DALLAS and reality show Big Brother have been named by experts as among the 50 most influential television shows in the world in the last 50 years.
The list takes in everything from Danish drama to South American soaps to find the programmes that have made the biggest difference around the globe.
And while some will be obscure to the average South African couch potato, others will be strikingly familiar.
Compiled by TV ratings experts, many have magic formulas which have been adapted by dozens of other countries, like game shows Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? and Wheel of Fortune.
But it also highlights comedy, drama, reality TV, cartoons and talent shows which have made a difference to the planet’s television industry.
Of course the list could cause as many arguments about what is included as about what is not, such as shows like The Sopranos, Mad Men and others are notable for their omissions.
And many may feel it is not the most intellectually challenging of viewing, as it includes the longest-running daytime soaps in the world from Dallas to Neighbours.
Some of the shows have been a force for good, such as education hit Sesame Street, while others seemed shocking at the time, like the steamy serial the Thorn Birds.
Others have inspired copycat versions all over the world thanks to a winning format, while others are simply cults of their own, like Star Trek, which has inspired six spin off series and 12 movies so far, a panel of experts told Broadcast magazine. – Daily Mail
• 1963: Astro Boy (Japan)
The first Japanese animated cartoon and first from the country to be aired overseas. Remade in the 1980s and 2003.
• 1964: Jeopardy (US)
The quiz show still going after 9 000 episodes and has been adapted for audiences in more than 30 countries.
• 1965: Dating Game (US)
The first dating TV show ever, a forerunner to Blind Date and others.
• 1966: Star Trek (US)
The first cult TV show, spawning six hit franchise series and 12 movies, and a new language – Klingon.
• 1967: Aktenzeichen XY Ungelvst (Germany)
The world’s first reality crime solving TV format, inspired Crimewatch, America’s Most Wanted and others. Still going.
• 1968: Columbo (US)
The famous American homicide detective Columbo and his car starred in 69 cult original episodes which aired in the US unti• 2003 and in more than 40 countries.
• 1969: Sesame Street (US)
The longest-running and most acclaimed children show in the US, gave birth to The Muppets.
• 1970: Coronation Street (UK)
Launched in 1960, Coronation Street or “Corrie” as it’s popularly known, reaches the 10th year at the top. The show is the longest-running TV soap in the world.
• 1971: The Persuaders (UK)
Tony Curtis and Roger Moore as two crime-fighting playboys in a transatlantic match-up, but only lasted one series. Still repeated all over Europe though.
• 1972: The Price Is Right (US)
The first version of this genius idea appeared in 1956, making it the oldest TV game show in the US. Adapted by 40 countries.
• 1973: The Young and The Restless (US)
Corny, tear-jerking soap opera still going strong after more than 10 000 episodes. A template for soaps aimed at younger viewers.
• 1974: Derrick (Germany)
Germany’s most successful show, following fictional Chief Inspector Stefan Derrick. Broadcast unti• 1998. Shown in 100 countries.
• 1975: Wheel of Fortune (US)
Simple, but effective game show, still running in US and adapted for more than 50 countries, including, most recently, Egypt.
• 1976: Family Feud (US)
The US show is still on air. The format has been adapted for 50 countries including China.
• 1977: The Krypton Factor (UK)
A UK-invented cult game show that tests physical and mental challenges. Briefly adapted by the US.
• 1978: Dallas (US)
Glamorous soap opera, recently revived, dubbed into 67 languages and seen in 100 countries. When JR got shot, it made news headlines across the world.
• 1979: The Kids of Degrassi Street (Canada)
Canada’s top TV, exported to 140 countries. A drama following a group of high school students through their lives.
• 1980: Grendizer (Japan)
A worldwide kids’ favourite. Another animated cartoon, this one is about a giant robot.
• 1981: Wetten, dass… ? (Germany)
The German forerunner of a much-copied idea where the public takes on bizarre challenges and celebrities bet on the outcome.
• 1982: Letters and Numbers (France)
First aired in France in 1965, better known in the UK as Countdown. It was the first show to air on the UK’s Channel 4 in 1982.
• 1983: Thorn Birds (US)
TV version of a steamy novel, featuring Richard Chamberlain as a priest torn between God and romance.
• 1984: La Piovra (Italy)
Italy’s most exported show, a police series on the fight against organised crime.
• 1985: Neighbours (Australia)
Australia’s longest-running soap opera. It introduced the world to Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and countless others.
