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Is there new standards in TV shows?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorbentyman
Registered: April 13, 2007
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I just noticed that the new Kiefer Sutherland TV series "Touch" is released on TV, and it starts on norwegian television on monday. The first series of that show has 13 episodes, and to compare with that "Alcatraz" has also 13 episodes. Is there a new trend that shows are aired for "only" 13 episodes now these days? Usaually there are between 20-24 episodes in a season. Can anybody out there please explain?
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10-13 shows is indeed quite common for shows on cable channels like HBO, Showtime, AMC etc. I guess the reasoning is they cost more to produce and they try to keep the quality up which is hard if you have to produce a new episode every week. I don't know if broadcast television is going the same way but I don't think it would hurt, except for sitcoms and "lighter" stuff where 20-24 episodes can still cut it.
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A lot of mid season replacement series only get this many episodes as well. Most of the time when we see a series start this late into a season that is all the episodes we get... and then the next season we get the full season. So basically it all depends. The two series you mention I believe are on FOX... so I would think if they do OK for this season they will have more normal length seasons next season. Or knowing fox... they could cancel them right away if they are not happy with the ratings. It seems Fox seldomly gives a show a decent chance.
Pete
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
It seems Fox seldomly gives a show a decent chance.


Fox is infamous for pulling the plug too early on great shows: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Firefly, Harsh Realm (kinda iffy...but I liked it), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen...to name just a few.
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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In the UK (And maybe the whole of Europe) 13 shows is the normal number for a season.

I guess it comes from 4x13=52 - so each season, is a "season"

But that is a total guess

(On a side note, when I saw the title of this thread, I thought "You mean TV has standards?")
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Pete has it correct.  For network TV...FOX, CBS, NBC & ABC...a standard season is 20+ episodes.  For a mid-season replacement, which Touch and Alcatraz are, they only get a short run to test the waters.  If it goes well, it will get a full second season.  If not, less money spent.

As an example, the US version of The Office only had 6 episodes for the first season.  It was well recieved and had 22 for the second.

As KinoNiki stated, this does not hold true for cable channels where small seasons are quite common.
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Quoting Bad Father:
Quote:
Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
It seems Fox seldomly gives a show a decent chance.


Fox is infamous for pulling the plug too early on great shows: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Firefly, Harsh Realm (kinda iffy...but I liked it), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen...to name just a few.


The one that broke my heart... and I know not a lot of people agree with me... is Tru Calling. I loved that series... and still pissed at Fox over it! 
Pete
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Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
Quoting Bad Father:
Quote:
Quoting Addicted2DVD:
Quote:
It seems Fox seldomly gives a show a decent chance.


Fox is infamous for pulling the plug too early on great shows: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Firefly, Harsh Realm (kinda iffy...but I liked it), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen...to name just a few.


The one that broke my heart... and I know not a lot of people agree with me... is Tru Calling. I loved that series... and still pissed at Fox over it! 


How did I miss Tru Calling ?. Eliza Dushku...mmmmmm . She was a foxy little minx in her "Buffy" days .
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Definitely agree with you there! 
Pete
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This is less common now than what is once was: in early US television, 26 to 35 episodes was a season. Live shows would have a few off weeks for specials, then would be replaced by a tryout show or run repeats during the summer months. Eventually this standardized to 26 shows. 13 from September through the holidays (starting in late November in the US), then 13 more after the new year. By the 1970s, with more and more failing shows (networks pulled them more quickly if they failed to get good ratings), only 13 episodes were ordered on all new shows and many shows which were not in the top 10 in ratings. That way, the show had to prove itself in the first few weeks in order to be picked up for the second half of the season. Spring replacement shows were once ordered in 13 episode lots, then, by the 1980s, in 6 episode lots... run two until summer reruns or replacement shows began. If a show did well in its 6 episode run, it could be picked up for 13 weeks in the fall or the next new year.
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First season seasons are often shorter. If the show succeeds, it gets a back-nine-order, i.e. nine more episodes to bring it up to 22 episodes.

But many series start out shorter. Buffy S1 had only 12 episodes, Castle S1 had only ten.

And then there are the mid-season shows like Leverage, Burn Notice, White Collar, Suits which usually only have 14-16 episodes per season.
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 Last edited: by DJ Doena
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Quoting Bad Father:
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Fox is infamous for pulling the plug too early on great shows: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., Firefly, Harsh Realm (kinda iffy...but I liked it), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Millennium, The Lone Gunmen...to name just a few.

Yes, you never know how long a series will  last.  Just ask the guys on Big Bang Theory:



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