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Wikipedia

Serial (radio and television)

January 08, 2023

In television and radio programming, a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of the series, and sometimes spinoffs, which distinguishes them from episodic television that relies on more stand-alone episodes. Worldwide, the soap opera is the most prominent form of serial dramatic programming. In the UK the serial began as a direct adaptations of well known literary works, usually consisting of a small number of episodes.[1]

Serials rely on keeping the full nature of the story hidden and revealing elements episode by episode, to encourage spectators to tune in to every episode to follow the plot.[2] Often these shows employ recapping segments at the beginning and cliffhangers at the end of each episode.

The invention of recording devices such as VCRs and DVRs along with the growing popularity of streaming services has made following this type of show easier, which has resulted in increased success and popularity. Prior to the advent of DVRs, television networks shunned serials in prime time as they made broadcast programming reruns more difficult and television producers shunned them because they were tougher to go into broadcast syndication years down the road.

Serials contrast with episodic television, with plots relying on a more independent stand-alone format. Procedural drama television programs are commonly episodic, sometimes including a serial subplot.[3][4][5]

Shorter serial programs known as telenovelas (and earlier, radionovelas), originating and often produced in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking Latin America, have become popular worldwide.

Terminology

The term "serial" refers to the intrinsic property of a series – namely its order. In literature, the term is used as a noun to refer to a format (within a genre) by which a story is told in contiguous (typically chronological) installments in sequential issues of a single periodical publication.

More generally, "serial" is applied in library and information science to materials "in any medium issued under the same title in a succession of discrete parts, usually numbered (or dated) and appearing at regular or irregular intervals with no predetermined conclusion."[6]

The term has been used for a radio or television production with a continuously evolving, unified plot and set of characters, spread over multiple episodes. In the United States, daytime soap operas have long had a serial structure. Television mini-series also commonly come in a serial form. Starting in the mid-1970s, series with soap opera-like stories began to be aired in prime time (e.g. Dallas, Dynasty). In the 1990s, shows like The X-Files and The Sopranos began to use a more serial structure, and now there are a much wider range of shows in serial form.[7]

See also: Radio drama and Television program

History

The serial began with the advent of movie serials of the early 20th century. With the emergence of television and subsequent decline of the movie-going audience, production of movie serials ceased due to the decreasing revenues. But the serial lived on, moving instead to the small screen and the world of Broadcast syndication television reruns.

Soap operas

The television serial format as known today originated in radio, in the form of children's adventure shows and daily 15-minute programs known as soap operas (so-called because many of these shows were sponsored by soap companies, such as Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble). Soap operas were specifically engineered to appeal to women (with the intention of increasing sale of soap). They usually ran from Monday through Friday at the same time every day. A show called The Smith Family which ran only one night a week on WENR in Chicago during the early 1930s was credited as the "great-granddaddy of the soap operas" by radio historian Francis Chase, Jr. One of the other shows that helped pioneer the daytime soap opera/serial was The Guiding Light, which debuted on NBC radio in 1937, and then switched to CBS Television in 1952. The Guiding Light's final episode aired on September 18, 2009, having a total of 15,762 episodes air on CBS. Some of the characters in soap operas have been portrayed as long-suffering (a common theme even in some of today's serials along with the social and economical issues of the day).

Children's adventure serials were more like film serials, with continuing characters involved in exploits with episodes that often ended in a cliffhanger situation; Westerns were a particularly popular format for children's serials on the radio.

Guiding Light and such other daytime television program serials such as Search for Tomorrow, Love of Life, The Secret Storm, As the World Turns, The Edge of Night, The Doctors, Another World, Dark Shadows, One Life to Live, and All My Children were popular in the Golden and Silver Ages of television and still are today.

Aside from the social issues, the style and presentation of these shows have changed. Whereas in the 1950s and 1960s the drama was underscored with traditional organ music, and in the 1970s and the 1980s a full orchestra provided the score, the daytime dramas of today use cutting-edged synth-driven music (in a way, music for soaps has come full-circle, from the keyboard to the keyboard).

The nighttime serials are a different story, though the concept is also nothing new. In the 1960s, ABC aired the first real breakthrough nighttime serial, Peyton Place, inspired by the novel and theatrical film of the same name. After its cancellation, the format went somewhat dormant until Norman Lear produced Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1976. In 1977, ABC created another comedy soap (aptly called Soap). Although the show was controversial for its time (with a homosexual character among its cast roster), it was (and still is today) a cult classic.

