The Devil Made Me Do It!

<p>America, as we know it, has always been in a constant state of flux, experiencing the ebb-and-flow of continuous change- morally, socially, politically, physically, and economically, and, to a large extent, <i>television</i> has been one of the driving forces behind those changes.</p> <p>Its programming has helped define public opinion of right and wrong, good and bad. From its soap operas, dramas, talk shows, news programs, and even children’s cartoons, television has subtly swayed us to think and feel one way or the other and has changed our nation and its culture.</p> <p>Now, I was born in the early fifties. My parents bought our first television set when I was five years old. Two channels with a rabbit-ear antenna. I watched the transition of television from black-and-white to color, and observed, even as a young child, how its programs influenced so much of our society.</p> <p>One program I distinctly remember that personified television and its impact on our culture was <b><i>Rowan &amp; Martin's Laugh-In</i></b>, an American comedy program that ran for over 5 seasons on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC" target="_blank">NBC</a> television network and quickly became the most popular television show in the United States.</p> <p>The show was characterized by a rapid-fire series of gags and sketches, many of which were politically charged or contained sexual innuendo, definitely the exception for television programs in that day. It consistently pushed the envelope of decency and morality. But it became hugely popular, big enough to even attract a guest appearance by President Richard Nixon.</p> <p>It also created numerous catchphrases that soon became part of our everyday vocabulary, across all generations of Americans. Phrases like:</p> <p>§ "Look <i>that</i> up in your <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_and_Wagnalls" target="_blank"><i>Funk and Wagnall's</i></a><i> Dictionary!</i></p> <p>§ "You bet your sweet bippy!"</p> <p>§ "Sock it to me!" and,</p> <p>§ "Here come da