Stargate - Universe.

I agree with you tnfkamr about with programs like x factor and amercian idol, stuff like that is being shown and its pure shit. What happened to good quality programs all gone now. Theres now only a few programs left like 24, smallville, prison break and supernatural.

The four you mentioned are all American, there's even fewer in this country. Only the BBC, with no shareholders to answer to, is willing to allow a show the time it needs to mature. ITV spent millions on that abomination that was Britannia High, then scrapped it after one series. They did the same with a naval drama called Making Waves, which they still haven't shown the final few episodes of two or three years down the line and got rid of Ultimate Force despite good viewing figures, it was just costly to make! The promising Demons will probably face the same fate. It seems like if you can't stick a premium rate phone vote on the end of the program then ITV don't want to know.

I never thought I would find myself saying this, but as far T.V. goes (And only in that context!) God Bless America! (chuff me that hurt)

Ouch.....I felt your pain from here mate, lol, you're right about Demons being promising, I just hope ITV do the right thing and give this show a chance. BBC have done alright with Merlin, it's cheesey fun, but they cocked up Robin Hood big time when they killed off Maid Marion, she was fit

Those two are perfect cases in point. No shareholders to grovel at, so a 13 episode run at massive expense and given the time to find their feet (although Robin Hood sucked IMO, they took away everything that made previous Robin Hoods Fun), it looks like Merlin will get a second series. Doctor Who goes from strength to strength and Torchwood is coming back (don't like that show, can't abide Barrowman!) They make back production costs on DVD sales because they are both willing and able to take risks. ITV will never learn, because no-one there is actually grounded in television, the bosses are all corporate, bottom-line types. In this country only the BBC are willing to make big budget sci-fi, as only the beeb are run by people more interested in making good telly than profit. Hence the BBC are committed to Doctor Who, Torchwood, Merlin and Blake's seven while ITV dawdle over primevil series 3 and don't know what to do with Demons. It's sad, as it's the viewers who lose out in the long run.

You're a wise man gummidge, a wise man indeed.
I'm looking forward to the next series of Doctor Who, the crimbo ep was fantastic, so it bodes well for the new stuff. Although I'm gutted Tennants leaving, I don't know if the new guy will be able to fill his shoes.

God I hope so! Eccleston and Tennant were a huge part of the show's revival, and the thought of all of that work being thrown away on, well... a pretty boy, is unnerving. Steven Moffat is a brilliant writer and producer so hopefully he chose wisely, after all just 'cos the lad is young, that doesn't mean he can't act! At least that's the mantra I keep repeating to myself everytime I think about the new Doctor I hope it's true.

I watched the Doctor Who confidential special about the history of WHO and the new guy, although I've never seen him act in anything, he does have air of eccentricity about him, so with the right direction/writing he could pull it off. I'm not sure about the Lily Allen rumours though...although I do have a thing for her!

I have a thing for her too... A cudgel! Just kidding, she might be able to act. A lot of people thought Billie Piper would fall flat, but the show still hasn't properly moved on from her time on it. Maybe the new Doctor will help in that regard. I just hope that having a younger Doctor doesn't encourage the writers to turn it into Dawson's Crack with time travel! I can't picture it with the writers they have, but Who knows... (Who knows! see what I did there? The capital letter to imply the doctor and the common phrase... oh, please yourselves!)

tmfkamr-gummidge Wrote:I have a thing for her too... A cudgel! Just kidding, she might be able to act. A lot of people thought Billie Piper would fall flat, but the show still hasn't properly moved on from her time on it. Maybe the new Doctor will help in that regard. I just hope that having a younger Doctor doesn't encourage the writers to turn it into Dawson's Crack with time travel! I can't picture it with the writers they have, but Who knows... (Who knows! see what I did there? The capital letter to imply the doctor and the common phrase... oh, please yourselves!)

What you like

tmfkamr-gummidge Wrote:It's not just the writer's strike to blame. American t.v. has always been a very cut-throat industry. The major free to air networks (NBC affiliates, CBS affiliates etc.) and those on basic cable (Fox, WB etc.) have absolutely no public funding whatsoever. Not a penny. Like ITV in this country, they are so far in hock to banks and investors that if a show doesn't pull in an audience in the first few weeks it's zapped from the schedule without mercy, as they can't afford a drop in advertising revenue. The only channels willing to take risks on a show long term, in the hope of building an audience are the pay t.v. channels like HBO or Showtime as they're propped up by subscription fees, pay-per-view sport profits and advertising. That's why things keep getting dropped for "reality" shows, just like they do over here on the ITV network. It seems like more people are willing to watch x factor/American idol or that jungle thingy than quality television. Sucks doesn't it? At least Stargate Universe will be on Sci-Fi Channel(in th U.S.), so people know exactly what they're tuning in for.

I think a lot of the problem is the over reliance on back catalog material to fill schedules or re syndicating older series to other networks, and recoup costs over and over on older material released on DVD and between on that is the Reality stuff. Things are becoming stale but nobody at the top cares as long as the money roles in. As you have stated its all about revenue from Advertising or Product Placement. The Few bright sparks of light at the end of tunnel maybe some of the Niche Online Original Content providers who while not being able to shake the tree of the industry may be able to pull on a branch or two and change the landscape a little.