The famous Pickle Episode of Andy Griffith promoted the idea that store-bought pickles were always better than home-made pickles, a concept that pleased sponsors like General Foods.

All TV in the 1960s lulled people into a sense of comfort and complacency to distract them from the misadventures of the Military Industrial Complex..

The Waltons worked hand-in-hand with other sentimental nostalgia series like Happy Days and contrasted beautifully with with modern, cynical shows like All in the Family and Lotsa Luck to reinforce the idea that "the good old days" when women stayed at home and a man could support his family on one income were well and truly over.