SA has made the following proposal and received the appropriate number of seconds. Voting discussion is now open for:
So: I propose the creation of two new bucket threads. A Comedy thread, to include the half-hour sitcoms, and possibly other programs (to be worked out in Lightbulbs; may or may not include TDS/TCR and Ugly Betty); and a Procedurals thread, to include shows that work in the Mystery of the Week format (including but not limited to the L&Os, CSIs, House, Without a Trace, etc).
Spoiler font will be decided on a thread-basis, with the same choices offered last time, ie, no white font, 24 hour white font, or 48/72 white font (subject to any other suggestions made in lightbulbs).
As has been mentioned in Bureaucracy, the Procedurals thread theoretically overlaps with the Basic Cable thread, most obviously with L&O:CI moving first-run eps to USA. How to handle that?
The two options, I guess, would be to make the proposal a Network Procedurals thread, or to pull shows from Cable drama. I'm not sure which way I'd be inclined. Maybe a separate sub Q on the ballot?
Personally speaking, I'd prefer to leave TDS and Colbert as Natter fodder.
I would prefer that a procedurals thread be only for network television. I like the shows that are in basic cable now.
Personally speaking, I'd prefer to leave TDS and Colbert as Natter fodder.
Me too.
I have no other opinions, since I watch very few of the shows in question and don't care where we talk about them.
Spoiler font preferences?
I have none - but I know that some have strong opinions.
Personally speaking, I'd prefer to leave TDS and Colbert as Natter fodder.
Me three. Since I don't watch
The Office
and it seemed to me to really take over the Experimental Comedy thread, I am unlikely to venture into a comedy thread, despite my love of HIMYM.
And what about something like
Flight of the Conchords
or is that in Premium Cable?
I doubt I'm surprising anyone by coming out in favor of a Comedy Thread. And I'm inclined to the idea that all comedy be fair game for a Comedy Thread -- sitcom, sketch, standup, and so on.
But I can see an argument that satirical looks at the news (including but not limited to TDS and Colbert) are at least as much news as comedy. And discussion of news doesn't belong in a Comedy Thread.
And what about something like Flight of the Conchords or is that in Premium Cable?
There's been some in there, and some in Natter as well.
I think since we've already made a place for the Cable television, the Procedurals thread would only apply to Network television. I know it's complicated with Criminal Intent moving to USA, and shows like Monk and Psych, which would follow the format; but since we've already made threads based on the division of what kind of channels the shows are being shown on I think we should respect that without confusing posters further. The slug can help clarify where we go to talk things, I think.
I'd be fine with having the Comedy thread be catch-all. I'd initally thought of it as just a place for the sitcoms, but I think if we made it a place to talk comedy in general, I don't think it would affect the thread quality or direction. However, as above, I would want to keep shows that already have a place where they were. So Conchords would need to be in Premium.
I'm ambivalent about TDS/TCR. I feel like, if discussion crops up in the Comedy thread, it shouldn't be pushed out of the thread. By the same token, if it comes up in Natter, it shouldn't be told to go discuss it in Comedy. This is one of those things that I think should come from natural discussion. I know some folks prefer bright shiny lines or whatever, but I think the Fake News could straddle both threads without harming either.
I was going to offer the same spoiler options as before--none, 24 hours, 72 hours. The vote can shake out the spoiler options that way, I think.
And as for The Office--if it becomes dominant in the Comedy thread, as I half-suspect it will, it can be spun off into its own thread. But I'm more concerned about getting the Comedy thread off the ground first.
