Originally Posted by kezo:
“However we are speaking about STV and this is now. God no more revivals no offence to David Hayman, are STV short on ideas seems so don't you think? Since we are on revivals how about they revive "pick a number" ???
Why does STV/ITV think revivals with work? I prefer programming being with original members - Catchphrase thats a laugh Mr Chips looks like Dusty Bin of 321 and the "catchphrases" they are more of a joke - just read up some on the Catchphrase thread - STV must think the viewers are that thick”
Not forgetting the revived Thingummyjig (Scottish entertainment/country dancing) show from the 1970s/1980s - coming back later this year I believe.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“If Weir's Way is making a comeback, wonder if some sadist at Pacific Quay is wanting to revive High Road. Also I do remember a typically tedious STV series from the seventies called Adam Smith, about a Presbyterian minister. Only STV could make such a slow, dull programme.
However, I do blame ITV for killing off Taggart. The last series was the best one since the nineties, but was little watched and reducing the running time to 50 minutes, made some stories rushed.”
Originally Posted by seiko456:
“100% agreed it was back to where it was in the 80s and 90s at least its last series was one of the best. Of course ITV is also to blame for it going down hill in the first place. Its a shame there could not have been 2 hour long stories, or better still 3 parters!”
Ironically, I never watched Taggart with McManus in it - enjoyed the series when Alex Norton starred. But the 50 min. shows were far too rushed, better the 2hr. (1 hr. 40 mins. after ads out) episodes IMO.
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“Alex Norton put it back on the map after a couple of dull years after Mark Mc Manus died. I think Taggart, which was one of the best detective series of all time, could have been saved if they want back to the eighties approach of three parters.
Out of interest, what are Alex Norton and Blythe Duff, who will always be typecast as DS Reid, doing these days?”
Norton has starred in Silent Witness and Shetland after a stint on Waterloo Road (according to Imdb), Duff less so on tv - seen on stage at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and set up her own production company in Scotland.
Originally Posted by inverness1967:
“Perhaps it was ITV's revenge during the fued they had.”
Originally Posted by Glenn A:
“STV is Border Television reincarnated, a parochial small channel that shows tedious programmes no one in the rest of Britain cares about. It must be very infuriating if they interrupt a popular ITV show with Scottish Passport.
I've always found BBC Scotland more interesting. While STV was churning out Take The Valium( sorry High Road), they had Rab C Nesbitt and have a fine history in drama. However, STV, rather like Border were, has its loyal viewers who will watch even if they were showing people watching paint dry in Cumbernauld because it's local.
While I accept and admire in some ways STV having a local identity, surely their local programmes belong after News at Ten and in daytime.”
Got to agree with you on this - if the progs were high calibre dramas or productions fair enough, but they are cheap tat rubbish.
Originally Posted by kezo:
“But that is also the problem STV and its "homegrown" shows ain't local .... The only thing local to me is my news what they put on is basically comes off from the Clyde, most of the time I get the impression that anything outwith Glasgow does not exist, I have not seen one programme STV make have a presenter from the STV North, as its programming comes mostly from the Clyde yet STV has a bigger upper hand to BBC Scotland! Yet it makes cuts to us (surprisingly)
STV programming would be better sorted out on where to position them properly, the amount of interruptions to shows is unbelivable - STV buy an ITV show ie Cornwall yet can't complete its run but give it one of their own it completes it run (how ironic) - maybe OFCOM are to blame? I don't know but its beyond pathetic after midnight just to go into closedown for Nightshift/screen in this day and age
But why do STV feel the need that the STV public want Scottish Passport on our screens or any of their "charity" shows on ... who decides this?? I rather they made a half assed attempt at making better programming and actually got their programmes out to other networks if they are that desperate for cash rather than keeping it "local" its a joke”
Originally Posted by inverness1967:
“STV has a Head of Drama ..... she must have a zero hours contract”