whether they're on the U.K. version of network t.v. or cable
do U.K. series traditionally have far less episodes than U.S.
series? for instance season#1 of Vicious has only 6 episodes.
i don't know how you can call 6 episodes a season.
This was a Simpsons joke with a PBS telethon airing the long-running sitcom Do Shut Up.
"Catch all six episodes!"
Six to eight seems to be the optimum number.
Based on quality of American shows and how in the ever-so-long-run, episodes are deleted from syndication, this may not make any difference.
Six episodes seems to be the norm for Britcom startups. If its a hit they do more. Fawlty Towers for example did six they three years later six more.
Brits don't call them "seasons" but instead "series".
Big hits may do a Fall Series and a Spring series and a Christmas Special
so they do 13 episodes a year.
Popular "soap opera" like shows may do a lot more ie "Coronation Street" and "Eastenders"
Dramas like "Foyles War" and "Cadfael" often produced only 3 shows a series.
Not Doctor Who. They have 22 or 23 plus Christmas specials, sometimes you get an additional tv movie or two.
It is irritating, isn't it? Especially when the show is very good and you want more. Over the past few years I must be getting crotchety, because when one I like just stops with only six, I have been calling the English tv people the laziest in the world. How do you remember what happened and when they are soo far apart?
I try to assuage myself by saying that they only have a few stations and other shows to air that need time too. Doesn't help much.
The U.S. have some seasonal shows that have two 16 week sessions six months apart in one year. The U.S. commercial breaks are about 10 min. on some channels, and I forget what show I am watching. Thank the nerds we have DVR and can FF through them. Three commercials are my limit, after that I get irritated, no one wants to see that crap, we want to watch the show!
Getting very irritated over the spoilers for upcoming show also... they should stop that, no one likes that any more.
"You have no idea how many times I have wanted to use my finger for the betterment of all mankind"
It can be both a blessing and a curse. Classic British shows like Black Books, Bottom, and Red Dwarf all usually had about 6 episodes in each season and the good thing about this method is that very episode was of a very high quality whereas the American format of 22-24 episodes a season really spreads the writers thin and you end up with about a third to a half of the episodes as sub-par fillers. It's not so apparent you're watching the show on a week to week basis but if you have a DVD set and watch one after the other it's quite obvious.
The bad thing about the British method is that it's over just as you are getting into it whereas American tv shows are great because once you are locked in to the characters and storylines then getting through all the seasons can last for weeks.
They should really try a mix of the two and bash out about 12 episodes in shows. That way I think the audience would feel satisfied and the quality would be kept consistent
Sherlock has 3 episodes a year. The thing about UK shows is, you normally get 8 or so Good episodes not 8 good episodes 12 boring drug out episodes and 2 that you hate each year, like US programs.
If your show goes off for a year or two in the UK it may be back so there is hope, in the US we have shows we love (Firefly) and someone makes a mistake and they are gone forever.
OH SPOILER ALERT!
Further to the replies you have already rec'd I would also point out that with the USA seasons they seam to have a long brake in the middle, just like The doctor has just started doing, where as in the UK this would be called 2 series the USA would call it 1 season.
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