# seasons vs series

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasons-vs-series/750039>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 24, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasons-vs-series/750039 "2016-03-24T18:15:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seasons-vs-series/750039/21 "2016-03-26T22:16:31Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> In the US, actors are usually contracted for a certain number of seasons at the beginning of the series- 4 to 6 is typical. If the series lasts that long, then the renegotiations for extending the contract is very dependent on the power of the actor, the show’s ratings, etc.
> 
> But it doesn’t seem that a lot of actors make such commitments to series in the UK. Hence the surprising death-rate on _Downton Abbey_ and having the lead character in _Call the Midwife_ disappear after a few seasons. (The lack of Jeff in the 4th series of _Coupling_ still haunts us all.)
> 
> And another US “season” oddity: AMC splitting the last seasons of _Mad Men_ and _Breaking Bad_ over two years.

What’s odd? Nothing more than $$.

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