Writers Credits Clarification

But that's not what happened in the example I mentioned. It should be changed in the IMDB entry. I could probably show you a screen capture to prove it.

Can you provide us with the link for the title or episode that you are referring to? so we can take a look.

I can't seem to find a link. It's season 2. episode 2 (Dead Aim) of "Colt .45". I just noticed that if I click on Writers, it does break things down to teleplay and story. I would have thought, however, that the main page of the episode would break it down. So, maybe my inquiry was a waste of time if that's how IMDB handles the credits.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0544318/reference/?ref_=ttep_ep_2 Is the episode. The reference view which I have set as my preferred view shows both names under the writers section but the specific roles are shown. The usual title view which I can get to at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0544318/?bypassRefViewPref=1&ref_=ttrv_ov_std shows both names as writers without showing the specific roles. The Full Cast and Crew page https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0544318/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm shows the specific roles.

The first link you gave me took me to the main page of the episode and it looks just as I previously described it--WRITERS: Wells Root and Sid Harris. The second link also took me to the main page of the episode--WRITERS: Wells Root and Sid Harris. Neither was separated into teleplay and story. The full cast and crew does allow one to differentiate the writer from the one who provided the story. And as I stated before, if I click on writers on that main page, I do get a description of both. My contention is why does one have to go to another step to see that there was a writer and one who provided the story? The one who provided the story is NOT the writer of the episode, but a glance at the main page would suggest that both men wrote the episode. Before I retired, I spent half of my life in Hollyweird, much of it as a member of the WGA. I was in the room when some staff member would say to a writer, "Hey why don't you write an episode about...." When the episode aired, the staff member was listed as providing the story BUT he was NOT the writer. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill and being too picky. I guess I was just wondering why the teleplay and story weren't separated on the main page instead of having to go the extra step. But if that's the IMDB's rules, then so be it.

Just to follow up, I was using my phone previously. Each time I did an internet search for something on IMDB, it would automatically open the mobile app. The background on the mobile app is black for all my searches. On the other hand, my desktop computer shows a background of white in IMDB, plus there seems to be more info on the main pages of episodes. However, if I do a search for Colt .45 on my desktop, then click episodes and find the episode I'm looking for (Dead Aim), it doesn't separate writer from story. I have to click on All Cast And Crew for that. So, there does seem to be a difference between IMDB on a computer and the mobile app. MY head is swimming. I'm sorry I brought all of this up. Just ignore me. I'm sorry I wasted everybody's time.

I am surprised that my first link took you to the normal title page rather than the reference view page. Unfortunately, we can no longer create proper hyperlinks here so we have to rely on people selecting the link using whatever their device provides. Including the /reference/ part makes a difference for me at least (including in an incognito/private window not logged in). I do not think it is a waste of time discussing what information appears on which pages. There is too much information for any individual movie or TV episode to have it all visible at once. One of the interesting issues is what information should be "above the fold" to satisfy the majority of users and how should it be presented.