Channel 4 - Embarrassed By Its History?
Am I alone in thinking that as time goes by the Channel 4 retrospective on More4 is being more and more downgraded to the point it's being regarded as almost an embarrassment by the channel?
Consider this: on 1 October slap in the middle of primetime we were treated to the truly historic highlights of Channel 4's opening night. Since then the programmes have been on later and later and last night we had Brass Eye at 11.40pm, The Secret Cabaret at 12.10am and Kabaddi screened at 12.40am (also why was this part of the celebrations - yes, it was interesting to watch, is an ancient sport no less, but as the announcer informed us was originally transmitted in 1997 at something like 4 in the morning)! Now, I can understand - and indeed I have put forward - why there is no place for this nostalgia on Channel 4 proper but I fail to see why the season is not being given more of a push in primetime instead of what is rapidly turning into the graveyard shift!
Consider this: on 1 October slap in the middle of primetime we were treated to the truly historic highlights of Channel 4's opening night. Since then the programmes have been on later and later and last night we had Brass Eye at 11.40pm, The Secret Cabaret at 12.10am and Kabaddi screened at 12.40am (also why was this part of the celebrations - yes, it was interesting to watch, is an ancient sport no less, but as the announcer informed us was originally transmitted in 1997 at something like 4 in the morning)! Now, I can understand - and indeed I have put forward - why there is no place for this nostalgia on Channel 4 proper but I fail to see why the season is not being given more of a push in primetime instead of what is rapidly turning into the graveyard shift!
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No, but the watershed begins at 9pm not 11.30pm?
Also Porterhouse Blue was getting later and later, the last one on at something like 11.40pm.
Why? Are people more likely to understand satire at that time of day?
If I remember correctly both Brass Eye and The Secret Cabaret were both originally shown at 10pm. Also, what of Kabaddi - what about that is likely to cause such offence that it cannot be transmitted before 12.40am?
I also recall the outraged complaints from parents who had left the tape running after record BB2 for their little ones :eek: - the main strand in BB at the time being would Paul shag Helen!
Yeah, it was on a Thursday (Elizabeth's surprise eviction), before the live final. I think I was the only person in the house who was laughing when watching it, though my family did laugh as a result of me.
Edit: it is really clear some programmes shouldn't be shown at 9 even though that is when the watershed starts. Anyone who disagrees should get the deadwood dvd sets and see if they agree after watching them.
I can understand it when it comes to Queer As Folk as there is simulated gay sex and simulated drug taking but having seen the Brass Eye programme I really don't remember any underage sex - simulated or otherwise - being on there so what is the point? And are we now suddenly in a much more moralistic age than a few years ago? Why? Surely such things as the Brass Eye programme have a lessened shock factor when the content is all known about and it is no longer new.
It's just everyone's jumping on the Brass Eye bandwagon as if by using this it's an explanation for everything when it isn't. Another example is Vic Reeves Big Night Out - on the other night at a quite ridiculous time. And what about Walter - that was shown at 10pm and contained much more shocking content than Brass Eye, but that was the first night hoo-ha, everything since... embarrassment, it appears.
Ironically, you mentioning this "issue" is itself diverting the discussion
Endemol, Big Brother and Russell Brand should put the fear of god into any media studies wannabee that believes this amount of crap can be sustained.
It would be called ITV2 if a channel wasn't already carrying the logo.
Nowadays, Channel 4 is far more commercial and mainstream because there is hardly anymore issues or territories that must be tackled, since we are in a more tolerant society compared to the 80s and 90s. So having Big Brother is not such a bad idea. I have never understand why people accuse Channel 4 of not being original with this show, and accusing of being banal, yet this is the one show that has spawned reality shows (being the first) and isn't as explicit, complicated or too desperate (as well as sensationalist) compared to its previous programming. You may accuse Location, Location, Location and Property Ladder too, as well as Supernanny and Wife Swap, but they are just new methods of previous formats, therefore success.
It was not the first, Castaway on BBC appeared a year before.
I really don't understand. It was a satire on the panic surrounding paedophilia. Why should it be shown at a later time now than it was originally?
And the real moral of the story is that Channel 4 isn't producing programmes like that any more. It isn't the challenging, innovative broadcaster that it used to be.
I know, but Big Brother was the first self-proclaimed reality tv show.