Is it me, or does IMDb suddenly suck...

4229 Views 23 Replies 22 Participants Last post by toddvj, Oct 19, 2011

Rob Helmerichs

Discussion Starter · Oct 15, 2011

...for episode cast credits? Since I got my smart phone, I often check IMDb when watching a show to see who that person is and where I know them from. And in the past, I almost always got the information I was looking for. But the past few weeks, IMDb almost never has good information on the episode casts credits. It's startling how dramatically it's switched from almost always yes to almost always no, which makes me wonder what has changed?

I remember the annoyance of having to pause the TiVo and run into the other room to look somebody up. But I guess now those were the good old days!

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

justen_m

· #2 · Oct 15, 2011

Rob Helmerichs said:
I remember the annoyance of having to pause the TiVo and run into the other room to look somebody up. But I guess now those were the good old days!

I've had my netbook regularly stationed next to my tv-watching chair for 2 years now, for this very purpose. Convenient. Of course, my computer is in the same room, but it does keep me from having to get up and walk across the room. Now I can choose between my netbook and new Touchpad.

As for your original point, I haven't noticed a change. I don't think IMDB has ever been the best for episode credits. I find that a bit frustrating, as I like to know who the guest stars are. I think the extended 'info' on the Tivo guide data is often better than IMDB.

Cearbhaill

· #3 · Oct 15, 2011

I hate the format change.
Previously it was all right there and now you have to go a clickin'.

tlc

· #4 · Oct 15, 2011

I think they've always had some lag with specific episode casts. Several times I've had to google guest stars after striking out IMDB. I haven't tried much this season to notice if it's worse.

Could some of it be that you're watching shows closer to the air date?

vertigo235

· #5 · Oct 15, 2011

I find thervdb.com to be better for TV shows.

Anubys

· #6 · Oct 15, 2011

I'm with Rob...and just had the same frustration with a guest star on Parks and Recreations...Had to find the actress's name elsewhere. It used to be very easy to get that kind of info there, but not anymore...

mrdbdigital

· #7 · Oct 16, 2011

Well, after all. it is the Internet Movie Database, not the Internet Television Episode Database.

john4200

· #8 · Oct 16, 2011

vertigo235 said:
I find thervdb.com to be better for TV shows.

Hmmm, do you use thetvdb.com when you are searching for recreational vehicles?

rahnbo

· #9 · Oct 16, 2011

It seems you can still find all the info but like Cearbhaill said there is too much clicking now. Most of the info used to be in a nice single linear page on the PC and m.imdb.com pages. I really hate how on the main version the info doesn't load until you scroll down the page. I guess they're trying to save money on bandwidth or something. The app (for Android) is just horrible.

JTAnderson

· #10 · Oct 16, 2011

I don't think it is "suddenly." I think it has been a steady decline each time they have changed the format of the site.

jschuur

· #11 · Oct 17, 2011

Anecdotally, yes. I tried to look up an episode of American Horror Story a few days later, and they didn't have the 2nd episode yet. Other times, the episode is up, but they don't have a particular minor character listed.

murgatroyd

· #12 · Oct 17, 2011

Cearbhaill said:
I hate the format change.
Previously it was all right there and now you have to go a clickin'.

The new format is horrible.

JYoung

· #13 · Oct 17, 2011

Hint: it wasn't "suddenly"

I prefer Tv.com for their episode guides but there's usually a one or two day lag in their updates.

DevdogAZ

· #14 · Oct 17, 2011

IMDb's info is user submitted, so it's not likely to be submitted and approved that soon after the episode airs.

My biggest complaint about the IMDB app for iPhone is that when an actor is listed as having appeared in an episode of a TV show, then you click on that and it just takes you to the general listing for the show. It's virtually impossible to find the actual episode that the actor appeared in.

dtle

· #15 · Oct 17, 2011

tv.com also has cast for each episode. I don't know if it's updated better imdb, though.

mwhip

· #16 · Oct 17, 2011

My theory is for years IMDB sucked at their online presence but their information was accurate. They worked really hard at getting that part right. Now they have turned into a media company and have upped their IT production with apps and development on the IT side. Work more on movie and TV news, press events like awards shows and such. Because of all this I bet the reduced their work force in the research side and moved it all to media and IT.

mattack

· #17 · Oct 18, 2011

IIRC, you can change imdb to a classic layout look.. it sounded like one complaint in this thread is the look, not the lack of info.

TonyD79

· #18 · Oct 18, 2011

mattack said:
IIRC, you can change imdb to a classic layout look.. it sounded like one complaint in this thread is the look, not the lack of info.

How? Would love that back.

Idearat

· #19 · Oct 18, 2011

TonyD79 said:
How? Would love that back.

You have to register to change/save your preferences. Then go to this page:

https://secure.imdb.com/register-imdb/siteprefs

And tick "Show previous title and name page design (reference view):"

astrohip

· #20 · Oct 18, 2011

Idearat said:
You have to register to change/save your preferences. Then go to this page:

https://secure.imdb.com/register-imdb/siteprefs

And tick "Show previous title and name page design (reference view):"

Thank you! :up:

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

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