The success of Dallas popularized serial storylines on prime-time television. Its end-of-season cliffhangers, such as "Who shot J. R.?" and "Bobby in the Shower?",[8] influenced other shows like Dynasty (ABC's answer to Dallas), Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, The Colbys, Flamingo Road, Hotel, The Yellow Rose, Bare Essence, and Berrenger's. There were some serial shows such as Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere that did not officially fit into this category, but were nonetheless ratings hits season after season.

While the last of the 1980s nighttime soaps ended during the first years of the following decade, then a second wave came with series like Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Models, Inc., Savannah and Central Park West. But as the 1990s came to a close, the primetime soap as an official format gradually faded away, where it largely seems to remain as of the middle of the first decade of the 21st century in the United States.

Other dramas

Serialized storytelling can also be seen in other dramas. Heavily serialized dramas include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, 24, Battlestar Galactica, Breaking Bad, Dexter, The Wire, The Return of the Spirit and Downton Abbey. Series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Homicide: Life on the Streets, The Good Wife, and The X-Files fall somewhere in-between, featuring a new case each week that is solved by the end of the episode, but also having an overarching mystery that receives focus in many episodes. The more serialized its storytelling, the less likely a show is to fare well in repeats. The format places a demand on episodes to be run in order, without which story arcs stretching over many episodes may be difficult for new viewers to delve into. Desperate Housewives also falls into the category while each season involves a new mystery that spans an entire season (and on one occasion, half the season) while planting hints throughout the episodes until the climax in the finale.

To a lesser extent, series such as House[9][10] and Fringe[11] may also feature ongoing story arcs, but episodes are more self-encapsulated and so the series fall into a more conventional drama category. Fringe has experimented with "myth-alones", a hybrid that attempts to advance the story arc in a self-contained episode.[12]

In addition, it has been noted that the use of cliffhangers is still prevalent in adventure shows; however, they are now typically used just before a commercial break and the viewer need only wait a few minutes to see its resolution. In addition, many series have also made extensive use of the traditional end-of-episode cliffhanger format. This is most common in season finales which often end in a cliffhanger that would only be resolved in the next season's premiere.

Over the course of its run, a show may change its focus. Matt Cherniss, executive vice president of programming at Fox says: "Sometimes early on, being a little more episodic allows more people into the room. And as the show goes on, by its nature, it might find itself becoming a little more serialized."[5] Early in their runs, shows such as Lost,[5] Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse[13] and Torchwood put greater emphasis on the "story-of-the-week", but over time story arcs begin to dominate. In contrast, Alias became more focused on standalone stories in later seasons, because of pressures by network executives.[11]

Effect of a serial model on commercial success

Complex story arcs may have a negative effect on ratings by making entry more difficult for new viewers as well as confusing fans who have missed an episode.[14] Networks see them as riskier than dramas that focus on a self-contained story of the week.[15] Tom O'Neil of the Los Angeles Times notes: "They're chancy because these shows are hard to join midway through."[16] As of 2012 CBS has not aired a serial drama in many years, in part because of the success of its non-serial procedurals.[17] Marketing for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) emphasized its episodes being standalone, which cast and crew described as being similar to Star Trek: The Original Series.[18]

Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times stated that "serialized storytelling ... though popular with hard-core fans and many critics, requires more dedication from viewers and has almost certainly tamped down ratings for many shows". He quoted an ad executive who states that close-ended story lines "[make] it easier for new viewers to tune in and figure out what's going on".[19] According to Dick Wolf, serialized elements also make it more difficult for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes.[14] Cheers co-creator Les Charles regrets helping to make serialization common: "[W]e may have been partly responsible for what's going on now, where if you miss the first episode or two, you are lost. You have to wait until you can get the whole thing on DVD and catch up with it. If that blood is on our hands, I feel kind of badly about it. It can be very frustrating."[20]

Another problem is that many fans prefer to record these shows and binge watch the whole season in one session.[16] These viewers are not included in TV ratings as they are much less likely to watch commercials than live viewers. The move away from live viewing and toward DVR or internet-streaming services has hurt many shows' prospects because there are fewer or no commercials and they may be fast-forwarded or out-of-date.[21][failed verification]

