Recently, I've been going back through television shows that I watched and enjoyed. At the moment I've been plowing through Bones. Procedurals follow predictable trends and have a longevity that is uncommon to other types of shows.
I remember when I first started watching Bones and thinking that there was no way the show could last. The main character, Brennen, was just way too prickly to be likable and the other main character, Booth, was stuck in my head as the broody vampire, Angel. I expected a season, maybe two. It's still going, as far as I know. I think part of what keeps procedurals going is the side characters. Support cast, when they are good, can provide a bridge. So, even though the viewer can periodically lose interest in main characters, the support cast fills in the gaps temporarily.
Bones has always had an excellent support cast. The interns particularly are engaging. When the character Zack Addy left the show, I nearly quit watching. When Vincent Nigel-Murray died, I did quite watching for a little while.
Realizing that made me expand my thinking to NCIS. I immediately realized that I'm very tied into Abby and Dr. Mallard more so than Agent Gibbs. Now, I like Agent Gibbs just like I enjoy Booth and Brennan on Bones, but I only get character crushes on side characters.
So, it's just a theory, but I think successful procedurals rely more on having a engaging support cast.
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