TV & Film Lighting Technicians - Visible Shadows in 80s & 90s Sitcoms

Any lighting techs from TV or film lurking here? I’ve can’t unsee the shadows I’ve been rewatching the show, and one thing I can’t ignore is how many visible shadows there are in almost every scene. Characters cast shadows on walls, furniture, even on each other, especially in Jerry’s apartment and Monk’s. Was this just the standard sitcom lighting style of the late ’80s and ’90s? Were sets lit with fewer, harder lights? Different film stock? Lower budgets? Different cameras? When I watch modern multicam sitcoms, everything seems much softer and more evenly lit, and you rarely notice shadows at all. I’d love to hear from anyone who worked in television lighting or cinematography. What changed over the last few decades that made those shadows largely disappear? Quotes welcome