Procedural drama

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A procedural drama or procedural or is a cross-genre type of literature, film, or television program that places emphasis on technical detail.[ citation needed ] A documentary film may also be written in a procedural style to heighten narrative.[ citation needed ] A popular subgenre is the police procedural.[ citation needed ] Some dramas include a lab or high-tech conference room where the main characters meet to work out the problem.[ citation needed ] Television shows usually have an episodic format that does not necessarily require the viewer to have seen previous episodes. Each episode typically has a self-contained, stand-alone plot that is introduced, developed, and resolved in one episode.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The procedural format is popular around the world. [1] In 2011, the director of a TV consultancy said, "The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure." [1] Due to their stand-alone episodic nature, they are more accessible to new viewers than serials. Self-contained episodes also make it easier for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes. [2] In general, procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order. [1] Procedurals are often criticized for being formulaic. [3] [4] Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows;[ citation needed ] however, some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format. [5] [6] Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes (often called a story arc). [7]

Types of media

Television

Fiction

In television, "procedural" specifically refers to a genre of programs in which a problem is introduced, investigated, and solved all within the same episode. These shows tend to be hour-long dramas and are often (though not always) police or crime-related.[ citation needed ] The general formula for a police procedural involves the commission or discovery of a crime at the beginning of the episode, the ensuing investigation, and the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator at the end of the episode. Modern examples of this genre are the Law & Order , CSI & NCIS franchises. House is an example of a non-crime-related procedural.

  • Procedural dramas are generally very popular in broadcast syndication because the lack of long-term storylines makes it easier for viewers to tune in for just one episode without feeling lost.
  • Procedurals are sometimes noted for their lack of character development, with little attention being paid to the lives of the recurring characters outside of their jobs. [8]

Non-fiction

Literature

Television examples

This list provides examples of procedural dramas; it is not exhaustive.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Adler, Tim (June 27, 2011). "Why TV Procedurals Also Rule The World". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Gerard Gilbert (2009-02-20). "American law... British order". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  3. 1 2 Chuck Barney (January 21, 2009). "Review: Fox's Lie to Me mostly a formulaic procedural". San Jose Mercury News . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  4. ↑ James Hibberd (2009-02-06). "Networks' new pilots favor formula over experiment". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  5. 1 2 "Duelling sleuths". The Age . 2006-08-10. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  6. 1 2 Bill Carter (2008-11-16). "No Mystery: Ratings Heat Up for 'NCIS'". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  7. ↑ Jason Hughes (2009-09-23). "What if House stopped being a procedural?". TVSquad . Archived from the original on 2009-12-27. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  8. ↑ Ames, Melissa (2012). Time in Television Narrative: Exploring Temporality in Twenty-First-Century Programming. University Press of Mississippi. p. 277. ISBN   9781617032936.
  9. ↑ "Secrets of the Dead". PBS .
  10. ↑ "A History of the Police Procedural". Archived from the original on 2006-11-15. Retrieved 2006-11-03.
  11. ↑ Peters, Ralph (May 1989). Red Army. Atria Books. ISBN   0671676687.
  12. ↑ "Dambuster, the". 17 October 2006.
  13. ↑ Andy Dehnart (December 2, 2008). "Mentalist follows CBS formula, with a twist". Today . Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  14. ↑ Scott Collins (November 17, 2008). "How does CBS spell success? NCIS". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Rizzoli & Isles renewed for the sixth season". New York Post . December 9, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015. The procedural drama stars Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Alexander as medical examiner Maura Isles.
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