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Log line

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A log line is a brief summary of a television program or movie, often providing both a synopsis of the program's plot, and an emotional "hook" to stimulate interest.

Uses

There are two principal uses for log lines:

  • In printed form, such as a television listing, a log line serves to inform the reader -- a potential television viewer -- of the content of the program.
  • Television listings are found in printed publications such as local newspapers, magazines such as TV Guide, electronic form on websites, and onscreen programming guides such as those provided by satellite TV and DVR services.

Examples of Log Lines

An Actual Example

Charlie Brown is finally invited to a Halloween party; Snoopy engages the Red Baron in a dogfight; and Linus waits patiently in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin.

-- Log Line for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, as retrieved from titantv.com on 2005-10-25.

A Humorous, Apocryphal Example

The following "log line" has been widely circulated on the internet:

"Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets, then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again."

-- Log Line for The Wizard of Oz, attributed to Richard Polito of the Marin Independent Journal, who writes humorously sarcastic briefs for the paper's daily TV listings.

See also