July 30: Most Memorable TV Moments: 21st Century and All-Time

By Sylvia Gurinsky

As with the 1990s, the old rules of evaluating the most memorable television moments of the 21st century go out the window.

During these dozen years, the Internet has become a major factor. Traditional television viewing, even with record ratings for sports events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl, has evolved considerably, with viewers watching their favorite shows on DVD or online.

One awful day, of course, is unquestionably the most memorable television moment so far in this century: September 11, 2001.

In some manner, television was the way most people found out about the attack on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the brave passengers of United Flight 93 who sacrificed their lives to prevent another attack.

Here's a fitting remark from that day, in the first portion of the clip, by ABC News anchor Peter Jennings:

Peter Jennings 9/11

With that, here are the YesterTube Top 5 Television moments. All are breaking news stories:

1. Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, November 22, 1963
2. Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
3. Apollo 11 Moon Landing and Neil Armstrong's first steps, July 20, 1969
4. Explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, January 28, 1986
5. Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, June 5, 1968