I was sitting in a session at the Banff World TV Festival in which one of the panelists, Ben Davis, Director of Development for AMC, said, “I think we’re in a new golden age for TV. In my view, storytelling in TV is far better than movies today.”
I’ve heard the argument before and sort of shrugged it aside. Then I started compiling a list of s scripted series on basic and pay cable TV:
AMC
Breaking Bad
Mad Men
A&E
The Cleaner
FX
Damages
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Sons of Anarchy
HBO
Big Love
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Flight of the Conchords
In Treatment
True Blood
SHOWTIME
Brotherhood
Californication
Dexter
The L Word
The Tudors
Weeds
TNT
Bones
The Closer
Saving Grace
Trust Me
USA
Burn Notice
In Plain Sight
Monk
Psych
That doesn’t include broadcast shows like Lost, Heroes, and all the crime procedurals. Nor does it include cable shows that have recently ended their run like The Sopranos, The Wire, and The Shield. Hell, you could probably make Davis’ argument with those three series alone.
What do you think: Does TV currently have better storytelling than movies? If so, why do you think that’s the case? And what scripted TV shows are your favorites?
I think so, because in tv the writer is king.
As for favorites, Breaking Bad is right up there. An amazing show. And Burn Notice just started up again, woot!
I'm not really the most qualified voice on this subjest, as I watch little television when it actually airs. ( In fact, I have a whole post on my blog on the subject-go on, click on me, I'm clean I swear!)However, the advent of various cable channels (FX, USA, etc.) getting into the original series biz has clearly raised the bar in terms of style, content and themes.
These new outlets encourage exploration of areas that networks cannot touch. But there is a osmosis effect. CSI can't hope to equal The Sheild in terms of envelope pushing. However, seeing what is possible gives all other shows a standard to shoot for.
This can be good and bad. You get better writing, more realism and a boat-load more style. On the flipside, as with The Friends effect of the 90's, every damn show is now a crime show. Aren't they premiering Law and Order: Jay-Walking Unit next year?
Now, is television better than films?(Are retorical questions pretentious? Do I look fat in these jeans?) I don't think so. Television has the advantage of many episodes. Every series, no matter how great, has weak and strong outtings. Fans are more willing to forgive 2 bad episodes if ten are great.
On the flip side, the average person goes to the theater, maybe, six times a year. If three of those films are horrid, one passable, and two great it will seem that there is more junk at the multi-plex than on the tube. Movies downside, especially when in a theater, is that you can't change the channel. If you're watching crap on television, you flick away to something better. You forget about the bad and remember the good.
If you're dragging your butt to the theater. Paying. Sitting down next to Mr. Clear-My-Sinus's and Crinkle-My-Chip-Bag six times a year, and on four of those outings the films stink, television seems like the better outlet.
Of course this also raises the onerous question of the pap people are seeing in the theater. But I digress.
I think films are superior. Favorite shows: Pushing Daisies, Family Guy, The Simpsons, and the first two seasons of Rescue me.(Haven't seen it in a couple years.)
I completely agree that TV is the place to be right now for great storytelling.
I wrote last November an article on "why TV is where you must be", and I still wholeheartedly agree with what I said almost 7 months ago.
Writers have the power in the TV biz.
Also, despite budget cuts, networks (in the general sense of the word, not one with a Peacock as a logo) seem more inclined to take chances nowadays on new formats and out-of-the-box ideas.
Television doesn't have the luxury to bank on glorious visuals to capture the attention of the viewer, a memorable show needs to rely on great stories and enthralling characters.
Regarding my current faves, I'm loving Breaking Bad and In Treatment.
I have to admit that I find more than a few shows on television that are far better than the greater majority of today's filmmaking. The list you provided is quite comprehensive, but one I enjoy and blends a decent mix of humor, life and dealing with tragedy that was left off, is Rescue Me.
I think television has definitely come along way and that is evidenced by the caliber of the writers, directors and actors one will find nowadays in television, even in network TV. The Office is a perfect example. But I don't know if I would go so far as to say it is better than movies. There is still a lot of crap out there in TV land. I think overall movie storytelling still outranks TV storytelling.
Absolutely. Staying with a character for several years is just better.
No recent film comes close to The Sopranos or The Wire.
Would LOVE to answer this question, but I LOATHE TV story telling. They always DRAG THE DRAMA OUT, and I HATE that.
When I watch TV it's mostly for a laugh: "How I Meet Your Mother," "Chuck," "New Adventures of Old Christine," "According to Jim," "Kat and Kim," "Parks and Recreation," and of course "The Office."
I will give you this, I think that comedywise TV DEFINATELY has some hyper tallented writers, and I tip my hat to them.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA
TV has more frequently accessed better story telling. Frank hit the nail on the head with his comments.
As an example; my wife and I are remodeling our kitchen and in between tearing out cabinets, tearing up the floor and putting the new stuff in we are opting to RE-watch the first two seasons of Dexter rather than watch a movie. Time is a factor – we can watch as little as one hour or as many as three hours of the series.
By and large TV does have better storytelling, for a couple of reasons. Like Lex said, TV must rely more on character and story and can't cop out with spectacle as movies can and often do. Secondly, the people in TV just get to practice their craft more. A top writer or director in film is doing pretty well if they manage to get something made every two or three years. Their storytelling muscles are bound to atrophy to some degree. There were problems with the old studio system, but one big advantage was that like TV now, directors and writers were involved in several films a year, and I think the level of craft was higher than it is today overall.
Great comments, everyone. Frank mentioned Pushing Daisies. I'm proud to say that one of my screenwriting students Lisa Joy got her big break getting hired as a staff writer on that series.
This is a great question and one that could and should be explored much more. I say yes, for all of the reasons that Lex wrote about and add that the rise of better writing and storytelling is likely a reaction to all of the "reality" shows.
My fave now is Mad Men for many reasons and mourn the loss of Arrested Development.
TV is rocking. Just look at all the A-listers signing up. (Okay, some B+listers) Deadwood, Big Love, True Blood, The Wire. My top 4. Common factors – a strong premise, specific world, characters that I care about, insurmountable obstacles. I don't think it's rocket science – just clarity and commitment to that world.
TV is al lot like watching your team over the whole season and even being excited over a game against some hick-team from over the border. you know every player and his every move by heart and you root for these guys, just because you´ve seen them every week for a couple of months and now that the season is coming to a close and whether your team is competing for the championship, just dragging along or struggling to keep their heads over the water, it doesn´t matter, you´re still on the edge of your seat when the game starts. That´s TV for me, playing it out over a whole season, ups and down, familiar characters who are still good for a surprise now and then.
Storytelling in movies suffers from a combination of development by committee (often adhering strictly to the dogma of The Heroes Journey) and shorter run times. However, with the advent of affordable high-quality digital cameras, like the Red, a renaissance of independent film is coming, with real indie filmmakers (not studio shingles) telling personal stories with passion like the filmmakers of the 70's.