2017 Character Cup - Round 4 - Elite Eight

Special thanks to Rendy for making this title card!

Welcome back to the Elite Eight of the 2017 Character Cup.  We're getting a little earlier start than expected, but polls will still be open for about 24 hours.  That means these polls will end around 1 am CST on June 8.After some surprising results and several close polls, we have our final 8 characters.  Thanks to everyone for playing fair and passing the word.  I expect the contest will only get more competitive from here so hang on to your hats and talk those characters up.  (While you're at it, don't forget to discuss the TV Talk Topic.)

In our prediction contest, Noor jumps into first place with 63 points, while Pink Panther and Amber Lacy are right behind in second with 62 points.  It looks like the prediction contest is going to be as close as the real thing.  Woo!  Congrats to everyone whose brackets are not completely toast by now.  As we jump back into round 4, best of luck to everyone and happy voting!


Rules
Stats / Rankings / Bracket


Opening Credits for theme songs:

I Don't Want to Be (One Tree Hill)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme
We Used to Be Friends (Veronica Mars)
Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Cheers)
How Soon is Now (Charmed)
The Ballad of Serenity (Firefly)
The Sanctuary (Angel)
The Big Bang Theory theme

Today's TV Talk Topic:

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's…This Again? (Part 2 because this topic was the most requested in the nominations this year.) Along with the sheer number of superhero shows, the genre has been met with mixed reviews about everything from its roots to storylines and characters. Should superhero-based shows stay true to their source material or focus more on expanding into other kinds of TV viewers? How can they bridge the gap between more comic-driven fandoms and more shipper-driven fandoms? What qualities create a great character on a superhero show? What makes your favorite stick out from the crowd? How important are the secondary characters (ones that at least start out without powers) in the success of a superhero show? Which superhero characters do you want to see in which shows? What character types would you like to see more of?

Theme Song Mini-Contest:

Note - Links to each theme song are above.

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

Quote of the Week - Week of May 28

A weekly feature highlighting the best quotes on TV as picked by the Spoiler TV team. We'd love to hear your picks too so please sound off in the comments below.

American Gods -
1. Media: "Mass delusions are as old as I am. I was there when the Martians invaded in 1938. What a panic, powerful panic! Now there are star men waiting in the sky. They believed it was true, and it was." (Milo)

The Americans -
1. Tuan: "You should know I already sent my report on the operation. I don't you want to be surprised. In my self-criticism, I acknowledged the mistake I made in contacting my previous family in Seattle." Elizabeth: "Tuan, we don't..." Tuan: "It's alright. My organization will forgive me. I said you both did a lot of great things during our work together. But I had to point out there were certain lapses during your cover arrangements which I told you about during the operation." Elizabeth: "Yes, you did." Tuan: "I also put in my report that I believed the success of the mission was risked at the very end because your commitment to achieving our goal was overridden by certain petty, bourgeois concerns." (Dark UFO)
2. Elizabeth: "The head of the Soviet Division? I'm sorry." Philip: "It's OK. It's why we came here." Elizabeth: "Maybe you should stop. You need to keep getting the recordings, but maybe you should stop." Philip: "You need me, Elizabeth." Elizabeth: "Not for this. I'm making you stay and it just keeps getting worse for you. I don't want to see you like this anymore." (Dark UFO)

Doctor Who -
1. The Doctor (on humanity): "In amongst seven billion, there's someone like you. That's why I put up with the rest of them." (Milo)

Fargo -
1. Sy: "The world is wrong. It looks like the world, but everything's different." (DarkUFO)
2. Chief Dammick: "Only an intellectual could believe something so stupid." (Dark UFO)
3. Yuri: "You should think of what you're doing. Man. Alone. In a room full of books. Talking to himself. Or maybe you think I'm your conscience. How's that story? Ghost of Christmas Past? You came back for a reason, I'm thinking. The gun? It's there on the counter. Pick it up, your gun. Now go." (Dark UFO)

