What I mean is that when a movie is being filmed, they will film multiple scenes in one location at the same time (they don't film the movie in order). Does this occur with TV? For example, in Entourage if the 1st episode and the 6th episode both have shots in Dodger Stadium (just an example) will they shoot both scenes on the same day or will they return to the site a few weeks later when they are doing the 6th episode

just curious

I would doubt they're that planned out in advance. I get the impression both in the articles I read and the commentary podcasts I listen to that they haven't locked down scripts much more than one or two in advance of the one they're currently filming. I could be wrong.

I don't know that it's particularly common, but it's been done to to accommodate a guest star appearing in multiple episodes, or to take advantage of an expensive or difficult to get to location, or something like that. Obviously it can only happen in cases where things are planned out a bit in advance.

Star Trek TNG's Unification two-parter was filmed out of order to accomodate Leonard Nimoy.

I actually remember seeing a TV special about Family Ties, and one of the things they mentioned was that it wasn't filmed in "story order". They would shoot all the kitchen scenes, then the living room, etc.

I think for a show like, say CSI, they'll move the crew out to Vegas and shoot scenes for four to six shows they have the scripts locked in for before returning to LA to shoot the rest of each episode (I hope I'm not spoiling anything for those who think CSI is shot on location in Vegas all the time). But I don't think many shows shoot for a broader range than that...unless it's just an assistant director shooting location exteriors (without the actors) that they might use later in a season.

The sitcom My Three Sons was filmed out of sequence so that Fred MacMurrary's scenes for the entire season could be filmed all at once and be done with. MacMurray only had to work on the show one or two months a year. According to one account I read, this was a condition MacMurray asked for and was granted BEFORE he signed on to do the series; the producers wanted him that badly.

Correction, August 2022: I was off on MacMurray's contract-guaranteed shooting schedule. Wikipedia claims, citing a Turrner Clasic Movies article (with a now-dead link):

I would assume so, particularly on Law & Order where certain regulars often do not interact with one another.

As I understand it some shows have an A(odd numbered episodes) team and a B (even numbered episodes) team for the behind the scenes people and while taping show 1, the B team is getting everything ready(locations, permits, sets, costumes, etc.) for show 2. When show 2 is taping the prep work on show 3 is being done. This way the work is done continuously.

The actors get a call sheet that tells when they need to show up and what scene they are doing. It takes about 10 days for an hour episode to be completed and then it goes to editing (and post production). The show is aired about 3 to 4 weeks after filming. Shows that run a full season usually start taping in July and finish the season's taping in April.