In late 80s Murder She Wrote was one of the most successful shows in the world with average of 26 million viewers per...

In late 80s Murder She Wrote was one of the most successful shows in the world with average of 26 million viewers per week, but literally every episode followed the same formula, can you explain this?

Same reason Law & Order was so successful for 20+ years.

It's a simple mystery/crime drama that is wrapped up in each episode with minor arcs that span the season/series.

You can watch any episode and not feel left out.

TV watchers are retards that like watching the same shit over and over again.

See also: The Walking Dead.

No internet, less channels on TV, videogames weren't as ubiquitous. Still large amount of time from theater to home release for movie.

Basically lack of competition, we're living in one of the most fractured times for entertainment media.

old people+CBS.

Why people whine about TWD premise of searching for shelter, finding it, something going wrong and circle repeating? I mean show is pretty shitty, but what else could characters in long-running zombie apocalypse show do?

There wasn't anything else on. I have comfy childhood memories of being sick from school and my Dad carrying the TV up to my room so I could watch TV in bed. It was always on.

Old people want stability, security and things to stay the same. And this is exactly what it offered.

I remember when people watched Baywatch only because porn was harder to obtain back in 90s

It was the only thing with an older woman as the protagonist on TV.

You'll be surprised how thirsty women are for anyone who represents their demographic.

That is why Lena Dunham still is famous, not because she's talented, not because she speaks to generation Y... but simply for being born in the right gender, at the right time, and not being censored by her backers.

Murder She Wrote appealed to all the old biddies who could see something that vaugley represented them in a world of Dynasty, Family Ties, Cosby and Matlock. (too young and rich, too young, too black, too male)

Old people don't like change.

There is a lot of truth in this. My sister has never watched an episode of Lena Dunham's show, but she still read her book because it got five stars in a magazine she was reading.

Who knew that frumpy millennial girls would become such a cultural force?

They tuned in every week to see if it was suddenly revealed Angela was the killer all along, the same with Poirot, Ms Marpel, and every other single British crime show ever made

I've actually watched a handful if eps and the murder plots were actually pretty clever. Like sure tgey followed the same formula but every once in a while you'd go ahhhhh I would have never thought of that

>but what else could characters in long-running zombie apocalypse show do?
progress a storyline towards a conclusion you fucking retard

pretty much this.

also crime stuff has a big following in the US. check out the true crime section in a bookstore and you'll see dozens of bestsellers.

Idk ration food supplies and medicine, demonstrate water condensation collecting techniques showing how to build a fire reset dislocated limbs fighting sepsis and bacteria keeping bugs and scavalebgers away from food stocks

The show doesn't demonstrate any kind of survivalist techniques despite an apocalypse being its core premise

BANACEK?

is it comfirmed that mrs. fletcher was doing the murders all along?

It's a comfy as fuck show, I'm in my 20's and binge watch it because it's so comfy.

my mom watched this and shes fucking retarded so ill just assume its for retards

>My sister has never watched an episode of Lena Dunham's show, but she still read her book because it got five stars in a magazine she was reading.
taking the mantle from the Oprah housewives generation

It was a good show with charismatic actors. If a formula works then why change it?

Every show was like that back then.

Name a single show that if a guy friend said he was into you would more respect for them...

>make a show for old people
>put it on a lineup with 60 minutes

On wikipedia it says the show has 264 episodes, but lansbury was only in 263? Are they double counting a two part episode?

Formulaic crime shows have been around well before Murder, She Wrote.

Clip show maybe?