Series vs Season?

[drew8804]

Im sure this thread has been asked before, but Im just curious as to why 'britcoms' call their seasons series and why they only do between 6-8 episodes a series.
Since Im asking these questions, heres a few more,
What is the average run for a show (how many series)? Ive noticed it seems to be about 5 or so.
Ive also noticed that there often can be gaps between series airings. Do British networks not have a primetime schedule like we do here in America. By May the networks already have the fall schedule planned out. How do things work for British networks.
One last one. Ive been noticing that there is BBC1 and BBC2. Are there any differences between the two networks.

Sorry for all the questions. Hopefully someone will no the answers. Thanks much.

~~Drew~~

[James"Thunder"Early]

The do everything different than we do. I think the call it a series because is a series of episodes what may not be on all time. they are so short because they can't afford to do the 22 episode orders we have here. and there is never a set amount of series a Britcom can have. they have a schedule, but it works different. and BBC2 is an extension of BBC1 with different programs.

[drew8804]

Thanks

[brisomboy]

Hello and greetings from way down under in New Zealand.

Sorry, but I doubt if it is just a simple case of can't afford it (after all, the BBC, Carlton and Granada are hardly short of cash!). While money will play a factor, it is not the only reason why British sitcoms are on the whole shorter than their American counterparts. If it was as simple as this, then every British drama series would be only 6-8 episodes too, which of course is not true. For example the police drama series, THE BILL (Thames) last year had 94 x 60 minute episodes plus two specials. The year before that, there was 105 x 60 minute episodes. The medical drama series, CASUALTY (BBC1) had 32 x 60 minute episodes in the last series, while in the series before that it had 46 x 60 minute episodes and the series before that, had 40 x 60 minute episodes. HOLBY CITY (BBC1), another medical drama series and sister series to Casualty, for the last three years has had 52 x 60 minute episodes per year. Also soap operas usually screen 3-5 nights a week, every week of the year.

There is a number of reasons why British sitcoms series last a lot shorter, than a lot of dramas. One being that British sitcoms are usually written by just one or two writers (or occasionally three). Most American sitcoms are usually written by a team of script writers (in much the same way that a lot of British drama series/soaps are). While it is not unheard of in Britain for sitcoms to be wrote this way, for example both THE ARMY GAME and I'M NOT BOTHERED was written by several different writers in the 1950's while BLESS THIS HOUSE (Thames) in the 1970's was written in the same way. And recently MY FAMILY (BBC1) uses this method of writing, it is not the normal way of writing them in most cases.

Another reason that the writer(s) generally only write 6-8 episodes per series is that they may be writing other programmes as well. For example, in 1975 Thames Television screened the following sitcoms: LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR (7 episodes-series 6), MY SON REUBEN (6 episodes), RULE BRITANNIA! (7 episodes) and THE WACKERS (6 episodes). A total of 26 episodes all written by one man, Vince Powell. It is not uncommon for a writer to be writing several sitcoms around the same time. On top of that they may also be contributing to sketch/stand-up shows.

