Quality Popular Television

Cult TV, the Industry and Fans

By: James Lyons, Mark Jancovich

Write A Review

Paperback | 2 January 2008 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
215 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.2 x 15.3 x 1.4

Paperback

$117.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $29.50 with

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

Why are some contemporary television shows so compelling? The Sopranos, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, and ER are examples among many of a new era of the "must-see" program. These shows and others, like The X-Files and Ally McBeal, have a compulsiveness, a depth of characterization and backstory that puts most of cinema to shame.
Quality Popular Television looks at this new category of "cult" television (mostly U.S.-produced) and the reasons for its emergence. Considering shows as diverse as Ally McBeal, Martial Law, Buffy, Lois and Clark, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Ellen, the book examines the particular qualities necessary for success and how they relate to issues such as the economics of network scheduling, the growth of the Internet, and contemporary debates about television audiences. This important new book provides an invaluable window on transformations in contemporary television culture.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Arts & Entertainment Film, TV & Radio Television Miscellaneous Items Reference, Information & Interdisciplinary Subjects Interdisciplinary Studies Society & Culture Cultural Studies Popular Culture Literature, Poetry & Plays Plays

Specific Films

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Notes on Contributors	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Industries, Networks and Programming
Vertical Vision: Deregulation, Industrial Economy and Prime-time Design	p. 11
'Must See TV': Programming Identity on NBC Thursdays	p. 32
The Changing Face of American Television Programmes on British Screens	p. 48
'Content is King': Formats, Shows and Events
Long-format TV: Globalisation and Network Branding in a Multi-Channel Era	p. 65
'Must See' Queer TV: History and Serial Form in Ellen	p. 88
'You're not going to see that on TV': Star Trek: The Next Generation in Film and Television	p. 103
Brave New Buffy: Rethinking 'TV Violence'	p. 118
Commodity Audiences: Cults, Fans and Dedicated Audiences
Martial Law and the Changing Face of Martial Arts on US Television	p. 137
Superman on the Set: The Market, Nostalgia and Television Audiences	p. 148
Web Wars: Resistance, Online Fandom and Studio Censorship	p. 163
Afterword
What Is Television for?	p. 181
Index	p. 199
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Quality Popular Television

Cult TV, the Industry and Fans

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Television

Talking As Fast As I Can

Gilmore Girls Cookbook

The Official Cookbook

No Lessons Learned

The Making of Curb Your Enthusiasm as Told by Larry David and the Cast and Crew

Muster Dogs

The Next Generation: The new 2025 companion picture book for animal lovers and fans of the ABC television series

Diddly Squat

'Til The Cows Come Home

Year of Yes

How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun and be Your Own Person

Stranger Things Annual 2026

Stupid TV, Be More Funny

How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed TV-and American-Forever

Fawlty Towers: Fawlts and All

The Sunday Times bestselling 50th anniversary celebration of the nation's beloved sitcom

GHOSTS: The Button House Archives

The instant Sunday Times bestseller companion book to the BBC's much loved television series

Muster Dogs From Pups to Pros

A new companion book to the heartwarming show for fans of Back Roads and The Flying Vet

The Art of Bob's Burgers (TM)

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Survivor

Forged by Fire

Australia Remember When

The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book

The Book of Sheen

12 Days of Arcane

A Pin Collector's Countdown

The 1% Club Book 2

The Addictive Quiz for all the Family

The L Word

A Photographic Journal

Muster Dogs

Mischief and Mateship: a charming companion picture book to the upcoming ABC television special Where Are They Now, for fans of THE FLYING VET and BACK ROADS

An Absolute Casserole

The Taskmaster Compendium

Diddly Squat

Home to Roost

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

20th Anniversary Edition

This product is categorised by