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A '''procedural drama''' is a [[genre]] of [[television program]]ming which focuses on how crimes are solved or some other aspect of a law enforcement agency, legislative body, or court of law. Some dramas include a lab or conference room with high-tech or state-of-the-art equipment where the main characters meet to work out the problem. Shows usually have an episodic format that does not require the viewer to have seen previous [[episode]]s. Episodes typically have a self-contained, also referred to as stand-alone, plot that is introduced and resolved within the same episode.

The procedural format is popular around the world.<ref name="dl062711">{{cite news | first = Tim | last = Adler | url = http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/why-tv-procedurals-also-rule-the-world/ | title = Why TV Procedurals Also Rule The World | date = June 27, 2011 | accessdate = June 27, 2011 | work = [[Deadline.com]] }}</ref> In 2011, the director of a TV consultancy said, "The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure."<ref name="dl062711"/> Due to their stand-alone episodic nature, they are more accessible to new viewers than serials. Self-contained episodes also make it easier for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news | author = Gerard Gilbert | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/american-law--british-order-1626849.html | title = American law... British order | date = 2009-02-20 | work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 2009-02-20}}</ref> In general, procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order.<ref name="dl062711"/>

Procedurals are often criticized for being [[Wiktionary:formulaic|formulaic]].<ref name="formulaic"/><ref name="formulaover">{{cite news | author = James Hibberd | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5160IN20090207 | title = Networks' new pilots favor formula over experiment | date = 2009-02-06 | work = [[Hollywood Reporter]] | accessdate = 2010-01-13}}</ref> Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows. However, some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format.<ref name="duelling">{{cite news | author = | url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/duelling-sleuths/2006/08/08/1154802894078.html | title = Duelling sleuths | date = 2006-08-10 | work = [[The Age]] | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref><ref name="nomystery">{{cite news | author = Bill Carter | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/arts/television/17ncis.html?_r=1 | title = No Mystery: Ratings Heat Up for ‘NCIS’ | date = 2008-11-16 | work = [[The New York Times]] | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref> Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes.<ref name="changes">{{cite news | author = Jason Hughes | url = http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/09/23/what-if-house-stopped-being-a-procedural/ | title = What if House stopped being a procedural? | date = 2009-09-23 | work = [[TVSquad]] | accessdate = 2010-01-13}}</ref>

A popular variant is the [[police procedural]].

==Procedural dramas==
* ''[[Adam-12]]'' (1968–1975)
* ''[[Battle Creek (TV series)|''Battle Creek'']]'' (2015)
* ''[[Beauty & the Beast (2012 TV series)|Beauty & the Beast]]'' (2012–2016)
* ''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]'' (2010–present)
* ''[[Body of Proof]]'' (2011–2013)
* ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'' (2005–2017)<ref name="duelling"/>
* ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'' (2009–2016)
* ''[[Chicago P.D.]]'' (2014–present)
* ''[[Chicago Justice]]'' (Not Released Yet)
* ''[[Cold Case (TV series)|Cold Case]]'' (2003–2010)
* ''[[Columbo (TV series)|Columbo]]'' (1968–1978)
* ''[[Common Law (2012 TV series)|Common Law]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Conviction ]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' (2005–present)
* ''[[Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders]]'' (2016–present)
* ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' (2000–2015)
* ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' (2002–2012)
* ''[[CSI: NY]]'' (2004–2013)
* ''[[CSI: Cyber]]'' (2015–2016)
* ''[[Deadline (2000 TV series)|Deadline]]'' (2000-2001)
* ''[[Dragnet (series)|Dragnet]]'' (1951–1959; 1967–1970)
* ''[[Elementary (TV series)|Elementary]]'' (2012–present)
* ''[[Hawaii Five-O]]'' (1968–1980)
* ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]'' (2010–present)
* ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' (1993-1999)
* ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' (2004-2012; medical procedural drama)
* ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' (1981–1987)
* ''[[In Plain Sight]]'' (2008-2012)
* ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'' (1995–2005)
* ''[[Jo (TV series)|Jo]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Law & Order]]'' (1990–2010)
* ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (1999–present)
* ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' (2001–2011)
* ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005–2006)
* ''[[Law & Order: UK]]'' (2009–2014)
* ''[[Law & Order: LA]]'' (2010-2011)
* ''[[Lie to Me (TV series)|Lie To Me]]'' (2009–2011)<ref name="formulaic">{{cite news | author = Chuck Barney | url = http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/01/21/review-foxs-lie-to-me-mostly-a-formulaic-procedural/ | title = Review: Fox’s "Lie to Me" mostly a formulaic procedural | date = 2009-01-21 | work = [[San Jose Mercury News]] | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref>
* ''[[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]]'' (1986–1995)
* ''[[McCallum (TV series)|McCallum]]'' (1995-1998)
* ''[[The Mentalist]]'' (2008–2015)<ref name="mentalist">{{cite news | author = Andy Dehnart | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27829441/ | title = ‘Mentalist’ follows CBS formula, with a twist | date = 2008-12-02 | work = [[MSNBC]] | accessdate = 2010-01-13}}</ref>
* ''[[Monk (TV series)|Monk]]'' (2002-2012)
* ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' (1984–1996)
* ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' (2003–present)<ref
name="nomystery"/><ref name="cbssucess">{{cite news | author = Scott Collins | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-channel17-2008nov17,0,734832.story? | title = How does CBS spell success? 'NCIS' | date = 2008-11-17 | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref>
* ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'' (2009–present)
* ''[[NCIS: New Orleans]]'' (2014–present)
* ''[[New Tricks]]'' (2003-2015)
* ''[[New York Undercover]]'' (1994-1998)
* ''[[Numb3rs]]'' (2005–2010)
* ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' (1993–2005)
* ''[[Perception (U.S. TV series)|Perception]] (2012–2015)
* ''[[Perry Mason (TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' (1957–1966)
* ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]'' (2011–2016)
* ''[[Psych (TV series)|Psych]]'' (2006–2014)
* ''[[Rebus (TV series)|Rebus]]'' (2000-2007)
* ''[[Rizzoli & Isles]]'' (2010–2016)<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://nypost.com/2014/12/09/rizzoli-isles-renewed-for-sixth-season/|title = ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ renewed for sixth season|last = |first = |date = 2014-12-09|work = [[New York Post]]|access-date = 2015-02-21|quote = The procedural drama stars Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Alexander as medical examiner Maura Isles.}}</ref>
* ''[[Taggart]]'' (1983-2010)
* ''[[The Practice (TV series)|The Practice]]'' (1997–2004)
* ''[[The Unit]]'' (2006–2009)
* ''[[Without a Trace]]'' (2002–2009)
* ''[[White Collar (TV series)|White Collar]]'' (2009–2014)

== See also ==
* [[Crime fiction]]
* [[Legal drama]]
* [[Murder mystery]]
* [[Police procedural]]
* [[Serial (radio and television)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Crime fiction}}
{{Television drama series}}

[[Category:Television genres]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]
[[Category:Works about law enforcement| Procedural drama]]
[[Category:Drama]]

Procedural drama - Revision history

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