pioneered and sustained the establishment of the family TV sitcom, growing the format from its radio roots. Their great contribution to TV history is all too often overlooked.



Thank you! I was just about to post that myself because no one had mentioned Oz and Harriet! How sad but true: "their great contribution to TV history is all too often overlooked."

Dick Clark-the man brought rock and roll into TV living rooms all across the country, and introduced a lot of acts to people nation wide. Thats a visionary to me right there.

Rod Serling-the man was truly ahead of his time

Mark Goodson-look at all the game shows he did.

There's also Dick Wolf, the big cheese behind the Law & Order franchise.

1. Beth Sullivan and Jane Seymour. Beth Sullivan created the super successful western drama, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. It was a phenomenal show that was way ahead of it's time. It was a show that focused on a woman doctor as the lead character. It showed us how strong and successful a woman could be even in the days of the pioneers. Jane Seymour played the role so well, nobody could have seen anyone else but her in the role. She turned the character into an icon and a role model for all women. She proved that just because you're a woman, doesn't mean you can't fight for what you want or do whatever you want to do. Jane Seymour proved that just because she was from England doesn't mean you can't play an American character. It was a great show and even next to Little House on the Prairie, there is and will be nothing like it. It appeals to everyone, not just females. It dealt with real life issues on a realistic level. It had it's funny moments as well. It will never be forgotten.

2. Sidney Sheldon. He proved that an author could produce successful television shows. Just because he was an author didn't mean he couldn't make not one, but two successful shows. The Patty Duke Show and I Dream of Jeannie.
He had a mind that never stopped and was so creative in all the story lines he wrote for both shows. He did both shows at once for awhile and did it successfully until Patty Duke was canceled.
Nobody had ever thought of creating a show with a genie, let alone a beautiful female genie. It was so creative and funny. He was a true icon and will never be forgotten.

That's all I can think of right now. If I think of a third one, I will post it. ;)

Jack Webb
Michael Landon
Norman Lear
Stephen Cannell

Barney Miller really changed the way a lot of people looked at police officers.

So did Jack Webb's Dragnet and Adam-12

So did Jack Webb's Dragnet and Adam-12
Yes, they did. Both are fine examples. :cool:

There's also Dick Wolf, the big cheese behind the Law & Order franchise.


I don't think he's a visonary. There have been many law shows and the Law & Order shows are no different than say LA Law in the 1980's.

Michael Davies - for not only revitalizing the network primetime game show genre, but in the process saved ABC's arse when her brought "Millionaire" to the states in 1999.

Merv Griffin - Only Goodson-Todman beat Merv in making the GS genre for what it is with its very numerous GS's over the years, but Merv created two of the longest-running syndicated GS's in history.

Goodson-Todman for setting the benchmark for the GS genre.

Others:
Jack Webb
Norman Lear
Aaron Spelling