Prime Time Television, what format is your favorite show shot in?

[Alex]

You start.

[Alex]

Wow, of all the shows I can't believe you picked that one!

I almost did a topic post on that show. I just saw Monk for the first time this week (are they running it more than once a week?). At first I thought it was HD, because the opening nighttime scene LOOKED HIDEOUS. It was fuzzy and out of focus.

It was a nighttime shoot in very low light. I couldn't believe how fuzzy the wide shots looked!

Suddenly, once that scene ended, everything looked great!
I think it's film. (I saw one white hair later on in the show).

It is more difficult to tell what something is shot in on smaller TV sets. Plus the cable reception in my area has slipped recently, so when you add in cable fuzz and grain, sometimes I can't tell what I am looking at.

[cameraguy]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alex:
(are they running it more than once a week?). </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Its regular time is Friday's at 10pm on the USA Network. I heard that ABC is showing it now also but to see the latest episode you have to watch USA.

[cameraguy]

Monk

Shot on film I think?? I haven't payed close attention to that aspect, but will tonight.

[Alex]

Ok, I did a little, very little research on HD. It turns out that the HD crowd just never mentions film!

They crow about how more and more shows are being posted (edited) on HD, and in the process imply that it is all HD cameras being used, when it is not!

Film has been slightly neutered by being shown at 24FPS, that very hypnotic 1 in 4 frame "doubling" is being eliminated as more and more film shows broadcast in 24P HD.

Apparently, CSI is shot in film??? But the motion artifact has been removed because it being broadcast at 24FPS.

Here is a list of HD shows that I found on one website.

Bernie Mac (half-hour comedy, Fox)
Greg the Bunny (half-hour comedy, Fox)
Reba (half-hour comedy, Fox)
Titus (half-hour comedy, Fox)
Pasadena (hour drama, Fox)
Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension (kids' half-hour, Fox Kids)
The Education of Max Bickford (hour drama, CBS)
Trial & Error (half-hour reality, NBC)
One on One (half-hour sitcom, UPN)
An American Family (hour drama, PBS)
100 Centre Street (hour drama, A&E)
Earth: Final Conflict (hour sci-fi, syndicated)
Flatland (hour sci-fi, Sci-Fi Channel)
Lexx (hour sci-fi, Sci-Fi Channel)
Witchblade (hour drama, TNT)
Doc (hour drama, PAX TV)
Mysterious Ways (hour drama, PAX TV

the bottom line is NOBODY mentions that film is benefiting from HD (except for the 24 versus 30 frames issue), The HD people are implying that all the HD broadcast shows are being shot in HD when they are not!

I can't stand cheaters, and this is cheating.

[Cranium]

OK... slightly different concept here, but does anyone know what shows like "Family Affair" where shot on?
God, I love the look of that show. The colors are nutty.

[Actor]

It does not matter what format it's shot on. If it's broadcast in the US it's 30fps.

[Mike Buckles]

I think most of the tv shows from the 60's were shot on 35mm film...I think the aim of shows in the 60's were to create a bright, colorful look, to lean audiences to color tv....lots of "Candy Kodachrome" looking shows...wish my kids were as well behaved as buffy and jody! ....One of my favorite recent shows is the Sopranos...shot on film, and presented on HBO in widescreen HD...looks like a million bucks! I've heard that Fox broadcasts it's HDTV shows using a lower definition bandwidth...saves them $$$ but doesnt look as good. Anyone see "The Beach" in HDTV? I'm pretty sure it was done on film, and the HD shows off the amazing tropical scenery as only film can.....Mike