Talk:Miniseries

UK/US

I would prefer this more specify definition "a limited run program of more than two and less than the thirteen part season or half season block associated with serial or series programming."

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/M/htmlM/miniseries/miniseries.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lasttan (talk • contribs) 17:23, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

That wouldn't work, since it's a specifically US definition. Six episodes is a series/serial in the UK, not a miniseries. Loganberry (Talk) 02:16, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, just add "in US" at the end of the sentence. Afaik the term is almost never used in UK except for US imports. The current definition ("is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes") is absolutety useless. Almost every series is limited somehow. Even a canceled series with 50 episodes is limited. Even if the series is limited to 500 episodes or something it would fit into current definition. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.246.214.114 (talk • contribs) 19:16, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

This is a very late reply, but the key to being a miniseries is that it is a serial with a fixed number of episodes planned from the beginning. A show with 500 episodes likely did not plan on 500 episodes from day one, while with a miniseries, the very last episode is usually scripted before filming even begins on the first episode. Some British programming is very hard to classify by such a definition, since one series (or season) may be very short and preplanned much like a mini-series, without even really expecting to have future series ordered, but deliberately leaving enough open questions at the end such that a second series is possible.

Babylon 5 was a show that from the outset was planned to have 5*22=110 episodes - that can hardly be described as a mini-series. I'd say for the general definition 'a show which tells a distinct story in more than 3 and fewer than 13 consecutive episodes' is about as accurate as you can get. 76.243.42.111 (talk) 05:14, 1 August 2011 (UTC)

The term "mini-series" has gained considerably traction in the UK in recent years, with the same definition as the US and certainly not restricted to imports. 122.148.252.23 (talk) 09:20, 3 May 2014 (UTC)

I'd also say it's inaccurate to say the term is never used in the UK except to describe imports; the term is not often used in the UK these days granted, but that's more down to the nature of uk television being that most drama programming is in this format so such programmes are usually just called series, whether that's a series of one sites ('season') or several; the term serial is more limited to radio drama in the UK. Mini-series was a term used in the UK more in the 1970s and 80s, applied to one-off single-story drama series' of about three or four episodes.Star-one (talk) 05:14, 3 May 2014 (UTC)

Do you have any WP:RSs that it was used in the 70s and 80s? MarnetteD | Talk 06:02, 3 May 2014 (UTC)

Shōgun

Shōgun (TV miniseries) should also be mentioned in this article, I just don't have time at the moment to weave it in properly. Athænara ✉ 03:24, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

Hyphenation

I propose that the article's title should be "Mini-series".

The reason for this is that they are two distinct words, which are used together in this context: you have a series, and you have a mini-series. The single word "miniseries" looks messy, and can be confusing: the first time I saw it, my brain read it as "ministries" (plural of ministry), which is a more common word. I had to do a double-take in order to read the word correctly. Therefore I propose it be hyphenated. Any comments? EuroSong ^talk 09:15, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

"miniseries" is the word used by AMPAS (for Emmy awards) to describe what we're all talking about. It's the closest thing to authoritative there is on the topic. Dballing (talk) 23:22, 6 July 2013 (UTC)

I tend to agree with @Eurosong, "miniseries" should be hyphenated. It is a compound word and can be easily misread as "ministeries" or worse, as in my case, assumed to be some penetative medieval religious rite - I undertook Miniseries again tonight to atone for my sins.

"Mini-series" please.Simon Latham (talk) 22:38, 25 September 2013 (UTC)

Yes. "Mini-series" please. 81.158.21.9 (talk) 12:52, 19 January 2019 (UTC)

"Miniseries" is not a compound word. "Mini" is not a separate word here, it's a prefix. Those are not typically hyphenated. More importantly, as this ngram shows, the unhyphenated version is over three times more common, and the hyphenated version has trended downwards for decades. The article is at the correct place. oknazevad (talk) 13:16, 19 January 2019 (UTC)

The first miniseries

The article is incorrect when it states that the format went back to The Fall and Rise of the Third Reich. The first series to be labelled a miniseries in my experience was the 1974 ABC six hour (with commercials) adaptation of Leon Uris's novel QB VII which aired over three nights (though not consecutive) in the week of April 29th. For many years the TV Guide, among other hard copy sources I encountered, listed this fact. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get to a web source that states this in its article, though several items listed in a google search have it in the description paragraph before you click to get to a given website including IMDb. But, as I say, when you get to the page I can't find one with the info on it to use as a verifiable source so that it can be added to this article. If any wikipedia editor can find one that will suffice to add the info to page please do so or let me know where the source is and I will be happy to do the edit myself. My thanks in advance to anyone who can help in the situation. MarnetteD | Talk 05:22, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

