As with film, genre is central to the industry and the visual form that is television. This book - written by many of the leading figures in television studies and including over twenty international contributors - provides an accessible and transparent introduction to the subject's central debates, issues, and concerns. The central analysis is supported with in-depth grey-box studies and relevant information of a varied range of key programs such as: The Jerry Springer Show , The Simpsons , Star Trek , Who Wants to Be a Millionaire , Twin Peaks , Walking with Dinosaurs , and The Singing Detective and channels such as CNN, Discovery, and MTV.Fully illustrated and following the format of the bfi's The Cinema Book , it comes with selected reading guides and full bibliographies that are intended to help students at all levels. An essential and authoritative guide to a major area within media and television studies, this ambitious book will both help explain and expand our knowledge of an important and fast-growing area of study.