6.3 Television Genres and Production

Television genres shape our viewing experiences, offering diverse storytelling styles and formats. From laugh-track-laden sitcoms to intense dramas and unscripted reality shows, each genre follows specific conventions that guide their structure and content.

The TV production process involves multiple stages and creative roles. Writers, directors, actors, and various specialists collaborate to bring shows to life, from initial concept development through filming and post-production editing. This teamwork creates the engaging content we enjoy on our screens.

Television Genres

Major television genres

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Top images from around the web for Major television genres

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• Sitcoms (situation comedies) feature recurring characters in humorous situations often filmed in front of a live studio audience or with a laugh track ("Friends," "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family")
• Dramas focus on serious storylines, character development, and conflict which can be episodic or serialized with subgenres including medical dramas, crime dramas, and period dramas ("Breaking Bad," "The Sopranos," "Grey's Anatomy")
• Reality shows are unscripted or partially scripted programs featuring real people with subgenres including competition shows, dating shows, and docu-series ("Survivor," "The Bachelor," "Keeping Up with the Kardashians")
• News programs are informative broadcasts covering current events and issues with formats including nightly news, morning shows, and 24-hour news channels ("NBC Nightly News," "Good Morning America," "CNN")

Conventions of TV genres

• Sitcoms have an episodic structure with self-contained storylines emphasizing humor often derived from character relationships and misunderstandings while frequently using running gags, catchphrases, and inside jokes
• Dramas feature complex, often serialized storylines that unfold over multiple episodes or seasons with character-driven narratives, emotional depth, high stakes, cliffhangers and plot twists to maintain viewer engagement
• Reality shows emphasize interpersonal relationships, competition, and conflict using confessional interviews and diary cam footage to provide insight into participants' thoughts and feelings along with editing techniques to create narrative arcs and heighten drama
• News programs focus on accuracy, objectivity, and timeliness using an inverted pyramid structure to present the most important information first while incorporating live reports, interviews, and expert analysis to provide context and depth

Television Production

Television production process

1. Development involves idea generation and pitching, script writing and revisions, casting and pre-production planning
2. Production entails filming or recording of episodes, coordination of cast, crew, and resources while adhering to budget and schedule constraints
3. Post-production includes editing of raw footage, addition of visual effects, music, and sound design, quality control and final approvals

Creative roles in television

• Writers develop characters, storylines, and dialogue collaborating with producers and story editors to maintain consistency and continuity while adapting scripts based on network notes and production constraints
• Directors oversee the creative vision and execution of episodes working with actors to elicit strong performances and collaborating with cinematographers, production designers, and other department heads
• Actors bring characters to life through their performances contributing to the tone and style of the show and influencing storylines and character development through their interpretations
• Other creative professionals shape the visual style (cinematographers, production designers, costume designers), create the rhythm and emotional impact (editors, composers), and oversee budgets, schedules, and overall creative direction (producers) of the series