My love affair with American TV shows began as a child. I remember watching Star Trek, sitting on the sofa with my younger brother, dodging the Enterprise as it flew towards the screen during the opening credits. There were a host of other SF series as well, mainly coming from the fertile mind of Irwin Allen.
Luckily, my Dad provided something to return my feet to 
terra firma. He was a huge western fan so other early viewing included The Virginian, The High Chaparral, Lancer, Cheyenne (and spin off Bronco), and the excellent Hondo that, sadly, only lasted one season. Not to mention Kung Fu, which had me attempting to imitate David Carradine’s Kwai Chang Caine, resulting in more than a few bruises, some my own!
As the '70s progressed, we saw the decline of the western show and a glut of detective series filled the void – Kojak, Cannon, McCloud, Colombo, Banachek, and Starsky & Hutch to name just a few. My personal favourite was The Rockford Files, to the extent that my ambition when I grew up (sadly unachieved) was to be a detective and live in a trailer by the sea. And there were 
also other lesser known gems like Petrocelli, Manhunter (set during the American depression), and Baretta (starring the ill-fated Robert Blake.)
Then there were the SF shows trying to fill the gap left by Star Trek and Irwin Allen – The Six Million Dollar Man (and spin off The Bionic Woman), Logan’s Run, The Fantastic Journey, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Battlestar Galactica among the numerous others probably best forgotten (The Man From Atlantis, anyone?)
All of these shows had one thing in common: you could miss a dozen episodes, come back later, and nothing would have changed. The characters and their relationships would be the same as when you left them. In the '80s, things changed…
Hill Street Blues was a different kind of show, with a large cast of characters whose lives were often changed dramatically by events. The stories were 
different, too, and dealt as much with the protagonists' lives as they did with their attempt to find criminals. This new, almost soap opera type show was a hit and others soon jumped on the bandwagon. St. Elsewhere transplanted the idea to a hospital and L.A. Law to the courtroom; both were hits whose influence is still felt today in series like E.R and Boston Legal.
Article comments
1 - Snarkattack
I've never been one for following lots of serials, but the US one that I followed most religiously and eventually 'turned' on me was 'The X-Files'. I think it was the second-last season that killed it for me. That had a lot to do with actors' pay disputes, I believe.
'Firefly' - why oh why did this get cancelled?! I've watched what episodes they made twice on cable and will probably end up buying it on DVD. But it is good that they're resurrecting 'Arrested Development' which was originally cancelled (someone wrote an article here about it finding a new station/network).
It sounds like networks 'do' (bad?) things to good shows, e.g. Dave Chappelle who ran off before the third season of his show was finished. Part of it had something to do with the network he was signed to, not sure I understand that. However, I do understand that networks there are probably commercially driven and cancel things that don't cut it ratings-wise, even if it's fantastic. They did it to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' which is quite the cult hit.
2 - Amos
You're watching the wrong shows! Try Battlestar Galactica (the new one), the Shield, Six Feet Under, the Sopranos, the Wire, and Deadwood. All these series have ongoing storylines and respect for their audience, and they won't get cancelled prematurely.
3 - Eric Berlin
Great job Ian but I strongly agree with Amos. I'll add Rescue Me to the list. You also mentioned Firefly -- Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (all Joss Whedon shows) show the viablity of mixing genre and stretching story arcs over the course of a season.
HBO, Showtime, and the emergent basic cable nets (particularly FX) get this. The traditional nets will follow -- there are a number of shows comming this season that will attempt to do longer story arcs.
4 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks for the comments guys.
Snarkattack
You’re right, it is good when other networks pick up a cancelled series (Angel springs to mind) but it doesn’t happen often enough.
As for Buffy while it was cancelled, it had survived seven seasons and at least they knew it was ending and could plan accordingly.
Amos
I’ve watched many of the shows you mentioned.
I really enjoy Battlestar Galactica but will it survive to its conclusion? SciFi cancelled Farscape don’t forget.
The Sopranos is a great show but it’s one I prefer to watch on DVD spread over a week rather than stretched over months on TV, it just seems to suit the program more.
Deadwood is magnificent but, as I understand it, has already been cancelled after the current season (three.) Although HBO will be doing a couple of TV movies to tie things up (something they decided after the initial outcry, I think.)
I didn’t really enjoy the pilot episode of The Shield and never stuck with it but I do plan to pick up the season one DVD box set at some point and give it another try.
The others I haven’t seen but The Wire sounds good. Another one to pick up on DVD perhaps.
