Genres

It is pretty hard to determine whether a genre is suitable for a series or not. Genres are basically someone's opinion and what he thinks of it. Some people may think it to be comedy as they spot humour, some others do not.

Please state those shows in our edit requests if you are sure that they shouldn't be there.

We usually go with the genres that the creators/networks themselves say a show belongs in. But as Thomas said, a lot of it also has to do with public opinion as well. And that's how you sometimes end up with a show that has a million genres.

It's indeed best to state in the edit requests thread why something should be changed.

Family definitely does not belong to "The Simpsons", I removed it, Wabbit I never watched so i stay out of it, as genres are very personal :)

I do find that IMDb usually get the genres pretty much narrowed down. However, TVDB should not be used as an example at all.

http://www.tvmaze.com/shows/398/duck-dynasty

See what I mean someone was high when they tagged this as fmaily who watches this with the kids?

I am really unwell atm anyone havea link to where I should really be posting plz?

The standard thread for anything you don't have the permissions for is Edit Requests

Alastor wrote:
http://www.tvmaze.com/shows/398/duck-dynasty
See what I mean someone was high when they tagged this as fmaily who watches this with the kids?
I am really unwell atm anyone havea link to where I should really be posting plz?

Family has been removed now :)

Genres are a slightly controversial subject here, exactly because they are completey subjective. It's very possible for two people to come up with a completely different genre list for a show.

For now, like gazza said, if you see an entry you disagree with please report it in Edit Requests and we'll check it out on a case-by-case basis.

Alastor wrote:
http://www.tvmaze.com/shows/398/duck-dynasty
See what I mean someone was high when they tagged this as fmaily who watches this with the kids?
I am really unwell atm anyone havea link to where I should really be posting plz?

Family presumably refers to shows involving families. Just as shows of the Horror genre are shows with horrific elements. And shows with Mystery are shows with mystery elements.

The way you're describing it is more like a TV viewer rating. But that only works for Family and then you only have two categories: Family and Adult.

You wouldn't say monsters only watch Horror shows, or detectives only watch Mystery shows. So why say that Family-genre shows refer to shows that only families watch?

But that depends on your definition of "Family" as a Genre.

I've never considered the "Family" genre to mean programs that show a family, it's always meant programs that are relatively G rated and safe for everyone in the family to watch. Nothing wrong with the distinction of Family and Adult content any more than there is a problem with the Drama or Comedy distinction.

LadyShelley wrote:
I've never considered the "Family" genre to mean programs that show a family, it's always meant programs that are relatively G rated and safe for everyone in the family to watch. Nothing wrong with the distinction of Family and Adult content any more than there is a problem with the Drama or Comedy distinction.

I also see it this way, "Family" means for me G-rated and you can watch it with your whole family including kids.

But then every show is either Family or Adult. Either you can watch a given show with kids, or you can't. So why are all the other genres here?

That also means that every show here should either be rated Adult or Family. They're not. So if a show is rated neither, does that mean that no one should watch it? :)

If Family = "G-rated", then it's a rating, not a genre.Listing a rating isn't a bad thing, and the US at least has a relatively elaborate rating system. But rating does not equal genre. When you use Family to tell readers one thing, and Horror or Mystery or Sci-Fi a different thing, you're not using genres consistently.

Also, doesn't that make all shows prior to 1970 (and 95% of the ones prior to 1990) "Family"? Is there some show before 1970 you couldn't currently watch with your kids?

If a genre is so broad that it encompasses 95% of all shows, it's probably not very useful a categorization.

Gadfly wrote:
But then every show is either Family or Adult. Either you can watch a given show with kids, or you can't. So why are all the other genres here?
That also means that every show here should either be rated Adult or Family. They're not. So if a show is rated neither, does that mean that no one should watch it? :)
If Family = "G-rated", then it's a rating, not a genre.Listing a rating isn't a bad thing, and the US at least has a relatively elaborate rating system. But rating does not equal genre. When you use Family to tell readers one thing, and Horror or Mystery or Sci-Fi a different thing, you're not using genres consistently.

With kids I am talking about young kids, not about 14-18 year old youngsters :)

So there is much more between "Family" and "Adult" for me. Family simply means for me that you can watch it with people of all ages. "Adult" can be used to either categorize sex-related entertainment (that is how tvmaze uses it) or also to include horror, gore, violence. Inbetween is a lot of other stuff. For example, a show like "Supergirl is nort family for me, kids should not watch this, but it certainly is also not adult :)

But this is all VERY subjective.

cheers
Juan

I'd agree there can be something in-between. But that's what ratings are for. Presumably genres describe what a show is about (Medical, Mystery, Espionage, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Travel, etc.). But it sounds like you want to use Family not to tell readers that a show is about Family, but rather to rate who is suitable to view it. TVMaze is mixing the two concepts, thus part of the confusion.

You also run into various cultural mores that make it even more difficult. In the 1960s, Doctor Who was considered Family/Kids programming by the BBC. But... you had an average of at least one person an episode being violently murdered. So do you list it as Family (it's not, currently)? It's probably not something parents today would let kids under 14 watch. But the BBC didn't have a problem with 14-and-unders watching it back in the day.

The way you see the "Family" genre, the zombie/horror show "Fear the Walking Dead" should be tagged as "Family", as the show deals with the struggle of a family in the time of a zombie outbreak, but I seriously doubt that anyone else would agree tagging that show "Family".

it is all very much subjective.

cheers
juan

Gadfly wrote:
I'd agree there can be something in-between. But that's what ratings are for. Presumably genres describe what a show is about (Medical, Mystery, Espionage, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Travel, etc.). But it sounds like you want to use Family not to tell readers that a show is about Family, but rather to rate who is suitable to view it. TVMaze is mixing the two concepts, thus part of the confusion.
You also run into various cultural mores that make it even more difficult. In the 1960s, Doctor Who was considered Family/Kids programming by the BBC. But... you had an average of at least one person an episode being violently murdered. So do you list it as Family (it's not, currently)? It's probably not something parents today would let kids under 14 watch. But the BBC didn't have a problem with 14-and-unders watching it back in the day.

I don't think TVmaze is mixing two concepts though. It is people's their interpretation of genres.

Gadfly wrote:
If Family = "G-rated", then it's a rating, not a genre. Listing a rating isn't a bad thing, and the US at least has a relatively elaborate rating system. But rating does not equal genre. When you use Family to tell readers one thing, and Horror or Mystery or Sci-Fi a different thing, you're not using genres consistently.

Presumably genres describe what a show is about (Medical, Mystery, Espionage, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Travel, etc.). But it sounds like you want to use Family not to tell readers that a show is about Family, but rather to rate who is suitable to view it. TVMaze is mixing the two concepts, thus part of the confusion.

Excellent point, Gadfly. Ratings and genres are indeed two different things.

It might be a good idea for TVmaze to start listing show ratings. That way users has a dedicated space to submit ratings, instead of using genres.

Unless there's no explanation given for genres in our FAQ, people will always be using genres to their own point of view. Some see family as a genre, some as rating. It will be an endless discussion if not explained indeed.