Professionalism: A Key Factor in TV Program Content

A coherent and accurate summary is integral for television and entertainment metadata – viewers and cable/OTT subscribers deserve to be properly informed regarding the content of a film or TV show episode.

In addition to having a neutral perspective in a program description, there are other variables that must be taken into account – has the plot framework been written with a degree of competence and respect, or does abundant ignorance pervade?

When it comes to some metadata vendors, it is all too obvious.

In this example, unnecessarily graphic language is used to outline the plot of the 2014 film “Premature.”

Never seen this, but it has got to be one of the worst descriptions of a movie. A bad take on groundhogs day lol pic.twitter.com/rcA8n1AK2T

— Cubs 39-30 (@LionsFanInGA) June 13, 2015

This metadata provider opts to use slang terms in their episodic summary, a clear lack of decorum.

My cable provider uses the term "douchey" to describe a character in a TV episode summary. via /r/funny … pic.twitter.com/wusotb3PzK

— Reddit Funny (@redditfunnybot) June 13, 2015

And slang is taken to the extreme in these two examples.

Trying to find a movie to watch... Don't think this one is it #LeprechaunBack2ThaHood 😂😂 Read the cynopsis pic.twitter.com/v0TBjnndEs

— Chad Glidewell (@iGlideWell) May 9, 2015

Great description! This film was made for me! pic.twitter.com/RPdKrIKbUb
— Paul (@ShoneyVanHalen) April 6, 2015

Here, metadata suppliers are caught utilizing racial terms as descriptors for characters and real people. This is not essential information for a precise summary.

Ummmm thanks #comcast..... I guess😕 #comcast #cable #tvshows #africana@ericsn

A photo posted by sarah-regina (@briggeesmallz) on May 27, 2015 at 5:47pm PDT

Really direct TV @Martin Lawerence this is the best they could do with the move description#smh @direct tv pic.twitter.com/OYkhVmb5zl
— cathliene (@cathliene37) January 26, 2015

#crackle who wrote this description for this movie? It's very specific and screams comedy. pic.twitter.com/Tts4Qz0X33

— Matt Kaplan (@wordsbymatt) June 6, 2015

2014’s “Tout des connes” is the story of a man experiencing a struggle with the ending of a relationship. A company that alleges their summaries “are composed by the top journalists in cinema” came up with the following nonsensical gibberish. How does this cover the plot of the film?

Best movie plot summary ever, courtesy of @Fandor pic.twitter.com/GRfbH1aluJ

— JM Stim (@JMStimNYC) March 18, 2015

Finally, in a total rookie move, a writer at this metadata vendor decided to insert his name, twice, into a program description:

It's funny 'cause it's wrong. Also, CSI Miami is on. #comcast #xfinity #idontwatchellen #wednesday

A photo posted by Anthony Hoffman (@anthony_hoffman84) on Jun 17, 2015 at 1:06pm PDT

It is clear that many entertainment metadata suppliers do not have much needed gravitas when it comes to composing descriptions and summaries.

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Author: Brian Cameron

Image via Shutterstock.

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