Random Order Shows

Random-Order Shows

Some TV shows don't need to be watched in order. Sitcoms, cartoons, sketch comedy, anthology series — these are "shuffle-friendly" shows where any episode works.

EasyTV lets you mark these shows for random episode selection instead of sequential viewing.

What Are Random-Order Shows?

For most shows, EasyTV tracks your progress and plays the next episode in sequence:

You watch Breaking Bad S02E05
EasyTV suggests S02E06

For random-order shows, EasyTV picks any available episode:

You're watching The Simpsons
EasyTV picks a random unwatched episode (maybe S08E14, then S03E07, then S15E02)

Good Candidates for Random Order

Show Type	Examples	Why Random Works
Sitcoms	Friends, Seinfeld, The Office	Episodes are mostly standalone
Cartoons	The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park	Self-contained stories
Sketch Comedy	SNL, Key & Peele, MadTV	No continuity between episodes
Anthology Series	Black Mirror, Twilight Zone	Each episode is independent
Reality/Competition	Chopped, Forged in Fire	Episodes don't build on each other
Late Night	Talk shows, variety shows	Standalone episodes

Configuring Random-Order Shows

Adding Shows to Random Order

Go to Settings → Shows → Random Episode Order
Click Select shows for random order...
A selection dialog opens with all your TV shows
Check the shows you want to randomize
Click Save

Removing Shows from Random Order

Same path: Settings → Shows → Random Episode Order
Click Select shows for random order...
Uncheck shows you want to return to sequential order
Click Save

Display

The settings show how many shows are marked for random order:

"3 shows selected" (or however many)
"No shows selected" if none

How Random Order Works

In Browse Mode

When a random-order show appears in the episode list:

The displayed episode is random (not necessarily the "next" one)
Each time you refresh, it may show a different episode
Clicking plays that random episode

In Random Playlist

When a random-order show is picked for the playlist:

A random unwatched episode is selected
Not the sequential "next" episode

Episode Pool

Random selection draws from:

Unwatched mode: All unwatched episodes
Watched mode: All watched episodes
Both mode: Mix based on your ratio setting

Interaction with Episode Selection

The Episode selection setting (Unwatched/Watched/Both) affects random-order shows differently than sequential shows:

Unwatched Only

Sequential Shows	Random-Order Shows
Next episode in order (S02E06)	Random unwatched episode
Progress advances linearly	Progress is scattered

Both only pick from unwatched episodes — the difference is which unwatched episode.

Watched Only

Sequential Shows	Random-Order Shows
Random rewatch	Random rewatch
Same behavior	Same behavior

No difference — both pick randomly from watched episodes.

Both (Mixed)

Sequential Shows	Random-Order Shows
Unwatched: Next in order	Unwatched: Random unwatched
Watched: Random rewatch	Watched: Random rewatch

The "Unwatched episode chance" slider applies to both:

80% chance = mostly unwatched content
For sequential: 80% chance of next episode, 20% chance of random rewatch
For random-order: 80% chance of random unwatched, 20% chance of random rewatch

Hiding from Browse Mode

If you only want random-order shows in random playlists (not the browse list):

Go to Settings → Browse Mode → Appearance
Enable Hide random-order shows

When enabled:

Random-order shows don't appear in the episode list
They still appear in random playlists
Useful for shows you never manually pick

Multiple Episodes Per Show

When Allow multiple episodes of same TV Show is enabled in Random Playlist settings:

Sequential Shows

First appearance: S02E06
Second appearance: S02E07
Third appearance: S02E08