How long is the ideal TV season?

[Huw]

Just a thought. Do you like short but sweet, or protracted epics?

 

[EricNoah]

If we're kind of focusing on "genre" type hour-long dramas, I happen to like about 24 episodes per season. I like multi-episode arcs, and layering (story one starts in ep 1, story 2 might start in ep 3 while story one is starting to wrap up, etc.).

 

[Glyfair]

I agree with Eric. However, I also don't mind the USA Network treatment of shorter "seasons" but having several a year. I only wish they were doing that with Burn Notice (which had a short season, but isn't reappearing for a year).

 

[trancejeremy]

If a show isn't on regularly (with new episodes), I simply forget to watch it.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

I would be happy with a midrange from what we are offered. Instead of 22-24 episodes on the long side or the 12-13 episode short seasons I would prefer a 16-18 episode season. That gives a story a story arc a chance to pace itself without resorting to filler (like almost all 22+ seasons do). This would also allow a show to go more seasons as it would take longer to use up all the ideas.

To really make it work the 16 episode format should consist of three 4-month blocks (Jan-April; May-Aug; Sept-Dec) with shows run straight through with no repeats. Summer could still be for reality and other lesser shows that are ok during the summer slump while Spring and Fall would each be separate seasons with separate shows. For popular or serialized shows (where repeats are still worth money or necessary to understand things) the season prior (Summer for Fall Shows, etc.) could be used to show the previous years episodes and get people psyched for the new ones.

The main downside to this would be getting enough new ideas to fill in the extra season from what we have now.

Well that is how I would do it if I was made the god of TV.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I'd like a season to last as long as there are good ideas and interesting stories to tell.

I'll watch 13 episodes or 26 episodes of a show, but it's got to be good. A lot of shows seem to try to either cram too much into their shorter seasons, or stretch out whatever they can for longer seasons.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It's not the lenght of the season, it is the scheduling. If I can get a good show that can run 6 to 8 weeks at a time without a break I am happy. It seems, today, you will get 3 or 4 episodes, then some type of interruption one week or two, then 3 or 4 more episodes, then break for the holidays, etc...

I think a series as they are being called these days, in place of season, should be 13 to 26 episodes.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I think the 20-24 episode season is a pretty decent length. What I would like to see are shows designed to last only one season. Tell a great story in 12 to 15 hours (after commercials) and wrap it up. Some of the cable networks have done some limited run shows (Thief on FX jumps to mind) that were good, but they lasted only 6 or so episodes. They could have been better with a little more, but would have lost something if they were to become a regular series season after season.

I understand that it doesn't work with the way the networks and advertisers do things, but I would like to see it.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

My ideal TV season is 24 episodes long.

 

[Krug]

I would prefer something like 16. A lot of series round out of steam in the middle, or just stall.