I thought this explanation was pretty good:
<< In television, "procedural" specifically refers to a genre of programs in which a problem is introduced, investigated and solved all within the same episode. These shows tend to be hour-long dramas, and are often (though not always) police or crime related.
The general formula for a police procedural involves the commission or discovery of a crime at the beginning of the episode, the ensuing investigation, and the arrest or conviction of a perpetrator at the end of the episode.
The best known examples of this genre are the Law & Order, CSI & NCIS franchises. House is an example of a non-crime-related procedural. >>
Supposedly procedurals are cliche, but I enjoy them! The characters have to be really good though, otherwise the show can get kind of boring. I stopped watching the CSIs for that reason...
Do you like procedural shows, like Law & Order or House?