Post by Naj on Dec 7, 2005 13:45:50 GMT -5
In TV, crime programs pay big time
11 of the top 25 series focus on mystery, forensics or the law
HAL BOEDEKER
Orlando Sentinel
Before the television season began, critics bemoaned a crime-saturated schedule. Viewers are sending a far different message: We like it.
"NCIS," a Tuesday drama with Mark Harmon, is pulling in 18 percent more viewers this season than last.
"Criminal Minds," an intense Wednesday drama about FBI profilers, has emerged as a surprise hit.
The Nov. 10 episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" drew more than 29.5 million viewers, the most for any telecast this season.
Eleven of the nation's top 25 series traffic in mystery, forensics or law. The trend's chief beneficiary is CBS, the most-watched network, which airs "NCIS," "Criminal Minds" and "CSI." Each week, CBS devotes half of its 22 prime-time hours to such series -- and draws a few brickbats for that reliance.
"It's unfair to lump everything into one pile," says Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. "The big bone I have to pick: There are crime elements in a lot of shows, but each show has a distinctive style. That emanates from producers and writers."
Is there too much?
"From a ratings point, perhaps not," says John Rash, who analyzes television as a senior vice president at Campbell Mithun advertising agency in Minneapolis. "From an artistic perspective, absolutely. Viewers vexed by all of these police procedurals have fewer entry points into a network."
Nevertheless, they play better in network repeats than serialized stories such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost." The crime programs sell well in syndication. The procedurals fit comfortably with late local newscasts, usually heavy on crime.
Several producers have excelled in the genre. Dick Wolf bolsters NBC with "Law & Order" and its spin-offs. Jerry Bruckheimer supplies six crime series to CBS, including "CSI," "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case." The storytelling comforts viewers.
"They have the right tonality for the times: certitude in an uncertain world," Rash says.
The changing television business also accommodates crime drama.
"With the audience so fragmented, there will be plenty of audience to go around, and it doesn't take that much to make a hit anymore," says Horace Newcomb, director of the University of Georgia's Peabody Awards, one of the highest honors for electronic media.
"I describe television as different when I started 30 years ago," Newcomb says. "It's no longer a site where people go to share experiences. It's like a newsstand or a bookstore. Dick Wolf and the `CSI' people have tapped into it. It's like having a new book come out every week."
Viewers keep putting these televised novels on the Nielsens, TV's best-seller list. CBS crime dominates the national rankings: No. 1 "CSI," No. 3 "Without a Trace," No. 6 "CSI: Miami," No. 8 "NCIS," No. 11 "Cold Case" and No. 13 "CSI: NY."
NBC, which is struggling this season, places its most-watched series at No. 14: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Crime Programs
11 of the top 25 series focus on mystery, forensics or the law
HAL BOEDEKER
Orlando Sentinel
Before the television season began, critics bemoaned a crime-saturated schedule. Viewers are sending a far different message: We like it.
"NCIS," a Tuesday drama with Mark Harmon, is pulling in 18 percent more viewers this season than last.
"Criminal Minds," an intense Wednesday drama about FBI profilers, has emerged as a surprise hit.
The Nov. 10 episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" drew more than 29.5 million viewers, the most for any telecast this season.
Eleven of the nation's top 25 series traffic in mystery, forensics or law. The trend's chief beneficiary is CBS, the most-watched network, which airs "NCIS," "Criminal Minds" and "CSI." Each week, CBS devotes half of its 22 prime-time hours to such series -- and draws a few brickbats for that reliance.
"It's unfair to lump everything into one pile," says Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. "The big bone I have to pick: There are crime elements in a lot of shows, but each show has a distinctive style. That emanates from producers and writers."
Is there too much?
"From a ratings point, perhaps not," says John Rash, who analyzes television as a senior vice president at Campbell Mithun advertising agency in Minneapolis. "From an artistic perspective, absolutely. Viewers vexed by all of these police procedurals have fewer entry points into a network."
Nevertheless, they play better in network repeats than serialized stories such as "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost." The crime programs sell well in syndication. The procedurals fit comfortably with late local newscasts, usually heavy on crime.
Several producers have excelled in the genre. Dick Wolf bolsters NBC with "Law & Order" and its spin-offs. Jerry Bruckheimer supplies six crime series to CBS, including "CSI," "Without a Trace" and "Cold Case." The storytelling comforts viewers.
"They have the right tonality for the times: certitude in an uncertain world," Rash says.
The changing television business also accommodates crime drama.
"With the audience so fragmented, there will be plenty of audience to go around, and it doesn't take that much to make a hit anymore," says Horace Newcomb, director of the University of Georgia's Peabody Awards, one of the highest honors for electronic media.
"I describe television as different when I started 30 years ago," Newcomb says. "It's no longer a site where people go to share experiences. It's like a newsstand or a bookstore. Dick Wolf and the `CSI' people have tapped into it. It's like having a new book come out every week."
Viewers keep putting these televised novels on the Nielsens, TV's best-seller list. CBS crime dominates the national rankings: No. 1 "CSI," No. 3 "Without a Trace," No. 6 "CSI: Miami," No. 8 "NCIS," No. 11 "Cold Case" and No. 13 "CSI: NY."
NBC, which is struggling this season, places its most-watched series at No. 14: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
Crime Programs
