Procedural drama
Aproceduralorprocedural dramais a cross-genretype ofliterature,film,ortelevision programwhich places emphasis on technical detail. Adocumentary filmmay also be written in a procedural style to heightennarrativeinterest.
Television programsin this genre focus on how crimes are solved, and are centered around a law enforcement agency, legislative body, or court of law. Some dramas include a lab or high-tech conference room where the main characters meet to work out the problem. Shows usually have an episodic format that does not necessarily require the viewer to have seen previousepisodes.Episodes typically have a self-contained (also referred to as 'stand-alone') plot that is introduced, developed, and resolved within the same episode.
The procedural format is popular around the world.[1]In 2011, the director of a TV consultancy said, "The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure."[1]Due to their stand-alone episodic nature, they are more accessible to new viewers than serials. Self-contained episodes also make it easier for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes.[2]In general, procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order.[1]
Procedurals are often criticized for beingformulaic.[3][4]Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows. However, some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format.[5][6]Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes (often called astory arc).[7]
A popular subgenre is thepolice procedural.
Types of media
[edit]Television
[edit]Fiction
[edit]In television, "procedural" specifically refers to a genre of programs in which a problem is introduced, investigated and solved all within the sameepisode.These shows tend to be hour-long dramas, and are often (though not always) police or crime related.[citation needed]
The general formula for a police procedural involves the commission or discovery of a crime at the beginning of the episode, the ensuing investigation, and the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator at the end of the episode.
Modern examples of this genre are theLaw & Order,CSI&NCISfranchises.Houseis an example of a non-crime-related procedural.
- Procedural dramas are generally very popular inbroadcast syndicationbecause the lack of long-termstorylinesmakes it easier for viewers to tune in for just one episode without feeling lost.
- Procedurals are sometimes noted for their lack ofcharacter development,with little attention being paid to the lives of the recurring characters outside of their jobs.[8]
Non-fiction
[edit]- Non-fictionscienceprocedurals such as the PBSSecrets of the Deadseries orCourt TV'sForensic Filestake a viewer step-by-step through an investigation, much like a fictional procedural.[9]
Literature
[edit]- Police procedural:the best known variety, a large subgenre ofmystery fiction.Lawrence Treat's 1945 novelV as in Victimis cited as perhaps the first "true" police procedural.[10]
- Military procedural: a term used byPublishers Weeklyin 1989[11]referring toRalph Peters' novelRed Army
- War procedural: an example is the filmThe Dam Busters,1955, which was called a war procedural byRichard GilliaminAllmovie.[12]
- Tom Clancy's novels are sometimes called war procedurals or political procedurals.
- Science procedural:Science fictionnovels or stories may have sequences of scientific procedure. An example would beTimescape,written by the scientist and authorGregory Benford.
- A relatively recent subgenre is the presidential procedural: a novel which focuses on the office of the US presidency, and the activities of its occupant. Examples would beExecutive OrdersbyTom Clancy,The President's Plane Is MissingbyRobert Serling,andMaximum VigilancebySteve Pieczenik.
Television examples
[edit]This list provides examples of procedural dramas; it is not exhaustive.
- 9-1-1(2018–present)
- 9-1-1 Lone Star(2020–present)
- Adam-12(1968–1975)
- Alert: Missing Persons Unit(2023–present)
- Battle Creek(2015)
- Bosch(2014–2021)
- Bosch: Legacy(2022–present)
- Beauty & the Beast(2012–2016)
- Blindspot(2015–2020)
- Bull(2016–2022)
- Blue Bloods(2010–present)
- Body of Proof(2011–2013)
- Bones(2005–2017)[5]
- Castle(2009–2016)
- Charlie's Angels(1976–1981)
- Chicago Fire(2012–present)
- Chicago Med(2015–present)
- Chicago P.D.(2014–present)
- Chicago Justice(2017)
- The Closer(2005–2012)
- Cold Case(2003–2010)
- Columbo(1968–1978; 1989–2003)
- Common Law(2012)
- Conviction(2006)
