Television made vaudeville shows much less popular. Television became popular in the mid-20th century and quickly became a dominant form of entertainment. People could now watch their favorite programs from the comfort of their own homes, making it unnecessary to go out to see live performances. Vaudeville shows, which relied on live performances, could not compete with the convenience and popularity of television, and their popularity began to decline. While vaudeville shows still exist in some form today, they are a far cry from their peak popularity in the early 20th century.