There is also another problem with the way that various companies handle program plots and descriptions, and that is a failure to take the television content seriously.
Many data providers apparently believe that it’s acceptable to mock the programming by taking a wise-guy tone or otherwise lackadaisical attitude with their synopses.
It is inappropriate summaries like these that completely fail to inform a viewer in regards to a film or series’ plot.
Take a look at the program descriptions these metadata providers believe are worthy for discerning audiences:
For ABC’s “The Bachelor”
‘True love (or a TV facsimile thereof) gets the reality
treatment.’
Woah. That's a lot of shade (& quite the elegant vernacular) for one TV description. #TheBachelor #facsimilethereof pic.twitter.com/sR2bAS7Srq
— Abbey Barrow (@AbbeyBarrow1) February 1, 2015
For “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
‘If you want to see enormous, battling robots and
concerned-but-gorgeous-looking humans (and then some more enormous battling
robots) this fourth instalment [sic] in the series delivers on all fronts.’
My @VirginAtlantic flight had one of the funniest and most accurate movie descriptions ever... pic.twitter.com/1FMI9u7pbZ
— Jonathan Gottfried (@jonmarkgo) October 2, 2014
For “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
‘Again, Earth is caught in the middle when the resurrection
of an ancient Transformer appears to turn the tide against the Autobots in
their longstanding war with evil Decepticons.’
Smartass description Timw Warner Cable. Style points. pic.twitter.com/IbJVi1FNHm
— R Scott Whitley (@_RScottWhitley_) August 2, 2014
For 1946’s "Badman’s Territory"
‘Randolph Scott vs.
every baddie in history.’
Does everyone's cable service have the same description of #BadmansTerritory? #TCMParty pic.twitter.com/JkQjpSSahf
— QUEENIE (@QueenieFrancie) June 26, 2014
For 1960’s “The Lost World”
‘A British professor, a playboy and a rich woman in pink
pants see lava and dinosaurs in the Amazon.’
Another brilliant classic movie description from the film "experts" over at @DIRECTV pic.twitter.com/CrF3p4p8QI
— ALL NEW SUX (@AllNewSux) January 2, 2014
For 1987’s “Steel Dawn”
‘Triangulation of good guy, bad guy and
beautiful woman.’
Thanks for this synopsis, Comcast. Very informative. pic.twitter.com/IGQwI70oAv
— Sally McSurly (@SallyMcSurly) February 11, 2014
It is “summaries” like these that make you say “really?!” And
it’s unfortunate that this sort of low quality is seriously being provided to viewers
and businesses that utilize metadata.
FYI Television’s TV description writers strive for an
informative and accurate, just-the-facts synopsis with a non-biased, neutral tone meant to
inform the television audience.
Compare the below description for “Steel Dawn” to the one
and above and consider which you find preferable.
Author: Brian Cameron
Image via
Image via
Follow @FYITV
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