The most common number of episodes per series in the UK is 6-8. Occasionally this will rise to 9-13 episodes. Less common is a series of less than 6 episodes, but it does sometimes happen. There is no hard and fast rule of how many episodes a series must have, and there have been occasions where a British series has had 20 or more episodes in a series, which of course is more common in the US. These are THE ADVENTURES OF AGGIE (ITV) 1956-57 (1 series of 26 episodes), 'ALLO 'ALLO! (BBC1) 1988-89 (series 5 consisted of 26 episodes), THE ARMY GAME (Granada) 1957-58 (series 2-26 episodes) 1958-59 (series 3-39 episodes) 1959-60 (series 4-39 episodes - 2 episodes not screened) 1960-61 (series 5-39 episodes), BERYL'S LOT (Yorkshire) 1976-77 (series 3-26 episodes - a sitcom with a touch of drama), BOOTSIE AND SNUDGE (Granada) 1960-61 (series 1-40 episodes) 1961-62 (series 2-29 episodes) 1962-63 (series 3-29 episodes), DICK AND THE DUCHESS (A-R) 1958-59 (1 series of 26 episodes - co-produced with the US), THE DICKIE HENDERSON SHOW (A-R) 1960-61 (series 1-26 episodes - there was also a sketch/stand up-show with the same name), DOCTOR AT LARGE (LWT) 1971 (1 series of 29 episodes), DOCTOR IN CHARGE (LWT) 1972 (series 1-27 episodes), THE FENN STREET GANG (LWT) 1971-72 (series 1-21 episodes), GLENCANNON (ITV) 1960-61 (1 series of 39 episodes - co-produced with the US), HMS PARADISE (Rediffusion) 1964-65 (1 series of 26 episodes), I'M NOT BOTHERED (A-R) 1956 (1 series of 26 episodes), JOAN AND LESLIE (ATV) 1956-57 (series 2-38 episodes), THE LOVE OF MIKE (A-R) 1960 (1 series of 30 episodes), MESS MATES (Granada) 1961-62 (series 2-27 episodes), MY WIFE'S SISTER (Granada) 1956-57 (1 series of 39 episodes), OUR HOUSE (ABC) 1961-62 (series 2-26 episodes), PARDON THE EXPRESSION (Granada) 1966 (series 2-24 episodes), PLEASE, SIR! (LWT) 1971-72 (series 4-21 episodes), TELL IT TO THE MARINES (A-R) 1959-60 (1 series of 30 episodes), THREE LIVE WIRES (A-R) 1961 (1 series of 26 episodes), TIME GENTLEMEN PLEASE (BSkyB-Sky 1) 2000-01 (series 1-22 episodes) plus six children's sitcoms which have series of 20+ episodes.

The number of episodes is not traditional either, Britain's (and the world's) first television sitcom series IN THE BARBER'S CHAIR (BBC) 1939 consisted of 6 episodes (only 10 minutes each) while Britain's (and the world's) first 30 minute television sitcom series PINWRIGHT'S PROGRESS (BBC) 1946-47 consisted of 10 episodes.

The gap between series depends on when the next series is available. The writer(s) may be working on something else before they can write the next series. The availability of the actors can play a part too. Actors will often be appearing in other programmes, films or on stage. Getting the actors together again, can sometimes cause problems.

The number of series can vary from programme to programme, there is no hard and fast rule to this either. Some programmes will only last one or two series. Sometimes the writer(s) does not want to write anymore. For example FAWLTY TOWERS (BBC2) 1975 & 1979 only had two series. The writers, John Cleese and Connie Booth felt it would be a mistake to write anymore. Better to have 12 really funny episodes, than to have one that drags on and on. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, writers of THE OFFICE (BBC2) 2001-02 felt the same way. There were only two series of six episodes each, but they did do two specials to tie up any loose ends, screened on BBC1 in 2003. On the other side of the coin LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE (BBC1) is the world's longest running sitcom. The pilot episode and first series was screened in 1973 and this year the 26th series was screened. The series have varied from 6 to 12 episodes and there has been 23 specials.

The British Broadcasting Corporation has a number of television channels: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, CBBC (Children's), CBeebies (Young Children's), BBC News 24, BBC Parliament and BBCi (Interactive) all available through digital. BBC are also joint owners of UKTV (10 channels). They have a number of overseas tv channels including BBC America, BBC Canada, BBC Japan, BBC Food, BBC Kids (Canada), BBC Prime and BBC World. They are joint owners of Animal Planet, People+Arts and UKTV (Australia). As well as television channels they have radio stations: Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 5 Live, 6 Music, BBC 7, 1Xtra, 5 Live Sports Extra, Asian Network (for British Asians) and overseas they have BBC World Service available in 43 languages. And of course there is BBC Films and other services such as books, website etc etc.

The reason that the British call it series while the Americans call it season is simple. The same reason the British have car boots and bonnets while Americans have car trunks and hoods. British have windscreens and Americans have windshields. British have pavements and Americans have sidewalks. Different countries have different names for things. Here in New Zealand most things have the British name but some things have the American name, and some have a name which is common only to New Zealand and Australia. Simple case of two countries being divided by a common language.

I hope this helps answers your questions.

[alienkattuk]

Originally Posted by brisomboy

On the other side of the coin LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE (BBC1) is the world's longest running sitcom. The pilot episode and first series was screened in 1973 and this year the 26th series was screened. The series have varied from 6 to 12 episodes and there has been 23 specials.

Earlier this year, I discovered Last Of The Summer Wine on PBS friday nights. At first, I didn't like that show.

The more I watch, the more I enjoy that britcom.

I looked forward to see that show on fridays.

It is quite funny.