• 1986: Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan (Japan)
The show with a segment of viewers’ funny videos which inspired America’s Funniest Home Videos, You’ve Been Framed and many more.
• 1987: The Bold and the Beautiful (US)
America’s youngest daytime soap, but among its most corny, and most popular, exported to 100 countries.
• 1988: Home & Away (Australia)
Incredibly successful. Set in a beach side town where every inhabitant is either a hunk or a supermodel.
• 1989: The Simpsons (US)
The longest-running prime time scripted series in the US, a cartoon. Its 524 episodes made it a worldwide cult hit.
• 1990: Fort Boyard (France)
A physically challenging game featuring riddles and codes and set on a fort built by Napoleon in the Atlantic Ocean.
• 1991: Rugrats (US)
An iconic, roughly drawn cartoon series offering a baby’s eye view of the world, but appealing to all ages and exported to 80 countries.
• 1992: The Real World (US)
Possibly the father of reality TV, combining soap-style storytelling with the real lives of real people, put together in a variety of episodes.
• 1993: Beavis & Butthead (US)
Two dumb teenage “metal heads” in a cartoon series which combines acerbic youth culture with MTV-style videos.
• 1994: Friends (US)
Six friends, 10 seasons, 236 episodes and an instantly recognisable theme tune made this a cult show and its stars worldwide celebrities.
• 1995: Caiga quien caiga (Argentina)
Much copied idea where irreverent journalists take a humorous look at that week’s current affairs, sports and entertainment.
• 1996: Dragon Ball GT (Japan)
Very successful culmination of a succession of series based on the best-selling Dragon Ball franchise.
• 1997: Survivor (Sweden)
A British idea, taken up first by the Swedes, then it went back to the UK, went to 50 countries and has lasted longest in the US.
• 1998: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK)
Introduced the world to famous catchphrases like “phone a friend” and “is that your final answer?”, exported to 120 countries and the theme of the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
• 1999: Big Brother (Netherlands)
A phenomenon that took off in the first Dutch series when two contestants slept with each other. As in the UK, the SA version produced a slew of B-grade celebrities.
• 2000: Popstars (Australia)
The show began a year earlier in New Zealand, but it was the Aussie version which inspired copycat series all over the world, including the UK.
• 2001: O Clone (The Clone – Brazil)
South American telenovela which went beyond the usual soaps and tackled issues as wide ranging as drug addiction, religion and human cloning.
• 2002: American Idol (US)
Inspired by Pop Idol in the UK, but the one which really took off and inspired 46 countries to do their own version and which has so far created 200 worldwide “stars”.
• 2003: Rebelde Way (The Rebels) (Argentina)
A telenovela about four high school teenagers notable because it produced a pop band which has so far sold six million records. Then the Mexican version did exactly the same in its country too.
• 2004: Desperate Housewives (US)
Wisteria Lane’s increasingly bizarre storylines lasted eight series and won a huge worldwide audience for its blend of dark comedy and drama.
• 2005: Noor (Turkey)
A Turkish soap opera with a Cinderella story about a poor girl marrying into a rich family which is a phenomenon across the Middle East.
• 2006: Got Talent (US)
The British show to blame, or thank, for Susan Boyle, which then took off in the US, leading to the format being adapted in more than 50 countries.
• 2007: Forbrydelsen (The Killing) (Denmark)
Three-season fictional crime thriller which has helped make dark and broody Scandinavian drama the trendiest television of the decade in dozens of countries.
• 2008: Murdoch Mysteries (Canada)
Canadian police drama set in the 1890s, exported to 100 countries and which sparked the trend for Victorian period crime dramas.
• 2009: MasterChef Australia (Australia)
After the original British series failed to get to boiling point, the Aussies took the format and turned it into a culinary talent show which has been adapted by 35 countries.
• 2010: The Voice (Netherlands)
A massive hit in Holland with its blind auditions that led to the UK, US and other versions in the fastest-selling TV format of all time.
• 2011: Homeland (Israel/US)
The origina• 2010 Israeli series about prisoners of war was the first, but it is the US one with British actor Damian Lewis which has become a worldwide cult hit, with a third series starting in September.
• 2012: Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord (Colombia)
Colombian biopic about the so-called “Lord of Evil” which was a phenomenon in its own country and fast becoming a hit in countless other markets. – Daily Mail