Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of ‘quality TV’ – can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?

Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of ‘quality TV’ – can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?

Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify ‘quality TV’ through 9 defining characteristics. I believe that these characteristics relate to many series other than Buffy the Vampire Slayer, such as The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, and Breaking Bad. Two specific series that I have watched which I believe fit many of the characteristics are True Blood and Seinfeld. The characteristics that I will cover for True Blood are a large ensemble cast, being controversial and mixing new genres with old genres. For Seinfeld I will discuss a large ensemble cast, having memory and that it aspires towards realism.

True Blood is set within a fictional world where vampires and other supernatural creatures exist. The story focuses on waitress Sookie Stackhouse and her surrounding family and friends who deal with the co-existence of vampires. True Blood consists of a large ensemble cast that includes Sookie, Bill Compton, Eric Northman, Sam Merlotte, Tara Thornton and Lafayette Reynolds, along with a broad cast of rotating and supporting characters. True Blood explores controversial themes such as discrimination, religion, and violence against minorities and it is through these contemporary issues and themes that True Blood combines several genres into its storyline which include urban drama supernatural fantasy, horror, and romance.

Seinfeld, a television series recognized as being ‘a show about nothing’, centers on the lives of four New Yorkers who go about their daily lives with often-unfavorable outcomes. Seinfeld consists of a large ensemble cast, and along with the leading characters of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer there is regular recurring roles of Newman, Susan, Frank Constanza, J. Peterman and Puddy. This ensemble cast adds dimension and enriches the content with the diverse personalities of all the characters. During the 9 seasons, many references are made to the eccentric nature of the characters, for example, Jerry as a germaphobe, George’s neurotic insecurities, Elaine’s lack of social etiquette in being ‘too honest’ and Kramer’s exaggerated personality, and this brings about the fourth characteristic of quality television: having a memory. The storyline requires the audience and the characters to remember interconnected storylines that relies on references, in-jokes and the presence of recurring characters. An example of this is in the final episode which depicts that none of the main characters grow or improve as individuals which eventually leads them to dire consequences, where the four are sent to prison for ‘doing nothing’ instead of helping an overweight man getting carjacked. All recurring supporting characters appear and describe the wrongdoings done to them by Jerry, George, Elaine and /or Kramer. Also one of the final scenes, sitting in a prison cell, Jerry and George start talking about the buttons on George’s shirt, which is an acknowledgement to the very first episode where they are debating George’s shirt buttons.

Through the use of original realism, (many of the episodes are based on real life experiences of the writers) the roles of recurring characters and themes, Seinfeld managed to break the boundary of conventional television and become a classic example of quality television.

References

Wilcox, R. & Lavery, D. (2002). Introduction, in R. Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.