> "OFF Fan" <homer@simpson.dna> wrote
>
>>> Gunsmoke also did not have cast members getting $400,000 for just
>>> sitting on their asses. The Gunsmoke actors actually worked!
>
>> And many of their seasons had 36+ episodes, then around season 7, the
>> episodes were expanded to an hour long.
>
> And since we're talking non-comedies, don't forget 'The Bill', a British
> police drama / soap opera which has been running since 1984, beginning with
> one hour a week and quickly escalating to 3 half-hours a week, and now
> produces 2 one hour episodes a week, a tremendous schedule to keep up with
> given that much of it is shot on the streets of London with all the
> congestion problems and anti-terrorist precautions they must face.
>
> Several players have been with the programme from the very first episode.
> May be seen on either BBC America or UKTV Gold, apparently. A big ratings
> scorer here in Australia too.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bill
>
> Move along there now...
allemannster@g…
Wiseguy
