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Procedural drama

Genre of television programming

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
4 min read
Source updated August 25, 2026

A procedural drama or procedural is a cross-genre type of literature, film, or television program that places emphasis on technical detail. A documentary film may also be written in a procedural style to heighten narrative. A popular subgenre is the police procedural. Some dramas include a lab or high-tech conference room where the main characters meet to work out the problem. Television shows usually have an episodic TV format that does not necessarily require the viewer to have seen previous episodes. Each episode typically has a self-contained, stand-alone plot that is introduced, developed, and resolved in one episode.

The procedural format is popular around the world. In 2011, the director of a TV consultancy said, "The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure". 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. In general, procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order. Procedurals are often criticized for being formulaic. Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows; however, some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format. Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes (often called a story arc).

01Types of media

Television

Fiction

The priority, therefore, is for some central character or group of characters around whom incidents can be created week after week after week. Marcus Welby, M.D., the most successful show on American television in 1970-1, fitted this bill perfectly. Dr Welby is a general practitioner and the trials and tribulations of his patients revolve around him. "The concept is very simple," said Dick O'Connell, co-producer with David Victor, "Dr Welby is a nice man. He is presented with a problem each week and he accomplishes it. The general practitioner is the ideal format." So, too, are policemen, lawyers, surgeons and cowboys.

In television, "procedural" specifically refers to a genre of programs in which a problem is introduced, investigated, and solved all within the same episode. These shows tend to be hour-long dramas and are often (though not always) police or crime-related. The general formula for a police procedural involves the commission or discovery of a crime at the beginning of the episode, the ensuing investigation, and the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator at the end of the episode. Modern examples of this genre are the Law & Order, CSI & NCIS franchises. House is an example of a non-crime-related procedural.

  • Procedural dramas are generally very popular in broadcast syndication because the lack of long-term storylines makes it easier for viewers to tune in for just one episode without feeling lost.
  • Procedurals are sometimes noted for their lack of character development, with little attention being paid to the lives of the recurring characters outside of their jobs.

Non-fiction

Film

There are examples of movie procedurals, such as The Void (2001). Another is the film The Dam Busters, 1955, which was called a war procedural by Richard Gilliam in Allmovie.

Literature

02Television examples

Watch videos about Procedural dramaExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Procedural drama”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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