Bottle episode

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In episodic television, a bottle episode or bottle show is an episode produced cheaply and restricted in scope to use as few actors, effects and sets as possible. Bottle episodes are usually shot on sets built for other episodes, frequently the main interior sets for a series, and consist largely of dialogue and scenes for which no special preparations are needed. They are commonly used when one script has fallen through and another has to be written at short notice, or because of budgetary constraints. [1] Bottle episodes have also been used for dramatic effect, with the limited setting and cast allowing for a slower pace and deeper exploration of character traits and motives.

Contents

Use

The term "bottle show" was coined by Leslie Stevens, creator and executive producer of the 1960s TV series The Outer Limits , for an episode made in very little time at very little cost, "as in pulling an episode right out of a bottle like a genie". [2]

Bottle episodes are sometimes produced to allow as much of the budget as possible to go to the more expensive episodes of the season. Scott Brazil, executive producer of The Shield , described bottle episodes as "the sad little stepchild whose allowance is docked in order to buy big brother a new pair of sneaks". [3]

Examples

Star Trek: The Next Generation used bottle episodes so that it could spend more on special effects in other episodes. [4]

The popularity of the Friends bottle episode "The One Where No One's Ready" led the producers to create at least one bottle episode in each season. [5] [6] [7]

The premiere of the third season of The West Wing was delayed by the September 11 attacks in the United States. When the series did return, "Isaac and Ishmael" offered a bottle episode where the main cast paid tribute to those affected by the attacks and informed viewers about what to expect from the delayed premiere. Set almost entirely in the White House Mess Hall, the main characters explore the motivations and nuances of terrorism. [8] [ failed verification ]

Other notable shows that have shown bottle episodes include Mad About You , [9] Parks and Recreation , [5] [10] Doctor Who , [11] Breaking Bad , [5] [8] Archer, [5] [12] Girls , [13] Community , [14] Frasier , [10] BoJack Horseman , [15] Grey's Anatomy , [16] and Chicago Fire . [17]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "10 great TV Bottle Episodes". 2012-11-21. Archived from the original on 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
  2. ↑ "Definition of BOTTLE EPISODE". Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on 2024-08-06. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Episode 410 "Back In The Hole"". FX Networks. 2005-10-31. Archived from the original on 2005-10-31. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  4. ↑ Gross, Edward; Altman, Mark (October 1995). Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages. Little Brown & Co. ISBN   978-0-3163-2957-6.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "The 20 Best Bottle Episodes, Ranked". The Ringer. 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Bright, Kevin S. (2005). Friends: Final Thoughts (DVD). New Wave DVD and Warner Home Entertainment.
  7. ↑ Kurland, Daniel (17 March 2015). "The One Where 'Friends' First Attempted a Bottle Episode". Vulture. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. 1 2 Harrisson, Juliette (29 November 2012). "10 great TV bottle episodes". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Kurland, Daniel (3 March 2015). "How Mad About You Made One of the Boldest Bottle Episodes Ever on". Vulture . Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Sophia Stewart (July 31, 2018). "The 20 Best TV Bottle Episodes Ever". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – The Edge of Destruction – Details". BBC. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  12. ↑ Framke, Caroline (2015-02-05). "Archer: "Vision Quest"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2022-05-10. a classic bottle episode that traps everyone together in an elevator—in real time
  13. ↑ "Girls: A ranking of its bottle episodes". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  14. ↑ "How Community perfected the 'bottle episode'". SBS Guide. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2020-04-11. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  15. ↑ "Bojack Horseman Creator Breaks Down the Devastating Funeral Episode". TV Guide . 2018-09-21. Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  16. ↑ "Grey's Anatomy goes full bottle in a gimmicky but effective bottle episode". The A.V. Club. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ Hurley, Laura (February 3, 2021). "Chicago Fire May Have Just Delivered Television's Most Epic Bottle Episode, So What Comes Next?". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on August 6, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2021.

References

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