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What will be the effect of the 2016 Hiatus? |
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#51 |
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It never used to be. Id welcome it back to 1963/1964 when it was on all year round.
These splits are just dumb especially for something thats 12 episodes now american shows that go 20 - 30 episodes id understand but not 12 week run. There's absolutely no way a complex and demanding show like modern Doctor Who could possibly be made and broadcast all year round. You have to consider that it takes the best part of nine months to film and produce 12/13 episodes of 21st Century Who, so it would be utterly impossible to make very much more, even if the team wanted to. Shows like Casualty, or the soaps, which are broadcast all year round are produced by a much larger team, with much larger casts, minimal special effects, and use pretty much the same sets all the time. Re the US fantasy shows - take GoT, it has a much larger main cast than Doctor Who which allows for more flexible filming and less strain on the main actors, plus they have a much larger production team and many more writers etc. Even so, the episodes of many US serials often fluctuate wildly in quality and there are frequently filler weeks as producing that much telly is extremely difficult. I would much rather have 12 weeks of quality Doctor Who, rather than 20+ weeks of Who of extremely variable quality. |
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#52 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
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Most of my friends actually think it's been cancelled. I'm that annoyed with the whole stupid situation that I haven't bothered correcting them.
If they took a year off on Corrie everyone would go completely batsh*t. In any case the show will be back on air in early 2017, which is only a few months later than it would have been expected. Talk about First World problems! Getting 'that annoyed' that your favourite TV show has been delayed by a few months! ![]() There's really a whole load more things happening in the world that are genuinely worth getting annoyed about... |
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#53 |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
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Why? Doctor Who has only been off air for a couple of months. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't be on until at least the autumn anyway, so why would people think it's been cancelled?
In any case the show will be back on air in early 2017, which is only a few months later than it would have been expected. |
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#54 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Television, and Doctor Who, was VERY different back in 1964!
There's absolutely no way a complex and demanding show like modern Doctor Who could possibly be made and broadcast all year round. You have to consider that it takes the best part of nine months to film and produce 12/13 episodes of 21st Century Who, so it would be utterly impossible to make very much more, even if the team wanted to. Shows like Casualty, or the soaps, which are broadcast all year round are produced by a much larger team, with much larger casts, minimal special effects, and use pretty much the same sets all the time. Re the US fantasy shows - take GoT, it has a much larger main cast than Doctor Who which allows for more flexible filming and less strain on the main actors, plus they have a much larger production team and many more writers etc. Even so, the episodes of many US serials often fluctuate wildly in quality and there are frequently filler weeks as producing that much telly is extremely difficult. I would much rather have 12 weeks of quality Doctor Who, rather than 20+ weeks of Who of extremely variable quality. |
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#55 |
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GoT is only 10 episodes (of around an hour) a year anyway
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#56 |
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Apart from a few repeats on W and The Horror Channel, it will be a year (12 months) before any new Doctor Who is broadcast. That's if you go from the last Christmas Special to the next.
As far as I know, the actual air date for Series 10 has not been confirmed yet, but the BBC have been talking about a Spring showing. So March, April? As the Fourth Doctor once said, "Who knows?"
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#57 |
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Proves my point even more! Lost started off with 20+ episodes per season but I think the last few were down to around 15/16 because it was simply too hard to produce any more.
IIRC the writers wanted the show to end after five seasons (with 24 eps in the yet to be produced seasons 4 and 5) while the network wanted a sixth (or more) season. In the end it was agreed to finish it in those same 48 episodes but to spread them out over three years rather than two. There would have been 16 eps in each of seasons 4 - 6 but the writers strike caused season 4 to be shortened and thus 5 and 6 extended, so in the end it went s4 - 14 eps, s5 - 17 eps and s6 - 18 eps. |
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#58 |
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I would much rather have 12 weeks of quality Doctor Who, rather than 20+ weeks of Who of extremely variable quality.
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#59 |
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But what we got was 12 weeks of Doctor Who of extremely variable quality. So would you rather have more weeks of it or not?
I don't see how they could manage even more episodes when the usual 12 to 13 is a push as it is, really. As long as they're mostly good then that's okay. Classic Who often only had about five or six stories per season, but they were very high quality stories, which matters far more than quantity. |
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#60 |
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But what we got was 12 weeks of Doctor Who of extremely variable quality. So would you rather have more weeks of it or not?
