Fall of Fiction

The Mentalist (Warner Bros.)

Fall is a special season in terms of fiction with the launch of all the new US series as well as the new European dramas. This fall, the expectation of TV viewers was even bigger due to the strike of the US script writers which blocked the production of many series for months. Also one cannot help but notice how autumn 2008 have blown a frozen breeze over individuals but also over TV contents. The hostile and economical context has definitely marked the new series of this fall.

As every fall TV viewers are waiting impatiently for the new US series to be launched. But as a matter of fact, this fall again, long-running series ignited ratings. At the top, we still find really well established series such as "The CSI Franchise" (CSI reaching the 1 st rank of the top US series with 23.5 million TV viewers among all individuals from September 1 st to October 26 th 2008), "Desperate Housewives" (2 nd with 18.7 millions) and "Grey's Anatomy" (3 rd with 18.5 millions).

However, few new series managed to distinguish themselves. The 8 th position is occupied by the newly launch series "The Mentalist". Aired on CBS since September the 29 th, "The Mentalist" stars Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation and his paranormal abilities. Peaking at more than 15.6 million TV viewers for its premiere, the series managed to win the loyalty of 15.3 million viewers on average for the first 4 episodes and achieved a 12.5% market share among all individuals. Indeed, this season brings its stream of new cop series and procedurals with "The Mentalist" at the top. To name others outside the USA, we can mention the Australian series "The Strip", dealing with a criminal investigation unit as they investigate in one of the richest environment in Australia: "The Strip" on Queensland's Gold Coat, or the British adaptation of the Swedish detective series "Wallander" starring Kenneth Branagh. In short, at a time when the financial crisis makes individuals worry, procedurals can be seen as an answer to reinstall the established order and reassure TV viewers.

The current economic atmosphere also reveals a certain brutality that we can also find in new shows. Contestants are in search of the most extreme sensations to feel alive, following the example of the US game show "The Estate of Panic".. In fiction individuals' anguishes are depicted in tensed and thrilling fictions with a considerable number of new horror and mystery series. The successes of "Fringe" from JJ Abrams ("Alias" and "Lost") on Fox or "True Blood" by Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under") on HBO are proof at hand." Fringe" explores the blurring line between the possible and the impossible; the protagonists uncover a deadly mystery involving a mysterious plague and a series of unbelievable events. Recording 9.9 million TV viewers on average for the first six episodes and a peak at 13.3 millions, Fringe reached the 11 th position. And with 8.3% market share, it obtained results equivalent to the standard of the channel. As for "True Blood", it made outstanding scores and improved its results all through the episodes: this series based on the novel series "Southern Vampire" by Charlaine Harris, follows Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid who finds comfort in the company of vampires. The latter can live among humans thanks to synthetic blood but are not completely accepted. With 1.4% market share among all individuals for the first eight episodes, the series reached scores twice as much as the 2007 channel timeslot average. On average, 2.0 million TV viewers follow True Blood every week.

Fiction also takes its inspiration directly from the social and economic reality to draw a gloomy statement of the current situation and its consequences. In the UK thriller "Wired", the story about a bank fraud shows what happens to our money behind the scenes in the world of "electronic banking".

In this dim atmosphere, d ark sides of people are highlighted: the new heroes are often anti-heroes in fiction. A good example is the US series "Sons of Anarchy" launched on FX, dealing with a sheltered community watched over by a renegade motorcycle club intent on protecting the town from the newcomers that threaten it. It is a big hit for the cable channel FX, especially among the young adults. It reached no less than 3.5% market share among 18-34, versus only 1.3% for the channel average. The series has already been renewed through the 2009-2010 season.

Another way to cope with the current crisis is to laugh. Various new comedies bet on simple jokes, as simple as toilet humor, following the example of the UK comedy "Beehive" launched on E4, and the US sitcom "Testees" on FX.

Besides some programs insist on the necessity to take some time for nostalgia again, and remember better times when we had no money and were happier, like in the French fiction "Rien dans les Poches" or in the UK sitcom "Beautiful People" which explores Simon Doonan's teenage memories (now creative director of New York's Barneys) and its desire to live among the "beautiful people" from the perspective of his New York department store window.

Source: Eurodata TV / Nielsen Media Research