I don't know if that's the best way to do it. I think the best option is to put up a "just right" sized bucket thread, black font and see if it works.

I really agree with this.

I'm afraid a more general thread used as battle royale to determine posting rates is going to provide more noise than information plus actually deter conversation.

And super-strongly agree with this.

Over here I posted some rough categories I saw with television that's currently on.

Procedurals Thread - House, The Unit, Without a Trace, CSI(s), Numb3rs, jericho (?), Bones, The Closer, Cold Case, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law and Order(s)

Dramedies - Ugly Betty, The Office, Studio 60, Monk, Psych, Grey's, Gilmore Girls, The Boondocks, others(?)

Serious Drama - 24, Friday Night Lights, Prison Break, Brothers & Sisters, Jericho(?), others(?)

UK TV - Spooks, Hustle, Robin Hood, maybe Doctor Who as it airs in the UK, and keep Doctor Who as it airs in the US in Boxed Set?

Some of these are similar to what aurelia's suggested. So maybe we can find the common points and work from there?

Isn't there a damn British miniseries coming up that could sustain single thread status? When's the next Dr. Who?

Doctor Who's on now, but that's why I think a UK tv thread would be nice. If only for the blackfont! Since Hustle's coming back this/next week, and Spooks is on this fall, I think it would be handy.

I wouldn't mind a Sitcom thread if we could talk about The Office, 30 Rock, HIMYM, Earl, Scrubs... Something like that could be fun.

I'm a little wary of a sitcom thread, even though I watch three of the shows you just mentioned! I don't know why. Probably my stance isn't firm on that. And I have no opinion on cartoon threads 'cause I don't watch 'em.

What about SG1 or SGA? Those could get a thread.

I think it'd be a shame to lose the Stargates from boxed set, myself. I'm actually not that keen to have a Supernatural thread either.

Isn't there a damn British miniseries coming up that could sustain single thread status?

I think these shows have too short of a run (10-12 episodes) to support having a single thread created for an individual show. Plus, if the European posters get these shows months in advance, would they have to white font until it was shown in the US? Canada's showings are probably out of whack with either the European and US airings. Rather than NAFDA, this (these) threads would have to be USDA approved.

FWIW, I'd call the Stargates and Supernatural core to Boxed Set at this point.

Already, in my heart, I've accepted that SPN isn't coming back, but I'd happily accept news to the contrary.

(Except if it jumps Sam and Dean 5 years into the future and they're working for the FBI....)

What?

Why have you accepted that Theodosia?? I think that you're wrong.

Why have you accepted that Theodosia??

Maybe she's just bracing for the pain, just in case.... I'm hoping that it's wrong too.

And, for on-topicness, I'd have to agree that the Stargates and SPN go in Boxed Set. Though it sucks for those that try to wade through Boxed. Perhaps one of the test threads can be for shows that are currently whitefonted in Boxed? (Which seem to be all British right now... Doctor Who, Torchwood (is this series over with?), Life on Mars...)

Also, since we're doing test threads, how would folks feel about network-specific threads?

Has the second series of Torchwood already aired???

Torchwood finished its season last fall, and won't be airing again until 2008, according to Wikipedia. Life on Mars had its series finale last night.

I think our thoughts last time 'round about network threads ran along the lines that network classification didn't really bind like shows together in a way that was palatable for discussion.

I like the idea of bucket threads in general, as a certain amount of compare and contrast amongst several shows can be embiggening. Now that I have gotten over my propensity to want to talk House in Boxed Set, I'd be wanting to talk House with Monk, but I'm wacky on the categories category.

The UK shows all air on different networks here anyway - BBCA has Torchwood and Dr Who (a season behind SciFi), Hustle is on AMC, Extras & Rome are (were!) on HBO, etc.

[eta: And, of course, all the NHU/Horizon stuff on the various Discovery channels, just in case anyone wanted an in-depth sustained discussion of Planet Earth or Ancient Mysteries.]

Whitefont in Natter is fun, whitefont in show threads, not so much.

So my thinking is that we should try both a single show thread or two and a bucket thread or two during this test period. Seems to be the best way to get a feel for the viability of both types.

This makes sense.

The British shows might be best in a bucket since they are currently whitefont.

The current Boxed Set shows work well enough together because of the different season schedules. I think BSG could support a thread, but new shows are way far away.

(Except if it jumps Sam and Dean 5 years into the future and they're working for the FBI....)

That's just mean.