The Fall and Rise of the Third Reich is what I've heard as the first also, though it's more like the format The History Channel would use three decades later. I think it is QB VII, as the show is very raw, filmed like a soap opera instead of like a movie, in comparison to say, Holocaust or North and South, or the mega-epic of Winds of War/War and Remembrance (48 hrs. total, longest movie ever made more or less). This article does lack total listings and explanations, and ought be re-written with wit and facts to be informative and provide information for those who seek it. Good number of mini-series, like Marco Polo, etc. aren't even mentioned. Also, recently, in a network memo at ABC, a "two night event" is considered a mini-series inside of networks. Get ahold of network memo and you'll see the term used. Hallmark channel also produced some cheapo mini-series (i.e. the remake of The Poseidan Adventure). Also, what's wrong with combining the British, American and comicbook terms into the article, as well, as say, the new trend in "adventure" games like Monkey Island and Sam and Max, in which chapters or episodes are produced to further the adventure, as that seems like a mini-series to me, though I have no idea what these episodes are called within the gaming industry. Coffee5binky (talk) 03:49, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

How a thing was filmed is entirely irrelevant to its determination as a miniseries. As I stated the advertising campaign for QB VII used the term miniseries, TFaRotTR did not. MarnetteD | Talk 19:16, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Perhaps adding to the confusion, the The Ballad of Davy Crockett article lists Davy Crockett (1954) as a miniseries. Dcwaterboy (talk) 18:36, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the input. The article for the series also said that it was a miniseries but also stated that the term did not exist at the time. When miniseries began they were always special programming outside of the regular weekly lineup, the Davy Crockett series aired as a part of the regular Disney weekly show and, thus, does not qualify for that designation. Thanks again for pointing this out and cheers. MarnetteD | Talk 19:16, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

For once and for all: When QB VII was first broadcast, it was a 2-part movie, shown for 3 hours on Monday April 29 1974 then concluding for 3 and a quarter hours the next day, Tuesday April 30. When it was repeated a year later, April 22-24 1975, it was shown over 3 consecugtive nights. The idea that it was something more than a 2-part movie (i.e. a miniseries) is due to its length, 6.25 hours, where previous 2-part movies, like Vanished, Frankenstein, Picture of Dorian Gray, and the syndicated Frankenstein: The True Story, were either 3 or 4 hours total. 71.184.87.187 (talk) 01:38, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

IMDb's misuse of the term miniseries

A note to any readers that might come upon this. Please be aware that IMDb does not use the term miniseries in the way described on this articles page.

Their pages tend to call any TV program, US or UK, that is more than one episode but not more than one season a miniseries.

1. As an example of a US program that is mislabeled the William Holden 1973 program The Blue Knight was a 26 episode series that ran for a full season. Thus, it does not meet two of the criteria mentioned in the first paragraph of the article. It was not renewed because Mr Holden wanted to return to film roles. It was revived in 1975 with a different cast.
2. In the case of UK serials as the wikipedia article points out it is incorrect to use the term miniseries.

I am posting this in the hopes of clearing up any confusion that other readers and editors may have when it comes to IMDb's misuse of this term and I apologize if I have failed to do so. MarnetteD | Talk 13:46, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

I first remember the term "miniseries" being used in the United States in the late 1970s, to refer to a series (usually based on some book with an epic storyline) that could last the entire season, but which was scheduled to have a definite ending; which was unusual in American television, at least at that time. Later, the term came to be used in on-air promotions to describe upcoming programs that could be as short as a lengthy made-for-TV movie shown in two parts on successive nights. So IMdB's definition is not unprecedented, and in some cases they may be classifying the programs the way they were originally marketed. B7T (talk) 15:59, 1 February 2011 (UTC)

(The Blue Knight starring William Holden was a 1973 made-for-TV movie. The 1975 series starred George Kennedy) - Cbalducc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.153.115.152 (talk) 20:57, 24 November 2015 (UTC)

Why is there a list of "notable miniseries" here??

That is totally inappropriate for this article. If anything, there could be a category for Miniseries or something like that, but there is no reason for a list here. How will you know what to add? I am deleting it. --Jaysweet (talk) 20:39, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

By the way, there is a category for Television miniseries, though it doesn't seem to be very populated. That can handle the list, if it is ever populated, rather than having a list here. --Jaysweet (talk) 20:50, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

"Telenovela"

The "telenovela", a TV series in much cases with more than 100 episodes but with a defined script and end can be considered a miniseries?--81.84.111.94 (talk) 20:56, 3 July 2012 (UTC)

Global definition ?

Should all series with a predetermined number of episodes, then 75% of all series made in Europe be "mini"-series. Lets take some examples - "Homeland" is that a miniseries or not ? I would say that a mini series typically runs for between 2 and 5 episodes, if they have a length of around one hour. Are the episodes longer perhaps even 5 episodes is too long. The Danish original version of "the Killing" , Forbrydelsen run for 20 episodes (during two seasons) but it was predetermined to be so. OK I know there are "never-ever-ending" series , like "Emmerdale" , "The Bill" and Australian "Prisoner" had no end when it started, several hundered episodes were made. But the word "mini" suggests to me a shorter series. The perspective on this issue (like all) should be global. Boeing720 (talk) 03:32, 17 November 2014 (UTC)

Requested move 10 November 2015

The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was: Not moved. (non-admin closure) Natg 19 (talk) 00:45, 17 November 2015 (UTC)

