The Jackson 5 Debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show 51 Years Ago Today

For most of its 23-year run, The Ed Sullivan Show was the be-all and end-all of starmaking. Musicians, comedians, and acts of all sorts would appear on the variety show, which meant they would also appear in the living rooms of families nationwide who made watching this show a Sunday night tradition.

On December 14, 1969, 51 years ago today, it was The Jackson 5's turn to make their debut.

Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael Jackson performed a medley, leading off with Sly & The Family Stone's hit "Stand!," before going into Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You" and ending with their first #1 hit song, "I Want You Back."

Andy Hunsaker has a head full of sitcom gags and nerd-genre lore, and can be followed @AndyHunsaker if you're into that sort of thing.