Bloated Episodes Have Become an Annoying TV Problem

Norman Weiss April 25, 2016, 6:35 pm

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Bloated episodes have become an annoying TV problem

Blame streaming TV and basic cable for the rise of “super-sized” TV episodes that refuse to obey time constraints. Comedies that would normally run 20 to 30 minutes can now be 40 minutes, or even longer. It’s not unusual for a basic cable drama episode to surpass one hour. “At best, extended episodes can make room for complexity,” says James Poniewozik. “But focus and showmanship still matter. In a peak-TV era, being able to hook an audience is more important, not less.”

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