What IS wrong with American TV?

POSTED BY: Ruthie
UPDATED: Monday, August 10, 2026 16:40
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SHEPHERDSCOTT

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 2:50 PM

Peace has done a very lovely job laying out the corporate issues shaping American TV. I'd like to add a few thoughts in response to the thread.

First, it is extremely important to note that American TV is an entirely private, capitalist affair -- unlike the BBC, which is "state-run" TV. So whereas the BBC can "experiment" with changes by making one decision to do so, in the US it is each individual network that would have to experiment on its own...and take the risk on its own that the experiment would backfire. This makes it extremely unlikely that any individual network would stray too far from the ruling paradigm, and even more unlikely that all of them together would try a new experiment (especially since, in American law, that could and should be construed as market collusion).

That said, I have been noticing a trend toward shorter seasons over the past several years. In the 80's and early 90's, I seem to recall more shows airing new episodes from mid-September through sometime in May, 25-26 episodes. Most of the shows I have been watching since the late 90's, though, seem to start airing new episodes much later (one year THE X-FILES didn't start airing new episodes until early November!) and airing fewer of them (like 22). So as production expenses from dramatic series rise, I think we are seeing an industry-wide trend toward shorter original-run seasons.

And this, I think, is the chief reason why the 6-8 episode season would never fly in the US: the repeat content would far outstrip original content. Even a successful series normally only captures 50-70% of the ratings on a repeat, and less-successful series capture even less. Shorter seasons = more repeat episodes = lower overall viewership = network TV loses even more ground to cable.

But I do not wish to absolve the American public from its role in crappy TV. They're the ones choosing to watch reality TV. (Though do not mistake this admission for a voice of support for British TV -- you wankers were the ones who CREATED "Big Brother" and similar shows.) Reality TV is the ultimate conceit of a democratic society with freedom of choice: any monkey can be picked out from the tribe and hoisted to the top of the tree. I'm firmly convinced that, if the FCC would permit it, all of TV would regress to a variation on the same show: a reality program in which real people are put in romantic/sexual (the former always progressing to the latter) situations, and the audience votes on who gets matched up with whom next. Think of it as like THE SIMS as sexy reality TV.

"FOX became a soft-core porn channel so gradually, I hardly noticed." - Marge Simpsons from a 'future' episode many seasons back (how prescient!)

* * *

Do the job. Get paid. Keep flying.

JEBBYPAL

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 2:54 PM

I don't think it is americans in general---many of us bemoan the loss of good shows as well. In fact, I'd say that's the problem w/ network tv is most have given up and gone to watching cable..or playing videogames.

No the problem is that TV is controlled by the advertisers and the advertisers want to attract the age demographic w/ the money --- used to be men 18-49, now its generally tween/teen girls--hence the continuous dawson creek spinoff lookalikes. Since the viewing public is so fragmented, every network goes after the same group and all the shows look alike. Also, reality is cheaper---i liken it to the glut of game shows i remember from the 80s. Same thing--money given away. Same result - fewer script writers very few people paid.

As long as money is being made on reality tv franchises (and who really wants to make trump richer anyway??), they'll continue. Hopefully Serenity will be huge success and start a franchise as profitiable as SW or ST --- hell, buffy/angel will probably build to that level anyway i'd argue.

And we may start to see shows w/ 8-16 episodes only----"good" anime is doing extremely well on cartoon network i hear.

The Strawberry Monkey
http://p221.ezboard.com/bfireflyfanficawards

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 9:36 PM

I think American series doing 6-8 episode seasons would be awful, though you always run the risk of not being able to tell the full story you want, you at least have the chance of telling a full story. Imagine if everything from Firefly was resolved in 8 episodes.
Episode 1: Character setup
Episode 2: Resolving Inara's past
Episode 3: Jayne's betrayal
Episode 4: Resolving Book's past
Episode 5: Setting up Blue Sun
Episode 6: Mal and Inara get together
Episode 7: Simon and Kaylee get together
Episode 8: Resolution of Blue Sun

Suddenly the show's over, half the things still weren't resolved, you didn't have enough time to really care about the characters of what was going on and if you're not popular you still get axed without finishing your story. 22 episodes gives you a chance to truly understand the universe, to tell the stories you want to tell. The 8 episode system is awful for drama, which is why the majority of UK drama is ongoing and not short series: Casualty, Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City, Heartbeat, even Doctor Who.

Sitcoms work well like this, drama doesn't.

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

RUTHIE

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 11:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chronicthehedgehog:
I think American series doing 6-8 episode seasons would be awful,
Imagine if everything from Firefly was resolved in 8 episodes.

Interesting.
The point about the way British dramas do it is that the story that they try to tell is smaller, so it CAN be resolved in less episodes, but leaves room for further series if it's a sucess.

So, if Firefly had been done under this system, with the INTENTION FROM THE START of only having say 8 episodes, JW may have selected something like:-
Ep 1 - Character and situation set-up
Ep 2 - Simon and River's backstory
Ep 3 - Simon finds more about River
Ep 4 - Crew find more about River
Ep 5 - Crew take decicive action about River (e.g. Arial)
Ep 6 - A solution for River's problems is found
Ep 7 - The solution is threatened by danger
Ep 8 - the solution is applied, River's character moves on, the crew fly off to more adventures.
End of S1, the River arc is resolved, many questions answered.

