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When did we decide 6-10 episodes is a "season".

6,761 Views | 25 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by Enrico Palazzo
BenFiasco14
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2:35p, 6/13/24
AG
I work from home a lot and like to have TV on as background noise. I watch mostly shows I've seen before or comedies. Currently I'm watching the chuck Norris walker Texas Ranger and just finished a rewatch of Star Trek Voyager and Home Improvement.

Ignoring the sitcoms, when did we move away from shows of this time period like Walker and Star Trek where there was 22+ episodes per season? Each an hour long. I also miss the old format of two parter episodes that were basically TV movies.

I'm assuming the big reason is money and cost of production, but it's amazing to me now that some shows will have the nerve of releasing 6 1 hour episodes and call it a season until 3 years later when we get maybe 7 episodes.

When and why did this change?
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to BenFiasco14 • 2:43p, 6/13/24
Are you talking about shows that need a lot of CGI? That could slow things down.
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Definitely Not A Cop
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2:56p, 6/13/24
AG
Sopranos
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Definitely Not A Cop
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2:57p, 6/13/24
AG
Obligatory

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Mathguy64
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3:02p, 6/13/24
AG
When we all started watching English TV seasons.
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brew82
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3:04p, 6/13/24
Just watched the 3rd season of The Outlaws on Prime. It only had 5 episodes. Christopher Walken was a main character in the first two, but only had a cameo appearance in this one. Can't see there being a season four.
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TexasAggie008
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10:58p, 6/13/24
AG
At least that means the seasons come out more quickly

Lolz jk

It's also "normal" for 1.5-2 year lag times between each 6-8 episode season
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Bruce Almighty
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11:12p, 6/13/24
AG
This is a good thing IMO. TV shows have moved away from having stand alone episodes and now the entire season tells a story. 20+ episodes is too long and creates unnecessary filler episodes. The season should be over when the story is over, whether it's 6 episodes or 13 episodes. I do agree that there's too much time between seasons.
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torrid
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 4:46a, 6/14/24
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
This is a good thing IMO. TV shows have moved away from having stand alone episodes and now the entire season tells a story. 20+ episodes is too long and creates unnecessary filler episodes. The season should be over when the story is over, whether it's 6 episodes or 13 episodes. I do agree that there's too much time between seasons.
This is my line of thinking. I much prefer TV shows that are serial in nature and tell a story. I think 10-13 episodes per season is a good way to keep the story moving.
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Quad Dog
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 6:06a, 6/14/24
AG
Looking back though at some of my favorite series, some of those filler episodes are the ones I remember positively the most.
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Mega Lops
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9:47a, 6/14/24
AG
Yeah, there is nothing worse in the sitcom world than clip show episodes.
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FL_Ag1998
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 9:56a, 6/14/24
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
This is a good thing IMO. TV shows have moved away from having stand alone episodes and now the entire season tells a story. 20+ episodes is too long and creates unnecessary filler episodes. The season should be over when the story is over, whether it's 6 episodes or 13 episodes. I do agree that there's too much time between seasons.


I don't think its a one-size fits all situation. For some stories the 10-12 episode range is just enough to complete the story without dragging it out. Heck I've watched some shows where 11-13 episodes was too many. But not every show needs to be a long-drawn out movie that tells just one all-encompassing story.

I think there is still a space for 20-episode per season shows. These would be shows that are a) more serial in nature, or b) aren't following just one event but rather following the happenings of a group of characters. Think Northern Exposure or Picket Fences (I know, I'm dating myself).

I'm rewatching Northern Exposure right now, and that show wasn't serial in nature, but they still pumped out 20+ quality episodes per season (once the show got picked up for full seasons by the network).
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Definitely Not A Cop
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In reply to Mega Lops • 10:08a, 6/14/24
AG
Al Bula said:
Yeah, there is nothing worse in the sitcom world than clip show episodes.


Except when Community did it:

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maroon barchetta
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In reply to Mega Lops • 10:10a, 6/14/24
Al Bula said:
Yeah, there is nothing worse in the sitcom world than clip show episodes.


The Seinfeld clip shows are fun.
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boy09
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In reply to BenFiasco14 • 10:43a, 6/14/24
AG
BenFiasco14 said:
When and why did this change?
I think streaming killed long, 20+ episode seasons. Much less risk with a 6-13 episode season. Shorter commitments are also easier for the actors. And you can lock down bigger actors with shorter/easier commitments.
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20ag07
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In reply to boy09 • 11:27a, 6/14/24
Cable did it way before streaming ever did.

HBO, Showtime, AMC and Starz were running 13 episode seasons long before Netflix touched TV.

The simple matter has always been that almost no writers' room has enough juice to crank out 22 episodes of quality.
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PatAg
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3:23a, 6/15/24
AG
BBC
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gigemags-99
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In reply to FL_Ag1998 • 7:27a, 6/15/24
AG
FL_Ag1998 said:
Bruce Almighty said:
This is a good thing IMO. TV shows have moved away from having stand alone episodes and now the entire season tells a story. 20+ episodes is too long and creates unnecessary filler episodes. The season should be over when the story is over, whether it's 6 episodes or 13 episodes. I do agree that there's too much time between seasons.


I don't think its a one-size fits all situation. For some stories the 10-12 episode range is just enough to complete the story without dragging it out. Heck I've watched some shows where 11-13 episodes was too many. But not every show needs to be a long-drawn out movie that tells just one all-encompassing story.

I think there is still a space for 20-episode per season shows. These would be shows that are a) more serial in nature, or b) aren't following just one event but rather following the happenings of a group of characters. Think Northern Exposure or Picket Fences (I know, I'm dating myself).

I'm rewatching Northern Exposure right now, and that show wasn't serial in nature, but they still pumped out 20+ quality episodes per season (once the show got picked up for full seasons by the network).


I'll also submit:


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HollywoodBQ
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7:39a, 6/15/24
AG
Compare and contrast The UK "The Office" versus the American "The Office".

UK - 2 series, 6 episodes each plus two Christmas specials.

As much as I love Gareth (Garefh) Keenan, there are only 14 episodes.

On the other hand, you can get 9 seasons and 188 episodes of Dwight Schrute. No Thank You.
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maroon barchetta
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In reply to HollywoodBQ • 10:34a, 6/15/24
Dwight is the best character on the show.
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Enrico Palazzo
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10:38a, 6/15/24
I don't mind short seasons at all, but having to wait 2-3 years in between is nuts
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sburg2007
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10:46a, 6/15/24

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Mega Lops
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In reply to Enrico Palazzo • 11:14a, 6/15/24
AG
Old Tom Morris said:
I don't mind short seasons at all, but having to wait 2-3 years in between is nuts
for sure. I firmly believe Westworld suffered for this reason. Don't get me wrong, the show progressively went off the rails, but the ridiculous plot could have been salvaged and made to work with less time between seasons. The multiyear gaps caused people to care less about such convoluted tripe.
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20ag07
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In reply to Enrico Palazzo • 11:18a, 6/15/24
Blame The Sopranos for starting this.

Along with the obnoxious "split seasons" that Netflix loves so much.
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PatAg
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In reply to Mega Lops • 12:57p, 6/15/24
AG
Lol
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Enrico Palazzo
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In reply to 20ag07 • 2:19p, 6/15/24
Yes, they did shift to skipping a year by the end (twice, most seasons were 1 year apart), although their split season still put out 12 episodes one year and 9 the next. And other seasons were cranking out 13 episodes. Now everything has stretched the skips for longer while also shortening the episode count.
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