Concerned about the toll on ratings of complex story arcs, networks sometimes ask showrunners to reduce serialization. Network executives believe that standalone episodes serve as a better jumping on point for new viewers, although this may result in a conflict with regular watchers who tend to prefer more focus on story arcs.[12]Alias began as a more serialized show but later became more stand-alone under network pressure.[11] During season 3 of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, showrunner Ronald D. Moore was also pressured to make episodes more stand-alone. This move resulted in negative criticism from both fans and critics, and Moore revealed in the Season 3 finale podcast that the network finally accepted that standalone episodes simply do not work for the story he is trying to tell.[22] Moore has also stated that the network was reluctant to greenlight Caprica mainly because story-arc-heavy series notoriously have difficulty in picking up new viewers, as compared to a series composed of mostly standalone episodes.[23]

According to Todd A. Kessler, the second season of Damages will be less serialized in order to render the show more accessible to new viewers.[24]Tim Kring, creator of Heroes, has also suggested that his show may move away from serialized storytelling: "I think the show needs to move towards [standalone episodes] in order to survive."[25]

Networks also discourage complex story arcs because they are less successful in reruns, and because standalone episodes can be rerun without concern for order.[26]

Entertainment Weekly[27] and Chicago Tribune[5] have expressed concern that declining ratings may lead to a major reduction in serialized storytelling. To highlight the situation, in the 2006–2007 season, no fewer than five high-concept serials were introduced, including Jericho, Kidnapped, Vanished, The Nine, and Drive, all of which experienced fairly quick cancellation due to low ratings.[28] In 2010 and 2011, more high-profile, high-cost serials failed to achieve success, including V, The Event, and FlashForward.

Some reviewers have also noted that serialized dramas are at a disadvantage at major awards shows such as the Primetime Emmy Awards. Such shows generally have to submit an atypical self-contained episode in order to gain recognition.[29] Despite this, since 2000, every winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series has been a Serial Drama: The West Wing (2000–2003), The Sopranos (2004, 2007), Lost (2005), 24 (2006), Mad Men (2008–2011), Homeland (2012), Breaking Bad (2013–2014), Game of Thrones (2015-2016, 2018-2019), The Handmaid's Tale (2017), and Succession (2020).

In terms of DVD sales, however, strongly serialized shows often perform better than shows which are strongly procedural. 24 (Season 6[30]), Lost (Season 4[31]), Heroes (Season 2[32]), True Blood[33] and even ratings minnow Battlestar Galactica (Season 4.0[34]) sell significantly more units than hit procedurals such as CSI (Season 6[35]), NCIS (Season 3,[36] Season 5[37]), CSI: Miami (Season 4,[38] Season 5[39]) and Criminal Minds (Season 2,[40] Season 3[41]).