The Leftovers -
1. Patti: "May God have mercy on your soul if there is a god, which there is not." (DarkUFO)
2. Secret Agent Kevin: "Take this thing out of me." President Kevin: "Why?" Secret Agent Kevin: "So we can't ever come back here again." (DarkUFO)
3. Secret Agent Kevin: "We f*** up with Nora." (DarkUFO)
4. Secret Service Agent: "Now your penis please, sir." Kevin: "My what?" Agent: "Your penis. Place it on the other scanner please, sir." Kevin: "Why?" Agent: "Mr. President, due to advancements in plastic surgery, anyone with enough resources can copy a person's face. But your, uh, your penis, sir, well, they're not gonna go to that length." (Bradley)
5. President Kevin: "I'm not f*** killing him." Assassin Kevin: "Good, 'cause I'm not f*** letting him." Patti: "Gentleman, language." Both Kevins: "F*** you!" (Bradley)
6. Patti: "I couldn't enlighten you with a f*** thousand watt bulb." (Bradley)

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Sweet Sixteen

Welcome to the Sweet Sixteen of the Character Cup.  Thanks to everyone for their patience and for playing fair.  Joining round three is Caitlin Snow, Sarah Manning, Alex Danvers, Sara Lance, Lucifer, Buffy, Fitz, and The Doctor.  Still rocking first place in our Prediction Contest is Agent of Space with 48 points, but right behind are Joasiary and Amber Lacy with 47 points. Nice predicting! Mine just keep getting sader and sader with each round, so if you'rein the same boat, I feel you.

Today we also add on the mini-contest.  Remember that any show that still has a character in the real contest is not eligible for the mini-contest so that means heavily nominated TV themes like Game of Thrones and Buffy were not included.  I'm sorry if those are your favorites but it would be no fun to have a mini-contest with the same shows as the Character Cup.  Happy voting to all!


Rules
Rankings / Bracket

Today's TV Talk Topic:

Usually when I ask for TV Talk Topic suggestions, they are pretty evenly spread out over a plethora of subjects.  This year, however, superheroes were by far the most nominated topics.  So much so that I had to break it into 2 categories just to cover it all.  So for the next 2 days, it's all superheroes.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's…This Again?  (Part 1 because this topic was the most requested in the nominations this year.)  Post-Smallville, TV went through a superhero dry spell.  Now they are all over the TV landscape.  Has the superhero genre gone overboard and mutated into its own archnemesis or are there plenty of alternate worlds left for all of them?  What superhero show do you think still needs to be created?  Which ones would you let go?  What makes a superhero or comic-based show stand out in a crowded lineup?  ?  Are there crossovers and other marketing events you'd still like to see or have they been overdone?  Which storylines would you like to see become more common and which are largely played out?

Theme Song Mini-Contest:

Third Annual Summer "Pitch Your Show" Nominations

Summer's here and as every TV fan knows, it's time to start that time honored tradition of binging all the shows you didn't get around to in the regular season. But how are TV addicts even to know all the great shows they've missed under the sheer glut of shows that have aired? Enter Pitch Your Show - Summer Version. It's your time to shine the spotlight on your favorite shows and encourage others to try them. The midseason version focuses specifically on low-rated shows that are currently airing, but there are no such stipulations in the summer post. So brush off the cobwebs of your favorite TV series and help a fan out. Do you know a show that's perfect for marathoning? Have you come across one that needs a cult following? How about a recurring show that will be airing in fall that people should get caught up on now so they can join the current season?

The whole idea behind Pitch Your Show is for people to find new shows to check out while waiting for the fall season to start. All you have to do is nominate your show in the form below and tell us why we should be watching it. Feel free to nominate as many different shows as you'd like. The most persuasive pitches will go into the article that will be posted in a couple of weeks. (I make sure that all nominated shows are represented but if a show gets too many responses, then I put the best arguments for why to watch it in the actual article.) A link will be provided in the article so all nominations and comments can be read, not just the posted ones.

Rules:

1. You must put your name, the show, and why people should watch the show. You do NOT have to know where it is airing but more people will watch it if they know where to look. (Hint - sometimes it is easier to type your reason in a word processing program and then cut and paste it into the form, especially if it is a long response.)

2. Only scripted shows (network, cable, or streaming / still airing or ended). No reality TV.

3. You can submit as many shows as you wish but this is not a popularity contest so there's no need to nominate a show multiple times with the same comment. I will take the most thoughtful comments for each show nominated and there are no bonus points for a show having the most nominations.

