Fox is introducing a new procedural -- The Past Life, which deals with incarnated victims and their unsolved murders. There is also The Forgotten on ABC. Both are a bit like Cold Case, in so far as they deal with murders from the relatively distant past. Even with its new show Fox cannot compete with CBS, which has the most procedurals on its current primetime lineup, I believe. Why are procedurals so popular these days? Do they appeal to both men and women? (Of a certain age?) What do men think of the interpersonal drama element of procedurals?
Procedurals may seem straightforward -- the main characters are trying to find out who committed the crime, and the bring the viewers along with them on their hunt, but they are also a subtle means of preaching PC orthodoxy. (For example, Law and Order, even if the main characters sometimes disagree about abortion. I don't know which is worse in this regard, American procedurals or the ones produced by the BBC.) None of the procedurals are lacking in career women as characters. Casual sex is generally taken as a fact of life. Is there anything more to the appeal of a procedural than the mystery that needs to be solved? A strong ensemble cast, such as the one for NCIS, is also part of a show's attraction. Without other elements to please the viewer, the procedural would most likely have a limited replay value.
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