Final answer:
Television in the mid-20th century showcased a variety of programs, from idealized suburban families in the 1950s to the introduction of less traditional and dysfunctional families in sitcoms of the 1980s and 1990s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Television broadcasting in the mid-20th century included a variety of wacky and campy TV shows that ranged from situation comedies, westerns, variety programs, game shows, and more. In the 1950s, these shows often portrayed idealized images of White suburban life, such as Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best, with themes of individualism and family values. By the 1960s, television families like those in The Donna Reed Show and My Three Sons reflected both traditional and evolving family structures. Westerns such as Have Gun, Will Travel also gained immense popularity. Family sitcoms like Diff'rent Strokes and One Day at a Time in the 1980s introduced less traditional family structures to mainstream media, while the 1980s and 1990s offered a more realistic view of family life with the rise of the dysfunctional family, as seen in shows like Roseanne, Married with Children, and The Simpsons.