Series 2 - Picks up on some points introduced but not explores in S2 (e.g. Book or Inara's background)

Then, if S2 never got made, we'd at least have a complete story in S1 - but with room for expansion.

Quote:

Suddenly the show's over, half the things still weren't resolved, you didn't have enough time to really care about the characters of what was going on and if you're not popular you still get axed without finishing your story. 22 episodes gives you a chance to truly understand the universe, to tell the stories you want to tell.

Oh, I agree that I'd rather had a full 22/24 GOOD episodes than just 8.

But 8 or 12 episodes of a story intended to stretch over 22 is just frustrating. I'd rather have a whole small story in less episodes than half a bigger one - and getting to care about characters and then have them removed with no resolution is starting to drive me mad.
And that must be NOTHING to how the makers and actors of the shows feel!

Quote:

The 8 episode system is awful for drama, which is why the majority of UK drama is ongoing and not short series: Casualty, Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City, Heartbeat, even Doctor Who.

Most of the shows you mention here STARTED with short series.
Casualty has 15 eps for it's first series, dropped to 10 or less, and only went for long runs after remaining popular for about 6 years. (and in the process, changing from a drama to a sopa-opera).
Eastenders always was a soap - much cheaper to produce than drama.
Dr Who was made up of a series of episodes telling each story - the series could have ended at the completion of any story if necessary.

Two recent BBC dramas have been very American in style and feel, but have had short series.
Spooks had 6 eps in the first series, 10 in the second, and a third is being made.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/spooks/

Hustle has had 1 series of 6 eps so far, I think a second will be made.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/hustle/

I found the series lengths to give plenty of time to get to know the characters - of course, it helps that a BBC 1h episode actually lasts 1h, not 42 mins (no commercial breaks!)

*******************
Ruthie
*******************
By the data to date, there is only one animal in the Galaxy dangerous to man - man himself. So he must supply his own indispensable competition. He has no enemy to help him. (R.A.Heinlein)

SIGNYM

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 1:45 AM

Nothing that money can't cure.

Oh, wait, money IS the problem!

MAUGWAI

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 1:50 AM

What's wrong with American TV is epitomized by the ironic new show, "The Next Action Star". We actually now have a reality show whose purpose is to find actors.

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

BIKISDAD

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 2:34 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by maugwai:
What's wrong with American TV is epitomized by the ironic new show, "The Next Action Star". We actually now have a reality show whose purpose is to find actors.

"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

That IS ironic. Especially, since, when they find the next "star", there won't be any show for them to go to because the only thing left on will be more reality tv.

Also, someone above said something about people giving up. That's me. I cancelled my cable subscription two weeks ago (the day after the Angel finale repeat). The great thing about it is that I don't miss tv at all. Whenever I get the urge to watch tv, I put in a Buffy or Angel or Firefly dvd and I'm much happier than I would be if I was watching whatever crap they're currently broadcasting.
American tv? "Good riddance to bad rubbish". Really. There's so much really great stuff available on dvd now (not just Joss' stuff - plenty of movies and some other good shows), why even bother with broadcast (or cable) tv?

Apathy on the Rise. No One Cares.

EVILTOBZ

Friday, June 11, 2004 3:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ShepherdScott:
Though do not mistake this admission for a voice of support for British TV -- you wankers were the ones who CREATED "Big Brother" and similar shows.

no. we. did. not!!! although, admittedly, the brainless masses of the british public lap it up like a thirsty dog at a toilet bowl.

anyway, i find myself agreeing with the concept of starting with half seasons, doing a full run so that a full story can be told then judging whether to do a full season next year. it would make it much more satisfying when things get dropped if we had some sort of conclusion. you don't need to tie everything up, but having some sort of solid finale gives you that sense of closure.

all that said, i do love the length of u.s. tv seasons when i find a show i like, be it a bit of joss, gilmore girls, roswell, 24 or whatever. it really lets you get involved in the stories that they are telling.

STALBANS

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 9:40 PM

Big Brother was the fault of the dutch, not us, I'm beginning to come round to Austin Powers' dad's way of thinking.

On the whole I'm of the opinion that Americans make superior TV, it's just that such a lot is pumped out at us that a large percentage of what we like is going to fail in it's first year. Over here however, with the shorter series style, they're already made by the time they air, which is good for the good stuff, not so much for the bad.

On the plus side, at least we weren't subjected to a full season of Fast Lane *shudders*

(one last thing, it's Celtic. No plural, no Glasgow.)

KIQUOA

Thursday, July 15, 2004 6:23 PM

The American TV industry certainly puts out a larger volume of shows than anyone else. We cannot really lump it all together into "good television" or "bad television".

Generally American audiences seem to respond to visual imagery and shows that inspire discussion. Both of these things have flown out of control.
Sure, Big graphic movies are enjoyable to watch. But the dark side of being image driven is the manic and rapid string of images that flash so quickly across the screen. You ever notice how many images last as long as a second in commercials? I do not think the rise of ADH disorder is due to any real physiological development in humanity, it is cultural.
By mentioning "discussion" I am politely referring to gossip. The mob has few base reactions; curiosity, greed, cruelty and fear are a few. I can't give a concise explination for reality TV. I find them boring and morally reprehensible.

Just have to sift through the crap to find the good.

Thanks to the BBC for Foil's War!

"That was the torture talking."

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