Hooray for the horrodrama

Some shows, such as AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and FX’s new “American Horror Story,” have been legitimizing the genre of horror television. A staple of film, horror has tried to cross into the medium of television before, but it never achieved long-term success.

Typically, the closest genre to a true horror show is a suspenseful crime or supernatural thriller, but the true gore and terror of the horror genre isn’t usually a staple for the TV networks. So why are zombies and serial murders suddenly growing in popularity and success?

One of the integral factors in the genre’s positive reception is the networks airing these shows. As cable networks, AMC and FX grant their writers substantial freedom in dialogue, content and structure. The only time zombies or serial killers would appear on NBC, ABC or CBS would be if a sitcom parodied zombie films for a Halloween episode or “Grey’s Anatomy” decided to bring back the shooter from season six. The restraint the major networks place on their writers could never produce shows close to “The Walking Dead” or “American Horror Story,” but AMC and FX are making serious, legitimate attempts to establish horror as a respected TV genre.

This freedom allows the writers to fully embrace the gore and violence inherent to the genre. The blood-and-guts factor has long been a hallmark of horror, and while gratuitous violence is unnecessary, it should still be utilized. Therefore, when a network plans for a pilot about living in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, it had better plan for scenes of gruesome zombie killing. While some violence is necessary, the human element is just as important.

These shows are finding success in part because they center on believable, human characters. For example, though FX’s “American Horror Story” focuses on a family fighting off serial killers and their haunted house, it also depicts a husband struggling with fidelity, a teenage girl coping with depression and a mother mourning a stillborn baby. These realistic issues add an integral human element into the show. They help captivate and keep viewers interested just as much as the man in the all-black rubber suit does.

After legitimizing horror as a genre, these networks are now reaping the rewards. “The Walking Dead” debuted its second season to record-high numbers of 7.3 million viewers.

Now the question is, which major network will try to copy its success? The routine is nothing new to television. The cable networks test an idea and discover great success, and then the basic cable networks try to copy the idea, with less success due to the restrictions they impose.

Think of “Mad Men” and “The Playboy Club” or “Pan Am.”

Will we see toned-down post-apocalyptic zombie worlds added to TV lineups in the next few years? Let’s hope not. AMC and FX are doing a good enough job for the rest of the networks.