I know discussion is closed on this, I just want to clarify something - does "announcements" still mean the same thing as the Annual Upfront Presentations even though we're not specifically using that term anymore? Or does that encompass more?

brenda - I'm not certain. I suggested the language, because Jim needed a definition of the upfronts. But, since what both are announcing is off-season changes (additions to and departures from) the cast of major, regular, title credit characters, does it matter?

I mean, if at the Upfronts, they said Seth Green was joining A:ts as a regular for the upcoming season, and a week later, they said Nick Brendon was joining A:ts as a regular for the upcoming season, would it matter? (That's a sincere question, not a scolding, btw.)

It seems to me, this boils down to whether or not we can approach a new season, acknowledging who makes up the man cast of a given series, right?

I will upload the ballot late this afternoon, board time. For simplicity, let's say voting will end Friday night at Midnight? That's just over the standard three day period.

I liked the "Upfront" language because it was specific. I was intending to add a sentence or two below the proposal explaining what the Upfronts were. But I can go either way.

cereal...

This seems to me, to be the phrasing that tells what is and isn't allowable per Jim's proposal:

This only includes cast additions or departures that occur over summer hiatus only (not midseason) . Any plot points related to the character's (not the actor's) arrival or departure are to be treated as spoilers. The Main Cast are those characters who appear in the opening credits."

In other words

• Main Cast only

• Only changes that occur during the summer hiatus

• No plot points are allowed

Oh also, although it's not in the bit I excerpted above - in the proposal there is the bit about it being thread-show specific. So you can only talk about the Angel main cast in the Angel thread, not in Bitches, not in Buffy, not in Firefly, etc.

It seems to me, this boils down to whether or not we can approach a new season, acknowledging who makes up the man cast of a given series, right?

That is my understanding, but I would extend it to the woman cast too. t grin

I liked the "Upfront" language because it was specific. I was intending to add a sentence or two below the proposal explaining what the Upfronts were. But I can go either way.

I only take issue with that, if it is going to be a quibbling point, later on. In other words, if they ink DB, AD, and AA before the upfronts are announced, and don't ink JAR til the next day, do we have to spend the summer pretending JAR isn't coming back?

(All actors' initials are hypothetical.)

That is my understanding, but I would extend it to the woman cast too.

Ewww girls are ucky and gross!

G.R.O.S.S. RULES!!!

Get Rid Of Slimey girlS

t /Calvin

Any plot points related to the character's (not the actor's) arrival or departure are to be treated as spoilers.

Ok, a little late here, and I think I get it, but if DB were leaving Angel because he was pregnant, we couuld talk about the circumstances of DB leaving, but NOT the plot devices used to make Angel leave in the how.

Right?

(Circumstance chosen because I'm relatively sure it is not spoilery.)

Right?

Right.

We can't talk about how they're being written in or out. We can say that AD left a life of show-business to kidnap me and take me to a secluded, remote, but well-appointed island retreat.

And by "me", of course, Cindy means me.

if DB were leaving Angel because he was pregnant,

If he were, I would hope that the National Enquirer got called at some point!