We may want to consider buckets for specific types of shows only--ones they work as a locus for discussion. I think bucket threads work quite well for non plot-arc-y shows--I am thinking of Reality or Non-fiction in particular. In the case of reality competition shows, like Top Chef, people tend to watch them as they happen as it is hard not to be spoiled if you wait, and half of the fun is in sussing out what happens next. Non-fiction shows can't really be be spoiled, per se. I mean, CAN one be spoiled for Dirty Jobs or Alton Brown? I think there was more, and smarter, discussion of both those types of shows in their respective buckets.

Fiction shows which are all about arc are an entirely different thing to my mind.

Robin is me. And actually, I think that most of the Law & Order and police shows are fine in a bucket; I just wouldn't want every single dramatic show in one huge bucket. Non-fiction works great, as far as I can tell. I don't post there often, but I lurk and enjoy the conversation since, as Robin said, really not worried about being spoiled for them. I imagine that there are other buckets that would work, too. But I believe that genre shows like the Stargates, BSG, Pushing Daisies, Eureka, etc. need either their own threads or smaller buckets of no more than 3-4 shows. Like ND, I'm not anti-bucket; I'm just anti-HUGE bucket.

Like ND, I'm not anti-bucket; I'm just anti-HUGE bucket.

The problem, if we define bucket by genre-type (cop shows, sci-fi shows, comedy shows) is that the size of the bucket will fluctuate depending on what's on the air.

Bucket's a funny word.

ita, I didn't want to bring up The Office yet again. But that's the example I keep coming back to. I saw virtually no discussion of the show until the experimental comedy thread was set up. At least for me, it was like the Buffy experience all over again -- watching the show in the evening, then coming in to discuss (even deconstruct) the next morning.

I'm above. I loved loved loved the comedy thread, mostly for The Office chatter, but also for Earl. And, upon reflection, I would have put Betty in it.

But I'm too scared to propose having it back. Despite the fact we had it, and it worked.

Perhaps if we divided into Cable, Premium, and Regular buckets?

Also, it seems to be that Drama is the only real issue here. We could still have a comedy bucket, and then divide drama into multiple buckets.

and now I'm earwormed There's a hole the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza . . .

I think comedy is fine in a bucket, too, but others may disagree. Does anyone worry about being spoiled for comedic shows? Sincere question, btw, no sarcasm. I'd really like to know.

ETA:

and now I'm earwormed There's a hole the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza...

How would we want Drama split -- all sf-f in Boxed set, all crime related fiction in another, then one for stuff we like that doesn't fit: FNL, GA, er?

Well Boxed Set is the problem, for me at least. It's a huge bucket full of the shows I most want to watch but can't keep up with (all of them, anyway) in time to participate in the conversation and yet not be spoiled for others.

The thread with only a few shows sounds like a nice solution to some problems, but it seems really hypothetical beyond boxed set-- what are these groupings that demand threads?

While I'm posting and we're doing some freeform nonaggressive position-staking I'll put myself down as a buffista conservative-- I like things the way they are and think change will not make things better.

Does anyone worry about being spoiled for comedic shows?

Well, there are some gags that aren't as funny if you go in expecting it, but some comedies, like The Office, do have important drama to them that people are invested in (not just Jim and Pam). But, as a spoilerphobe, I just don't go in until I've seen it (and, Kevin, I love MNIE too, but there seemed to be very little talk of it in the thread, so, continuing this point, if I were so inclined after having watched TO but not MNIE, I might be adventurous to venture in Thursday night and assume that the MNIE posts would be easy to avoid in the flurry of Office squee anyway.)

Does anyone worry about being spoiled for comedic shows? Sincere question, btw, no sarcasm. I'd really like to know.

I wouldn't want to be spoiled for The Office. Other than My Name is Earl, I think that's about the only comedy I watch right now.