In Star Trek, Kirk and Uhura shared one of the first interracial kisses on TV.
BULLEVARD WOMEN OF TV
WILD GIRL OF YOUR DREAMS
NO GOODY TWO-SHOES Women men are afraid of, but love regardless. What a refreshing change: TV power girls who do away with female-lead clichés. Women want to be them, men (foolishly) think they can tame them: win-win.
EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
SEX ON SCREEN From a peck on the cheek to orgies and orgasms: Everything you wanted to know about TV sex. 1947 – 1950 Mary Kay and Johnny The first American TV sitcom. They were a couple in real life, which is why they were allowed to share a bed. And have a child.
DIETMAR KAINRATH
1966 – 1969 Star Trek The first scripted interracial kiss on U.S. TV didn’t occur until 1968, when Lieutenant Uhura locked lips with Captain Kirk.
1993 – 2005
1976 – 1981
NYPD Blue Viewers tuned into the police series on the promise of nudity and ended up staying for the great drama.
Charlie’s Angels They were trailblazers for today’s Victoria’s Secret crowd and permissive by the standards of the day.
1997 – 2003
GETTY IMAGES(2), DDP IMAGES(2), BBC, PICTUREDESK.COM, NETFLIX
1964 – 1972 Bewitched Samantha the witch enchanted husband Darrin and helped end the prudish era when TV married couples slept in separate beds.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lesbian sorceresses cast a spell on the audience: Willow and Tara shattered a teen TV taboo.
2013 – Masters of Sex The first serious sex studies were in the 1940s and 1950s— Mary Kay and Johnny’s era. Now there’s a TV series about it.
Masters of Sex: In the name of science THE RED BULLETIN
1998 – 2004 Sex and the City Men and women alike learned all there was to know about dating, promiscuity, safer sex and, to a lesser extent, shoes.
2011 – Game of Thrones Serious action within five minutes of episode 1, and consistent debauchery throughout its four seasons.
TATIANA MASLANY In Orphan Black she plays a clone looking for the secret of her background. No holds barred in the search.
1999 – 2000 Queer as Folk The British series began with the most graphic gay sex scene in TV history. A U.S. remake followed.
2007 – 2012 Gossip Girl There’d rarely been a threesome in a TV series before. And certainly not involving teenagers. Gasp!
EVA GREEN Vanessa Ives in Penny Dreadful: Scarily enticing as a conduit to the dark side, wrestling with her inner demon.
TAYLOR SCHILLING Piper Chapman in Orange Is the New Black proves that, even in a tough prison, almost-good guys can win.
CAN TALK If I don’t drink, I become more feminine.
Game of Thrones: Lord of the Rings meets 9 1/2 Weeks
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