Shows like American Idol have completely changed how audiences watch television," Sundar says. In the past, television generally asked only that we sit back and relax as sitcoms and scripted dramas supplied passive entertainment. When the most popular show of the early '80s, Dallas, aired its "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger, television writers—not viewers—decided what would happen. Game shows such as Jeopardy! and Family Feud set "average Joe" contestants against one another, but never included the audience. And while you could dream of appearing on The Real World (or have nightmares about appearing shirtless and drunk on Cops), a barrier remained between stars and viewers.