What's the proper procedure to join 2 episodes together into one (and result in every episode after them in that season being renumbered) if the two episodes have the same title but with "part 1" and "part 2" appended to it?
I've tried various methods, including all in one step or in two steps, but they are all rejected (in the first step), and the instructions aren't very clear in the case where both titles are the same. The first broadcast dates are the same, no problem there.
When the episode pages were first created the contributor listed the episodes per syndication not original run. A double-length episode was the original; in syndication they were split into 2 parts. IMDb policy requires episodes be per original run not syndication, so I'm trying to correct this; just need to know I'm doing it right so it won't get rejected.
I've tried various methods, including all in one step or in two steps, but they are all rejected (in the first step), and the instructions aren't very clear in the case where both titles are the same. The first broadcast dates are the same, no problem there.
When the episode pages were first created the contributor listed the episodes per syndication not original run. A double-length episode was the original; in syndication they were split into 2 parts. IMDb policy requires episodes be per original run not syndication, so I'm trying to correct this; just need to know I'm doing it right so it won't get rejected.
Posted 4 months ago
GoodFlixGary
200319-004409-508000
200319-004526-676000
200319-004632-566000
GMJ, Champion
GoodFlixGary
"The Rockford Files" (1974) {Black Mirror: Part 2 (#5.10)}
"The Rockford Files" (1974) {Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job: Part 2 (#5.21)}
"The Rockford Files" (1974) {Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs: Part 2 (#6.3)}
I don't think the rejection has anything to do with the eps being on IMDb Free TV; last year when I tried it they were rejected then and they were not available on that channel or on any streaming service anywhere except downloadable at archive.org. I don't know how the DVDs list them.
GoodFlixGary
Step 2 after merge would be to remove "part 1" from the title. Step 3 would be cleanup of other (merged) data, since the versions are listed under Alternate Versions for instance.
GoodFlixGary
Everything has been finally merged. But your next step was to remove "part 1" from the title. That was done on all but 3. Those three are repeatedly rejected.
Your other steps after that included updating the running time. ALL running time updates are being rejected.
There is no stated reason for the rejections. Just a dummy response. I need some help here. I've been trying to get these merges completed for 8 months.
Your remaining step is to renumber all the episodes above them after the merge leaves an episode gap. Close the gap. I haven't attempted that because I don't know how. I started a new thread here but nobody will help me. I emailed the help desk about it and all I got were idiots responding. Just stupid BS. No help.
I emailed before that about the merging problems, the "part 1" removal and running time changes, and gave my submission numbers that were rejected, but I received NO response. I started another thread like this one on it, but have received NO response so far there either. And you've disappeared.
Ed Jones(XLIX)
Blah Blah Blah: Parts I & II. After all "It Is" a two part episode! Removing data altogether makes the database inaccurate. Acknowledging the episode as a two parter IS accurate.
GoodFlixGary
Ed Jones(XLIX)
Sorry, but this I remember very well. What you see on DVD sets and telecasts in reruns is not how this was originally presented.
How do you think these got listed like this in the first place. And it is not just one, but there are multiples of this series having two parters. Having people such as you and data editors that are making decisions based off of a lack of knowledge about the series is disheartening. And extremely inaccurate.
GoodFlixGary
And yes I watched them in original run too; I wouldn't dream of submitting something or making a claim based on memory. I watched all the episodes (again) over the past 3 years. Never saw any of the movies.
Anyway, not all of the merges I worked on are for Rockford Files; some are more recent like Bob's Burgers.
Generally, series will run 2-parters, split between 2 weeks, AND also sometimes expanded length episodes (like an hour expanded to 1-1/2 hours or 2 hours). The expanded, long, episodes are ALWAYS split in 2 for syndication, with added credits, "previously on", and stuff like that. DVDs might release them split or in the original long format. Some DVDs will give you both versions.
It's an IMDb rule that the original long format must be used, not a split version, and episode numbering gives it a single number. Also, production code numbers will sometimes give 2 numbers for 2 halves even if it's a long expanded episode. IMDb rules also use broadcast numbering (and order) based on date, not on production numbering order.
