Volume Editor: George Tsakiridis, PhD

Abstract and CV Due: September 30, 2025

Initial Final Paper Due: June 30, 2026

Around the late 1990s/early 2000s a revolution in television began to take place, with HBO making waves with shows like The Sopranos and Deadwood, The Wire, and Entourage, to mention a few. This wave turned into a tsunami of great television that spilled over onto many cable channels and streaming platforms, as well as some network stations. This phenomenon is known as Peak TV.

Peak TV was a new golden age of television where great dramatic work was being created for a paying audience. It ultimately expanded with the advent of streaming services, particularly Netflix, at least to start. Shows that had great quality, but poor ratings, such as Breaking Bad and Mad Men suddenly found a wider audience than AMC. Great television could stand on its own as a basically on-demand property.Some might argue that we are still in the Peak TV era, though I believe it has and is waning, partly due to saturation. For purposes of this volume, Peak TV will be defined as the era of television between 2000 and 2020, focusing predominately on TV shows that were found on cable networks and streaming services. They typically have either a large viewer following or critical acclaim (though a few shows might not cleanly fit into this definition).

One of the great benefits of television during this era is that because of the nature of the broadcast (cable/streaming), these shows were able to delve into the deeper questions of human nature (and beyond). One might argue this spilled over into network television, in an attempt to keep up with the quality being produced elsewhere. This gives us the opportunity to really explore religious questions in a deeper way within the realm of television. Therefore, this volume explores the depth of religious imagery, themes, and beliefs within the era of Peak TV. In that vein, it is intentionally broad. Chapter proposals are expected to range from anchor shows like Mad Men to more niche viewing such as Altered Carbon. This is your chance to do a deep religious dive on this era of television. Though most proposals are expected to focus on a singular show or an arc within a show, the volume also welcomes broader themes as to how religion or theology is used within the era of Peak TV, so cultural and thematic pieces are welcome.

Here are some shows to get you started, though anything using the definition given above is eligible (and more if you can make a strong case):

-Deadwood                             -The Wire

-Mad Men                               -Luther

-Battlestar Galactica        -The Good Doctor

-Breaking Bad                      -Better Call Saul

-The Americans                   -The Leftovers

-House of Cards                  -Suits

-Justified                                 -Gotham

-The Blacklist                         -LOST

-Sons of Anarchy                 -Ozark

-Billions                                  -Succession

And although it is not definitive, you might check out the Wikipedia page on Peak TV to get an idea of other shows that might be a great fit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shows_considered_as_Peak_TV

Feel free to get creative. This volume looks to highlight creative, diverse, and well-researched chapters. Though I have some ideas where this volume might go, I am looking for proposals that will surprise me in a positive way. Don’t feel limited by the above list – it’s just a start. Peak TV truly was a golden age of great shows.

Abstracts should be approximately 300-500 words and should present a basic outline of your potential contribution to the volume and potential methodology. If you make the initial cut, you will be contacted by Dr. Tsakiridis to discuss and finalize your contribution to the volume. Send an abstract and a CV to religionandpeaktv@gmail.com. Final drafts will be approximately 6,000 to 7,000 words (including bibliography and endnotes), but exact word counts for each article will be discussed at the time of acceptance. You are welcome to contact Dr. Tsakiridis in advance of the proposal deadline to float a potential topic if you are unsure. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

The tentative schedule for production (pending contract approval) is:

September 30, 2025 – Call for Papers Ends

June 30, 2026 – First Drafts Due

August 1, 2026 – Drafts Reviewed and Returned

September 1, 2026 – Final Drafts Due

October 30, 2026 – Final Edits Made Before Peer Review

December 1, 2026 – Drafts to Peer Review

Final Revisions and Publication, TBA, Dependent on Peer Review and Publisher’s Process

George Tsakiridis holds a PhD in theology from the Lutheran School of Theology and is a Senior Lecturer of Philosophy and Religion and the Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Fellow for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University. He is the editor of Theology and Spider-Man and Religion and James Bond (forthcoming), andco-editor of Theology and Breaking Bad. In addition, he is a contributor to www.popularcultureandtheology.com (check out his essays on Fleabag and Suits among others). He is also co-host of the podcast Cheers Weekly. He looks forward to your creative proposals!