Introduction to TV Drama

Introduction to TV Drama: Blog tasks

Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or on Google Drive here (you'll need your Greenford Google login) to find Media Factsheet #164 on Television Serial Drama. 

Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions to show your comprehensive knowledge of the television drama genre:

1) What is serial television drama? Write your own definition.

A serial television  drama is one that involves a narrative that usually runs across the whole series and through each episode, with a continuous plot.

2) List five of the TV dramas discussed in the history of the genre on page 1 of the factsheet. How has the genre evolved over time?

ABC’s The Avengers (1961-1969), Danger Man (1962-1968), The Sweeney (1975-1978)Minder (1979 – 1994) and Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979).

3) List the sub-genres of TV drama featured in the factsheet. Come up with your own example of an existing TV drama to fit each category.

• Police Procedural (crime): e.g. Prison Break or The Rookie

• Medical: e.g Chicago Med or Grey's Anatomy

• Period (costume): e.g Upstairs, Downstairs or Pride and Prejudice

• Science-fiction/fantasy: e.g Doctor Who, Smallville or Stranger Things.

• Family: e.g. Family Reunion, Full House or Victorious

• Teen: e.g Gossip Girl, Smallville, The OC, One Tree Hill, Beverly Hills 90210, The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, Dawson's creek, Pretty Little Liars etc

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

Setting is important because it allows the drama to develop over a long period of time, weathering the comings and goings of the cast members by replacing one archetypal character with another. Bringing in new characters also prevents the show from going stale. Additionally, having one secure location brings about a sense of nostalgia for audiences as they can always go back to that location and it's familiar to them, keeping them more interested and likely to continue watching.

5) How do TV dramas typically use character? What audience pleasures can be linked to character in TV drama? (Hint: Uses & Gratifications theory!)

Unlike the early drama series, characters in serial dramas go on a journey, allowing them to change and develop – although not too much or they run the risk of outliving their function in the narrative. More often than not their presence in story of the week forces the guest characters to change and grow. These character journeys are

called ‘arcs’ and for the lead characters often span a whole season of episodes or even several seasons. Characters are also portrayed in a diverse way towards each other in order to become relatable towards every audience member, so that they can form personal relationships and identify with them in order to fulfil audience pleasures.

6) What is a multi-strand narrative? Give an example of a TV drama that features a multi-strand narrative.

A multi-strand narrative is one that involves many different narratives running alongside each other at the same time in one series portrayed through each of the different characters. 

7) What is a cold opening?

When they employ a teaser at the beginning to hook the audience and keep them watching before the title sequence or commercial break.

8) How can Todorov's theory of equilibrium be applied to TV drama serials?

Generally, stories move through Todorov’s narrative stages though often without the return to equilibrium at the end of each episode. Most police procedurals, however, provide narrative resolution (and reassurance) to fulfil the audience’s need for answers.

9) What is the typical form for TV dramas and how are the programmes typically distributed to an audience?

The most typical form in seasons. In terms of distribution, in the US, the commercial networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) schedule most of their drama serials in blocks of twenty-four one-hour episodes, effectively spanning half the calendar year. In the UK, many serial dramas fill one-hour or a ‘commercial hour’ (about 50 minutes), with some dramas commissioned to span a two- hour slot. The US uses subscription cable channels like HBO and the UK uses the BBC.

10) How have subscription channels (such as HBO) and streaming services (such as Netflix and Amazon Prime) changed the form and content of TV dramas?

Drama serials presented on subscription cable channels, such as HBO,AMC and Showtime are not governed by the same considerations, hence their dramas allow for a lot more adult and challenging content. Cable channels and services like Netflix and Amazon Prime also often commission shorter runs (between six and thirteen episodes) and do not need to stick to rigid running times.

11) Choose a TV drama and do your own analysis of it using the SETTING / CHARACTERS / NARRATIVE / FORM headings as featured on page 3 of the factsheet.

FRIENDS- 

Setting: they feature the coffee shop called Central Perk, located within central Manhattan, New York City. This is used as a communal location inhibited by the ensemble cast. This is a familiar setting that provides nostalgia for audience members as they know the expectations surrounding the area and are comfortable with it.

Characters: they include an ensemble cast of 6 main characters, each on their own journeys and they all are best friends. Two of them are siblings and they provide personal relationship aspects for audiences who can relate to having a sibling. Also, the characters are all white but they are different genders so female audiences can relate to the girls and male audiences can relate to the guys.

Narrative: There is a multi strand narrative involved in this series as each of the six main characters have their own story lines and each of their stories can be relatable towards different audience members who have been through similar situations. Each character usually faces a disequilibrium within each season, allowing a developed narrative with a resolution in the end for them.

Form and Language: The show is portrayed in multiple seasons and their official distributor is Warner Bros Television Distribution. It can be streamed on HBO in the USA and Sky channels in the UK.

12) How might the TV drama genre evolve in future?

As the film industry moves towards a model of making only high or low budget films, television drama is filling the void vacated by the mid- budget movie (which is much harder to turn a profit on). As Hollywood concentrates on  superheroes, special effects and high octane action, many film actors are turning to television to play ‘difficult’, often morally ambiguous, characters in more complex and challenging narratives. This trend is likely to continue. However, as television - with the aid of co-production budgets - makes bigger and more international content

there is a fear that the TV producers are moving away from making smaller scale content aimed primarily at domestic audiences.