Season (television)

Periods of diffusion

In the case of the series diffused in the United States over the terrestrial networks (ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS), the traditional period of diffusion court from September to May, and counts in general enters 22 and 25 episodes from 20 to 45 minutes (either 30 minutes at one hour with publicities), although the number of these episodes can change in the course of season (in more or less), according to the scenaristic difficulties or of results of audience; for example, the fifth season of Alias comprises 17 episodes, and the second season of Grey' S Anatomy counts 27 of them. In general the series are diffused every week per same hour, with one or two pauses of several weeks during the year (generally devoted to the repeat broadcasts).

For certain series, in particular during their first season, the time of diffusion court from June to August. That can allow the producers and the diffusers to appreciate the reaction of the public without taking too many financial risks (because the advertizing revenues are less during this time). In general such a season counts 13 episodes. A series whose episodes are diffused for this period each season is called a series of summer.

On the cable networks (Showtime, FX, HBO), the seasons are generally limited to 12 or 13 episodes (like Six Feet Under or the Soprano ). N the other hand for the televiewer, the duration of an episode can reach one hour (without publicity), and the absence of Censure on these networks makes the series more realistic.

In the European French-speaking world, this distribution in seasons is traditional, the series being turned and diffused by episodes of approximately 90 minutes (without publicity), on a rate/rhythm of first diffusion much less constant than in the United States.

The season like unit of time

This division in seasons following the rate/rhythm of the years, it is thus current that the episodes of the same season are supposed to proceed over one year in the fictitious Univers of the series. For example, the series whose main characters are students naturally make coincide a season with one school year. Conversely, the serial Lost, the missings , who puts in scene the survivors of an air crash landing, in is soon at his fourth season, but in the fictitious universe of the series, one is still only a few weeks after the crash landing which took place in the first episode.

Moreover, it can do without much time, in the fictitious universe of the series, between the end of one season and the beginning of the following season. Thus, at the end of the fifth season of Our beautiful family (1995-1996), the character of Lilly is old of hardly a year, whereas in the sixth season (1997), the child is already five years old.

The season like unit of intrigue

Many series adopt the principle which consists in developing a total intrigue specific to each season. For example, into Buffy against the vampires , one season introduces a new apocalyptic plan carried out by a new group of “unpleasant”, which constitutes the screen of the season.

Moreover, in the series comprising an intrigue which proceeds on several episodes (for example, the serials), one season also corresponds to one or more intrigues that the characters will live. To hold in breath the televiewer, last the one season episode ( Season Finale in English) can include/understand in its last minutes (even seconds) a revelation or an unexpected shock, and whose following season will be the principal subject. One speaks in this case about a cliffhanger .

Classification of the episodes

The diffusion of televised series in seasons naturally brings a classification of the episodes per season. The fans of televised series, with the mention of the number of the season of an episode, can generally say to which period of the intrigue or history this episode forms part.

For example, the fifth episode of the seventh season of the Simpson , LISA the vegetarian , will be generally noted 7x05 or s07e05

Internal bonds

Televised series

Random links: