TV in the Social Media Era as a Methodological Challenge for Historians: The Case of ‘Tarlos’ in 9-1-1: Lone Star

This article explores the methodological issues involved in studying the history of television in the digital age, emphasising the legitimacy and importance of investigating contemporary phenomena through the application of rigorous methodologies that ensure critical engagement with contemporary artefacts. By taking as a case study the popular queer couple known as ‘Tarlos’ from the Fox TV show 9-1-1: Lone Star, it analyses interactions between fans, actors and showrunners, and highlights the ways in which social media is transforming production, reception and acting. It argues that television is not a linear narrative, but an interconnected process involving digital platforms and audience engagement, as well as being an active agent in civic discourse and a central medium for exploring identity, representation and inclusivity. It concludes that the ‘Tarlos’ phenomenon shows how digital platforms amplify the cultural and emotional dimensions of television, creating spaces in which audiences actively participate in meaning-making processes. These must be studied and preserved in the present to avoid them falling into oblivion due to the fragility of the digital dimension.