I run into Featured often when I'm adding cast from the show credits. Usually Guests are credited first, then Co-Stars, then Featured. I wonder why it isn't a cast type here. I know there have already been requests for it. Now I'm just curious why it isn't used.
Cast types haven't always been standardized, so the same type name can mean different things depending on the show and time period it's from.
Often times you just have to feel your way and see how it's listed in relation to the other cast types and if it's in the intro or end-credits.
Also on older shows you also have types like Also Featuring, Starring, Also starring, And, With, Extras.... and so on... Which is too many to add and it'd become a complete mess as the types were used differently on different shows and many of them means pretty much the same thing.
But ye, can be annoying when there's 4 cast types instead of the 3 that are more common now.
Featured usually means that you're more than an extra but less than a co-star. Like someone who doesn't have any lines but still plays an important role because they do something. In old TV episodes I know it meant something else. But these days it pretty much means one thing. I think it should be added because it's pretty common and it's its own cast type.
dpratt wrote:
Featured usually means that you're more than an extra but less than a co-star. Like someone who doesn't have any lines but still plays an important role because they do something. In old TV episodes I know it meant something else. But these days it pretty much means one thing. I think it should be added because it's pretty common and it's its own cast type.
We index more than just current programs, and the fact is "Featured" had several different definitions in the past everything from a named guest star to someone walking through a scene and saying "phone for you, sir". There are any number of crediting styles that have changed over the years, never mind how shows are credited outside the US. Trying to list every variation would quickly turn the rather simple list into a mess.
I didn't mean to suggest that classic programs are not important. I just think that if they're credited as "Featuring" why not having a featured cast type? It would make it less of a headache trying to figure out what to do with every featured cast member.
dpratt wrote:
I didn't mean to suggest that classic programs are not important. I just think that if they're credited as "Featuring" why not having a featured cast type? It would make it less of a headache trying to figure out what to do with every featured cast member.
LadyShelley is pretty correct and clear as why we are not going to use it. Featured was very common to be used back then, but nowadays is rare to be seen. We can add featured, but what do we do with all other types of listings? It would eventually become a huge clusterfuck.
Do we add featured names in current shows under co-starring?
dpratt wrote:
Do we add featured names in current shows under co-starring?
Is the "featured" used in the opening credits or the ending? If it's the end credits, then yes, "Co-Starring" would be correct.
Yes. End credits after guest and co-star names. Thanks.