- Criminal Minds(2005–2020; 2022–present)
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders(2016–2017)
- Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior(2011)
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000–2015)
- CSI: Cyber(2015–2016)
- CSI: Miami(2002–2012)
- CSI: NY(2004–2013)
- CSI: Vegas(2021–2024)
- Deadline(2000–2001)
- Dragnet(1951–1959; 1967–1970)
- Elementary(2012–2019)
- Elsbeth(2024–present)
- Emergency!(1972–1979)
- FBI(2018–present)
- FBI: Most Wanted(2020–present)
- FBI: International(2021–present)
- Fire Country(2022–present)
- Found(2023–present)
- Hawaii Five-O(1968–1980)
- Homicide: Life on the Street(1993–1999)
- House(2004–2012; medical procedural drama)
- Hill Street Blues(1981–1987)
- In Plain Sight(2008–2012)
- Instinct(2018–2019)
- Ironside(1967–1975)
- iZombie(2015–2019)
- JAG(1995–2005)
- Jo(2013)
- Law & Order(1990–2010)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999–present)
- Law & Order: Organized Crime(2021–present)
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001–2011)
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury(2005–2006)
- Law & Order: UK(2009–2014)
- Law & Order: LA(2010–2011)
- Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent(2024–present)
- Lie to Me(2009–2011)[3]
- Lucifer(2016–2021)
- Major Crimes(2012–2018)
- Matlock(1986–1995)
- Miami Vice(1984–1990)
- Midsomer Murders(1997–present)
- McCallum(1995–1998)
- The Mentalist(2008–2015)[13]
- Monk(2002–2009)
- Murder, She Wrote(1984–1996)
- Naked City (TV series)(1958–1963)
- Nash Bridges(1996–2001)
- NCIS(2003–present)[6][14]
- NCIS: Los Angeles(2009–2023)
- NCIS: New Orleans(2014–2021)
- NCIS: Hawai'i(2021–2024)
- NCIS: Sydney(2023–present)
- New Tricks(2003–2015)
- New York Undercover(1994–1998)
- Numb3rs(2005–2010)
- NYPD Blue(1993–2005)
- Perception(2012–2015)
- Perry Mason(1957–1966)
- Person of Interest(2011–2016)
- The Practice(1997–2004)
- Prodigal Son(2019–2021)
- Psych(2006–2014)
- Quincy, M.E.(1976–1983)
- Rebus(2000–2007)
- Rizzoli & Isles(2010–2016)[15]
- The Rookie(2018–present)
- The Rookie: Feds(2022–2023)
- Silent Witness(1996–present)
- So Help Me Todd(2022–2024)
- Southland(2009–2013)
- Suits(2011–2019)
- S.W.A.T.(2017–present)
- Taggart(1983–2010)
- Taxi Brooklyn(2014)
- The Good Doctor(2017–2024)
- The Equalizer(2021–present)
- The Unit(2006–2009)
- Third Watch(1999–2005)
- White Collar(2009−2014)
- Without a Trace(2002–2009)
- Wild Cards(2024–present)
- Will Trent(2023–present)
See also
[edit]- Crime fiction
- Hard science fiction
- Legal drama
- Murder mystery
- Police procedural
- Serial (literature)
- Serial (radio and television)
References
[edit]- ^abcAdler, Tim (June 27, 2011)."Why TV Procedurals Also Rule The World".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJune 27,2011.
- ^Gerard Gilbert (2009-02-20)."American law... British order".The Guardian.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-02-23.Retrieved2009-02-20.
- ^abChuck Barney (January 21, 2009)."Review: Fox'sLie to Memostly a formulaic procedural ".San Jose Mercury News.RetrievedFebruary 12,2009.
- ^James Hibberd (2009-02-06)."Networks' new pilots favor formula over experiment".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2010-01-13.
- ^ab"Duelling sleuths".The Age.2006-08-10.Retrieved2009-02-12.
- ^abBill Carter (2008-11-16)."No Mystery: Ratings Heat Up for 'NCIS'".The New York Times.Retrieved2009-02-12.
- ^Jason Hughes (2009-09-23)."What if House stopped being a procedural?".TVSquad.Archived fromthe originalon 2009-12-27.Retrieved2010-01-13.
- ^Ames, Melissa (2012).Time in Television Narrative: Exploring Temporality in Twenty-First-Century Programming.University Press of Mississippi.p. 277.ISBN9781617032936.
- ^"Secrets of the Dead | PBS".PBS.
- ^"A History of the Police Procedural".Archived fromthe originalon 2006-11-15.Retrieved2006-11-03.
- ^Peters, Ralph (May 1989).Red Army.Atria Books.ISBN0671676687.
- ^"Dambuster, the".17 October 2006.
- ^Andy Dehnart (December 2, 2008)."Mentalistfollows CBS formula, with a twist ".Today.RetrievedJanuary 13,2010.
- ^Scott Collins (November 17, 2008)."How does CBS spell success?NCIS".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 12,2009.
- ^"Rizzoli & Islesrenewed for sixth season ".New York Post.December 9, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 21,2015.
The procedural drama stars Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Alexander as medical examiner Maura Isles.