A look at how today’s television shows are succeeding in ways that movies aren’t

By Eddie Strait
Daily Texan Staff

Over the last few years there has been a shift in the balance of powers. During the course of the 90’s, film studios were regularly putting out product that was far more compelling than what television had been doing. At the turn of the century television anted up, overtaking film in putting out the most compelling entertainment.

As comedies fall flat on the big screen and dramas fail to captivate, here is a look at what TV has been doing lately that the film industry should take note of.

Comedy

“Scrubs:” The ensemble has raised the bar exponentially for sitcoms. Zach Braff and Donald Faison have achieved a chemistry that has never before been seen on-screen. Film studios struggle to put out a handful of truly funny movies every year and this show puts out a full season’s worth of laughs every year. At five seasons and counting, “Scrubs” is making a very strong case for being the best sitcom ever.

“Malcolm In the Middle:” Seen as the live-action counterpart to “The Simpsons,” this show has blazed new trails for the family comedy. What makes this show so enduring is that it is endlessly clever and takes on topics most shows wouldn’t dare touch. This show is picked over “Arrested Development” because “Malcolm” is able to parlay its irreverence into much more success.

Keys to success: The comedies on TV do something that the most successful film comedies don’t. They go full steam ahead into every joke, and don’t worry about explaining everything to the audience. The shows aren’t afraid to be off the wall and every joke is delivered in confidence.

Drama

“24:” This barn-burner is easily the best thing that has been on the air for the last five years. Every season tops the one before it. This is the only show I’ve ever witnessed that actually learns from its mistakes to become better, and it has the best writing and creative team on TV.

“Gilmore Girls” and “Everwood:” The WB captured lightning twice with two shows that focus on relationships, which ring true and earnest. It’s good to know family shows don’t have to be as atrocious as “7th Heaven” or “Full House.”

“The Shield” and “Nip/Tuck:” These are the finest shows produced by FX. Both swing for the fences in terms of pushing boundaries. “The Shield” is the hardest-hitting police show ever to grace the small screen. The show is so good it’s able to make obvious plot developments leave viewers shocked.

“Nip/Tuck” is the edgiest show on television. The lives of doctors Sean McNamara and Christian Troy are examples of human drama at its very finest. It goes places to which other dramas wish they had the wherewithal to venture.

“Veronica Mars:” In only two seasons this show has transcended the clichés of typical whodunits into something far more enticing. The core mysteries of the show are so intricate that every twist is believable and mind-blowing, without feeling contrived.

Keys to success: What makes these television dramas so intriguing is that the main focus is always on the inner turmoil of its characters. This allows the drama to flow naturally and keep the inventiveness of the shows alive.

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