This document provides information about three different TV dramas: EastEnders, My Wife and Kids, and Top Gear. It summarizes the stereotypes portrayed, target audiences, successes and failures, production details, popularity, and settings for each show. EastEnders is a drama about everyday life in London that appeals to a wide audience. My Wife and Kids focuses on family life and was most popular in its first three seasons. Top Gear targets young men interested in cars and has found international success with its entertaining presenters.

1. Abdul Farid Freddy Media Studies Aug2010
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TV drama: EastEnders
Stereotypes: This drama is set on the topic of everyday life so does not include specific
stereotypes but genres which effect all people such as homosexuality, rape, unemployment,
racial prejudice
Target Audience: This TV drama does not have a specific target audience this statement is
backed by all the different varieties of topics which are exposed in the series which all
different age groups can relate to.
Successes: ‘EastEnders won best soap in 2002 and best storyline for the gripping scenes of
Zoe Slater discovering Kat is not her sister but is in fact her mother.’ ‘EastEnders has
celebrated its 25th anniversary in style by sweeping the board at the annual British Soap
Awards.’
Failures:
Production: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_EastEnders_crew_members, this link holds
all the crew members in the Eastenders production team
Popularity: ‘repeat showing on BBC three attracts an average of 500,000 viewers, whilst the
Sunday omnibus generally attracts 3 million. Eastenders is one of the more popular drama
on British television and regularly attracts between 7 and 12 million viewers’
Setting: ‘EastEnders is filmed at the BBC Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire’
Context: the Drama is set with the present time, this is evidential when the programme is
viewed as this is an everyday life drama which includes up to date topics surround our
world.

2. Abdul Farid Freddy Media Studies Aug2010
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TV drama: My wife and kids
Stereotypes: this drama specifically focuses on family life
Target Audience: having a
specific stereotype is seems the
programme has a certain target
audience of people with
families but having the aspect of
everyday life this would be
aimed at people between the
ages 12-50, reason for this
decision is that 12 is the age the
comedy of the programme
would be understandable and past 50 would be considered a time when these family
problems are not so evidential as this phase of life has passed.
Successes: The success factor of this TV drama was that people could relate their lives with
this family as they showed the different problems a family could face and how to deal with
them in an efficient and effective way. Another success factor was that episodes are still
broadcasted on Virgin 1 in 2010 after 5 years of stopping the series.
Failures: After the first three season of increased viewers, the 4 season the viewers seemed
to decrease and the ranking of the programme went down to 60 from 42 so the programme
was stopped after only five years broadcasting.
Production: Executive producers: Don Reo, Damon Wayans, David Himelfarb (seasons 1–4),
Andy Cadiff (season 3), Dean Lorey (seasons 4–5)
Camera setup: Film; Multi-camera
Popularity: Season ratings
Season TV Season Ratings Rank
Viewers
(in millions)
1 2001 #43[2] 8.0[2]
2 2001–2002 #41[3] 11.0[3]
3 2002–2003 #42[4] 11.27[4]
4 2003–2004 #60[5] 9.95[5]
5 2004–2005 #79[6] 7.2
Setting: the suburbs of Stamford, Connecticut, The most likely reason for the setting is
because it is an American sitcom aimed at the American society as this program was first
broadcasted on channel ABC.
Context: This is another programme based in the present everyday life of the seasons it was
broadcasted.

3. Abdul Farid Freddy Media Studies Aug2010
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TV drama: Top Gear
Stereotypes: ‘Petrol heads’ the term used
to describe people who are obsessed by
cars
Target Audience: the young male
generation, those who are fuelled by
petrol
Successes: This is an interesting show, with three presenters with different personalities
which collide and combined to make a brilliantly unique show, also the use of dramatic
music and the tone of voice engage viewers to the screen. Also regardless whether a person
is a ‘petrol head’ or not, people know that when they are looking to purchase a car, Top
Gear is a brilliant show which reviews all cars giving them a rating which helps viewers make
an informed decision.
Failures: It is clear to see that they show bias views on ford cars, always praising them
against other every day cars, which is quiet obvious in the show yet the presenters seem to
continue this ignorant behaviour.
Production: executive producer Andy
Wilman,
Popularity: Estimated around 8 million
viewers every episode: sourced from
the guardian. Top Gear is screened in
more than 100 countries worldwide. 42
percent of viewers are now women!
Stated by the guardian.
Setting: In a BBC studio in London is the
main scene and all the other footage is
taken all over the world, where the
three presenters travel.
Context: this is a programme up to date
with the latest cars, so its episodes are
to do with the present time.