Serialized shows tend to develop a more dedicated fanbase interested in exploring the show online as well as becoming customers of additional merchandising.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Robert Giddings, Keith Selby. 2001. The Classic Serial on Television and Radio. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-0-230-59629-0
  2. ^ Alessandra Stanley (July 24, 2007). "Smile and Smile and Still Be a Villain". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  3. ^ Hale, Mike (September 6, 2012). "The, Yes, Upside of Broadcast". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  4. ^ Poniewozik, James (December 4, 2008). "Tuned In". Time. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d Maureen Ryan (February 27, 2009). "Has TV lost its nerve when it comes to complex dramas?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  6. ^ Reitz, Joan M. (2004). Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved March 15, 2006
  7. ^ Jason Mittell. 2015. Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814769607
  8. ^ Marshall, Max (September 19, 2018). "'Dallas' at 40: The Inside Story Behind the Show That Changed Texas Forever". Texas Monthly. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  9. ^ Rob Owen (February 1, 2009). "Fox's 'House' celebrates its 100th episode". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  10. ^ Michael Ausiello (February 11, 2009). "Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Grey's,' 'House,' 'Big Love,' 'Fringe,' 'NCIS,' '24,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Heroes,' 'Smallville,' and more!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  11. ^ a b c Holmwood, Leigh (October 10, 2008). "JJ Abrams live webchat here". The Guardian. London. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  12. ^ a b Prudom, Laura (July 24, 2010). "Comic-Con: 'V,' 'Fringe' and 'Vampire Diaries' Round-Up". TV Squad. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  13. ^ Sarah Hughes (May 15, 2009). "Buffy's creator makes his valley of the dolls". The Independent. London. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  14. ^ a b Gilbert, Gerard (February 20, 2009). . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  15. ^ a b James Hibberd (March 13, 2009). "Q&A: Ron Moore on 'Battlestar' series finale". THRfeed. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  16. ^ a b Tom O'Neil (September 21, 2008). "TRANSCRIPT: The Envelope chat with Glenn Close". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  17. ^ Carter, Bill (May 14, 2012). "As Talent Flees to Cable, Networks Fight Back". The New York Times. pp. B1. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  18. ^ Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Inside The Series - Paramount+. YouTube. April 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Scott Collins (November 17, 2008). "How does CBS spell success? 'NCIS'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  20. ^ Raftery, Brian (October 2012). "The Best TV Show That's Ever Been". GQ. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  21. ^ Flint, Joe (May 12, 2011). "A dramatic decline for network dramas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  22. ^ [1] January 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Companion
  24. ^ Michael Schneider (June 16, 2008). "William Hurt joins FX's 'Damages'". Variety. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  25. ^ Eric Goldman (November 17, 2008). "Could Heroes Move Away From Serialization?". IGN. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  26. ^ Hibberd, James (May 18, 2009). "Joss Whedon talks 'Dollhouse' renewal". Hollywood Reporter THR feed. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  27. ^ Jeff Jensen (December 19, 2008). "This Was the Year That TV's Second Golden Age Ended". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  28. ^ "Soggy Serials". Star News Online. May 24, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  29. ^ Tom O'Neil (August 19, 2008). "Early, gutsy Emmy predix: 'Mad Men' vs. 'Damages'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  30. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Dec 16, 2007". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  31. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Jan 11, 2009". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  32. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Oct 12, 2008". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  33. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending July 5, 2009". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  34. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Jan 18, 2009". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  35. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 19, 2006". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  36. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Apr 29, 2007". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  37. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Sep 7, 2008". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  38. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 5, 2006". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  39. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 4, 2007". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  40. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Oct 7, 2007". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  41. ^ "US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Sep 21, 2008". The-numbers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.

External links

  • Most popular articles about 2010s American television series on Wikipedia, with user comments on traffic jumps - can be found on