During David Tennant's time on the show, DW was regularly getting 8 if not 9 million viewers per episode, but by Series 9 it was down to 3 million, 4 million maybe, at the most. Just goes to show that the writing has gotten sloppy, and the acting at times, wooden. And there was IMO, the worst New Who episode ever, Sleep No More. ![]() The less said about that one, the better! ![]() Just hope that the ratings goes back up to 8 million when Series 10 arrives in a year's time. |
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#61 |
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During David Tennant's time on the show, DW was regularly getting 8 if not 9 million viewers per episode, but by Series 9 it was down to 3 million, 4 million maybe, at the most. The lowest rated episode in Series 9 got 5.61 M viewers, hardly 3 or 4 million at most
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#62 |
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During David Tennant's time on the show, DW was regularly getting 8 if not 9 million viewers per episode, but by Series 9 it was down to 3 million, 4 million maybe, at the most.
Just goes to show that the writing has gotten sloppy, and the acting at times, wooden. . |
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#63 |
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I always sigh at the whole "popularity equals quality" argument because it's such a silly belief that could never be 100% for anyone. Books like Twilight and 50 Shades of Gray are far more popular than ones such as War and Peace, Ulysses and Don Quixote yet that doesn't automatically merit them as objectively greater and I think many wouldn't disagree with that. Popularity has no say in the objective quality because there is no objective quality, only subjective. If someone thinks something like 50 Shades is the greatest piece of literature ever, then fine, and the same vice versa. Entertainment is created for exactly that: entertainment, and it's a very personal thing.
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#64 |
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Not really. No. ALL ratings on ALL programmes are down considerably compared with 8 years ago. It certainly doesn't show at all that the "writing has gotten sloppy". Falling ratings across every TV show has little to do with the perceived quality of the the programmes.
There are other reasons, but these are the biggest reasons for loss of viewers. Most people stream shows now days, instead of watching it on TV, so that is a loss in ratings. And most importantly advertising, and S9, had very poor advertising throughout and that definitely caused less people to watch it. Some Doctor Who examples, The War Games has less ratings than the Dominators, does that make it a worst story than The Dominators? No. Creature from the Pit has one of the highest ratings in the show, does it make it one of the best? You guessed correctly, no it does not. Love and Monsters has a higher rating than Blink. I know which episode is better. So what was the reason for the different ratings? Advertising, no one knows how good an episode will be unless they watch it, and if the advertising is poor less will watch, if it is better more will watch. S4, had the best advertising and thus had the best ratings. It is why the specials also have higher ratings, because those episodes have a lot of advertising directed towards them and everyone knows about it. Back to S9, if the show lost that many viewers, why did they all come back for the Christmas Special? Because of advertising. Not to mention the ratings don't judge many factors, like international audience, people who stream the show, watch it a week or so later, or till the DVD release or whenever. |
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#65 |
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You say that objectively but it doesn't really work like that. For me it was mostly 12 weeks of what was by far the best of C21 Who, so me or anybody else with such an opinion isn't going to see what you're getting at there.
I don't see how they could manage even more episodes when the usual 12 to 13 is a push as it is, really. I admire your use of the word "mostly" in your first paragraph. |
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#66 |
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I say that "objectively" because I am addressing adams66's (apparently false) dichotomy on its own terms. It is a purely formal point, and doesn't have any bearing on whether the makers could actually produce any more episodes in a season.
I admire your use of the word "mostly" in your first paragraph. |
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#67 |
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It never used to be. Id welcome it back to 1963/1964 when it was on all year round.
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#68 |
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Well, here we are... and still at least a year away from series 10.
A few more effects spring to mind. 1. Dis-interest might slip in. The longer it is the more the casual viewer wont really care when and if its coming back. 2. Merchandising. I was in a Forbidden Planet store the other day and all the Dr Who Merchandise has disappeared off the shelves. There are no new toys on the horizon. This one is a bit strange. Surely there is a golden opportunity to release the replicas of the new sonic screwdriver. Ive not seen any mention of one upcoming. I was quite surprised to see it feature so little in the Husbands of River Song. We got a quick flash thats all. Perhaps the prop wasnt ready for primetime yet - but that would have been a good opportunity to show it off a bit, and then start selling the new toy in 2016. Im expecting a new 'TV Remote' model at the least... but when they get round to it, is anyone going to be interested anymore? 3. This forum.... sorry guys! You know theres little to discuss when a thread raised in error produces more replies than any other... We still seem a while away from any scraps of information. Of course when filming starts you'll get the usual bystander photos for people to comb over in fine detail - and there will be the companion announcement which will liven things up a bit round here. ... I'm just hoping that by this time next year there are enough people left who care. Im not talking about us die-hards... I'm talking about the casual viewer that, like it or not, the programme can't really afford to lose. |
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#69 |
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Join Date: Dec 2015
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Well, here we are... and still at least a year away from series 10.
