bottle episode

Noun

bottle episode (plural bottle episodes)

1. An episode of a television series designed to be inexpensive and restricted in its use of sets, effects, cast members, etc.
   • That's pretty much what a "bottle" episode is; one that uses minimal sets, guest stars, effects, etc, and/or uses lots of clips from past episodes, in order to make a much cheaper episode.1996 February 12, Janet A. Dornhoff, “What are they filming now?”, in alt.tv.forever-knight (Usenet), message-ID <4fno37$t28@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu>
   • One of Wright's great strengths as a screenwriter and producer is his ability to design bottle episodes—shows filmed with the goal of saving money—and turn them into riveting, compelling dramas where the viewer forgets that they are watching a bottle show.1998 September, Frank Garcia, “Producing SF: Brad Wright, on the lookout to do something never seen before”, in Cinefantastique, volume 30, numbers 5–6, Forest Park, IL: Frederick S. Clarke, →ISSN...

   Synonyms:

   bottle show