30 August 2011

Thought of the day: Four types of TV shows

There seem to be four premises to create interesting TV shows.
  1. Show based on neurotic and/or childish characters (a staple of sitcoms)
  2. Show based on characters with interesting jobs -- the procedural (cop, medical, legal, detective/spy/crime dramas)
  3. Show based on a particular genre (vampires, fantasy, science-fiction, military, espionage)
  4. Show based on relatively normal characters thrust into crazy situations (character diagnosed with cancer, nuclear holocaust)
Personally, I like shows that mix several of these premises. Chuck combines spy action with nerdy comedy, and its main character finds himself pulled from his dull existence as a computer technician into the world of espionage. (Premises 2, 3, & 4) Battlestar Galactica is a militaristic sci-fi drama in which most of the human race is suddenly wiped out. (Premises 3 & 4)

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