Previously On: Approaches to the Contemporary Television Serial The increasing popularity and prevalence within television schedules of serials such as "ER", "Ally McBeal", "Cold Feet", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Sopranos" poses a number of fascinating questions. To what extent do these serials constitute a definable television genre? When and why did they emerge? What is their place within an increasingly complex television landscape? What can they tell us about relations between Britain and the United States and constructions of 'transnational' television? Many of these serials achieve both popular success and critical praise. Clearly they can tell us much about contemporary modes of reception and articulations of 'quality' television. This book will set out to find answers to these questions and others via analysis of a number of these serials. We invite contributions on recent drama serials screened on British terrestrial television and we encourage diversity both in terms of texts studied and methodology. As such the book will give a very timely account of these highly prominent programmes and their position within a changing television industry while simultaneously providing examples of the various approaches and methodologies of an increasingly hybrid television studies discipline. In the first instance please send proposals of 300-500 words by September 30 2000 to: Dr. Lucy Mazdon School of Modern Languages University of Southampton Highfield, Southampton S017 1BJ 00 44 023 80 595435 [log in to unmask] Michael Hammond Department of English University of Southampton Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ 00 44 023 80 596708 [log in to unmask] ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html