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| 26th Oct 2020, 6:15 AM | #1 REPORT | |
 | Twistin Member since Jan 2012 2054 Points | I just submitted several corrections for details in the Notes field of several TV shows. For example, ALF has a note that states "4 Series - 102 Episodes." and my correction states that it should say "4 Seasons - 102 Episodes.". I now wonder if it is a communication gap between continents? Is a TV season called a series in other regions? If so, that would be confusing unless a TV show is thus not referred to as a TV series, as well. Can someone enlighten me if this is the case or not? |
| 26th Oct 2020, 8:50 AM | #2 REPORT | |
 | OldMod67 "..all the cats, you know who they are.. " Member since Nov 2010 946 Points | Hi Twistin, it always used to be 'series' here in England,. I didn't see 'season's until I started getting US tv mags in the eighties. |
| 26th Oct 2020, 11:44 PM | #3 REPORT | |
 | Charlie Chalk Self praise is no recommendation. Member since Oct 2011 44912 Points Moderator | I've always known each new batch of episodes as a 'series'. I've never used the term 'season'. |
| 27th Oct 2020, 2:52 AM | #4 REPORT | |
| Twistin Member since Jan 2012 2054 Points | Very unusual, new one on me. According to English.Stackexchange: In the US, "series" refers to the entire collection of episodes from all years, and "season" refers to a batch of episodes broadcast in a run, usually in the same year. ... However, it's important to note that a UK "series" is usually only six episodes long, whereas a US "season" is ususally 22 episodes. So the US takes a good half year, making "season" much more approriate for US programmes! and most relevantly... Although, due to the influx of US programmes, the US "season" is becoming more widespread in the UK, especially when talking about American programmes. Perhaps US shows should be referred to in those notes as Seasons then? They are certainly identified as such on the home media releases and on the majority of media outlets. I have a bunch of series' of old shows from the 60s & 70s from various European countires and they are generally six episodes, which is more similar to our mini-series. That link is an interesting read. |
| 27th Oct 2020, 9:12 AM | #5 REPORT | |
 | Orbiting Cat Member since Jan 2008 1168 Points Administrator | Anecdotally I'd say that "season" is becoming more common in the UK, and probably will increase with global streaming such as Netflix etc. |
| 31st Oct 2020, 11:25 PM | #6 REPORT | |
 | 23skidoo Member since Jul 2014 4061 Points | I've always known that "Series" is a Britishism when referring to a set of episodes in an ongoing production. I read somewhere (but believe it may be incorrect) that this stems from the fact that in British television an episodic production is assumed to be "cancelled" at the end of every individual run, until a new "series" is commissioned. Plus, and I know this isn't unique to the UK, productions for British television are not beholden to be undertaken year after year; it is not uncommon for one or more years to pass between "series". (An example being Red Dwarf which had a 4-year gap early on, followed by a decade-long hiatus. More recently, you have Killing Eve which is expected to have at least a 2-year broadcast gap due to pandemic-forced production delay.) There have been some odd adaptations of the terms series and season in the UK with a few shows. With Doctor Who it is now common practice for the BBC and fandom to refer to each year of the 1963-89 incarnation of the series as a season - so the set of episodes that aired in 1988 are officially called Season 25, not Series 25. When Doctor Who came back to TV in 2005, the BBC's practice was to start referring to each set of those episodes as Series 1, Series 2, etc. It can get confusing! |
| 1st Nov 2020, 9:45 PM | #7 REPORT | |
| Twistin Member since Jan 2012 2054 Points | Yeah, the confusion stems from, I believe, that series can really have two unique meanings in the TV program(me) universe, while season has only one, which is to group a specified set or production run of episodes. In US sitcoms, for example, there are noticeable differences from season to season which can include cast members (new, replaced, written out, etc.) and often character personality traits to physical changes in them or their surroundings from season to season, somewhat like school years. Having them boxed off like that is very convenient, but I suppose it's like football vs. soccer. The latter word only has one meaning in sports while the former has two -- regardless of which came first or which name is more logical. |
| 3rd Oct 2021, 9:59 PM | #8 REPORT | |
| 23skidoo Member since Jul 2014 4061 Points | Just going back to your original point (and I know I'm answering nearly a year later!) - I think it's appropriate to correct "series" to "seasons" when referring to North American TV productions - i.e. ALF from the original post. If it's a British, Australian (which I think uses "series") or European show, "series" is appropriate. |
| 4th Oct 2021, 6:51 AM | #9 REPORT | |
| Twistin Member since Jan 2012 2054 Points | I agree with that, as well. Even my 2k (USA released) DVDs of Dr. Who episodes are named as series, rather than seasons, which I can accept. Particularly as it may mean slight idiosyncrasies between shores. Still, a bit confusing, but I am now well versed in the difference and it has just become a way to identify origins (just as I identify origins in words, such as color vs. colour.) |
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