Not to mention all the dramas and plays.
What has happened to TV in this country? There are 8 prime TV channels,
if you include BBC3, BBC4 and ITV2, not to mention countless free-view and
satellite channels to choose from but night after night it's a struggle to find
anything worth watching!
No wonder more and more people are retreating to channels like ITV3,
ITV4 and Drama to watch reruns of reruns of reruns.
Looking back to when there was only two channels and there never seemed to be a lack of programs worth watching then.
Looking back to when there was only two channels and there never seemed to be a lack of programs worth watching then.
The highlight of last Monday night's viewing was seeing if I could answer more
than 3 questions on University Challenge! What does that say about UK TV? (or possibly of more relevance, my intelligence level).
The BBC don't help themselves! This week a well produced and watchable police drama set
in the mid 1950's entitled WPC56, a cross between Heartbeat and The Bill, has
been running every day at 2.15pm. How many people can watch that? Why not show
at prime time?
Current viewing box technology allows you to watch and/or record up to
three programs simultaneously. Why? You are lucky to find one!
Last night was a prime example - saved only by an excellent final
episode of the vastly underrated Benidorm. The script writers for this should
receive a BAFTA and the brilliant Madge an Oscar.
But, with the probable exception of a re-run of the Christmas Special, it won't be on again until next year.
But, with the probable exception of a re-run of the Christmas Special, it won't be on again until next year.
We used to have a tradition in this country for producing brilliant
sit-coms.
The list is impressive:
The Army Game
Till Death Us Do Part
On the Buses
Dad's Army
The Liver Birds
Please, Sir!
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
The Rag Trade
Steptoe and Son
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
The Likely Lads
Love Thy Neighbour
Only Fools and Horses
Blackadder
Vicar of Dibley
Fawlty Towers
Yes Minister
Porridge
Rising Damp
Open All Hours
Hi-De-Hi
The Good Life
One Foot in the Grave
Father Ted
'Allo 'Allo!
Last of the Summer Wine
Men Behaving Badly
Absolutely Fabulous
The Royle Family
Are You Being Served?
The Young Ones
It goes on and on, but where are they now? With the odd exception like Mrs. Brown's Boys, nowhere in sight.
The Army Game
Till Death Us Do Part
On the Buses
Dad's Army
The Liver Birds
Please, Sir!
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
The Rag Trade
Steptoe and Son
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
The Likely Lads
Love Thy Neighbour
Only Fools and Horses
Blackadder
Vicar of Dibley
Fawlty Towers
Yes Minister
Porridge
Rising Damp
Open All Hours
Hi-De-Hi
The Good Life
One Foot in the Grave
Father Ted
'Allo 'Allo!
Last of the Summer Wine
Men Behaving Badly
Absolutely Fabulous
The Royle Family
Are You Being Served?
The Young Ones
It goes on and on, but where are they now? With the odd exception like Mrs. Brown's Boys, nowhere in sight.
Are there no good comedy writers out there or are they more interested
in writing and performing their own material?
With the BBC, still trying to recover from the Jimmy Saville and Stuart Hall scandals, and in financial chaos, all they can concentrate on is saving money by making cuts. They have already succeeded in "de-localising" local radio to the extent that it is no longer worth tuning in to and now seem set on the demise of TV.
With the BBC, still trying to recover from the Jimmy Saville and Stuart Hall scandals, and in financial chaos, all they can concentrate on is saving money by making cuts. They have already succeeded in "de-localising" local radio to the extent that it is no longer worth tuning in to and now seem set on the demise of TV.
Very little money is made available for any new productions but surely it can't be that expensive. It's not rocket science - start with a successful formula, say Hi-de-Hi, bring
it into the 20th century, assemble a small but top class cast and writing team and
bingo - what have you got - Benidorm! It's crude and not very subtle but it makes you
laugh.
Thank heavens for Radio 4,enjoy it before they ruin that too!
With four BBC TV channels to chose from and so few programs worth watching
the solution to their financial problems seems simple to me. Cherry pick the
best of BBC2, 3 and 4 and merge with the news and current affairs of BBC1 and
re-market as one channel, BBC TV. Next, clear out three quarters of the massively
top heavy management structure and encourage the creative people to come up
with the goods. Then perhaps we can start enjoying TV again.
Thank goodness for ITV and Benidorm!
If you haven't seen the Christmas Special and you've got 50 minutes to spare:
Thank goodness for ITV and Benidorm!
If you haven't seen the Christmas Special and you've got 50 minutes to spare:
