Besides Sanford and Son, were there any other sitcoms from the 1970's that mentioned. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 02-20-2016, 08:44 PM

CABLE TV?

I was watching Sanford and Son today and Fred was telling Lamont he wants Cable TV and I was shocked because I didn't know it went back that far. It was actually in 1971 which is where this front TV guide cover is from

April 3-9, 1971

1960'sTVfan · 02-20-2016, 09:06 PM

If I recall correctly, one of the TV Guides from the late 60's (1967 or 68) had an article about Cable TV being the wave of the future. So the concept of Cable TV dates back at least that far. In the 70's, only a minority number of households had Cable TV. It was in the 80's when a majority of households had Cable TV, during 1982 and 83 is when it really started taking off.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2016, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

If I recall correctly, one of the TV Guides from the late 60's (1967 or 68) had an article about Cable TV being the wave of the future. So the concept of Cable TV dates back at least that far. In the 70's, only a minority number of households had Cable TV. It was in the 80's when a majority of households had Cable TV, during 1982 and 83 is when it really started taking off.

I don't recall hearing about it on any other show from the 70's. Not even the Jeffersons and they had MONEY lol

Mr. Television · 02-20-2016, 09:15 PM

I don't remember when we actually got cable TV but I know we had it by 1974. It wasn't like now though. It was mainly local channels or channels within the state. Our first out of state channels were TBS ( although it wasn't called that then) and HBO. We got them by late 1977 or early 1978.

1960'sTVfan · 02-20-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I don't recall hearing about it on any other show from the 70's. Not even the Jeffersons and they had MONEY lol

I'm surprised it got a mention on Sanford And Son. During the 70's, Cable TV wasn't usually discussed all that much. The 80's was a different story.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I'm surprised it got a mention on Sanford And Son. During the 70's, Cable TV wasn't usually discussed all that much. The 80's was a different story.

I was laying down and I was like......."Did Fred just say Cable TV? LOL

JSP · 02-20-2016, 10:58 PM

As far as I know cable TV had been around a long time but it was only in the 1970s did cable start offering channels you couldn't get on broadcast tv.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2016, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

As far as I know cable TV had been around a long time but it was only in the 1970s did cable start offering channels you couldn't get on broadcast tv.

You must mean basic cable because shows like Gunsmoke would not have survived if real cable was available to everyone

BigManMike · 02-20-2016, 11:24 PM

I think I remember hearing the Jeffersons say they didn't have it twice in the 80s episodes.

TVFactFan · 02-20-2016, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigcookie

I think I remember hearing the Jeffersons say they didn't have it twice in the 80s episodes.

I'm about to start season 9 of the Jeffersons on DVD and see if I catch it

JSP · 02-21-2016, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

You must mean basic cable because shows like Gunsmoke would not have survived if real cable was available to everyone

Cable tv according to the Wikipedia article started in the late 40s in the U.S. but original programming on cable began in 1972 with the deregulation of the industry. Before 1972 cable merely was used to provide over the air channel tv service to remote areas that couldn't get a signal over the airwaves.

bgva · 02-21-2016, 02:43 AM

It's a movie, but I do remember in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Phoebe Cates mentioning they still couldn't even get cable in Ridgemont.

That was 1982, so Sanford and Son mentioning it surprises me a bit.

Seems like cable was a luxury well into the early-90s...there's an episode of Married...with Children where the Bundys were excited to have it. Although, they were behind the times on a lot of things.

TVFactFan · 02-21-2016, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgva

It's a movie, but I do remember in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Phoebe Cates mentioning they still couldn't even get cable in Ridgemont.

That was 1982, so Sanford and Son mentioning it surprises me a bit.

Seems like cable was a luxury well into the early-90s...there's an episode of Married...with Children where the Bundys were excited to have it. Although, they were behind the times on a lot of things.

He never said what he wanted to see on Cable TV which would have been better lol

All he said was........"Lamont I want Cable TV"

loaferman · 02-22-2016, 05:15 PM

Every time I visited my cousins back in the 60's I saw new channels because they had it. Mostly it was the networks with better reception and some stations out of Washington, DC and Chicago I think.

02-20-2016, 08:44 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,057	Besides Sanford and Son, were there any other sitcoms from the 1970's that mentioned. CABLE TV? I was watching Sanford and Son today and Fred was telling Lamont he wants Cable TV and I was shocked because I didn't know it went back that far. It was actually in 1971 which is where this front TV guide cover is from April 3-9, 1971 Attached Images

02-20-2016, 09:15 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	I don't remember when we actually got cable TV but I know we had it by 1974. It wasn't like now though. It was mainly local channels or channels within the state. Our first out of state channels were TBS ( although it wasn't called that then) and HBO. We got them by late 1977 or early 1978.
	__________________ Sonny

02-22-2016, 05:15 PM	#14
loaferman Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 23, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 642	Every time I visited my cousins back in the 60's I saw new channels because they had it. Mostly it was the networks with better reception and some stations out of Washington, DC and Chicago I think.
	__________________ “It was ‘Will and Grace,’ it was the social media. Literally. That’s what changed peoples’ attitudes. That’s why I was so certain that the vast majority of people would embrace and rapidly embrace” gay marriage, Biden said. “Think behind of all that, I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry. The influence is immense, the influence is immense." -Vice President Joe Biden May 2013

02-20-2016, 09:06 PM	#2
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,095	If I recall correctly, one of the TV Guides from the late 60's (1967 or 68) had an article about Cable TV being the wave of the future. So the concept of Cable TV dates back at least that far. In the 70's, only a minority number of households had Cable TV. It was in the 80's when a majority of households had Cable TV, during 1982 and 83 is when it really started taking off.

02-20-2016, 10:58 PM	#7
JSP Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 19, 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,735	As far as I know cable TV had been around a long time but it was only in the 1970s did cable start offering channels you couldn't get on broadcast tv.

02-20-2016, 11:24 PM	#9
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	I think I remember hearing the Jeffersons say they didn't have it twice in the 80s episodes.

02-21-2016, 02:43 AM	#12
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	It's a movie, but I do remember in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Phoebe Cates mentioning they still couldn't even get cable in Ridgemont. That was 1982, so Sanford and Son mentioning it surprises me a bit. Seems like cable was a luxury well into the early-90s...there's an episode of Married...with Children where the Bundys were excited to have it. Although, they were behind the times on a lot of things.