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Television Plot Lines

Are you thinking of writing scripts for a new TV show. You have the characters and setting but can't think of plot lines. Do you write scipts for a TV show but are running out of ideas. Below are some plot lines. As you can see they can be used for any genre or setting.

     NOTE: Indicates the last episode of the series.

. Ten Little Indians.
This is an episode set in an isolated area and the characters keep getting killed off or disappearing.

. The 6 mile high episode. This is where the episode take place mostly on an airliner.

. The Train Episode

. The Manhunt

. STRIKE!
Another out of vogue, but popular in 1960s television, involved union troubles.

. Fight the Nazis!
Regardless of the setting many TV shows manage to have an episode where the cast fights against the Nazis:

. mYou're in the Army Now.
An episode where at least one of the main characters is in the military, or pretends they are in the military.

. Paintball Episode
There is the episode where there is mock combat. Paintball is currently the most popular form but there are other variations of it.

. Gothic Episode.
!Many shows manage to have an episode with a vampire, werewolf, or other gothic character.

. The Pirate Episode
This is the episode that involves pirates, ala Pirates of the Caribbean.

. Prophesy Episode
This is the episode that involve predictions that come true.

. Paranormal Episode
There is an episode that deals with other paranormal activities.

. Cross Dressing Episode
Picture one of the characters dressing up as a member of the opposite sex then write an episode around it.

. There is the Vacation Episode:

. The Defiant Ones.
There is the episode where two characters that don't like each other are trapped together.

. A Variation is the Stuck in a cave episode.
This is where a main character is stuck in together without the Defiant Ones nexus.

. Another Variation is where one or more characters are stuck in the middle of nowhere.

. mm The Body Double.
This is the episode where there is someone who looks just like a main character impersonates that character, or the other way around.

. A variation on this is a relative or ancestor who is a dead ringer for a main character.

. Personality Swap Episode
This is where a main character or characters has a personality swap with another person.

. The visiting foreign dignitary episode.

. The visiting domestic VIP episode.

. k There is always the episode involving space aliens. The aliens can be real or fake.

. P There is the camping trip episode.

. There is the Casino episode

. Pick another TV series and make an episode out of it.

. TThe Christmas Special. A familiar plot line is a takeoff on a Christmas Classic.

. TThere are also episodes that use Christmas Themes but aren't complete rip-offs.

. There is the Holiday Besides Christmas episode.
The Simpsons started out as a Christmas Special but is now famous for its annual Halloween Special.

. The Phoney Holiday Episode
You aren't done with holidays yet. There is always the episode about a holiday that doesn't exist.

. There is the Birthday Episode.

. There is the Tradition episode.
This is an episode that involves some kind of a tradition within the cast's universe.

. 6The Out of Time Episode
There is the episode we the characters are in a different time than the normal setting.

. ESometimes it's an out of time setting, but not necessarily. The Wild West episode is very popular.

. BThe Homecoming Episode
This is the episode where a main character returns to their childhood home.

. The When We First Met Episode
This is when the some of the main characters flash back to when they first met, or when they got married, or some other turning point before the series' started.

. @The Clip Show
You should have enough now to make a show that involves using clips from previous episodes.

. The it was all a dream episode
This is an expisode where strange things happen and ends when a character wakes. Probably the most famous/infamous of this is Dallas that made an entire season a dream.

.The Afterlife
There is always the episode that shows a view of the afterlife.

. The Robot episode

. Here Come The Judge
This is the episode where the cast hold a mock court.

. There is the trial episode
This is the episode where a cast member is on trial

. There is the courtrooom episode
This is the episode where the cast members are in court but aren't accused of anything.

. There is the lawsuit episode
This is the episode where a cast member is suing or bring sued.

. pMurder most foul
There is the episode where a major character is accused of murder or attempted murder.

. The Godfather episode
This episode plot predates The Godfather.

. The Gladiator episode
There is the episode that revolves around a gladitorial type combat. It need not be to the death or in a Roman venue.

. The Boxing Ring episode.
It could be a wrestling ring or any other type of martial arts contest.

. The Movie Rip-off episode
With so many movies this is fertile ground.
For a while the Get Smart series had one in almost every episode.

. The Amnesia Episode
This is the episode where a main character forgets who they are. It's usually cured by a blow to the head. Please don't try this at home.

. The Gun Grief Episode
This is the episode where someone who doesn't have a gun gets one. Their acquisition proves to be a mistake.

. Visiting Relative Episode
The is the episode where a relative, who is not a regular, comes by for a visit. It's usually unexpected.

. The kidnaping episode
This is where a character gets kidnapped.

. Death in the Family Episode
It doesn't have to be a real relative.

. The sort of death of a main character.
This is where a main character dies but gets better.

. The face death episode.
This is where a main character faces the belief they will soon die.

. The old age episode
There is the episode when the main characters are made up to look elderly.

. Advanced Aging:
This is where main characters don't get old but others do.

. The sickness episode

. FThe spinoff episode
By now you should be thinking of a spin off. This is an opportunity for another episode. Introduce a new character, or showcase a support character. The idea is to see if the character highlighted is popular enough to have a show of their own. The best and, arguably, worst example of this is Highlander: The Series. In its final season there were plans for a spin off. The question was who would star in the spin off. They showcased four characters in four episodes to see which one would be the spin off character. None were chosen. The spin off series, Highlander: The Raven, lasted a year.

. The Welcome back episode.
This is where a regular who was on the show but left is brought back. This doesn't include the Good-Bye episode where characters are brought back for the series ending show.

. The Election
There is the episode where a main character either runs for office or becomes politically active during an election campaign.

