ABC is one of the most popular and successful television networks, with many popular shows currently airing, including The Rookie, Abbott Elementary, and the iconic Bachelor franchise. ABC, owned by the Walt Disney Company, continues to be among the most influential television networks, but its influence reached new heights two decades ago. In the 2004-2005 television season, ABC premiered three shows that became some of the most popular and influential shows of all time, redefining television: Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy. The debut of these three shows not only helped ABC’s ratings but also influenced television forever.
While every single television network has a popular premiere in almost every television season, ABC struck gold twenty years ago with three different shows, a feat that hasn’t been replicated since. Lost became an international sensation and one of the most talked-about shows of all time, while Desperate Housewives redefined the genre and created a long-lasting legacy. And Grey’s Anatomy, which debuted as a mid-season replacement two decades ago on ABC, remains to this day the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC. These shows are two decades old, yet continue to be popular and part of the conversation about some of the best TV shows of all time. But what exactly made these shows so popular, and how did they influence television?
Lost Became an Overnight Sensation Full of Mysteries
Lost Redefined the Meaning of Cliffhanger
Lost was the first of these three shows to debut in the 2004-2005 television season on ABC. A show inspired by Tom Hanks’ Cast Away, Lost follows a group of people who become stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. Lost was almost too expensive and confusing to make, with the two-part pilot being the most expensive in ABC’s history. However, the gamble paid off, as Lost became an overnight sensation with loyal fans that still debate the show fifteen years after the series finale.
While many fans still complain about the quality of some seasons and whether the finale was good or not, there’s no denying that Lost influenced television forever. Lost redefined the concept of cliffhangers, leaving audiences with more questions than answers with every episode. The series also relied heavily on its fictional mythology, and many related media followed to keep audiences invested in the story.
Lost was a show that benefited from the one-episode-per-week format before streaming services, as it left audiences with cliffhangers and an entire week to discuss them, form theories, and become invested before the next episode aired. Many shows now follow the heavily serialized format of Lost. But, at the time, Lost was a big risk for ABC, so much so that ABC fired Lloyd Braun, the executive who greenlit the Lost pilot.
Luckily, Braun was soon vindicated and reinstated as an ABC executive, and Lost became one of the best and most successful television series of all time. Lost’s legacy continues with many new shows focusing on mystery and on creating a deep mythology to keep fans guessing until the end. The mystery genre wasn’t the same after Lost premiered on ABC, but another ABC show also influenced the genre.
Desperate Housewives Shattered the Glass Ceiling
Desperate Housewives Broke Stereotypes
A primetime drama show with an all-female cast wasn’t as common two decades ago. But Desperate Housewives proved that women, and women’s stories, could be just as compelling and successful as other shows following male leads. Desperate Housewives blended mystery with comedy and interpersonal drama in a way that not many shows did at the time, influencing the mystery genre for the better.
Desperate Housewives shattered the glass ceiling and introduced an ensemble cast full of diverse women, each with their own unique story and characteristics. And while it doesn’t seem as groundbreaking today, seeing women at the front and center of their stories wasn’t the norm twenty years ago. Shows like Sex and the City and Charmed pioneered a wave of all-female strong ensemble casts, and Desperate Housewives took it to new heights.
This ABC show premiered soon after Lost. While the mystery in Lost is far more complex and groundbreaking, Desperate Housewives also included intrigue, crime, and drama to keep audiences engaged. Unlike other mystery shows, Desperate Housewives was a mix of soap opera, drama, comedy, and mystery that created a unique blend of storytelling that cemented the show’s popularity. Desperate Housewives proved that complex women and the exploration of their family dynamics, struggles, hopes, and dreams could be the basis of a compelling television series.
The success of Desperate Housewives meant that the show spawned many related media and merchandise, including a video game and even a soundtrack album. Two official companion books were also published, as well as several unauthorized books. The women of Desperate Housewives also got their own dolls and fragrances, and influenced many women’s styles and fashion, proving the show’s influence and legacy.
Grey’s Anatomy Redefined the Medical Drama Genre
Grey’s Anatomy Also Spawned Two Spin-Off Series
There are probably very few people who’ve never heard of Grey’s Anatomy, even if they haven’t seen the show. Grey’s Anatomy is one of the most popular and influential medical dramas of recent years. The Shondaland show made its debut as a mid-season replacement for ABC in the 2004-2005 season, and quickly earned a loyal following that moved the show to its primetime slot.
The medical drama follows Meredith Grey as she begins her Seattle Grace Hospital residency. Grey’s Anatomy also follows the other residents, starting with Meredith, as well as the senior residents, attending physicians, and even the patients who become important to the story. Grey’s Anatomy made audiences care for every character and their struggles in their personal lives and careers as they navigate the intense work schedule of Seattle Grace Hospital.
Most of all, Grey’s Anatomy cemented its popularity with the main romance between Meredith and Derek, a.k.a. “McDreamy.” But soon, Grey’s Anatomy moved away from the main love story and followed the ensemble cast’s many dramas, introducing new characters as well as saying goodbye to others with every season. Grey’s Anatomy continues to be one of the most popular shows on ABC after two decades, and the longest-running scripted primetime show currently airing on ABC, with the show currently in its 21st season.
Grey’s Anatomy also spawned two spin-off series, Private Practice and Station 19. While these shows didn’t have the legacy and influence of Grey’s Anatomy, they still earned their own popularity and fan base. Grey’s Anatomy not only influenced the medical drama genre but also turned Shonda Rhimes, the creator of the show, into a household name.
ABC Reached New Heights With the 2004–2005 TV Season
This Season Influenced Television Like No Other
The 2004-2005 television season delivered many shows that went on to become iconic and that are still relevant, including House and The Office. However, no other network had such a big season as ABC, which was struggling with ratings before the 2004-2005 television season catapulted them back to the top with the success of Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy.
Television producers Lloyd Braun and Susan Lyne greenlit all three shows, creating a legacy for ABC that hasn’t been replicated since. However, the gamble cost them at first, as they were both fired from ABC after the network worried about how expensive the Lost pilot was. Evidently, Braun and Lyne had a great eye for television, and they were brought back, as these shows marked a before and after for ABC.
Lost shaped the future of mystery shows as everyone tried to replicate what made the story so captivating. However, as fans will agree, there’s no other show like Lost, which continues to have a loyal fanbase and several mysteries, theories, and storylines for fans to debate. Desperate Housewives, meanwhile, proved that mystery and comedy could blend together perfectly to create groundbreaking television, and that women and women’s stories could be at the front and center of successful shows. Desperate Housewives also inspired several different South American remakes.
Grey’s Anatomy was Shondaland’s first production and helped the company become the success it is today. Other Shondaland shows, like Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Bridgerton, wouldn’t have been possible without the success of Grey’s Anatomy. The success of Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey’s Anatomy not only helped ABC regain its place as one of the most influential television networks, but it also shaped the future of television as a whole.
