diff --git a/SickBeard.py b/SickBeard.py
index 1242ae88..2671f382 100755
--- a/SickBeard.py
+++ b/SickBeard.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import functools
 
 import sys
 import shutil
+from sickbeard.exceptions import MultipleShowObjectsException
 
 if sys.version_info < (2, 6):
     print "Sorry, requires Python 2.6 or 2.7."
@@ -84,6 +85,8 @@ def loadShowsFromDB():
     Populates the showList with shows from the database
     """
 
+    logger.log(u"Loading initial show list")
+
     myDB = db.DBConnection()
     sqlResults = myDB.select("SELECT * FROM tv_shows")
 
@@ -329,18 +332,12 @@ def main():
     # Initialize the config and our threads
     sickbeard.initialize(consoleLogging=consoleLogging)
 
-    sickbeard.showList = []
-
     if sickbeard.DAEMON:
         daemonize()
 
     # Use this PID for everything
     sickbeard.PID = os.getpid()
 
-    # Build from the DB to start with
-    logger.log(u"Loading initial show list")
-    loadShowsFromDB()
-
     if forcedPort:
         logger.log(u"Forcing web server to port " + str(forcedPort))
         startPort = forcedPort
@@ -387,6 +384,9 @@ def main():
         sys.exit()
 
     def startup():
+        # Build from the DB to start with
+        loadShowsFromDB()
+
         # Fire up all our threads
         sickbeard.start()
 
diff --git a/sickbeard/__init__.py b/sickbeard/__init__.py
index ba7828fb..cb03674b 100644
--- a/sickbeard/__init__.py
+++ b/sickbeard/__init__.py
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ traktCheckerScheduler = None
 showList = None
 loadingShowList = None
 
-providerList = []
-newznabProviderList = []
-torrentRssProviderList = []
-metadata_provider_dict = {}
+providerList = None
+newznabProviderList = None
+torrentRssProviderList = None
+metadata_provider_dict = None
 
 NEWEST_VERSION = None
 NEWEST_VERSION_STRING = None
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ INDEXER_DEFAULT = None
 INDEXER_TIMEOUT = None
 SCENE_DEFAULT = None
 ANIME_DEFAULT = None
-PROVIDER_ORDER = []
+PROVIDER_ORDER = None
 
 NAMING_MULTI_EP = None
 NAMING_PATTERN = None
@@ -413,17 +413,17 @@ TIME_PRESET_W_SECONDS = None
 TIMEZONE_DISPLAY = None
 
 USE_SUBTITLES = False
-SUBTITLES_LANGUAGES = []
+SUBTITLES_LANGUAGES = None
 SUBTITLES_DIR = ''
-SUBTITLES_SERVICES_LIST = []
-SUBTITLES_SERVICES_ENABLED = []
+SUBTITLES_SERVICES_LIST = None
+SUBTITLES_SERVICES_ENABLED = None
 SUBTITLES_HISTORY = False
 SUBTITLES_FINDER_FREQUENCY = 1
 
 USE_FAILED_DOWNLOADS = False
 DELETE_FAILED = False
 
-EXTRA_SCRIPTS = []
+EXTRA_SCRIPTS = None
 
 GIT_PATH = None