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Television special

January 29, 2023

A television special (often TV special, or rarely television spectacular) is a standalone television show which may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Some specials provide a full range of entertainment and informational value available via the television medium (news, drama, comedy, variety, cultural), in various formats (live television, documentary, studio production, animation, film), and in any viewing lengths (short films, feature films, miniseries, telethons).[1][2]

Examples

The types of shows described as television specials include:[2]

History

The production of early television shows was very expensive, with few guarantees of public success, and ongoing (weekly) shows typically required a single, major sponsor to operate. As such, a good deal of programming was one-off shows, accommodating smaller sponsors and not requiring a loyal audience following. As the industry matured, this trend reversed; by the 1950s, most networks aimed to provide stable, routine, and proven content to their audiences. Television executives, such as CBS president James Aubrey, sought to avoid any disruption in viewing habits which might cause viewers to move to another network. These weekly series, though, typically became too expensive for any single sponsor, so stand-alone shows offered a way to continue accommodating the single-sponsor practice, leading to shows like Amahl and the Night Visitors (1951, sponsored by Hallmark Cards as part of the Hallmark Television Playhouse) and the Ford 50th Anniversary Show (1953, a two-hour variety show simulcast on both CBS and NBC).[1][3][4]

In 1954, NBC president Sylvester Weaver pioneered an innovative style of programming which he called "spectaculars".[5] These stand-alone broadcasts, usually 90 minutes in length, were designed to attract large, new audiences and bring prestige to the network. The spectaculars aired on three nights every fourth week - a major gamble because it controversially broke up viewer routines and risked stable weekly sponsorship deals.

To address this, Weaver used his "magazine" style which involved selling segments of each show to a different sponsor, a practice which would evolve into the modern "commercial". The three initial spectacular blocks were Hallmark Hall of Fame (Sundays, produced by Albert McCleery), Producer's Showcase (Mondays, produced by Fred Coe), Max Liebman Presents (Saturdays, produced by Max Liebman). In time, the term "spectacular" was seen as hyperbolic, and so led to the more modern and modest term, "special".[3][4] Weaver's strategy was not as successful as CBS's predictably scheduled and prefilmed programs, and he was fired in 1956.[5]

In the 1960s, multi-part specials, aired over several days in a week or on the same day for several weeks, evolved from this format, though these were more commonly called miniseries. The term "TV special" formerly applied more to dramas or musicals presented live or on videotape (such as Peter Pan) than to filmed presentations especially made for television, which were (and still are) referred to as made-for-TV movies.

In the era before cable and home video, television audiences often had to wait an entire year or more to see a special program or film that had a great impact on first viewing. Today, online streaming often makes it possible for viewers to watch a television show again almost immediately after it is aired, and home video—which has largely given way to digital downloads—makes it possible for the general public to own copies of television shows and films.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Lester L. (1992). "Specials". Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television (3rd ed.). Gale Research, Inc. pp. 525–526. ISBN 978-0-8103-8871-0.
  2. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2013). "Preface". Television Specials (2nd ed.). McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-7444-8. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Lester L. (1992). "Spectaculars". Les Brown's Encyclopedia of Television (3rd ed.). Gale Research, Inc. p. 526. ISBN 978-0-8103-8871-0.
  4. ^ a b O'Dell, Cary. "Encyclopedia of Television - "Special/Spectacular"". Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b Baughman, James L. (Winter 1997). ""Show Business in the Living Room": Management Expectations for American Television, 1947-56". Business and Economic History. Cambridge University Press. 26 (2): 718–726. JSTOR 23703062.

