The rec.arts.tv FAQL:

Last updated:  February 1, 2004.
This version:  8.00

Note: The date of the last update is the date of the last change to this section; lack of an update since then means that the contents of this particular section are still true or valid to the present day. This page will be updated with every new major update (i.e. version x.00) of this FAQL, however.

Section 2.3: "I've seen some abbreviations for show in r.a.tv/other newsgroups, and I can't figure out what they stand for. What are they?"

Answer: Sometimes, people will begin the titles of a thread to rec.arts.tv (or other TV newgroups such as rec.arts.sf.tv) with a common abbreviation for the show, as an ID tag for interested readers (and to fascillitate the use of kill-files for those who aren't interested!).

In fact, this practice should be encouraged in rec.arts.tv (look at the posts in the rec.arts.tv.soaps.* hierarchy to see how this practice should work). So take a close look at the lists below and see if there are abbreviations for shows you talk about in rec.arts.tv.

For example, a thread title with the proper abbreviation might look like this:

          "MSCL: ABC Must Save It!"

If you don't know what "MSCL" stands for, it can be confusing. So here is a list of some of the abbreviations used for American TV shows in rec.arts.tv, and elsewhere (new US shows, classic US shows, US daytime soaps and British TV shows follow):

1. Abbreviations for shows presently on in the U.S.
2. Abbreviations for U.S. (daytime) soap operas
3. Abbreviations for classic and old shows in the U.S.

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