Original Desmond

Last year we had Threshold, Surface and Invasion


This year we have Justice, Shark and i'm sure theres other legal dramas

Do the networks get together and decide what the theme for the year is gonna be or what ?

FantasticVSDoom

I think its the whole "throw something against the wall and hope it sticks" theory...Although Im pretty much over legal dramas, between them and hospital dramas, you could start your own network.

Charlie Goose

Whatever is a big hit one year will spawn a dozen new shows the following year with the same style.

After Seinfeld started getting high ratings, it seemed like every semi-famous comedian got his or her own sitcom.
Same with Friends, Lost, etc. Copying a successful show is much easier than coming up with something fresh.

RichC2

I saw that as an attempt at Lost's success (Serialized television with a scifi twist).

It didn't work out for any of those shows, so no repeats this year. Every year brings upon a slew of legal dramas, so it's really nothing new.

chowderhead

Jericho?
Heroes?
Vanished?

anyway, networks go with what works i.e. newsmags, comedian-based sitcoms, reality shows, game shows, crime procedurals, serials, etc. It was a bit surprising that nobody is doing a serialized soap opera clone like Desparate Housewives last season though apparently they are bringing in Footballer's wives.

nemein

I'm not sure but I suspect it probably has something to do w/ you have someone develop an idea for a new show and they shop it around. Now either a network will pick it up from that person or tell them to shove off but then turn around and have their own people develop something similar. It seems to me the same thing happens w/ movies as well.

Jadzia

It's like this in Hollywood also. You always have two volcano movies, or two asteroid movies, or two Prefontaine movies out at the same time.

Dan1boy

don't we have two Black Dahlia movies on the horizon as well?