Someone coined the phrase “The Tyranny of Choice”. I think it’s quite apropos. One need only look at “The Ed Sullivan Show” to understand how profound an effect it had on American culture at the time, and like you mentioned, a shared experience.....
I know what you mean by “shared experience.” Even the morality of modern times cancels out one of my favorite Groucho punchlines:
WOMAN: I’m Beatrice Ryner. I stop at the hotel.
GROUCHO: I’m Ronald Kornblow. I stop at nothing.
Young people wouldn’t get it at all.