Weird show mixup “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” & “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller”

Trakt Questions & Help
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Hello All,

old account but due to memory issues I recently found Trakt again and reset everything. So I am more or less new, definitely new to VIP. I was hoping someone more experienced can help me untangle this.this is long and most is for context, to show what all I tried so it’s not suggest and so I don’t look like an ahole who did nothing. So feel free to scroll to the bottom for actual needed steps, they are in bold.

I was browsing Netflix and came across a show I wanted to watch later “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”, since I no longer use the in app watchlists I went to add it to my Trakt watchlist. I didn’t find it on Trakt not a big deal I’ve imported shows into Trakt from TMDB before(Fangoria Chainsaw Awards).

When I went to TMDB and searched “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” and only a show “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” I figured it was just a show about the same subject. Being it had a different name but alluded to the same subject matter. I figured not a big deal I sort of learned how to add shows to TMDB before(while attempting to creating it I learned it was a show that each season has a different name i.e Slasher: Flesh and Blood, so I didn’t finish the adding process.).

When attempting to add “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” upon adding the IMDB ID (tt23826740) and clicking next. During its check for duplicates, it found there were some problems, the IMDB ID was already taken and pointed back to the “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” and said “It looks like we’ve found some potential duplicates. Is the item you’re attempting to add listed below? If so, you don’t need to create a new TV show. Remember, translations are added by going to the TV show in question and adding a new translation there” so I figured maybe same show different name in different regions and decided to investigate and add the English title if needed.

When I started investigating “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” it showed it as a Paramount+ show and even had a trailer branded with a Paramount+ logo, it was a similar trailer to the Netflix trailer but not the same. Being as I am also a paramount+ subscriber as well, I went and searched it for the show on Paramount+ which yielded no results.

So I did some further searching and it appears that it’s and acquired/license show, in a “first of its kind-of-deal” it is in fact the same show Paramount+ has. Paramount+ has the exclusive the right to the UK which is why it’s was branded as a Paramount+ and they decided to name it “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” Netflix has the exclusive rights to the rest of the world which is why it’s branded a Netflix series and they decide to name it “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” so with the message TMDB earlier I thought not a big deal I have edited a show on TMDB(Fangoria chainsaw awards)

I looked and and it already has the alternate title and region, which I am assuming is why it pops up when you search “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”. Maybe I’m picky, too picky but I want it to come up as the show I know it as “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” I initially thought I wouldn’t remember the alternate title but give all that happened I might, but maybe not given it’s a long title and I have memory issues (which is why I started using Trakt in the first place) so maybe not. So I started looking for some sort of solution.

What I ended up finding is “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” has its own IMDB ID(tt23334248) which is different than “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”’s IMDB ID(tt23826740) so I figured I would correct “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” IMDB ID(tt23826740) and clone(if possible) or make a new entry/profile for “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” on TMDB. When I went to do this I found the field for IMDB ID but it’s a locked field(unlike Fangoria chainsaw awards which I made other edits to runtime,etc.) so I can’t change it and I don’t know how to unlock it, wether it’s some kind of rank/rating or paid privilege.

I also found out that it had a locked TVDB ID((427843)field, I don’t know if this matters for/to Trakt.). I have no experience with TVDB, I did however search “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” and it came up with “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” under the aforementioned TVDB ID showing the ‘Don’t Pick Up the Phone” as an alternate name. I also searched “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” independently and it came up with same profile with the same aforementioned TVDB ID.

I thought about creating “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” under the “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” IMDB ID but decide it wouldn’t be right, and ultimately wether it seems like it or not it would have a negative effect on Trakt and the community, not to mention my OCD would drive me crazy about it as well.

What I am hopping can happen is
1. Somehow we can edit the IMDB ID on “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” from “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”’s IMDB ID(tt23826740) to the correct IMDB ID(tt23334248) for “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller”
2. Clone the “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” now under the correct IMDB ID(tt23334248) entry/profile to “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” entry/profileas under the now free IMDB ID(tt23826740) as they are the same show just under different names/acquisition/license/regions.
3. Change all relevant information, main title from “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” to “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” the network from Paramount+ to Netflix and the episode names (Paramount+ gave the episodes actual names(which I prefer)to Netflix’s episode 1,2,3 format(for accuracy to the release) and the release date from “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” Paramount+ release date October 25 2022 to Netflix’s “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”’s release date of December 14 2022

If necessary(it kills my OCD to say this but if it doesn’t effect Trakt it’s someone else’s problem(not to be a jerk))
1.Correct/edit(if possible)the TVDB entry/profile “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” TVDB ID(427843) links to the correct link for IMDB and the new correct TMDB link.
2.Create a new TVDB profile for “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” with all relative information(on this site it seems the would be no benefit or time saved from cloning a profile).
Hope I’m not missing anything

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Just a heads up, this show uses TMDB for data not TVDB. It looks like the show was called Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller an then it was changed to Don’t Pick Up the Phone for US audiences. Here is some discussion on TMDB as to this issue. I did not have a chance to look into this any further… hope this helps.

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That’s what OP already said.

@ OP. Feel free to add your input to the tmdb discussion. For convenience it’s linked here;

But I think you’re out of luck. It’s already added as an alternative title. The original title is pervert because UK paramount released it first.

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Sorry, my bad. My family wanted to watch the season premiere of The Mandalorian without me and I rushed my response.

