INTRODUCTION TO TV DRAMA

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

- A television drama with multiple seasons and episodes and multiple plot lines.

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?

- The Avengers, Danger Man, The Sweeney, Minder, Doctor Who

- Until early 1980s most US television drama series followed a set narrative structure.

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) - NCIS

- Medical - Greys Anatomy

- Period (costume) - Downton Abbey

- Science-fiction/fantasy - Star Wars

- Family - Modern Family

- Teen - 13 Reasons Why

4) Why is setting so important for TV drama?

- 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.

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

- TV dramas often employ archetypal characters. 

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

- Multiple stories played out in a certain amount of time. 

- Downton Abbey.

7) What is a cold opening?

- A teaser at the beginning of an episode to hook the audience and keep them watching.

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

-  TV dramas often begin with storylines where there is peace within everything where further down the storyline of the show dilemmas begin to occur. At the end of the show there can be a situation where there is new equilibrium where the harmony is restored however that doesn't always happen.

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

- The length of a "season", as well as the length of individual episodes, vary according to the institution producing and distribution the programme. 

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?

- The Sopranos (HBO), Breaking Bad (AMC) and Dexter (Showtime) with their anti-hero protagonists would not play on free-to-air network television as many potential advertisers would not want to associate their products with such content. 

- Cable channels and services such as Netflix and Amazon prime also often commission shorter runs 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.

How to get away with murder.

- Setting: University in America and the Professors house.

- Characters: Professor from the university and her students.

- Narrative: Focuses on the Professor and her students about life after they murdered people and how they avoid getting caught. 

- Form: Distributor- ABC, Running time- 43mins.

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

- 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.