. The Wedding
One of the most versitile episodes is the wedding episode. This is where someone is supposed to get married. There are numerous options as to what actually happens.

. The 1960s throwback episode.
There seems to be a love affair with the 1960s. Shows started doing this throwback since before it was a throwback. During the 1960s television series often had an episode involving hippies.

. The Surfs Up episode.
This is an episode that revolves around surfers.

. The gone evil episode.
This is the episode where one of the main characters becomes evil.

. ``The in jail episode.
This is the episode where one or more of the main characters ends up in jail.

. The He Said, She Said episode.
This is an episode done with flashback showing the same incident from different characters' point of view. It isn't necessarily the point of view of a man and a woman.

. The Fall From Grace episode.
This is where a main character's life takes a bad turn. Usually it's lost job.

. The You're Not the First episode.
This is the episode where a main character believes, or the audience has reason to believe, is the first, isn't.

. Loses job.
There is the episode where a main character looses his or her job. Rest assured the'll get it back at the end of the episode, or the next one if it's a two parter.

. The awards episode.
This the episode where a character gets an award.

. The Spy episode.
This is the episodes that involves a 007 type plot.

. Cause of the Week episode. Some shows make a series out of this.
Whatever is the latest political cause, environment, free wherever, etc. makes for an episode.

. The Drugs Episode
There is the episode that deals with drugs.

. The circus episode.
This is the episode that involves a circus.

. The God Squad episode.
This is the episode where a person or group of persons act weird in the name of Christ.

. The Magician episode.
This is the episode that involved a magician.

. The Unknown Relative episode
This is the episode where a major cast member finds about a relative they didn't know existed.

. The Change of venue episode
This is good if the series is on the way out. Changing the venue can buy another season.

. New Players Episode
This is where new players are introduced. These new players add another dimension to what the main characters are doing.

. The having a baby episode
This is where someone has a baby.

. The Olympics. Either the Olympics or some ficticious sports event that is of similar magnitude.

. The messed up vet episode
This is an episode where a veteran, usually from the Vietnam Conflict had their life ruined because of their time in combat.

. The video game episode
This is an episode where a video game fits into the plot.

. The Beauty Contest Episode
This episode revolves around a beauty pageant.

. The Plane Crash Episode
Airplane crashes are rare occurances in real life, but they happen very often on television series.

. The Sword Fight Episode
While television series set in earlier times such as Zorro are expected to have sword fights. Such fights break out in just about every genre and setting.

. The costume episode
This is where a main character or characters appear in costume. It's usually a halloween episode, but not necessarily.

. The animated episode
This is where live action characters appear as animated characters. It can also be done from animated to live action. A halloween episode of The Simpsons had Homer land in the 3-D, live action world.

. Survivalist episode
This is where one of the main characters becomes, or meets, a survivalist.

. The temporary alliance episode
This is where enemies have to work together to oppose a more powerful opposing force.

. Finds Religion
This is the episode where a cast member become religious.

. Religious Cult

. The Prophet
This is the episode that involves a false prophet.

. Famous Person Episode
This is the episode where a famous person, usually from the past, makes an appearance.

. Old Flame Episode

. Your Cheating Heart Episode
This is the episode where a cast member, or members, get an opportunity to cheat on their partner.

. It's your baby Episode
This is where a main character is accused of having fathered a child they don't know about.

. A Variation is where someone claims to be a cast member's father.

. Back to School Episode
This is where a character has to go back to school or training.

. The Returning Cast Member Episode
This is where a former cast member makes an appearance. Former cast members can still make an appearance even if their character was killed off.

. On the Beat Episode
This is the episode where a cast member gets to wear the uniform of someone in law enforcement.

. Spoiled Brat Episode
It's an out of vogue episode but it is where the cast has to deal with someone who is use to having people follow their every order.

. Royalty Episode
This is the episode that revolves around character who is part of a Royal family.

. Love and Death Episode
This is the episode where a main cast member finds someone to love. The person they find doesn't live long.

. Mind Control Episode
This is the episode where where someone uses mind control to make people do their will.

. The Diet Episode
This is the episode where a cast member goes on a crash diet.

. The Nun Episode
This episode involves a Catholic Nun. The nun needs to wear traditional nun's clothing.

. You're The Leader Episode
This is where the cast meets a group of people who wants to make one of the cast members their leader.

. The Birth Episode.
This episode involves a woman who is going into labor.

. The Time Capsule Episode
This episode involves the contents of a time capsule, either one being buried or one being dug up.

. The tax episode
This involves trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

. The Mad Scientist Episode

. The Reporter Episode

. The Biker Gang Episode

. The Geek Convention

. The Aquaintance from the Army Days:
It could be other brances of the armed forces.

. The Child Leader

. The Good-Bye Episode
This is the series ending episode. If your show runs long enough to have all the above plot lines you will almost certainly be allowed the series ending episode.

Now if you recycle the above ideas that will give you well over 200 episodes worth of plots. You don't think you can get away with it? These shows did:

10 Little Indians Episode

Vacation Episode

The Death in the Family Episode

The Body Double Episode

The Gothic Episode

The Robot Episode

The Clip Show

The Kidnap Episode

The Aliens Episode

The Gladiator Episode

The Hippie Episode

The Out of Time Episode

The Pirate Episode

The Election Episode

The Trial Episode

The Cross Dressing Episode

The Welcome Back Episode

You're in the Army

The Christmas Episode

The Wedding

The Afterlife

The Homecoming

The Beauty Contest

Cause of the Week

Visiting Relative

Fight the Nazis

Casino Episode

Holiday Besides Christmas

The Mind Control Episode

The Prophesy Episode

The Wild West Episode

It's Your Baby Episode

Old Age Episode