How many of you guys remember the IMDB message boards? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SitcomsHeydayfan · 07-20-2019, 06:59 PM

Did any of you post there? It was really fantastic because any TV show or movie you could think of had their OWN message board! Some of the really unheard of movies had ZERO posts on their boards.

Another really cool feature was that every ACTOR had his or her own message board too! I've not seen that on any other site anywhere. I posted many times of the John Ritter and Jay Leno message boards.

It was a hugely successful message board but they gave around a 6 month warning that they would shut down on 2/20/2017 & unfortunately they did.

Rumor has it that Amazon(who bought IMDB) didn't want bad movie/TV reviews getting out on the board. But that's a really DUMB reason IF true because you can find movie and TV reviews all over the web!

Bonniegirl · 07-20-2019, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Did any of you post there? It was really fantastic because any TV show or movie you could think of had their OWN message board! Some of the really unheard of movies had ZERO posts on their boards.

Another really cool feature was that every ACTOR had his or her own message board too! I've not seen that on any other site anywhere. I posted many times of the John Ritter and Jay Leno message boards.

It was a hugely successful message board but they gave around a 6 month warning that they would shut down on 2/20/2017 & unfortunately they did.

Rumor has it that Amazon(who bought IMDB) didn't want bad movie/TV reviews getting out on the board. But that's a really DUMB reason IF true because you can find movie and TV reviews all over the web!

Yes, I used to post on them. They were fun!!!

I was really sad when they shut them down !

opus · 07-20-2019, 09:29 PM

I used to read ‘em, but I’m pretty sure I never actually posted there.

JamesG · 07-20-2019, 09:42 PM

I was a member since 2003 and I liked it being a "free for all" where posters said whatever they wanted.

As for why they closed, IMDb said the boards were obsolete in the social media age but it is alleged that the real reason was that the boards couldn't be monetized.

Bonniegirl · 07-20-2019, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

I used to read ‘em, but I’m pretty sure I never actually posted there.

I used to post a lot on Michael Lembeck's IMDB page about how cute and talented he is!!

And I used to love after I saw a movie posting about it on IMDB and reading other people's views on it!

And I remember the Brady Bunch IMDB page being really funny !!

Bonniegirl · 07-20-2019, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I was a member since 2003 and I liked it being a "free for all" where posters said whatever they wanted.

As for why they closed, IMDb said the boards were obsolete in the social media age but it is alleged that the real reason was that the boards couldn't be monetized.

Yeah! that was fun! They would sometimes get really wild!!

opus · 07-20-2019, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I used to post a lot on Michael Lembeck's IMDB page about how cute and talented he is!!

And I used to love after I saw a movie posting about it on IMDB and reading other people's views on it!

And I remember the Brady Bunch IMDB page being really funny !!

Yeah, you were Caligirl, or something like that. I remember being so proud when I figured that.

Bonniegirl · 07-20-2019, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

Yeah, you were Caligirl, or something like that. I remember being so proud when I figured that.

Yeah!!

RetroGuy2000 · 07-20-2019, 10:44 PM

I remember them; I wasn't a regular there, but I posted there once when I couldn't remember the name of an old 1970s movie, or who it starred, where it was filmed, who directed it, or anything useful. It was driving me crazy, not knowing the name of the film. All I could do was describe a scene. Within hours, someone had posted the name of the movie, based on one vague-half-remembered scene I recalled from 20+ years earlier!

PhoenixAcres · 07-20-2019, 10:49 PM

I remember poring over a lot of the tv and movie boards. I never actually joined though.

It was cool and I learned a lot there. It was a horrible move to shut it down.

TSMIV · 07-20-2019, 11:11 PM

I was a semi-regular poster there. When they announced the shut down, some assumed it was because there was too much political fighting on the boards. I didn't post in the general topics boards so I didn't see much of the political stuff. I still miss it because there really isn't any place like it on the web. It was the most active site for TV/movie discussions.

Quote:

It was cool and I learned a lot there. It was a horrible move to shut it down.

I totally agree. I don't go to imdb nearly as much since they shuttered the boards so I doubt it was a good financial decision by Amazon. The site needs clicks just as much as any other.

1960'sTVfan · 07-20-2019, 11:27 PM

I didn't know that Amazon now owns IMDB. That must explain why whenever I go on IMDB now to research some information, there are Amazon ads splattered all over the site.

opus · 07-21-2019, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

I used to read ‘em, but I’m pretty sure I never actually posted there.

I think I remember why. Were those the boards that wanted a cell number to verify you before you posted? I didn’t have a cell phone till after they ended.

(If that wasn’t IMDb, someone had that system that stopped me).

SitcomsHeydayfan · 07-21-2019, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I was a member since 2003 and I liked it being a "free for all" where posters said whatever they wanted.

As for why they closed, IMDb said the boards were obsolete in the social media age but it is alleged that the real reason was that the boards couldn't be monetized.

But the IMDB site itself isn't monetized! I've been going there almost 20 years & NEVER paid them a penny! I don't know anyone who has and I've never seen anything there for sale.

If you're talking about advertising then they could've added advertising to the message boards. Other boards have done that. Facebook comes to m ing which is basically one GIGANTIC message board!

SitcomsHeydayfan · 07-21-2019, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

I think I remember why. Were those the boards that wanted a cell number to verify you before you posted? I didn’t have a cell phone till after they ended.

(If that wasn’t IMDb, someone had that system that stopped me).

No. You must be thinking of another board. I joined the IMDB boards without entering any cell phone info.

07-20-2019, 06:59 PM	#1
SitcomsHeydayfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2018 Location: The Show Me state Posts: 2,966	How many of you guys remember the IMDB message boards? Did any of you post there? It was really fantastic because any TV show or movie you could think of had their OWN message board! Some of the really unheard of movies had ZERO posts on their boards. Another really cool feature was that every ACTOR had his or her own message board too! I've not seen that on any other site anywhere. I posted many times of the John Ritter and Jay Leno message boards. It was a hugely successful message board but they gave around a 6 month warning that they would shut down on 2/20/2017 & unfortunately they did. Rumor has it that Amazon(who bought IMDB) didn't want bad movie/TV reviews getting out on the board. But that's a really DUMB reason IF true because you can find movie and TV reviews all over the web!

07-20-2019, 10:44 PM	#9
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	I remember them; I wasn't a regular there, but I posted there once when I couldn't remember the name of an old 1970s movie, or who it starred, where it was filmed, who directed it, or anything useful. It was driving me crazy, not knowing the name of the film. All I could do was describe a scene. Within hours, someone had posted the name of the movie, based on one vague-half-remembered scene I recalled from 20+ years earlier!
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07-20-2019, 09:29 PM	#3
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,660	I used to read ‘em, but I’m pretty sure I never actually posted there.

07-20-2019, 09:42 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,175	I was a member since 2003 and I liked it being a "free for all" where posters said whatever they wanted. As for why they closed, IMDb said the boards were obsolete in the social media age but it is alleged that the real reason was that the boards couldn't be monetized.

07-20-2019, 10:49 PM	#10
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	I remember poring over a lot of the tv and movie boards. I never actually joined though. It was cool and I learned a lot there. It was a horrible move to shut it down.

07-20-2019, 11:27 PM	#12
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,134	I didn't know that Amazon now owns IMDB. That must explain why whenever I go on IMDB now to research some information, there are Amazon ads splattered all over the site.