What is the most important thing for a TV Show to have?

[djgeneral]

What is the biggest factor for a TV show to have? Are there any missing from this list? Here are some of the biggest factors people use to determine what shows to watch.

Star power - Maybe they don't like the concept, but their favorite actor/actress is part of it, so they are watching.

Acting abilities - Let's be honest, some shows can't afford lavish production values or star power, but some up-and-coming actors are some of the most "hungry" and actually try to produce a quality product.

Writing- Maybe you can't stand the people in the show, but the writing is so good you want to keep watching, and give the actors another chance.

Directing - A popular director, or a show with an established "direction" can really lure viewers in.

Production values - A lot of complaints from cheap CGI (Once Upon A Time anyone?) can turn someone off, but shows like Game Of Thrones draw some viewers in just for the production values.

Time slot - This might not sound important, but in this day and age, it really is. With so many shows on, some people choose what they watch based on the time slot it is in.

[Walts Ghost]

Usually for me it has to do with the story, who's behind the show, and the actors involved. Those things are the ones that will usually grab me and keep interested.

[Lehnhart]

The characters.

It's not like a movie. A movie is 2 hours long. A TV series can be seasons and seasons. So most likely I'll be spending hours and hours, years upon years with these characters. For me to love a show, I need to fall in love with the characters. Obviously everything listed in the OP helps. But the most important thing IMO is the characters themselves.

[Tony208]

for me the most important is the writing/story/characters etc.

it could have everything else but if the story isn't interesting I'm not going to watch

close second is the acting and production values

time slot a non factor

[Steelers629]

For me it's mostly the writing. Even if the acting is superb, it's hard to get by bad/sloppy writing like the later seasons of Dexter.

[The_Donster]

And end game. So many shows have a great start and slowly run out of steam.

[Anthony P]

I would add genre. If it fits in a category I like I am more willing to give it a try on the other hand if it is a category I don't like I won't even give it a try.

[spanky87]

Joss Whedon. I say that without ever seeing an episode of Shield, but that's not even a show he created.

Also shows should have a great show-runner that stays for the duration of the series.

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by Tony208

for me the most important is the writing/story/characters etc.

it could have everything else but if the story isn't interesting I'm not going to watch

close second is the acting and production values

time slot a non factor

Yep same for me. I don't really care who is acting, as long as the acting is good

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by Hucksta G

Yep same for me. I don't really care who is acting, as long as the acting is good

a lot of TV actors are unknowns or up and comers anyway so if you limit yourself to stars you're missing out on a lot of good shows

[Hucksta G]

Originally Posted by Tony208

a lot of TV actors are unknowns or up and comers anyway so if you limit yourself to stars you're missing out on a lot of good shows

exactly

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I would add genre. If it fits in a category I like I am more willing to give it a try on the other hand if it is a category I don't like I won't even give it a try.

That's a pretty good one. Genre should be on the list!

[Buscemi]

A game plan, brevity and someone who doesn't crack under the pressure of fans (and has the bravery to do whatever the hell he or she wants on a show).

[srinivas1015]

Characters and writing.

[toddly6666]

The most important thing for a show to have is use Breaking Bad as the prototype.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Entertainment. That is all.

[Frantic Canadian]

The writing. The acting ability of the cast does matter of course, as does the timeslot, but if you don't have good writing there's nothing that can save you from viewers dropping the show from their viewing schedule.

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

the most important thing for a show to have is use breaking bad as the prototype.

lol yes

[St.ylo]

Originally Posted by djgeneral

Time slot - This might not sound important, but in this day and age, it really is. With so many shows on, some people choose what they watch based on the time slot it is in.

I'd actually say in this day and age, timeslot is less important. I think I know more people who stream/download/buy than I do who watch "regular" TV.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by St.ylo

I'd actually say in this day and age, timeslot is less important. I think I know more people who stream/download/buy than I do who watch "regular" TV.

Timeslots have pretty much vanished out of existence--Shows are now aired as a contractual obligation to their sponsors, and even TV Guide hasn't bothered to tell us when they're on for the last twelve years.

Originally Posted by djgeneral

Production values - A lot of complaints from cheap CGI (Once Upon A Time anyone?) can turn someone off, but shows like Game Of Thrones draw some viewers in just for the production values.

Yeah, but that's not always a compliment.

ABC's ads for Once Upon A Time pretty much defined the current TV generation with their ads saying "It's like going to the big-budget special-effects movies EVERY WEEK! "
And yet, for all that, it's still empty, demographic-pandering and cliche'-ridden, and let's not even get into Agents of SHIELD's budget. The network sees most of its viewership being drained away by Netflix and Blu-ray, and thinks it has to be every big-studio movie of the last few years just to compete.

If production values are so important, try getting in the middle of a discussion between fans of the new Doctor Who, and diehard fans of the old penlight and papier-mache Classic BBC version about which was "better" and more involving.
A show that can't afford to do flashy things has to make up for it in the writing, and that's one thing a lot of shows in the current generation has forgotten. Back in the old days, TV knew it wasn't the movies, and had to set the rules for its own genre.