Procedural drama
Genre of television programming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A procedural drama or procedural or is a cross-genre type of literature, film, or television program that places emphasis on technical detail.[citation needed] A documentary film may also be written in a procedural style to heighten narrative.[citation needed] A popular subgenre is the police procedural.[citation needed] Some dramas include a lab or high-tech conference room where the main characters meet to work out the problem.[citation needed] Television shows usually have an episodic format that does not necessarily require the viewer to have seen previous episodes. Each episode typically has a self-contained, stand-alone plot that is introduced, developed, and resolved in one episode.[citation needed]
The procedural format is popular around the world.[1] In 2011, the director of a TV consultancy said, "The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure."[1] Due to their stand-alone episodic nature, they are more accessible to new viewers than serials. Self-contained episodes also make it easier for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes.[2] In general, procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order.[1] Procedurals are often criticized for being formulaic.[3][4] Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows;[citation needed] however, some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format.[5][6] Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes (often called a story arc).[7]
Types of media
Television
Fiction
In television, "procedural" specifically refers to a genre of programs in which a problem is introduced, investigated, and solved all within the same episode. These shows tend to be hour-long dramas and are often (though not always) police or crime-related.[citation needed] The general formula for a police procedural involves the commission or discovery of a crime at the beginning of the episode, the ensuing investigation, and the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator at the end of the episode. Modern examples of this genre are the Law & Order, CSI & NCIS franchises. House is an example of a non-crime-related procedural.
- Procedural dramas are generally very popular in broadcast syndication because the lack of long-term storylines makes it easier for viewers to tune in for just one episode without feeling lost.
- Procedurals are sometimes noted for their lack of character development, with little attention being paid to the lives of the recurring characters outside of their jobs.[8]
Non-fiction
- Non-fiction science procedurals such as the PBS Secrets of the Dead series and Court TV's Forensic Files take a viewer step-by-step through an investigation, much like a fictional procedural.[9]
Literature
- Police procedural: the best-known variety, a large subgenre of mystery fiction. Lawrence Treat's 1945 novel V as in Victim is cited as perhaps the first "true" police procedural.[10]
- Military procedural: a term used by Publishers Weekly in 1989,[11] referring to Ralph Peters' novel Red Army
- War procedural: an example is the film The Dam Busters, 1955, which was called a war procedural by Richard Gilliam in Allmovie.[12]
Television examples
This list provides examples of procedural dramas; it is not exhaustive.
- 9-1-1 (2018–present)
- 9-1-1 Lone Star (2020–2025)
- Adam-12 (1968–1975)
- Alert: Missing Persons Unit (2023–2025)
- Battle Creek (2015)
- Bosch (2014–2021)
- Bosch: Legacy (2022–2025)
- Beauty & the Beast (2012–2016)
- Blindspot (2015–2020)
- Bull (2016–2022)
- Blue Bloods (2010–2024)
- Body of Proof (2011–2013)
- Bones (2005–2017)[5]
- Castle (2009–2016)
- Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)
- Chicago Fire (2012–present)
- Chicago Med (2015–present)
- Chicago P.D. (2014–present)
- Chicago Justice (2017)
- The Closer (2005–2012)
- Cold Case (2003–2010)
- Columbo (1968–1978; 1989–2003)
- Common Law (2012)
- Conviction (2006)
- Criminal Minds (2005–2020; 2022–present)
- Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016–2017)
- Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011)
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015)
- CSI: Cyber (2015–2016)
- CSI: Miami (2002–2012)
- CSI: NY (2004–2013)
- CSI: Vegas (2021–2024)
- Deadline (2000–2001)
- Dragnet (1951–1959; 1967–1970)
- Elementary (2012–2019)
- Elsbeth (2024–present)
- Emergency! (1972–1979)
- The Equalizer (2021–2025)
- FBI (2018–present)
- FBI: Most Wanted (2020–2025)
- FBI: International (2021–2025)
- Fire Country (2022–present)
- Found (2023–2025)
- The Good Doctor (2017–2024)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
- Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020)
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999)
- House (2004–2012; medical procedural drama)
- Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
- In Plain Sight (2008–2012)
- Instinct (2018–2019)
- Ironside (1967–1975)
- iZombie (2015–2019)
- JAG (1995–2005)
- Jo (2013)
- Law & Order (1990–2010; 2022–present)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)
- Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021–present)
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006)
- Law & Order: UK (2009–2014)
- Law & Order: LA (2010–2011)
- Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (2024–present)
- Lie to Me (2009–2011)[3]
- Lucifer (2016–2021)
- Major Crimes (2012–2018)
- Matlock (1986–1995)
- Miami Vice (1984–1990)
- Midsomer Murders (1997–present)
- McCallum (1995–1998)
- The Mentalist (2008–2015)[13]
- Monk (2002–2009)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
- Naked City (1958–1963)
- Nash Bridges (1996–2001)
- NCIS (2003–present)[6][14]
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023)
- NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021)
- NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2021–2024)
- NCIS: Sydney (2023–present)
- New Tricks (2003–2015)
- New York Undercover (1994–1998)
- Numb3rs (2005–2010)
- NYPD Blue (1993–2005)
- Perception (2012–2015)
- Perry Mason (1957–1966)
- Person of Interest (2011–2016)
- The Practice (1997–2004)
- Prodigal Son (2019–2021)
- Psych (2006–2014)
- Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983)
- Rebus (2000–2007)
- Rizzoli & Isles (2010–2016)[15]
- The Rookie (2018–present)
- The Rookie: Feds (2022–2023)
- Silent Witness (1996–present)
- So Help Me Todd (2022–2024)
- Southland (2009–2013)
- Suits (2011–2019)
- S.W.A.T. (2017–2025)
- Taggart (1983–2010)
- Taxi Brooklyn (2014)
- Third Watch (1999–2005)
- The Unit (2006–2009)
- White Collar (2009−2014)
- Without a Trace (2002–2009)
- Wild Cards (2024–present)
- Will Trent (2023–present)