The History of American Television (Lecture)

This engaging, video-rich course tells the story of American television—from its 1920s origins to today’s streaming era. We will explore decades of iconic shows, genres, and cultural moments that shaped the medium and its audiences. From sitcoms and dramas to news and sports, we will rediscover how TV evolved, adapted, and transformed American culture—one broadcast, cable channel, and streaming service at a time.

 

Your instructor: Jim (James) McKairnes

Jim McKairnes is a former CBS Television executive who writes and teaches about television history. He has taught at DePaul, Temple, and Middle Tennessee State universities, and is the author of All in the Decade, a book on 1970s television. Since 2020, he has taught regularly for OLLI programs across the country and currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

After January 5, all who registered for an Osher Online course will receive an email invitation from Osher Online for the Member Orientation scheduled for Wednesday, January 7 at 11am PT/ Noon MT/ 1pm CT/ 2pm ET.