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ABSTRACT
The majority of Americans now live in suburbs, and a number of scholars have highlighted how various pop culture objects, from novels to television shows, have either reflected or encouraged suburban life. An analysis of the top 30 Nielsen-rated television shows from 1950 to 2007, a period of both rapid suburbanization and television growth, reveals that suburban TV shows did not dominate popular television. There is slightly more evidence for reflection theory with more sets of seasons with higher numbers of suburban-set shows following decades of rapid suburban growth. Additionally, the number of suburban-set shows was also influenced by the popularity of the genres of sitcoms and dramas. These findings suggest a need for further research into why relatively few popular shows were set in suburbs compared to big cities and how viewing settings on television directly influences suburban aspirations and behavior.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks the anonymous reviewers and editor for helpful comments and Jessica Mohkami for help in acquiring and working with the data.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Brian J. Miller
Brian J. Miller is Associate Professor of Sociology at Wheaton College. His research includes studies of suburban growth and development, social media use among emerging adults, and housing.