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.