CBS' 'I LOVE LUCY'
October 15, 1951
First show to feature a multi-ethnic marriage on American television. Lead actor Desi Arnaz is the first Latino on an English-language primetime show.
CBS STUDIOS’ STAR TREK’
November 22,1968
First show to air a full interracial kiss between a Black (Uhura) and a white (Kirk) character on American television.
CBS SPORTS
September 21, 1975
Irv Cross becomes the first Black full-time sports analyst on national television when he joins CBS Sports in 1971. In 1975, he is named an original member of CBS Sports' pregame show "The NFL Today."
CBS SPORTS
September 21, 1975
Phyllis George joins CBS Sports' pregame show "The NFL Today," becoming the first female sportscaster at a major TV network.
CBS NEWS
December 02, 1976
Ed Bradley becomes the first Black White House correspondent for a TV network. In 1981 he makes his debut as the first Black correspondent on "60 MINUTES."
CBS NEWS
November 27, 1978
Lesley Stahl becomes CBS News' first female White House correspondent.
CBS SPORTS
May 26, 1984
Lesley Visser joins CBS Sports covering Game 1 of the NBA Finals (Lakers-Celtics) and her long and prestigious trailblazing career leads to her becoming the first woman to receive the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Emmys in 2020.
MTV’S ‘YO MTV RAPS!’
August 06, 1988
Introduces rap music and hip-hop culture to an entire generation.
MTV’S ‘THE REAL WORLD’
June 30, 1994
Pedro Zamora becomes one of the first HIV-positive, openly gay men to appear on mainstream television.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ 'FORREST GUMP’
July 06, 1994
NICK JR.’S ‘GULLAH GULLAH ISLAND’
October 24, 1994
One of the first preschool shows to feature a majority of African American characters.
SHOWTIME’S ‘SOUL FOOD’
June 28, 2000
Premiere of this highly anticipated drama series starring an all-Black cast and airing in primetime, which goes on to garner multiple NAACP Image Awards over its four-year run.
NICKELODEON'S 'DORA THE EXPLORER’
August 14, 2000
Premiere of animated children’s adventure series with a Latina heroine who uses English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals. The show becomes a global phenomenon.
BET’S ‘106 & PARK’
September 11, 2000
Daily countdown show honors hip hop and R&B music and draws a devoted audience.
SHOWTIME’S ‘QUEER AS FOLK’
December 03, 2000
First hour-long drama to explore the lives of gay men and women in America premieres, going on to run for five seasons.
‘BET AWARDS’
June 19, 2001
The first 'BET Awards' takes place in 2001, making it the first award show that celebrates Black excellence in all forms.
COMEDY CENTRAL’S ‘CHAPPELLE’S SHOW’
January 22, 2003
Groundbreaking comedy show challenges racial and gender norms.
CBS EVENING NEWS
September 05, 2006
With the debut of “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” Couric becomes the first solo female anchor on broadcast evening news.
NICK JR.’S ‘NI HAO, KAI-KAN’
November 05, 2007
Cartoon exposes preschoolers to Chinese culture and the Mandarin language.
VH1’S ‘RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE’
February 02, 2009
Reality competition helps to bring drag culture into the mainstream and encourages awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
‘MTV SHUGA’
December 01, 2009
Drama series destigmatizes taboo issues related to relationships and sexuality in sub-Saharan Africa.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES' 'SELMA'
December 25, 2014
Director Ava DuVernay becomes the first woman of color to direct an Oscar nominee for Best Picture.
NICKELODEON'S 'THE LOUD HOUSE'
May 02, 2016
Animated series features an interracial, same-sex couple, as well as stereotype-defying portrayals of young females.
CBS ALL ACCESS’ ‘STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’
September 19, 2017
SHOWTIME’S ‘THE CHI’
January 07, 2018
Drama series created by Lena Waithe premieres, giving an in-depth look at the African American community in the South Side of Chicago.
CBS NEWS
March 01, 2019
Susan Zirinsky is the first woman to be named president of CBS News.
MTV'S 'ARE YOU THE ONE'
June 26, 2019
All cast members of the reality show’s eighth season are sexually fluid.
COMEDY CENTRAL'S 'AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS'
January 22, 2020
POP TV’S ‘SCHITT’S CREEK’
April 07, 2020
Series finale featuring the wedding of two gay characters aired simultaneously across Pop TV, Comedy Central and Logo and draws the show’s highest ratings.
CBS NEWS’ ‘JOHN LEWIS: CELEBRATING A HERO’
August 04, 2020