Granted about 4 and 5. I remembered enjoying events from those seasons more than I did flow. I couldn't think of a better example, in genre, of that length or I would have used it instead. I suppose that it just stuck with me that someone did sketch out a five year storyline and get five seasons in which to tell it, even with interference and schedule problems, in NA, on television. As I understand it, it is getting even more difficult to do that now as executive tenures seem to be getting shorter and individuals have less discretion, so it will probably be awhile before someone else can come close. So, mmm, lesson reinforced - always be careful with adjectives, among other things. *ow, sigh*
You have a point. Another characteristic of most of the shows I've seen this with (mostly in the mystery or procedural side of things) is generally there is only one central character with few supporting so almost everyone can be written around or re-cast without causing serious disruption. Offhand, I can't think of any ensembles. That said, (though these use the season rather than series model) examples of successful ensemble shows that re-cast everybody can be found in soaps on both sides of the Atlantic as well as Australia, so re-casting children for a returning series could probably be done with the right kinds of audience.
I wonder if we transitioned to that production style if we would just end up with lots of series of the types that we already get in mini-series. i.e.: often low-production values and formulaic plots. I would hope for more daring ideas and artistic freedom since the monetary risk could be lower, not only for production, but for promotion since a lot of the costly big events and blitzes that one sees networks do for shows intended to be anchors for a year of 22 episodes wouldn't make sense for a schedule composed of six to eight episode series.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 09:47 pm (UTC)You have a point. Another characteristic of most of the shows I've seen this with (mostly in the mystery or procedural side of things) is generally there is only one central character with few supporting so almost everyone can be written around or re-cast without causing serious disruption. Offhand, I can't think of any ensembles. That said, (though these use the season rather than series model) examples of successful ensemble shows that re-cast everybody can be found in soaps on both sides of the Atlantic as well as Australia, so re-casting children for a returning series could probably be done with the right kinds of audience.
I wonder if we transitioned to that production style if we would just end up with lots of series of the types that we already get in mini-series. i.e.: often low-production values and formulaic plots.
I would hope for more daring ideas and artistic freedom since the monetary risk could be lower, not only for production, but for promotion since a lot of the costly big events and blitzes that one sees networks do for shows intended to be anchors for a year of 22 episodes wouldn't make sense for a schedule composed of six to eight episode series.