Citing television episodes accurately and consistently is crucial for academic integrity and proper attribution. The Chicago Manual of Style offers specific guidelines for referencing these audiovisual sources, ensuring clarity and avoiding plagiarism.
Understanding the Chicago Style for TV Episodes
The Chicago Manual of Style provides slightly different formats for citing television episodes depending on whether you are using notes and bibliography or author-date style. The core information, however, remains the same: the episode title, the series title, the season and episode number, and details about the broadcast. This information allows readers to easily locate the source you referenced.
Notes and Bibliography Style
This style is primarily used in the humanities and requires both footnotes or endnotes within the text and a full bibliography at the end of the paper.
Footnote/Endnote Format:
The basic format for a footnote or endnote is:
- “Episode Title,” Series Title, season number, episode number (Network, date of original broadcast).
Example:
- “The Constant,” Lost, season 4, episode 5 (ABC, February 20, 2008).
- Episode Title: Enclosed in quotation marks.
- Series Title: Italicized.
- Season and Episode Number: Specify the season and episode number using numerals.
- Network: The network that originally broadcasted the episode.
- Date of Original Broadcast: The date the episode first aired.
Bibliography Entry Format:
The bibliography entry follows a similar structure but presents the information in a slightly different order and punctuation:
“Episode Title.” Series Title, season number, episode number. Network, Date of Original Broadcast.
Example:
“The Constant.” Lost, season 4, episode 5. ABC, February 20, 2008.
Author-Date Style
The author-date style, common in the sciences and social sciences, uses in-text citations referencing a bibliography entry. Since TV episodes don’t have a single author, we adapt the citation to use the series title and date.
In-Text Citation Format:
The in-text citation should briefly identify the source, typically using the series title and the year of the original broadcast.
Example:
(Lost 2008)
Reference List Entry Format:
The reference list entry is more detailed:
Series Title. Year of original broadcast. “Episode Title.” Season number, episode number. Network, Date of Original Broadcast.
Example:
Lost. 2008. “The Constant.” Season 4, episode 5. ABC, February 20, 2008.
- Series Title: Italicized.
- Year of Original Broadcast: The year the episode first aired.
- Episode Title: Enclosed in quotation marks.
- Season and Episode Number: Specify the season and episode number using numerals.
- Network: The network that originally broadcasted the episode.
- Date of Original Broadcast: The date the episode first aired.
Additional Considerations
- Streaming Services: When citing episodes from streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, replace the network with the streaming service name. For example: “Netflix, September 22, 2004.”
- Multiple Air Dates: Use the original broadcast date, not a later re-airing.
- Directors/Writers: While not required in the basic format, you can include the director or writer after the episode title if relevant to your argument. For example: “Pilot, Part 1,” written by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber, directed by J.J. Abrams, Lost, season 1, episode 1 (ABC, September 22, 2004).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What if I don’t know the exact air date of the episode?
If you cannot find the exact air date, search reputable sources like IMDb or the official network website. If all else fails, provide the year of broadcast and indicate that the exact date is unknown using “n.d.” (no date) after the network information in the notes and bibliography style. In author-date, omit the specific date entirely.
FAQ 2: How do I cite multiple episodes from the same series?
For notes and bibliography style, each episode should have a separate footnote/endnote and bibliography entry. For author-date, each episode will have a separate reference list entry, but in-text citations can be grouped if they occur in the same paragraph and are from the same year.
FAQ 3: Should I include the URL if I watched the episode online?
The Chicago Manual of Style generally advises against including URLs for sources that are readily available elsewhere (like a TV episode broadcast on a major network). If the episode is only available online, include the URL and access date in parentheses after the broadcast date in the notes and bibliography style, or after the network in the author-date reference list entry.
FAQ 4: What if the episode has a two-part title?
Include the entire title as it appears on screen, separated by a colon or hyphen. For example: “The Best of Both Worlds, Part I.”
FAQ 5: How do I cite a TV series in general, without referring to a specific episode?
For notes and bibliography style:
Series Title. Year of original broadcast. Network.
Example:
The Sopranos. 1999-2007. HBO.
For author-date style:
Series Title. Year of original broadcast. Network.
Example:
The Sopranos. 1999-2007. HBO.
FAQ 6: Do I need to include the runtime of the episode?
No, the runtime is not typically required in Chicago style citations for TV episodes. The other information is sufficient for identifying the source.
FAQ 7: How do I cite an episode from a limited series?
The citation format is the same as for a regular TV series. Treat the limited series as the Series Title.
FAQ 8: What if the streaming service doesn’t list the original air date?
Try to find the original air date on reputable sources like IMDb or Wikipedia. If unavailable, use the date the episode was added to the streaming service, and specify in your citation that this is the streaming date.
FAQ 9: Is it necessary to include the season and episode title if I am only referring to the series as a whole?
No. If you are referring to the series as a whole and not a specific episode, the season and episode number are not required. Simply cite the series title and relevant information (network, dates of broadcast).
FAQ 10: How do I cite a commentary track from a DVD or streaming service?
Treat the commentary track like a separate work within the larger episode. You can include the commentator’s name after the episode information. For example: “Pilot,” Lost, season 1, episode 1, commentary by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof (ABC, September 22, 2004).
FAQ 11: How do I handle a foreign language TV show?
Cite the episode in its original language and include an English translation of the title in brackets if necessary for clarity. For example: “Le Voyage dans la Lune [A Trip to the Moon],” Tintin, season 1, episode 1 (France 3, 1991).
FAQ 12: Where can I find more information about Chicago style citation guidelines?
Consult the latest edition of The Chicago Manual of Style (currently the 17th edition) or visit the official Chicago Manual of Style website for detailed guidelines and examples. Many university writing centers also offer helpful resources and style guides.
By following these guidelines and addressing these FAQs, you can confidently and accurately cite TV episodes in Chicago style, ensuring the integrity and clarity of your academic work. Remember to be consistent throughout your paper and always double-check your citations for accuracy.