4. The purpose is to persuade others to watch your show. Merely saying "IT'S THE BEST SHOW EVER!!!" won't help. In fact, triple exclamations and having all letters capitalized will probably work against you. Instead focus on why someone who doesn't watch the show should take their precious time to try it. Enthusiasm is only good when backed by details and thoughtful discourse. If you can provide multiple reasons to watch, like good characters and great action, that is even better.

5. Nominations will remain open until June 7.




Any questions? Please leave them in the comments section below and don't forget to tell us what shows you nominated! Not sure how to write your pitch? Check out last year's pitches in the links below.


Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Part E
Part F

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 2B

And with that, my brackets are busted. Again. :-P Yesterday included not only the most votes in a single day for the 2017 Character Cup so far, but it also had the closest round by far with Captain Hook and Eleven trading leads all night. They were tied several times. Meredith vs. Eliot and Gibbs vs. Michael were also super close, with a handful of votes separating them. Because these votes are soooo close, we're going to take a short break in the contest to ensure that all votes are valid once the polling software checks them. Look for round 3 to probably continue on Sunday morning CST. Until the unofficial winners include Bellamy, Gibbs, Carter, Jon, Eliot, Eleven, Felicity, and Jamie. If the winners stay the same, our current Prediction Contest board just got very interesting. In the lead still with 38 points is Agent of Space, while in second is Panos with 36 points. Here's hoping your brackets aren't the hideous mess mine are.


Rules
Rankings / Bracket

Mini-Contest:

This also gives us time to get the mini-contest up and going. For those of you who weren't with us previously, we added in a mini-contest 2 years ago because a lot of people no longer had anyone to vote for after the third round. This gives everyone a fresh start and something new to root for. This year's topic will be....Favorite TV Theme Song! Take a trip back to the TV credit sequence. Did you want to go where everybody knows your name? Did a 3-hour cruise get stuck in your brain? Maybe Saved by the Bell had you feeling alright and you know you wanted to move to Bel-Air with the Fresh Prince. Or maybe you were more into kicking butt with Nerf Herder? Whatever your TV jam was, get your 2 choices in quickly because this will be a very short turnaround. Depending on the number of participants, the mini-contest will either start in round 4 like usual or maybe even in round 3 (depending on how fast I can get it together). Like always, ANY show that is still in the main contest when the mini-contest begins is NOT eligible for the mini-contest since it is designed to spread the voting love. Also, only one submission per person please and just tell me what show it is from. You do not have to name it unless the show had multiple theme songs over the years. If you have any questions, head for the comments. Until then, may the votes be close and your favorite squeak through. Happy voting!

Today's TV Talk Topic:

I Get By with a Little Help from My...Music Director - Since the mini-contest is all about the classic theme song, this TV Talk Topic is all about the music that enriches TV. From background music that sets the mood to soon-to-be hit songs showcased at just the right moment, music is a crucial part of a show so come talk all things music with us, such as: What TV shows have the best theme music? Which ones do you still remember the words from even though you were a kid? Which shows have the best instrumentals? Which ones would you like to change the music on? Have you ever become interested in a band or singer because they were featured in a show you like? Are there any music genres that TV turned you on to? Which bands/singers would you like to hear in a TV show?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 2A

With the start of round two, our 64 characters have been narrowed down to 32 with Lucifer, Lorelai Gilmore, Buffy, Jane Doe, Fitz, Veronica Mars, Spencer Reid, and The Doctor moving on. Who will make it into the Sweet Sixteen? At this point things usually start getting closer in the polls, so don't forget to tweet, post, and otherwise get the word out about your favorite characters' polls. After the first round, our biggest vote getters were Bellamy Blake and Alex Danvers. According to the prediction contest, that's probably not a surprise. Speaking of the prediction contest, a close set of polls in 1D have swiched our leaderboard again. In first place with 27 out 32 correct predicitons is Agent of Space. Second place currently includes Chestal and LBT with 26 out of 32. Congrats to all! To those whose brackets seem to be hopelessly broken, like mine, don't give up. Who knows what will happen in the next few rounds? Remember that this year every poll is worth 1 point so the later rounds are not weighted. That gives everyone more of a fighting chance.

Since we're now in round 2, rules have gone to a link instead of being posted. If you are just now joining, please make sure you click the link below. Stats will also be updated sometime today for those who like the numbers to geek out on. Thanks for making this tournament drama-free so far. I appreciate it. Just a reminder that it is still one vote per person per poll and polls remain open for about 24 hours each. Until tomorrow, don't forget to respond to the TV Talk Topic and as always, happy voting!



