Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents iii
3. Acknowledgements v
4. Contributors vi
5. Preface x
6. Part I: Histories
7. Introduction: Histories 3
8. 1. The Writer/Producer in American Television 11
9. 2. The Lack of Influence of thirtysomething 27
10. 3. Twin Peaks: David Lynch and the Serial-Thriller Soap 37
11. 4. Quality/Cult Television: The X-Files and Television History 57
12. Part II: The Series/Serial Form
13. Introduction: The Series/Serial Form 75
14. 5. Television and the Neo-Baroque 83
15. 6. Serial Narrative and Guest Stars: Ally McBeal’s Eccentrics 102
16. 7. The Representation of Youth and the Twenty-Something Serial 123
17. 8. Violence and Therapy in The Sopranos 139
18. 9. Television, Horror and Everyday Life in Buffy the Vampire Slayer 159
19. Part III: Receptions
20. Introduction: Receptions 183
21. 10. Cult TV, Quality and the Role of the Episode/Programme Guide 190
22. 11. Creating ‘Quality’ Audiences for ER on Channel Four 207
23. 12. The Bartlet Administration and Contemporary Populism in NBC’s The West Wing 224
24. Bibliography 244
25. Filmography 253
26. Index 256