Eric
Buffy and Angel were both excellent (is there anything Joss Whedon does that isn’t?) but they never stretched arcs longer than a season. I’ve no problem with a season long story but when it goes beyond that, as is the current trend, it takes a huge gamble with the audience. Do you risk watching a series for a whole year only to find it will never come back and leave you wondering what happened to characters you’d grown to care about? As many shows only last a season, I think this is expecting too much from the viewer
I’d watched most of the first season of rescue me, before my current malaise set in, and I enjoyed it. It will probably be one of the shows I go back to, eventually.
As for Showtime, I’ll never forgive them for canceling Dead Like Me.
5 - El Bicho
"The US networks are notorious for cancelling excellent shows"
Actually, there are notorious for cancelling shows with poor ratings. Blame the American audience, the way Nielsen ratings are measured, and stockholders in these companies as well.
Hill Street Blues would never have been the success that it was if had gotten the same ratings today that its first season garnered. There's too much money involved and the network couldn't waste the time and lost ad revenue. Same with Seinfeld's first few seasons. They didn't get any ratings until the show was moved behind Cheers. Shows would have had to find their legs on smaller outlets or DVD.
Entertainment is much more business-orientated, so artists no longer grow on the company's dime. Same goes for music. An artist has to have a very successful debut or the music label is going to dump them.
With the glut of entertainment options, shows need to allow for people to jump in at any point and have it make sense. Ratings for shows like Lost and 24 will never see a big increase over a season. They keep the same dedicated audience they have. An increase can only come when people who discover the series on DVD join in the following year.
As the other commentors have pointed out, it sounds like you aren't looking in the right places because there are plenty of good shows that do what you are looking for.
Also entertainment is like politics, if you don't like it's current state you need to get involved, or else you are just one more person whining. Start writing scripts for the type of show you want to see and maybe even shoot them.
Check out Channel 101 on the net for people who are doing just that. One very funny series is Yacht Rock, and I've heard rumors they got a development deal out of it.
6 - Wyn
B5 did it right by having the entire show written out ahead of time. You can not do serial shows well unless they are planned out.
7 - Ian Woolstencroft
El Bicho
Thanks for the comment, you make some interesting points.
“Actually, there are notorious for cancelling shows with poor ratings. Blame the American audience, the way Nielsen ratings are measured, and stockholders in these companies as well.”
True but in the past shows were given more of a chance. The X Files started with less the stellar ratings but ended up lasting nine seasons and you mentioned Hill Street Blues, another good example. Anyway, my point isn’t about networks cancelling shows that don’t get good ratings but about the type of show they are currently producing. In the current climate, where a show isn’t alowed any breathing room, it seems crazy to produce a series with a storyline that will be spread across multiple seasons. You’re agreeing with me when you said “With the glut of entertainment options, shows need to allow for people to jump in at any point and have it make sense.”
You compare it to the music industry but at least there an artist can find a smaller label or put their music online for people to download, that option isn’t really available for a TV show.
“As the other commentors have pointed out, it sounds like you aren't looking in the right places because there are plenty of good shows that do what you are looking for.”
As I’ve already said, I’ve watched many of these shows but due to my current state of apathy, induced by the cancellation of Surface and Invasion, I don’t feel compeled to continue watching them. This will no doubt change, some new show may even come along that will draw me back (Heroes sounds too tempting for a comic book geek like me to resist.)
“Also entertainment is like politics, if you don't like it's current state you need to get involved, or else you are just one more person whining.”
No, I’m a consumer of a product and, just like if I bought something at the local supermarket that I wasn’t happy with, I have every right to complain if I don’t like what I’m being ‘sold’.
I’ll be sure to check out Channel 101, thanks for the tip.
Wyn
You are absolutly right about B5 and the concept of multiple season stories, I really don’t think Lost has a long-term plan and I have doubts about Battlestar Galactica as well.
It has just occurred to me that another series did try this planned epic arc concept " ‘Dark Skies’ back in 1996. But that was cancelled after just one season.
8 - Joan Hunt
I can't believe no one brought up the show Prey. We were very much denied the ending we deserved! Sure, sure, Sci-Fi ran the series, but I never found out about it until it was too late. All I know is Dr. Sloan Parker ended up living in New York with some guy named Will, changing her name to Grace, and marrying Harry Connick, Jr. somewhere along the way.
9 - tvfreak
TV has always had awesome shows that were cancelled for no good reason. Execs are also to blame for the poor ratings because they move time slots around to battle other networks. Who's gonna watch a show when they cant find it in the normal time slot?
But recently one show managed to find its way back on TV. Family Guy. Great job on that part.