Rules
Rankings / Bracket

Today's TV Talk Topic:

We Interrupt Your Program for This Very Important PSA - Generally we don't do highly controversial subjects or show-specific topics here, preferring the broader ideas that keep in the spirit of a "just for fun" contest. No, best ship conversations here. However this nominated topic is definitely thought-provoking and could have a much-longer reach than just the original topic. It spurs from the current debate over 13 Reasons Why and its depiction of teen suicide. I do not watch the show but the debate seems to be between people who think that it glorifies suicide and people who think that it humanizes it. The essential question is what responsibility does TV have when depicting sensitive topics? Does that responsibility change based on what demographic (adults, teens, kids) it is aimed at? What sensitive issues have your shows tackled? Which issues do you think should have more/less TV coverage? How does TV in general treat subjects like suicide, rape, racial relations? Which TV shows have covered these issues well and which ones were abject failures?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1 D

Welcome back to the final set of polls in round one. 64 characters entered but only 32 can progress. Who will join our previous winners? We saw our tightest finishes yet in the last set of polls with Klaus vs Daryl and Walter vs Walter, exciting contests the entire time. Because the votes were so close we will need to wait for the votes to be checked to declare official winners, but it looks like Klaus and Walter Bishop pulled off the win along with Jake Peralta, Caitlin Snow, Kate Beckett, Sarah Manning, Gregory House, Alex Danvers, and Sara Lance. This was a tough round for many in the prediction brackets with a 4-way tie now in first. With only 4 wrong poll predictions, Chestal, Panos, Agent of Space, and Felip pull in the lead. In second are Dahne, Missions, and Lbt. The whole contest is super close so good luck to all. Don't forget to participate in the TV Talk Topic of the Day and as always, happy voting!

If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the polls below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

And the Award Goes To… - With Emmy nominations rapidly approaching, who do you think deserves a nomination? What shows, actors, and genres do you feel get snubbed annually? Which ones are overly lauded? Are there any categories you'd like to see added or taken away? What are your favorite awards - Emmy's, Oscar's, Golden Globes? How do you feel about awards that are voted on by fans instead of people in the industry? For international commentators, what kinds of TV and film awards does your country have? How are they similar/different from the Emmy's? Are the winners usually diverse or are some shows more awarded than others? Has a favorite of yours won? Who are the big TV stars in your country?

2017 Character Cup - Round 1C

We're now halfway done with round 1 and so far there haven't been any big upsets, although Sherlock looked prized to take the round from Felicity in what would have been a bracket buster for most.  Still in the last few hours, Felicity prevailed along with Bellamy Blake, Dana Scully, Jethro Gibbs, Michael Scofield, Sam Winchester, Peggy Carter, Lucy Preston, Jon Snow, Eliot Spencer, Meredith Gray, Captain Hook, Eleven, Liv Moore, and Jamie Fraser.  Today we have a supersized poll set, given yesterday's was smaller.  Also I have started running the stats so be sure to check out the stats link below if you're interested.  In our Prediction Contest, both LBT Fan and Maria Sol have taken the early lead, missing only 1 poll so far each.  Second Place is jammed though with 9 people having missed only 2 polls.  Congratulations to all!  Until next time, don't forget the TV Talk Topic.  It should be a fun, light-hearted one today.  Happy voting!

If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the polls below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Stats / Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

The Cheez-Whiz Factor - We all have shows we watch that others just groan at. What's your "guilty pleasure" that you don't feel guilty about watching? Which shows will you continue to watch no matter what? Which shows/genres do you stick with even if the writing gets super-cheesy? Which shows have iffy acting that you just can't stop watching? In essence, what makes an arguably "cheesy" show worth watching?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1B

Welcome back to the Character Cup. While round 1A is still in the tail end of voting, I decided to post the next section early as opposed to a couple hours later. Same rules apply. About 24 hours to vote and one vote per person per poll. There is one fewer poll than yesterday, but that is simply because that's how many shows fit in the Blogger label limit. The next round will have extra polls. If you have already read the rules and how the Cup operates, please skip to the TV Talk Topic below. If not, to ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