The key to look for is the original broadcast date. That's the required IMDb order.
GoodFlixGary
Ed Jones(XLIX)
The original as aired episode list is what is supposed to be listed. No merging.
You have actually confirmed the splitting of the episodes just now. That syndicated version is the same format on first run. They just happened to air back to back on the same night.
https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/titles/episode-guidelines/GDF7HR6CCCBKU3CP?ref_=helpsrall#
A. Episodes - Overview
- When adding new episodes to the database you must make
sure your episode really is a new title, and that we do not already
have it listed for that series (e.g. are you submitting an episode with
only a release date? Do we already have this date associated with
another episode?). If we have the episode listed, but with some
incorrect information associated, you need to update the info of the
episode already listed (remember to provide information for the changes
you are making - it really does make things quicker.)
-
If it is genuinely a new episode you
must provide at least one of these three pieces of information to
identify an episode, with relevant web links to speed up the process:
-
The title: as it appeared on screen for that
particular episode. If an episode title is not shown on screen, the
given titles on the supporting press releases during their announcements
or on their original digital TV listings are acceptable, however note
that we don't currently allow episode titles to be added if they were
retrospectively given (e.g. the "Twin Peaks" German DVD release titles).
If the episode you are submitting has no title you should leave the Episode Title box blank on submission (but remember to include one other piece of information: original air date/episode number).
-
Original air date: If you supply only the release date, Episode dated will automatically be generated for your episode .
-
Episode number: The episode number
should be in the form season.sequence - in other words, the third
episode of the fifth season would be 5.3. Sequence number should be
based on original air date, not production order. In this case "Episode
#5.3" will automatically be generated for this episode number
providing no other information is added in the title box field on
submission.
Please note that it is IMDb policy to list the episodes of a series in the order that they originally aired. >>>>>>>>Please do not submit any changes to episode numbers to match any subsequent releases.<<<<<<<<< The most famous example of this is "Firefly" (2002), where the episodes are listed in the order they were first released by Fox, not in the intended chronological order.GoodFlixGary
The subject of this thread is moot, since IMDb already lists the episodes I've mentioned correctly as one episode. Nothing left to merge, all done.
The issue now is a different one: it's about on-screen titles. As stated in the rules you quoted, the title must be as it appeared on screen in its original run. Since the original run of all the ones I've mentioned do not have "part 1" in the title on-screen in the first broadcast, that material is incorrect and should be removed. There is no part 2 either.
It's very slow. Got another one corrected. Just 2 left now. One Rockford Files, one Bob's Burgers. Some idiot changed the one Rockford Files to "part 1 & 2" which is still wrong obviously. That wasn't you, was it? Don't know how that got approved. It's not part of the title on screen in the original broadcast.
There is another issue: the running time. The running time for the episodes I've mentioned are all wrong. I've posted the correct time, but it keeps getting declined.
Ed Jones(XLIX)
Continue on with your messing up the database.
Good luck
Why does no one care?
GoodFlixGary
And I care. Maybe you do to. But there's not many of us. And we're close to powerless; we're at the mercy of a bunch of editors who don't care and just push buttons (usually to decline with an "unable to verify" meaninglessness). As such a situation continues, people who care get discouraged and stop contributing. It's frustrating and one just gives up trying to correct mistakes. ADDING information to the database is a lot easier and is usually accepted fairly quickly. But if you're just one to correct wrong data, you've got an uphill and time-consuming battle.
meka
GoodFlixGary
It was pretty funny, but he apparently deleted it. Too bad; would have been nice to leave it for everyone to see how mentally unstable he obviously is.
I have encountered him before in another thread of mine, and he made no sense there either, and you're right he can't comprehend the rules. I just told him he was repeatedly making no sense and wasn't helping and he should just go away, and he did.
Anyway, his sabotage has been reversed. The "part 1 & 2" in the title has been removed now, after my last correction. One more to go (on Bob's Burgers, to remove "part 1 & 2" from a single title), but someone else did that last year, I doubt it was Ed.