January 08, 2023
serial, radio, television, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, examples, perspective, this, article, represent, worldwide, view, subject, improve, this, art. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information The reason given is no significant updates since 2012 eg does not discuss the impact of the rise of streaming services Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information Last update September 2012 January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message In television and radio programming a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of the series and sometimes spinoffs which distinguishes them from episodic television that relies on more stand alone episodes Worldwide the soap opera is the most prominent form of serial dramatic programming In the UK the serial began as a direct adaptations of well known literary works usually consisting of a small number of episodes 1 Serials rely on keeping the full nature of the story hidden and revealing elements episode by episode to encourage spectators to tune in to every episode to follow the plot 2 Often these shows employ recapping segments at the beginning and cliffhangers at the end of each episode The invention of recording devices such as VCRs and DVRs along with the growing popularity of streaming services has made following this type of show easier which has resulted in increased success and popularity Prior to the advent of DVRs television networks shunned serials in prime time as they made broadcast programming reruns more difficult and television producers shunned them because they were tougher to go into broadcast syndication years down the road Serials contrast with episodic television with plots relying on a more independent stand alone format Procedural drama television programs are commonly episodic sometimes including a serial subplot 3 4 5 Shorter serial programs known as telenovelas and earlier radionovelas originating and often produced in Spanish and Portuguese speaking Latin America have become popular worldwide Contents 1 Terminology 2 History 2 1 Soap operas 2 2 Other dramas 3 Effect of a serial model on commercial success 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksTerminology EditThe term serial refers to the intrinsic property of a series namely its order In literature the term is used as a noun to refer to a format within a genre by which a story is told in contiguous typically chronological installments in sequential issues of a single periodical publication More generally serial is applied in library and information science to materials in any medium issued under the same title in a succession of discrete parts usually numbered or dated and appearing at regular or irregular intervals with no predetermined conclusion 6 The term has been used for a radio or television production with a continuously evolving unified plot and set of characters spread over multiple episodes In the United States daytime soap operas have long had a serial structure Television mini series also commonly come in a serial form Starting in the mid 1970s series with soap opera like stories began to be aired in prime time e g Dallas Dynasty In the 1990s shows like The X Files and The Sopranos began to use a more serial structure and now there are a much wider range of shows in serial form 7 See also Radio drama and Television programHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The serial began with the advent of movie serials of the early 20th century With the emergence of television and subsequent decline of the movie going audience production of movie serials ceased due to the decreasing revenues But the serial lived on moving instead to the small screen and the world of Broadcast syndication television reruns Soap operas Edit The television serial format as known today originated in radio in the form of children s adventure shows and daily 15 minute programs known as soap operas so called because many of these shows were sponsored by soap companies such as Colgate Palmolive and Procter amp Gamble Soap operas were specifically engineered to appeal to women with the intention of increasing sale of soap They usually ran from Monday through Friday at the same time every day A show called The Smith Family which ran only one night a week on WENR in Chicago during the early 1930s was credited as the great granddaddy of the soap operas by radio historian Francis Chase Jr One of the other shows that helped pioneer the daytime soap opera serial was The Guiding Light which debuted on NBC radio in 1937 and then switched to CBS Television in 1952 The Guiding Light s final episode aired on September 18 2009 having a total of 15 762 episodes air on CBS Some of the characters in soap operas have been portrayed as long suffering a common theme even in some of today s serials along with the social and economical issues of the day Children s adventure serials were more like film serials with continuing characters involved in exploits with episodes that often ended in a cliffhanger situation Westerns were a particularly popular format for children s serials on the radio Guiding Light and such other daytime television program serials such as Search for Tomorrow Love of Life The Secret Storm As the World Turns The Edge of Night The Doctors Another World Dark Shadows One Life to Live and All My Children were popular in the Golden and Silver Ages of television and still are today Aside from the social issues the style and presentation of these shows have changed Whereas in the 1950s and 1960s the drama was underscored with traditional organ music and in the 1970s and the 1980s a full orchestra provided the score the daytime dramas of today use cutting edged synth driven music in a way music for soaps has come full circle from the keyboard to the keyboard The nighttime serials are a different story though the concept is also nothing new In the 1960s ABC aired the first real breakthrough nighttime serial Peyton Place inspired by the novel and theatrical film of the same name After its cancellation the format went somewhat dormant until Norman Lear produced Mary Hartman Mary Hartman in 1976 In 1977 ABC created another comedy soap aptly called Soap Although the show was controversial for its time with a homosexual character among its cast roster it was and still is today a cult classic The success of Dallas popularized serial storylines on prime time television Its end of season