A few more effects spring to mind. 1. Dis-interest might slip in. The longer it is the more the casual viewer wont really care when and if its coming back. 2. Merchandising. I was in a Forbidden Planet store the other day and all the Dr Who Merchandise has disappeared off the shelves. There are no new toys on the horizon. This one is a bit strange. Surely there is a golden opportunity to release the replicas of the new sonic screwdriver. Ive not seen any mention of one upcoming. I was quite surprised to see it feature so little in the Husbands of River Song. We got a quick flash thats all. Perhaps the prop wasnt ready for primetime yet - but that would have been a good opportunity to show it off a bit, and then start selling the new toy in 2016. Im expecting a new 'TV Remote' model at the least... but when they get round to it, is anyone going to be interested anymore? 3. This forum.... sorry guys! You know theres little to discuss when a thread raised in error produces more replies than any other... We still seem a while away from any scraps of information. Of course when filming starts you'll get the usual bystander photos for people to comb over in fine detail - and there will be the companion announcement which will liven things up a bit round here. ... I'm just hoping that by this time next year there are enough people left who care. Im not talking about us die-hards... I'm talking about the casual viewer that, like it or not, the programme can't really afford to lose. |
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#70 |
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After the 18 month hiatus in the 80s, Doctor Who returned to viewing figures that were instantly down by about 2m. It wasn't that people returned for episode one of Trial of a Timelord and decided not to stick with it. They didn't return at all.
So the idea that by being absent for a year the show will automatically build audience anticipation/excitement isn't necessarily true. And we've already lost 1m+ viewers between seasons 8 and 9 so this gap-year is a risk. One thing we do have is a new companion coming on board for season 10 so that might build excitement. And if Capaldi is making this his final year (please lord!) then, again, news that this is a 'regeneration' season might prompt some additional interest. That said, when Matt Smith regenerated, about 2m tuned in only for the final 5 minutes (the regeneration from Smith to Capaldi). So it could be some of those lost viewers will only tune in for the regeneration. |
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#71 |
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After the 18 month hiatus in the 80s, Doctor Who returned to viewing figures that were instantly down by about 2m. It wasn't that people returned for episode one of Trial of a Timelord and decided not to stick with it. They didn't return at all.
. Plus the news that Bonnie Langford would be joining
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#72 |
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Maybe the whole half hearted nature of the return put people off, with all the rumblings about the show being under threat of cancellation, and S23 being effectively only half the length as well.
Plus the news that Bonnie Langford would be joining ![]() The worry for me is that season 22 had maintained strong viewing figures, but when the show returned (with the same cast and in the same time slot on the same day) it instantly lost 2m+ viewers. The current show has already lost viewers. Its just a worry for me that a 'gap year' may not be the smartest move off the back of a drop in viewers. I don't think we can take for granted that this is building audience interest when it might be doing the opposite. |
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#73 |
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Will it be missed - No
Will it loose viewers - Yes All I know is that from a family of four that watched and enjoyed weekly since is return this has now resulted in losing the wife (she didnt like Matt), my Daughter who is now a top end teenager (doesnt like Peter) and worse of all my 12 year old son no longer watches as he sees the show as boring and not impresed with Peter. I personally feel that interest in Doctor Who is waining again, my son was ridiculed for watching it at school which probably goes some way with his decision to stop. But unfortunatley pre-teen and teenagers would now rather watch Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, Sheild which are all at a different level. I have personally enjoyed the Moffatt era but do feelt hat his time has come to a natural end and he shouldn't return for the Xmas special. I'm not entirely on Peter myself or his verion of the Doctor. |
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#74 |
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The one potential upside to having a longer than usual absence is that the BBC should be able to generate a good deal of interest, with the right publicity, ahead of its return. It would, almost by default because of its absence from our screens, be "event television".
The potential downside is that the mainstream audience will still look at it and think "same old, same old". Another risk is that, in the meantime, other shows (e.g. in the Marvel or DC universes) could capture some of the audience, especially the younger end. There's some stiff competition out there right now and I'm not sure the BBC has the resources to compete budget-wise. Since we want a long term future for the show, the younger members of the audience need to be excited and their needs catered for (and not be mocked for liking Doctor Who). A new companion will also help generate some excitement, but a good publicity campaign will be essential. |
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#75 |
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It is having an affect on me! I am missing Doctor Who so much right now...
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