I propose a “new” type of television show format- the limited series. By this I mean something longer than a 8-12 hour miniseries, but not a regular “run it forever or until the ratings drop” series. I mean a show, aired one hour a week for 26 weeks or so, in which the producer takes the time to tell the story, after which it’s over-goodbye.
This is not really new; I believe Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner was planned this way. And Babylon Five was also intended to have a limited run and an end, although that took five years. Also a handful of shows such as Nowhere Man sort of followed this format, although that might have been simply writing an end to a show that was going to be cancelled.
This format wouldn’t have been practical before but now that popular shows can be rerun forever on cable, it could be commercially viable. So what works of fiction do you think would be good for a limited-run TV series?
“X-Files” would have been a far, far better thing had it been implemented in that fashion–but of course, not as lucrative as the “milk it till it’s dust” approach. But even moreso, “Millenium”, which completely fell apart in the end–such as it was.
“Murder One” from a few years ago followed this format. It followed a murder trial from the day the crime was committed to the end (which I won’t reveal for the benefit of those who might catch it in reruns). There was a second season set at the same law firm, with a different head lawyer and some different staff, but I think that season was done after the fact by A&E, who had rerun the first season.
The series “24” in the upcoming season also follows this format. It’s 24 episodes, each happening in real time over the course of a single day (with of course time out for commercials).
Lots of people think that “Twin Peaks” would have benefitted from this format too, ending after the resolution of the “Who Killed Laura Palmer” plot line. I can see their point, but there was a lot of stuff from the remainder of the series which I’m glad was done. I wish they’d have sort of halted TP for a while after that resolution, then restarted sort of fresh in a new season.
Yeah.
If it was all we could gee, a Dr Who LA wouldn’t go amiss. Drawing together the central strands of the entire saga, which has lasted… what, thirty or forty years!?!
Doubtless the novels, CDs and occasional TV series would continue afterwards, but such a series wouldn’t hurt… it might at least help newbies like myself to get a handle on the basic concepts, which are at the least taxing.