re: What was the first modern-style TV drama?

Dark Shadows

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You had some highly talented writers producing some of the best TV dramas in history during the 50s.

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This thread is a joke.

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Shut the frick up, you ornery old bastard.

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The part of 2 requiring hollywood level special effects seems to limit it to action/ sci-fi.

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After some thought I didn't word requirement #2 as well as I could have. Let's rephrase it and say that modern TV dramas have production quality on par with movies. That incorporates far more than just special effects.

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Modern being a key term here

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“Modern” has a specific definition in the OP. The thread is a discussion about what was the first TV drama to showcase the features that the OP is talking about. It’s my contention that the idea that these features are somehow “modern” is placing too much significance on the present and not seeing that these features have been present since the 70s.

Edit: The only thing that is 100 percent a “modern” feature is incorporation of season-long and series-long story arcs, such that the entire series blends together like a single story.

Prior to 1993, there were multiple episode story arcs to be sure. But something like Breaking Bad where it’s just one, long continuous story from episode 1 to the series finale was something you only saw in soap operas.

The first traditional drama to have an entire series planned out before anything was ever filmed was Babylon 5 (1993-1998).

Edit: I would argue that the most profound thing to happen to American television, even more so than serialized story arcs and acting, was the use of cinema-verite style cinematography. Handheld camera work and really gritty lighting. For that, Hill Street Blues would be the starting point.

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would argue that the most profound thing to happen to American television, even more so than serialized story arcs and acting, was the use of cinema-verite style cinematography. Handheld camera work and really gritty lighting. For that, Hill Street Blues would be the starting point.

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Never seen hill street blues but watched the first few episodes of Miami Vice, was pretty blown away with how good it looked. I know It is Micheal mann so it makes sense.

Kind of brings up a good point, TV was pretty limited on how good it could look until wide screen TVs took over.

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Dallas

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Was thinking the same.

Dallas

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OZ was on the same network and had it beat by 2 years.

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OZ definitely deserves a mention. But the fact that it was set in a prison ward kind of gave it a "studio set" feel and some of the story lines were outlandish or soap opera-like.

Key Word: "Modern Style"

Your Criteria for "Modern Style"

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1. Although they are broken up into episodes, they are not episodic in nature. They have an overarching plot which is materially advanced in almost every episode, so you can't generally pick them up mid-series or skip an episode. They are intended to be watched from first episode to last, like an extremely long movie. These are shows designed for the era of DVR and streaming media.

2. They have acting and effects comparable to movies. If you walk into a room where one of these shows is playing on TV, you cannot generally tell at a glance that it is a TV series as compared to a movie. They also often have actors who have appeared in movies.

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Deep Space Nine

Serialized after the first few seasons...one of the earliest examples.

Definitely has They have an overarching plot which is materially advanced in almost every episode

They are intended to be watched from first episode to last, like an extremely long movie.

It had acting and effects comparable to movies. In fact it has aged extremely well.