Television show seasons are shorter than they’ve been in the past, and there’s a good reason why. For decades, it was typical for all types of shows — from sitcoms to dramas — to have 20+ episodes in a season. However, in recent years, the episode counts for television series have dwindled. For example, back in 1972 the sitcom M*A*S*H had 24 episodes in its first season. By comparison, the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood only had 10 episodes in 2023. The television industry has shifted over the years, and this has affected the length of TV seasons, with typical 22-episode seasons being rare these days. The biggest reason for shorter seasons is the availability of streaming services. Since streaming services don’t have to take breaks during summer and winter like broadcast networks do, they can drop entire seasons of a show all at once, instead of spreading out a season’s episodes over several months. Binge-watching also has a lot to do with shorter seasons. While it’s not impossible to binge-watch a 22-episode season, shorter seasons — in the 10-13 episode range — make for a quicker and easier binge. Another benefit of shorter seasons on streaming is the fact that they don’t have to worry about qualifying for syndication, which requires 100 episodes to enter. The bottom line is that shorter TV seasons are far less risky. If a TV show flops with 15 episodes still to run, the network is forced to either cancel it midway or continue airing a dud, which translates into a monetary loss for the networks. Shorter TV seasons can often lead to better television because the narrative becomes more streamlined and shows can tell a better story without needing filler to keep 24 episodes going.