The Internet, Social Media, and Fandom - How has the internet and social media changed TV? Is this for the better or worse? Have storylines and/or character tropes changed because of worldwide access to shows? What are some positives and negatives for fans having unprecedented access to actors, writers, and show runners through social media? How has the internet/social media changed fandom as a whole or you personally as a TV viewer?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup - Round 1A

Welcome to round 1 of the 2017 Character Cup. Woo hoo! I hope this is a fun, surprising, and not too serious contest for all, regardless of the winner. First off, thanks to everyone who helped find pictures for the Cup. I really appreciate it. It allowed me to create the polls early so we could start as soon as the prediction contest deadline ended. You guys rock! Thanks! The Character Cup goes by very quickly so don't forget to check SpoilerTV every day so you can vote, check the prediction standings, and most importantly, participate in the daily discussion. We have a new TV Talk Topic every day and all are encouraged to participate.


To ensure that every has a good time, please read the rules below. While they are written to be less stuffy than rules usually are, it is important that everyone be kind and fair to make this the most fun for everyone.  Rules will be posted throughout round 1 and then a link will be provided to them. There are also links below to the list of character rankings and official bracket. Once round 1 is over, I will hopefully be able to provide stats there as well. The daily TV Talk Topic will also be found above the polls each time.


Rankings / Bracket

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

Today's TV Talk Topic:

You're the Teacher - Grade TV as a whole this year. What worked? What didn't? Which one had a better year - dramas or comedies, broadcast or cable? What grade would you give freshmen TV shows as a whole? Were there any major trends that you enjoyed or did not? Which network had the best season and why?

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she reviews and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, loves live tweeting, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Previously she wrote a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."

2017 Character Cup Rules - Please Read

2017 Character Cup Rules:

1. This is a Silly Internet Contest, Not the Fate of the Nations - This contest is meaningless. The results are meaningless.  No one in TV cares who wins.  It will NOT change the fate of any show anywhere. Don't take it seriously. Have fun. Discuss a lot.

2. Focus on Characters, Not People - Anyone can vote however they want for whatever reason they want and can give their opinion on a character, favorable or not. Talking negatively about a character is NOT the same as attacking fans or the actor. If you don't like what someone says about your character, tell what you love about them.

3. Cheaters Suck - There is nothing more frustrating then having a bunch of cheaters ruin the fun for everyone.  Please remember that it is one vote per person per poll.  Trying to circumvent that is cheating, plain and simple.  It slows down the contest and makes people grumpy.

4. Leave Sour Grapes on the Vine - Yeah, it sucks when your favorite is kicked off by a character you hate. Yep, the winning character always comes from the quickest, most organized fandom. It doesn't mean we can't still have fun. Don't vetch about past polls or life's unfairness and it will be more enjoyable for everyone.

5. Surprise, No Westworld Plot Twists Here - I will do my very best to keep the contest running smoothly, but I'm only human.  I apologize in advance for any technical difficulties, spelling errors, and general absentmindedness.  Let me know and I'll fix it.

6. Comments are the Wellspring of Hiatus Life - As you anxiously await the return of your shows, why not distract yourself with a little TV Talk? Each day is a new topic so even if your favorites are out, you can still discuss. While this contest is just a silly piece of internet fluff, the conversation here dives deep so jump on in.

Nuts and Bolts:

1. All polls, even the final one, will be about 24 hours long. A new poll should go up every day with a short break between rounds after Round 3 to filter out any cheating.
2. Everything is head-to-head competition unless there's a tie and then both go to the next round.
3. One vote per person per poll.  Please do not try to cheat the polls.  Please do not encourage other people to try to cheat the polls.  It's annoying, stupid, pointless, and wastes everyone's time.  It makes you look bad.  It makes your fandom look bad.  It makes your character look bad.  It makes your show look bad.  Just don't.

About the Author - Dahne

One part teacher librarian - one part avid TV fan, Dahne is a contributing writer for SpoilerTV, where she recaps, reviews, and/or creates polls for Teen Wolf, The 100, Grimm, How to Get Away with Murder, The Librarians, and others. She also runs the annual Character Cup. She's addicted to Twitter, live tweets a multitude of shows each week, and co-hosts The 100 "Red-Shirted" and Teen Wolf "Welcome to Beacon Hills" podcasts for Southgate Media Group. Currently she writes a Last Week in TV column for her blog and SpoilerTV. ~ "I speak TV."