cliffhangers such as Who shot J R and Bobby in the Shower 8 influenced other shows like Dynasty ABC s answer to Dallas Knots Landing Falcon Crest The Colbys Flamingo Road Hotel The Yellow Rose Bare Essence and Berrenger s There were some serial shows such as Hill Street Blues and St Elsewhere that did not officially fit into this category but were nonetheless ratings hits season after season While the last of the 1980s nighttime soaps ended during the first years of the following decade then a second wave came with series like Beverly Hills 90210 Melrose Place Models Inc Savannah and Central Park West But as the 1990s came to a close the primetime soap as an official format gradually faded away where it largely seems to remain as of the middle of the first decade of the 21st century in the United States Other dramas Edit Serialized storytelling can also be seen in other dramas Heavily serialized dramas include Star Trek Deep Space Nine Babylon 5 The Sopranos Twin Peaks 24 Battlestar Galactica Breaking Bad Dexter The Wire The Return of the Spirit and Downton Abbey Series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer Veronica Mars Homicide Life on the Streets The Good Wife and The X Files fall somewhere in between featuring a new case each week that is solved by the end of the episode but also having an overarching mystery that receives focus in many episodes The more serialized its storytelling the less likely a show is to fare well in repeats The format places a demand on episodes to be run in order without which story arcs stretching over many episodes may be difficult for new viewers to delve into Desperate Housewives also falls into the category while each season involves a new mystery that spans an entire season and on one occasion half the season while planting hints throughout the episodes until the climax in the finale To a lesser extent series such as House 9 10 and Fringe 11 may also feature ongoing story arcs but episodes are more self encapsulated and so the series fall into a more conventional drama category Fringe has experimented with myth alones a hybrid that attempts to advance the story arc in a self contained episode 12 In addition it has been noted that the use of cliffhangers is still prevalent in adventure shows however they are now typically used just before a commercial break and the viewer need only wait a few minutes to see its resolution In addition many series have also made extensive use of the traditional end of episode cliffhanger format This is most common in season finales which often end in a cliffhanger that would only be resolved in the next season s premiere Over the course of its run a show may change its focus Matt Cherniss executive vice president of programming at Fox says Sometimes early on being a little more episodic allows more people into the room And as the show goes on by its nature it might find itself becoming a little more serialized 5 Early in their runs shows such as Lost 5 Buffy Angel Dollhouse 13 and Torchwood put greater emphasis on the story of the week but over time story arcs begin to dominate In contrast Alias became more focused on standalone stories in later seasons because of pressures by network executives 11 Effect of a serial model on commercial success EditComplex story arcs may have a negative effect on ratings by making entry more difficult for new viewers as well as confusing fans who have missed an episode 14 Networks see them as riskier than dramas that focus on a self contained story of the week 15 Tom O Neil of the Los Angeles Times notes They re chancy because these shows are hard to join midway through 16 As of 2012 update CBS has not aired a serial drama in many years in part because of the success of its non serial procedurals 17 Marketing for Star Trek Strange New Worlds 2022 emphasized its episodes being standalone which cast and crew described as being similar to Star Trek The Original Series 18 Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times stated that serialized storytelling though popular with hard core fans and many critics requires more dedication from viewers and has almost certainly tamped down ratings for many shows He quoted an ad executive who states that close ended story lines make it easier for new viewers to tune in and figure out what s going on 19 According to Dick Wolf serialized elements also make it more difficult for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes 14 Cheers co creator Les Charles regrets helping to make serialization common W e may have been partly responsible for what s going on now where if you miss the first episode or two you are lost You have to wait until you can get the whole thing on DVD and catch up with it If that blood is on our hands I feel kind of badly about it It can be very frustrating 20 Another problem is that many fans prefer to record these shows and binge watch the whole season in one session 16 These viewers are not included in TV ratings as they are much less likely to watch commercials than live viewers The move away from live viewing and toward DVR or internet streaming services has hurt many shows prospects because there are fewer or no commercials and they may be fast forwarded or out of date 21 failed verification Concerned about the toll on ratings of complex story arcs networks sometimes ask showrunners to reduce serialization Network executives believe that standalone episodes serve as a better jumping on point for new viewers although this may result in a conflict with regular watchers who tend to prefer more focus on story arcs 12 Alias began as a more serialized show but later became more stand alone under network pressure 11 During season 3 of the re imagined Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ronald D Moore was also pressured to make episodes more stand alone This move resulted in negative criticism from both fans and critics and Moore revealed in the Season 3 finale podcast that the network finally accepted that standalone episodes simply do not work for the story he is trying to tell 22 Moore has also stated that the network was reluctant to greenlight Caprica mainly because story arc heavy series notoriously have difficulty in picking up new viewers as compared to a series composed of mostly standalone episodes 23 According to Todd A Kessler the second season of Damages will be less serialized in order to render the show more accessible to new viewers 24 Tim Kring creator of Heroes has also suggested