TV series and episodes -- keyword duplication policy?

Question

This question arises out of the discussion at https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/160-nonsense-keywords-for-a-20-min-episode-of-a-cartoon/68d7b95fc71c803217a6e393 .Some contributors have raised concerns about TV series where a keyword applies to the series as a whole and has been added at series level, and also applies to the individual episodes and has been added to the episodes as well.But looking at the keywords guide at https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/titles/keywords/GXQ22G5Y72TH8MJ5# , I don't think IMDb has a policy about this.Suppose that we were talking about the TV series 'Cheers' (1982) at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/ . The series has the keyword 'bar' because it is primarily set in a bar. Most of the episodes are also primarily set in the bar, too. So does IMDb *want* the keyword 'bar' to be added to the episodes, too? Or does IMDb *not want* the keyword 'bar' to be added to the episodes, because it already exists at series level?*Whichever* the policy is supposed to be, it should be *clearly stated* in the keywords guide. And there should be one policy or the other -- I don't personally care which, but I know that other contributors do care. If IMDb takes no position on this, that is just going to leave contributors frustrated since some contributors will add keywords appearing at series level to the episodes and other contributors will delete the keywords appearing at series level from the episodes, resulting in a lot of wasted time and effort.

jay_spirit · Answer

I agree that the policy for TV series keywords should be clear.My own preference would be to limit TV series keywords to those that ONLY apply at series level. An example would be 'spin-off' for THE JEFFERSONS. Series level would also be the place for a keyword that cites something that is peculiar to the title sequence. An example would 'crashing-through-a-door' for THE MUNSTERS.Now, I know what most of you are thinking. That would mean when you look up the keyword 'bar,' you would have to wade through hundreds of episodes of CHEERS when you could just limit the keyword to series-level and show CHEERS only once.That's a display issue.You don't have to wade through hundreds of episodes of CHEERS when looking at Ted Danson's acting credits. That's how it should be with keywords.The display issue must be fixed regardless. The keyword 'vampire' does not apply to every episode of DARK SHADOWS. It applies to 1,015 of them, but not the other 210. I don't want to wade through 1,015 episodes of DARK SHADOWS when looking through the titles under the keyword 'vampire.'

Peter_pbn · Answer

I feel that there are middle cases, which is why I wouldn't support a complete ban on the same keyword being listed on series and episodes. Something can be relevant to a series in general, but also be a main focus in some episodes.For example, 'dragon' is currently listed on Game of Thrones and on 26 of its episodes.

Maya · Answer

Hi gromit82-Thank you for bringing this to our attention! We have forwarded this to the respective team for visibility and further reviewing. Cheers!

bradley_kent · Answer

The guideline is clear (and simple): Episode-specific keywords submitted to the TV series page: Keywords submitted to the TV series page should be relevant to and describe the entire series. Keywords that are specific to a particular episode should be added to that episode only. I don’t understand why this is still an issue. In the “Cheers” example, "bar” is an appropriate keyword at the series level, but SHOULD NOT be listed for every episode. Perhaps, instead of “entire,” it should say "the majority of episodes."

(edited)

gromit82

TV series and episodes -- keyword duplication policy?

jay_spirit

Peter_pbn

Maya

Maya

bradley_kent

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