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Thanks for the info, I think you forgot the link, I found it though. Just for clarification does Trakt not use TVDB data or is it that it just wasn’t used for this specific show ?

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Sorry I deleted the reply the reply format on here is new to me and I got confused. Here’s the original post.

Thank you, I have reopened and replied to This One, This One and used the “Report an Issue” link which created This One

I get what you’re saying and normally I would agree, but TMDB uses IMDB IDs in there creation of their entries/profiles (I’m not sure if they are pulling data from IMDB or what, but nonetheless) and IMDB treats it as two different shows. Being as that’s the case I think TMDB should treat it as two different shows too.

Also on the preexisting discussions it shows there are replies but I can’t see them, is that normal, am I doing something wrong or is it because I’m on a table(I don’t have a computer as mine broke and I have yet to replace it, I didn’t see a need for my use since I have a tablet)

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No worries it was a combination of your and lifeiscrazy’s post that convinced me to pursue this further.

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In case anyone’s following along here is more or less my report and replies to the discussions on TMDB with minor alterations to each to reflected the current discussion that I could see. It more or less contains a lot of the info from my original post just in a debate form, feel free to skip if you like.

“ I am not sure if this site supports UK entries/profiles if it does there should be two profiles one for “Language: en-UK” with the IMBD ID of tt23334248 which points to IMDB’s entry/profile for “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” (Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller (TV Mini Series 2022– ) - IMDb).I would suggest using this profile as it is already setup for the UK information (network, episode titles, episode descriptions, release date, region, proper trailer video, IMDB ID(tt23334248) and TVDB ID(427843) which is the profile of the uk version of the show “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller”(not sure if their site is supposed to support UK shows, but that is a different can of worms)with all relevant information, including pointing to the proper IMDB ID of tt23334248, also pointing here which is correct as this profile is currently setup for the UK version of the show.) the miniseries overview/blurb/description should also be changed from ”Season 1 of Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller premiered on October 24, 2022.” (I couldn’t find/figure out how to edit this and it may even also be a locked field) to “Season 1 of Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller premiered on Paramount+ October 24, 2022.”. Perhaps the “Season 1 of” should be removed as this is a miniseries and a true crime docuseires and is not expected and unlikely to have another season as the story is wrapped up and any further developments would be minute and unlikely to trigger a new season. I don’t know if this is a regional thing and the UK still refers to it as a “season” even though it is a miniseries/docuseries and not expected to have further “seasons”. The Paramount+ should be added for clarification as “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” only exists on Paramount+ and in the UK.

If this site supports UK entries/profiles in addition to the above, a second profile for the US version should be created as well(might be easier to duplicate it and change the relative information as it is actually the same show just under different names and distributers depending on region). With the name “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” and the proper IMDB ID ((tt23826740) now freed up as it has been removed from “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” because its IMDB ID has been corrected to IMDB ID(tt23334248) replacing it. The rest of the relative information should be added. Network:Netflix, Netflix’s miniseries description, Netflix’s episode titles, Netflix’s episode descriptions, Netflix’s release date, Netflix’s trailer and region(s) US and every other region with the exception of the UK.

I was unable to find tv/216312 and whether or not it was merged as another user suggested. If it was perhaps it shouldn’t have been depending on the content of the entry/profile.it may have been the US entry/profile or a duplicate profile using the correct IMBD ID of tt23334248 for “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller”. If possible and depending on the content of the entry/profile it may be beneficial/needed to be unmerged.

I understand the confusion as it is an acquired/license show, in a “first of its kind-of-deal” an it is in fact the same show just Paramount+ has the exclusive the right to the UK which is why it’s all of the current information is branded as a Paramount+ and they decided to name it “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” but Netflix has the exclusive rights to the US and the rest of the world which is why it’s branded a Netflix series and name it “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” I wish they would have both used the same name but they didn’t (if may have to do with copyright or trademark as both shows acquired/licensed it as an exclusives (just in different regions)).

If this site does not support UK entries/profiles and only supports US entries/profiles this profile will need to be completely overhauled. changing all the relative information. Title: “Don’t Pick Up the Phone”, IMDB ID(tt23826740), Network:Netflix, Netflix’s miniseries description, Netflix’s episode titles, Netflix’s episode descriptions, Netflix’s release date, Netflix’s trailer and region(s) to US and every other region with the exception of the UK.

I believe each should list the other as an alternate title since it is in fact the same show(i.e “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” should list “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” as an alternate title and vice verse if this site dose support UK shows and a entry/profile is crated for “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller”)

I Believe that their should be two profiles if this site supports UK shows or the Profile should be updated with the US title and information if it does not. As this site uses IMDB ID’s to create profiles and IMDB treats it as two separate “shows’/profiles, this site should two otherwise what is the point in using the IMDB IDs to create profiles.”

I also signed up for TVDB and edited their entry/profile’s IMDB link to correspond with IMDB ID(tt23334248) link for “Pervert: Hunting the Strip Search Caller” as all the information there also relates to the Paramount+/UK version.

I’ll keep this thread updated with any new development and if anyone else has ideas I am open to hearing them.

I’m not looking for praise although the next statement is going to seem like I am, I am going to continue this journey, but I hope this is benefiting the community and someone at some point finds what I’m doing/done here as useful/helpful. With how much time I’ve spent on this I could have probably just watched the D@mn(don’t know if cussing is allowed) show already.