A tribute to David Lavery: Television canon, television creativity

This article pays tribute to the career of Professor David Lavery and his landmark contribution to television studies. It reflects upon how his edited collections on TV series such as Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Sopranos demonstrated the value of research and, in particular, close textual analysis of individual television series. It considers the impact that the many conferences he co-organised and journals he co-founded had in the creation of collaborative research networks and a sphere of influence known as the 'Lavery Effect'. It reflects upon his contribution to legitimising blogging and popular media as acceptable platforms for academic research, thus taking scholarship beyond academic audiences and readers. Finally, the essay offers a review of his personal production, addressing his individual contribution to television studies, particularly addressing how his work led the way in considerations of creativity and television authorship and the development of a TV canon.