Summary
Three of the most important shows of this century,Lost,House, andPrison Breaksurprisingly debuted within the same timeframe.The Golden Age of TV began in earnest in the early 2000s, marking a transformative period in network TV. Networks began crafting compelling dramas to seriously compete with cable outlets that were able to be more daring and innovative. This era saw a shift towards high-concept dramas featuring morally complex protagonists, pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling on network TV.
Three groundbreaking shows premiered during this era:LostandHousedebuted in the fall of 2004, withPrison Breakpremiering the following season. These shows collectively redefined the possibilities of network television, demonstrating that compelling narratives, cinematic visuals, and engaging characters could coexist within the constraints of network censors and guidelines. While they didn’t necessarily create entirely new genres, they expanded the horizons of existing ones, leaving an enduring impact on the television landscape.
Prison Break Reboot: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know
The hit Fox show Prison Break ran for five seasons, and now a reboot of the popular drama is in development for the streaming giant Hulu.
Lost, House & Prison Break All Premiered Close To Each Other 20 Years Ago
These Three Shows Ushered in Peak Network TV
LostandPrison Breakcompletely changed the look of serialized storytelling.Lostbuilt a years-long mystery into the narrative, pieced out over time.Losttook a massive ensemble castand ensured each character had a stake in the mystery. On the contrary,Prison Breakfocused more on Michael’s singular mission of breaking Linc out of prison.Lostrequired multiple seasons to tell the story, whilePrison Breakhit its peak with an excellent debut season. It showed the value of a miniseries to storytelling, even if it didn’t recognize it.
House, on the other hand, revitalized procedural storytelling. Housealways saved his patient with a stroke of brilliance at the end of every episode. The audience kept tuning in to see what the brilliant, cantankerous doctor would say next.Dr. Gregory House was a medical Sherlock Holmes. The drug-addicted nephrology and infectious diseases specialist used his brilliant mind to solve cases with his rotating crew of fellows and his only friend, Dr. John Wilson. However, Dr. House was always the focus. In the early 2000s, he was the rare protagonist who was never likable. He ushered in Walter White and Don Draper.
How Lost, House, & Prison Break Changed Television As We Know It
Network TV Shows Influenced Cable TV
As noted above,Houseushered in the antihero as the antihero as a typical protagonist on TV. Hugh Laurie was nominated multiple times for his portrayal of Gregory House but never received a win. The characters House inspired, however, earned their actors multiple Emmys. The early 2000s saw the emergence of cable TV being the dominant force during the awards season. Despite innovative storytelling, network TV was often overlooked in favor of more expensive-looking competitors who could push the envelope without having to worry about network censors.
0 wins (6 nominations)
1 win (8 nominations)
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
Four wins (6 nominations)
Lostinspired networks to create series focused on long-form mysteries to tell stories.Heroes,The Leftovers, andManifestall borrow heavily fromLost. However, unlikeBreaking Bad andMad Men, these shows were all met with varying degrees of critical and audience success.Lostcould carry out its mystery throughout multiple seasons, whereas other shows typically struggled after an initial season. Networks continue to chase mystery shows with large ensembles, but none of them have lived up toLost’s
TV Dramas Were Never The Same After The Early 2000s
Expectations for TV Changed
The dynamic of network television changed significantly after the early 2000s. The most significant shift was shorter television seasons. While procedurals likeHousecontinue to find success with 18-22-episode seasons, many serialized dramas have opted for much shorter seasons with fewer filler episodes.Losthad many filler episodes that didn’t necessarily move the story along but provided exciting content for the characters. These types of episodes no longer exist in the television landscape. Even network shows typically only have 12-18 episode seasons. The lack of filler episodes may have removed the ability to understand a character outside the drama.
Prison Breakis a show that may have benefited from shorter, focused seasons. While the first season told an excellent story with an ending that delivered on the title’s promise, the subsequent seasons were wrapped up in a mystery that never seemed to go anywhere.Prison Break’s failures allowed future showrunners to see the value in a limited series.Years later,Prison Breakeven came back with a successful limited series that focused on one mission.
Housewas the longest-running of the three shows, with eight seasons.
The impact ofLost,House,andPrison Breakon network television cannot be overstated. These shows ushered in a new era of serialized storytelling, morally complex protagonists, and shorter, more focused seasons. Their influence is still felt today as networks continue experimenting with innovative formats and pushing the boundaries of what is possible on network TV. The television landscape continues to evolve, but the legacy of these three groundbreaking shows will undoubtedly endure for years.
Prison Break
Cast
Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President’s brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated in order to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body.
House
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
