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How long should a TV Show Run
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:47 am
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:47 am
I had this talk with my wife on how long a TV Series should actually be on for. A show like Sienfeld which has no real plot can go forever, but most shows follow a plot and if they go too long it gets played out and boring. I say 7 season tops...
18
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:48 am to CAGator
5-6ish
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:53 am to CAGator
a plot driven show should never surpass 5 seasons in my opinion.. Breaking Bad is stopping at 5 seasons with only 13 episodes per season.. there is no need for more.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:55 am to CAGator
Depends on the show structure and the story being told. Shows like Dr Who have been on forever but the structure of the show makes it work. I would say that most shows should only need about 3-6 seasons to tell their story (Fringe, Lost, Justified, Walking Dead, etc)
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:55 am to BaddestAndvari
quote:
a plot driven show should never surpass 5 seasons in my opinion.. Breaking Bad is stopping at 5 seasons with only 13 episodes per season.. there is no need for more.
Honestly, BB could have stopped at season 4 and I would have considered it a complete story.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 10:58 am to CAGator
5 seasons maximum if it's a plot driven show. Anything more and you're just milking it.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:04 am to CAGator
I really like how the cable channels are doing 4-5 seasons with 12-13 episodes per. That's the way to go.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:12 am to CAGator
5 or 6 seems to be the magic number. I wish we'd have some shorter series with concrete end dates from the start so writers can plan the structure of the series as a whole accordingly.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:14 am to ellunchboxo
quote:
I really like how the cable channels are doing 4-5 seasons with 12-13 episodes per. That's the way to go.
me too. 20+ episodes in a season is just too much, with filler episodes and all
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:18 am to CAGator
Cheers and Mash went 11 seasons.
I'd say...for shows like that 8 seasons is ideal in not burning out.
So 8 seasons max...just feels right.
I'd say...for shows like that 8 seasons is ideal in not burning out.
So 8 seasons max...just feels right.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:19 am to ellunchboxo
quote:
I really like how the cable channels are doing 4-5 seasons with 12-13 episodes per. That's the way to go.
This. 22 Episode seasons for a serial imposes too much filler.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:21 am to Freauxzen
Hell the Killing had entire episodes of filler. They absolutely should have wrapped that thing up in one season.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:25 am to alajones
A serial with a good long term outlook should go about 100 episodes. IIRC, that was the plan for LOST until the studios made them add some episodes to one of the seasons.
Sitcoms vary depending on the POV.
Sitcoms vary depending on the POV.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:26 am to CAGator
6 to 7 is probably a good run
If the writing can sustain it, maybe 10, but those will be outliers. Some great shows run out of gas at about 50 or 60 episodes and limp along. The mark of a great show is a 6 or 7 year run and they know when to walk away leaving you wanting a little more - about the closest to perfect timing for me, again, is The Shield - despite the fact they had to basically add about 8 episodes when expanding the final season to 2 shortened final seasons, there were really no more stories to tell when they wrapped, but I didn't fell like they hung around too long.
I'm curious to see how they finish up Breaking Bad, because that will be a candidate as well.
If the writing can sustain it, maybe 10, but those will be outliers. Some great shows run out of gas at about 50 or 60 episodes and limp along. The mark of a great show is a 6 or 7 year run and they know when to walk away leaving you wanting a little more - about the closest to perfect timing for me, again, is The Shield - despite the fact they had to basically add about 8 episodes when expanding the final season to 2 shortened final seasons, there were really no more stories to tell when they wrapped, but I didn't fell like they hung around too long.
I'm curious to see how they finish up Breaking Bad, because that will be a candidate as well.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:27 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
A serial with a good long term outlook should go about 100 episodes. IIRC, that was the plan for LOST until the studios made them add some episodes to one of the seasons.
I'm seriously not really complaining about Fringe or Alias here.. but both of those shows could have told the same story in 52 episodes.. I would even say they could have told the same story in 26, but I might be pushing it. Anime can tell a much more complex story in 26, 30 minute episodes.. why does it take 100, 1 hour episodes to tell a weaker story in American TV!?!
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:29 am to WG_Dawg
7 years is a pretty good run...
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:31 am to CAGator
A drama or plot driven show 5-6 years.
A comedy 6-7 year
An animated show - 20-30 years
A comedy 6-7 year
An animated show - 20-30 years
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:33 am to BaddestAndvari
quote:
why does it take 100, 1 hour episodes to tell a weaker story in American TV!?!
Not every show should take 100 eps. But some should be limited to that.
The focus should be on telling the story with the least amount of filler possible. Some shows could be done well and only last 20 episodes. Some shows have more story to tell.
The way shows are ordered needs to change. Don't give a show an 8 episode order to start the year and then tack on another 10 epsidoes when you find out people like it. You almost assure yourself of unever writing and weird storyline breaks. 12-16 episodes of a serial per season can be plenty to tell a tight, entertaining, engrossing story.
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:34 am to CAGator
quote:
I say 7 season tops...
2-4 is adequate for almost every show
Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:35 am to ProjectP2294
quote:
The way shows are ordered needs to change. Don't give a show an 8 episode order to start the year and then tack on another 10 epsidoes when you find out people like it. You almost assure yourself of unever writing and weird storyline breaks. 12-16 episodes of a serial per season can be plenty to tell a tight, entertaining, engrossing story.
I agree with this 100% .. with Fox and NBC bleeding viewership right now, I wish one of them would take this idea for a test drive on network television.
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