January 29, 2023
television, special, television, special, often, special, rarely, television, spectacular, standalone, television, show, which, also, temporarily, interrupt, episodic, programming, normally, scheduled, given, time, slot, some, specials, provide, full, range, e. A television special often TV special or rarely television spectacular is a standalone television show which may also temporarily interrupt episodic programming normally scheduled for a given time slot Some specials provide a full range of entertainment and informational value available via the television medium news drama comedy variety cultural in various formats live television documentary studio production animation film and in any viewing lengths short films feature films miniseries telethons 1 2 Contents 1 Examples 2 History 3 See also 4 ReferencesExamples EditThe types of shows described as television specials include 2 One time comedy shows Adaptations of operas Broadway plays and other musicals Celebrity profiles interviews or tribute specials Seasonal programs or parades Christmas television specials Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade New Year s Eve Theatrical films and made for TV movies Animated cartoons shorts Irregular sports events Olympic Games Super Bowl Beauty pageants Miss America Award shows Academy Awards Fundraising campaigns telethons pledge drives On going breaking news or event coverage such as the funeral of a major public figure or the wedding of a member of a royal family Promotional previews of regularly scheduled programming such as Saturday morning preview specials History EditThe production of early television shows was very expensive with few guarantees of public success and ongoing weekly shows typically required a single major sponsor to operate As such a good deal of programming was one off shows accommodating smaller sponsors and not requiring a loyal audience following As the industry matured this trend reversed by the 1950s most networks aimed to provide stable routine and proven content to their audiences Television executives such as CBS president James Aubrey sought to avoid any disruption in viewing habits which might cause viewers to move to another network These weekly series though typically became too expensive for any single sponsor so stand alone shows offered a way to continue accommodating the single sponsor practice leading to shows like Amahl and the Night Visitors 1951 sponsored by Hallmark Cards as part of the Hallmark Television Playhouse and the Ford 50th Anniversary Show 1953 a two hour variety show simulcast on both CBS and NBC 1 3 4 In 1954 NBC president Sylvester Weaver pioneered an innovative style of programming which he called spectaculars 5 These stand alone broadcasts usually 90 minutes in length were designed to attract large new audiences and bring prestige to the network The spectaculars aired on three nights every fourth week a major gamble because it controversially broke up viewer routines and risked stable weekly sponsorship deals To address this Weaver used his magazine style which involved selling segments of each show to a different sponsor a practice which would evolve into the modern commercial The three initial spectacular blocks were Hallmark Hall of Fame Sundays produced by Albert McCleery Producer s Showcase Mondays produced by Fred Coe Max Liebman Presents Saturdays produced by Max Liebman In time the term spectacular was seen as hyperbolic and so led to the more modern and modest term special 3 4 Weaver s strategy was not as successful as CBS s predictably scheduled and prefilmed programs and he was fired in 1956 5 In the 1960s multi part specials aired over several days in a week or on the same day for several weeks evolved from this format though these were more commonly called miniseries The term TV special formerly applied more to dramas or musicals presented live or on videotape such as Peter Pan than to filmed presentations especially made for television which were and still are referred to as made for TV movies In the era before cable and home video television audiences often had to wait an entire year or more to see a special program or film that had a great impact on first viewing Today online streaming often makes it possible for viewers to watch a television show again almost immediately after it is aired and home video which has largely given way to digital downloads makes it possible for the general public to own copies of television shows and films See also EditDocumentary film Event televisionReferences Edit a b Brown Lester L 1992 Specials Les Brown s Encyclopedia of Television 3rd ed Gale Research Inc pp 525 526 ISBN 978 0 8103 8871 0 a b Terrace Vincent 2013 Preface Television Specials 2nd ed McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 7444 8 Retrieved 20 April 2018 via Google Books a b Brown Lester L 1992 Spectaculars Les Brown s Encyclopedia of Television 3rd ed Gale Research Inc p 526 ISBN 978 0 8103 8871 0 a b O Dell Cary Encyclopedia of Television Special Spectacular Museum of Broadcast Communications Retrieved 1 May 2018 a b Baughman James L Winter 1997 Show Business in the Living Room Management Expectations for American Television 1947 56 Business and Economic History Cambridge University Press 26 2 718 726 JSTOR 23703062 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Television special amp oldid 1124940728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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