Television in this period was still dictated by the constraints of time and the boundaries of available space. Its main utility was just being around. There was an accepted passivity to its consumption. The most critical factor within the introduction of any TV pilot was whatever show immediately preceded it, based on the principle that people would be too lazy to change the channel. An extremely popular show like Seinfeld, airing on the same night as the equally popular Friends, was used in this capacity constantly.