that his show may move away from serialized storytelling I think the show needs to move towards standalone episodes in order to survive 25 Networks also discourage complex story arcs because they are less successful in reruns and because standalone episodes can be rerun without concern for order 26 Entertainment Weekly 27 and Chicago Tribune 5 have expressed concern that declining ratings may lead to a major reduction in serialized storytelling To highlight the situation in the 2006 2007 season no fewer than five high concept serials were introduced including Jericho Kidnapped Vanished The Nine and Drive all of which experienced fairly quick cancellation due to low ratings 28 In 2010 and 2011 more high profile high cost serials failed to achieve success including V The Event and FlashForward Some reviewers have also noted that serialized dramas are at a disadvantage at major awards shows such as the Primetime Emmy Awards Such shows generally have to submit an atypical self contained episode in order to gain recognition 29 Despite this since 2000 every winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series has been a Serial Drama The West Wing 2000 2003 The Sopranos 2004 2007 Lost 2005 24 2006 Mad Men 2008 2011 Homeland 2012 Breaking Bad 2013 2014 Game of Thrones 2015 2016 2018 2019 The Handmaid s Tale 2017 and Succession 2020 In terms of DVD sales however strongly serialized shows often perform better than shows which are strongly procedural 24 Season 6 30 Lost Season 4 31 Heroes Season 2 32 True Blood 33 and even ratings minnow Battlestar Galactica Season 4 0 34 sell significantly more units than hit procedurals such as CSI Season 6 35 NCIS Season 3 36 Season 5 37 CSI Miami Season 4 38 Season 5 39 and Criminal Minds Season 2 40 Season 3 41 Serialized shows tend to develop a more dedicated fanbase interested in exploring the show online as well as becoming customers of additional merchandising 15 See also EditLimited run series List of serial drama television series Mystery box showReferences Edit Robert Giddings Keith Selby 2001 The Classic Serial on Television and Radio Palgrave MacMillan ISBN 978 0 230 59629 0 Alessandra Stanley July 24 2007 Smile and Smile and Still Be a Villain The New York Times Retrieved February 27 2009 Hale Mike September 6 2012 The Yes Upside of Broadcast The New York Times Retrieved January 7 2014 Poniewozik James December 4 2008 Tuned In Time Retrieved December 6 2008 a b c d Maureen Ryan February 27 2009 Has TV lost its nerve when it comes to complex dramas Chicago Tribune Retrieved February 27 2009 Reitz Joan M 2004 Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science Retrieved March 15 2006 Jason Mittell 2015 Complex TV The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling NYU Press ISBN 9780814769607 Marshall Max September 19 2018 Dallas at 40 The Inside Story Behind the Show That Changed Texas Forever Texas Monthly Retrieved September 21 2018 Rob Owen February 1 2009 Fox s House celebrates its 100th episode Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved February 12 2009 Michael Ausiello February 11 2009 Ask Ausiello Spoilers on Grey s House Big Love Fringe NCIS 24 Gossip Girl Friday Night Lights Heroes Smallville and more Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on June 28 2011 Retrieved February 12 2009 a b c Holmwood Leigh October 10 2008 JJ Abrams live webchat here The Guardian London Retrieved February 2 2009 a b Prudom Laura July 24 2010 Comic Con V Fringe and Vampire Diaries Round Up TV Squad Retrieved July 26 2010 Sarah Hughes May 15 2009 Buffy s creator makes his valley of the dolls The Independent London Retrieved May 16 2009 a b Gilbert Gerard February 20 2009 American law British order The Guardian London Archived from the original on February 23 2009 Retrieved February 20 2009 a b James Hibberd March 13 2009 Q amp A Ron Moore on Battlestar series finale THRfeed Retrieved March 13 2009 a b Tom O Neil September 21 2008 TRANSCRIPT The Envelope chat with Glenn Close Los Angeles Times Retrieved February 12 2009 Carter Bill May 14 2012 As Talent Flees to Cable Networks Fight Back The New York Times pp B1 Retrieved May 14 2012 Star Trek Strange New Worlds Inside The Series Paramount YouTube April 29 2022 Scott Collins November 17 2008 How does CBS spell success NCIS Los Angeles Times Retrieved February 12 2009 Raftery Brian October 2012 The Best TV Show That s Ever Been GQ Retrieved September 27 2012 Flint Joe May 12 2011 A dramatic decline for network dramas Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 12 2011 1 Archived January 22 2009 at the Wayback Machine Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Companion Michael Schneider June 16 2008 William Hurt joins FX s Damages Variety Retrieved February 27 2009 Eric Goldman November 17 2008 Could Heroes Move Away From Serialization IGN Retrieved March 2 2009 Hibberd James May 18 2009 Joss Whedon talks Dollhouse renewal Hollywood Reporter THR feed Retrieved March 1 2014 Jeff Jensen December 19 2008 This Was the Year That TV s Second Golden Age Ended Entertainment Weekly Retrieved February 27 2009 Soggy Serials Star News Online May 24 2007 Retrieved December 16 2009 Tom O Neil August 19 2008 Early gutsy Emmy predix Mad Men vs Damages Los Angeles Times Retrieved February 20 2009 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Dec 16 2007 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Jan 11 2009 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Oct 12 2008 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending July 5 2009 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Jan 18 2009 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 19 2006 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Apr 29 2007 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Sep 7 2008 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 5 2006 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Nov 4 2007 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Oct 7 2007 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Sep 21 2008 The numbers com Retrieved December 17 2011 External links EditMost popular articles about 2010s American television series on Wikipedia with user comments on traffic jumps The latest statistics can be found on Wikitop Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Serial radio and television amp oldid 1128158084, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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