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Miniseries → Television miniseries – To clarify scope of the article. This article is alley about television miniseries, as comics miniseries have their own article. (This is appropriate, as outside of having a planed finite length and similar terminology, the media of TV and comics are quite distinct.) Simce Wikipedia is about concepts, not words, the titles should be as descriptive as needed to be clear about the concept covered. In other words, natural disambiguation. oknazevad (talk) 02:26, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

• Oppose - There is also such thing as unnecessary disambiguation, because it was long ago determined that television miniseries were the expected topic to be found at miniseries. This is reflected in television article naming, which specifically calls for Roots (miniseries) rather than Roots (TV miniseries) (a redirect), as simplicity is best and the "TV" is inferred. Putting aside for a moment that this is the logical primary topic for the term over limited series (comics), with only two related articles the current format of hatnotes referring back and forth is preferable to a disambig page at miniseries, which I believe is what you are also suggesting?— TAnthony^Talk 02:45, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

Not proposing a disambig page. But the number of erroneous links to "miniseries" from comics articles tells me that it's not so clear what is the primary topic. That TV project naming guidelines currently call for the "(miniseries)" disambiguator is not convincing to me; that TV-minded editors might not realize the potential confusion or the prevalence of the term in comics would logically be reflected in the naming convention. oknazevad (talk) 02:54, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

How many links from comics articles are we talking about? I do see your point but I tend to think it's relatively minimal and is more link-laziness than a widespread confusion of terms. So where would you imagine that miniseries should redirect?— TAnthony^Talk 03:17, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

I'm also wondering about the chronology; there were TV miniseries before World of Krypton, but was Krypton called a miniseries or a limited series in its own time? If there is a clear relationship there I actually think it should be mentioned in this article.— TAnthony^Talk 03:26, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

• Oppose Miniseries is the common term. 7,590,000 GHs for miniseries - 1,220,000 for television miniseries. I am not sure that anyone even thinks about comic books when they hear or read the word but I have no empiric evidence regarding this. In any event the hatnote explains the distinction simply and succinctly. For me the articles title is descriptive the way it is. MarnetteD|Talk 02:54, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

Adding the GHs for comic miniseries which is 1,100,000. MarnetteD|Talk 02:56, 10 November 2015 (UTC)

• Oppose per the two above users. Calidum T|C 22:39, 10 November 2015 (UTC)
• Oppose there appears to be only one other entry that relates to the term miniseries and that article is not titled as such. The hatnote works fine here.--65.94.253.102 (talk) 06:52, 16 November 2015 (UTC)

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The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page or in a move review. No further edits should be made to this section.

North American History

The section on the North American miniseries is woefully incomplete. I suppose this is understandable since the history of the miniseries is complicated by the fact that several different formats have been referred to as a “miniseries.”

But for example: The first use of the term by television reporters and critics was to refer to the first “wheel” series, NBC’s Four-in-One debuting in the fall of 1970. This consisted of what were called 4 miniseries, McCloud, San Francisco International Airport, Night Gallery, and The Psychiatrist. They did not rotate by individual episodes, but rather each ran for 6 weeks, consecutively except for network preemptions, then to be replaced by the next. When the other 3 types of miniseries (consecutive night, short-term weekly, and 2-part movie) become popular, the practice of saying a wheel series consisted of several component miniseries died away, especially since the most successful one, NBC Mystery Movie, was now rotating the member series week to week.

Also, this article does not mention the 2 best candidates for the first miniseries in the truest sense: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich from 1968 and William Holden’s The Blue Knight from 1974, both of which were consecutive night, which was the key innovation, as compared to short-term weekly series like The Forsyte Saga and The National Dream. Then there is the fact that 2-part movies at some point got grandfathered in as being called miniseries, which would make Vanished from 1971 the first miniseries, although it was not called that at the time. This is all worth exploring, which this article sadly does not. 71.184.87.187 (talk) 16:36, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

Interesting info, ta. If you can source this is would be a useful addition.Halbared (talk) 17:24, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

Well, sources for the wheel series use of the term "miniseries" can be found in newspapers on-line, some of which may be behind a paywall, or at least a library paywall, which means they're not immediately accessable. As to the different types of miniseries, and the earliest examples of each type, that can be gleened on such sites as Internet Movie Database and CTVA (Classic TV Archive), and even Wiki itself, as well as TV Guide and newspaper listings, but obviously it's not all together in one place, you have to look everything up individually and piece it together. And even then some might call it original research. It's a lot of work, and quite frankly, I'm content to know it, and if people want to believe me, fine, if not, their loss. 71.184.87.187 (talk) 18:46, 12 August 2022 (UTC)

Should i add Disney +

Disney+ is popular with their mini series like mandolordian or some marvel stuff. MissingWikia (talk) 18:06, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

No, because The Mandalorian is not a miniseries. oknazevad (talk) 18:07, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

how about She Hulk and Mr's Marvel? MissingWikia (talk) 18:36, 16 January 2023 (UTC)

Those may get second seasons. Can't call something a miniseries unless it's planned specifically as a miniseries. A series that is left open to the possibility of a second season is not a miniseries. oknazevad (talk) 22:40, 16 January 2023 (UTC)