Chapter 1
The global sci-fi and fantasy boom
Chapter 2
Wacky sitcoms and the escape from reality
Chapter 3
The giant leap to color, satellites, and global events
Chapter 4
Spy mania, action, and breaking barriers
YOUR GOAL
Master of The revolution of 1960s television
Ch 2 · Wacky sitcoms and the escape from reality
schopenhauer Wacky 1960s sitcoms
Hey Coast Guard, send a boat to save those poor castaways!
schopenhauer Despite harsh critical reviews, Gilligan's Island became a massive syndication hit, trapping seven castaways on an uncharted Pacific island.
schopenhauer In September 1964, two rival networks launched competing sitcoms about lovable, macabre families living in suburban America.
BETA
schopenhauer Match famous and obscure 1960s stars to their shows to master classic television trivia.
Fun Fact
Gilligan's fan mail: The US Coast Guard received real letters from viewers begging them to rescue the stranded castaways of Gilligan's Island.
Glossary
escapism (noun)
The practice of seeking distraction from unpleasant realities through entertainment or fantasy. In 1964, supernatural comedies like Bewitched provided audiences relief from the era's geopolitical anxieties.
The practice of seeking distraction from unpleasant realities through entertainment or fantasy. In 1964, supernatural comedies like Bewitched provided audiences relief from the era's geopolitical anxieties.
Quiz
In the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, what color was the smoke that swirled whenever Jeannie entered or left her bottle?
Quiz
What was the name of the pet dragon that lived under the stairs in the sitcom The Munsters?
Quiz
Which famous cartoon studio created The Flintstones, television's first highly successful prime-time animated sitcom, in 1960?
Quiz
Why did the producers of Gilligan's Island change the show's theme song lyrics for the second season?
Quiz
Where was the tropical lagoon set for the sitcom Gilligan's Island actually located during filming?
Quiz
What iconic, absurd gadget did secret agent Maxwell Smart use to make calls on the sitcom Get Smart?
Quiz
Which two spooky comedy sitcoms premiered on competing US networks within one week of each other in September 1964?
Quiz
How did actress Elizabeth Montgomery achieve the iconic "nose twitch" magic effect on the sitcom Bewitched?