A host of influential sitcoms, which is short for situational comedies, aired in the 1950s. Some of the most popular sitcoms of the time included such fare as "The Honeymooners" and "I Love Lucy," both of which focused on the funny moments of married life, and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and "Father Knows Best," programs that delivered a light look at the world of the family home.
Several variety-style shows attracted attention in the 1950s. Most prominent were the "Ed Sullivan Show," which launched in 1948 and remained on the air until 1971; "The Texaco Star Theater," which starred Milton Berle; and "The Show of Shows," which starred Sid Caesar. Those programs were widely popular with the American audience. Berle's program was particularly influential because it took advantage of TV's potential for visual comedy in new ways, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. The "Disneyland" variety program, which later became "Walt Disney Presents," aided the Disney brand and became a major hit for ABC, giving the network its first-ever top-20 rated show.
Soap operas gained their first foothold on television in the 1950s. The daytime programs earned their name from their genesis as radio programs sponsored by soap companies. Soap operas, which told stories in a serial, ongoing manner, filled an entertainment hole in the daylight hours, providing viewing options for those who spent weekdays at home. The rolls of soap operas of the 1950s included "Search for Tomorrow," "Love of Life" and "The Guiding Light," which was the first program to make a successful transition from radio to TV.
Television news programming changed dramatically in 1951 with the launch of "See It Now," a TV news broadcast anchored by the legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow, who formerly worked on radio. The program used live reports from around the world and its own stable of cameramen and reporters to gather information and record footage. Before this, TV news shows used footage sold to them by newsreel companies, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. "See It Now" was the first news program to mix live reports from the field with studio commentary, setting the format that would be used for subsequent decades.