LO1 Task 1 Series, Serials and Single Dramas

Task 1 

Series, serial and single 

Series

The definition of a series is a set number of television programmes (between 6 - 30 episodes) that make up a season. A season is shown once a year. The programme will have the same main characters; start with the same theme tune and opening sequence. Each of the main characters will have personality traits that will be familiar to the audience. Each episode will have a self-contained plot or narrative which is resolved within that episode; most series have sub-plots which continue throughout the season and are normally resolved at the end of each season. Most nonfactual series use a single camera technique, which means that the whole programme is recorded with one camera.

Waterloo road

An example of a popular series is a realist drama called 'Waterloo Road'. The Waterloo Road drama series is broadcast once a week and it is based around youths that attend secondary school. The characters experience situations such as peer pressure relationships and other problems that a normal secondary school pupil goes through. All these points support the fact that Waterloo Road is a realist drama.

Day + Time slot: Thursday 8.00pm

Channel: BBC1

Seasons: 8

Episodes: In total there is 148 episodes  

Audience figures: 4.26 million viewers.  

The analysis of Waterloo Road portrays that it is a well known and popular TV program. There is 8 Seasons in Waterloo Road which has been first broadcast since the year 2006. in the first season they broadcast 8 episodes with a staggering maximum 5.03 millions viewers tuning in. The drama then increased their episodes in season to by broadcasting 12  episodes and at the moment Waterloo Road is showing 19 episodes season. 

The channel is on BBC One which is a public channel where every one can access it from any TV service provider. The time slot is just before 9pm which means that it is shown just before a normal teenager will go to bed and it will be a time where the whole family may watch this program.   

Merlin
Another example of a popular series is a anti-realist drama called 'Merlin'. Merlin drama series is broadcast once a week and it is a narrative that is based unreal events that take place in the medieval time. The events that take place in Merlin is that they go on quests and solve problems that tackle the main characters. Merlin is also a Period drama that consists of a anti realism narrative.
Day + Time slot: Saturday
Channel: BBC1
Seasons: 5
Episodes:13
Audience figures: the latest average viewers for this drama is 7.3 million

Merlin is a period drama that is broadcast on a public channel on BBC One. It has made 5 seasons all together and the maximum episodes shown in one season is 13 episodes. The day it is broadcast is on a saturday which a great day to be on TV because many people do not have work on that day and also there is no school so the whole family can tune in to watch it

Scrubs
'Scrubs' is a well known program which was first broadcast in america. The comedy anti-realist program Scrubs has been broadcasted beyond the united states of america and has been viewed by many people in the united kingdom. The Drama Scrubs is based in a hospital where many problems occurs however it consists of the narrative structure changing through out the episodes due to different character entering the drama and leaving too.
Day + Time slot: Saturday
Channel: originally broadcast on ABC in america
Seasons: 9
Episodes: The most episodes that has been broadcast is 24
Audience figures: 4.5million viewers

Scrubs is a comedy that is based on a hospital. The statistics show that it has made 4.5 million viewers tuning in to watch this program in one episode. This drama was first viewed in america on the channel ABC and has made 9 seasons in total and the maximum episodes that has been show is 24. It has been on air since 2001 and has attracted millions of viewers not just in the USA but internationally.

Top Gear
The motor Review show 'Top Gear' was firstly shown in 1977 with the presenters angela Ripponand and Tom Coyne. Top Gear was first a magazine which then was turned in to a TV program. It started of being broadcast for 30 minute a day for once a month. Also it was shown only Broadcast in the Midland region only.    
In 2002 Top Gear was reformatted with the help of one main character 'Jeremy Clarkson'. Since that change it was as if it was a brand new show with different characters and improved television program. Top gear specifically aims the show at reviewing cars and giving feedback of what they think of it however they also star celebrities on the program. originally Top Gear was broadcast in the UK and then gradually has spread for other countries to have their very own program called Top Gear for example Top Gear USA and Top Gear Russia.
Day + Time slot: Sunday 8pm
Channel: BBC TWO
Seasons: 19
Episodes: the episodes per season is normally go from 9 episodes to 12 episodes.
Audience figures: latest figure 5.3 million viewers .

the statistics of Top Gear Shows that it is a Program that millions of viewers love to watch. It is mainly targeted at car lovers. It is made out of 19 seasons and still producing more seasons for the future. It is Shown on  a Sunday 8 PM which is the last day of the weekend and because it is shown before 9 PM the viewers can watch it and then get ready for the next working day which is Monday.

Eastenders
Eastenders is a British Soap that has been broadcast on TV for over 25 years. it is a realist drama where the events that take place can be based on real people. it has won 6 six Bafta awards and won 10 National TV awards for being the most popular serial drama. Eastenders has involved many realism events. It has been continually been on air on the same channel and same time slot ever since it was first broadcasted.   

Day + Time slot: Monday and friday - 8pm       tuesday and thursday - 7.30pm
Channel: BBC one
Episodes: 4586
Audience figures: In 2010 - 10.8 million

This Soap has 4586 episodes all together and millions on veiews enjoy watching this program. the time slot it is in is perfect for a everyday family that enjoy watching Soap programs. The highest audience figure that Eastenders has is 10.8 millions which shows that it isnt a program that the audience just flick through they sit down comfortably just to watch it.

X Factor
X factor is a British reality TV program that is based upon a competition of various singer across the UK. It consists of finding the right singing voice that the country loves and then they can vote for who to go through to the next stage. The X factor has expanded from the UK and now has been broadcasted in the USA. A primary rival of X factor is Britain Got Talent.

Day + Time slot: saturday 8pm and sunday 8pm
Channel: ITV
Series: 9
Episodes: 31
Audience figures: In 2012 - 9.63million

Serial

A serialization of a book or a event which is only broadcast once. It generally reflects real life and has between 1 and 10 episodes. Normally they consists of 3 or more episodes. In a serial the Same characters and locations are going to be used and at the end of each of the episodes it finishes with a cliffhanger to follow through to the next episode.

This is England 88'
This is England is a example of a serial drama. It consists of having 3 episodes being broadcast on television and had a strong narrative that consists of relationship problems, gangs and suicide. This is England '88 was originally broadcast on channel 4 on the date 13th - 14th December 2011 followed by This is England '90

Citizen Khan
Citizen Khan is a Serial Drama which consists of broadcast 6 episode on BBC ONE. When it first released on air it reached a impressive 3.41 million viewers. The location used in this Comedy drama is in Spark Hill
Birmingham and it has strong cultural views on Pakistan. it was first on air on the date august 27 2012. The BBC demanded to have another Series to be shown int September 2013.  

Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes is a serial that has a story line. it uses single camera techniques because it is easier for the director to direct how to shoot the film because the director can see what is being filmed. Sherlock Holmes was shown on TV for a couple of weeks and then the narrative came to a conclusion and then Sherlock Holmes was stopped showing on TV however it was still showing on demand on BBC I player.

Single Drama

A single drama is a program broadcasts one episode and is normally based on a real life situation that has taken place. Most the time they are based on topical and controversial issues. A single camera episode contains one whole narrative in it, it does not require to have numerous episodes. examples f  a single drama are 'My murder' and 'Appropriate adult'.

My murder
This is a single drama which was based on a real life event. The narrative consists of different character from the people that was involved in reality but story line was based on how the situation happened. it was show on air on the channel BBC Three on 26th of march 2012. My Murder was based in the rough ends of London and portrays many features of realism especially in this modern day. It was on air only once and has been Broadcast by a public channel so everyone that has access to a TV can watch it.
Normally in a  Single Drama such as this tries to send a message to the targeted audience and in this case it is aimed at youths and young adults.