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Christmas TV is crap this year! |
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#51 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,455
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Quote:
It's a shame the BBC are either unable or unwilling to show must watch TV on Christmas Day, it definitely needs freshening up a bit.
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#52 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The dark side of the moon
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Since people have continued to moan, I'll pose the question again - what would you show instead of the current Christmas TV offering?
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#53 |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,342
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The BBC offering has looked tired this year. Mainly dull retreads of old ideas.
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#54 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 668
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Ok, say you move Dr Who to Boxing Day.
On Xmas Day - Post cartoon film a Charlie Higson adaptation of Norman Hunter's Incrediblania stories. A male and female fronted variety show where the hosts get involved with the acts - she becomes a magician's assistant, he sings a duet etc. A lighthearted period crime drama by someone like Anthony Horowiitz. A 75/90 minute one off comedy by a household name writer. A sketch show after the news. |
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#55 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Quote:
Ok, say you move Dr Who to Boxing Day.
On Xmas Day - Post cartoon film a Charlie Higson adaptation of Norman Hunter's Incrediblania stories. A male and female fronted variety show where the hosts get involved with the acts - she becomes a magician's assistant, he sings a duet etc. A lighthearted period crime drama by someone like Anthony Horowiitz. A 75/90 minute one off comedy by a household name writer. A sketch show after the news. Meanwhile, I have Doctor Who, Great British Bake Off and Mrs Brown's Boys all recorded (someone else has recorded Call The Midwife on the box as well). What this thread basically boils down to is one or more of: 1) A longing for the "good old days" (which actually weren't that good at all) 2) "I don't like something so it shouldn't be shown" (classic DS really) 3) Deciding that Christmas TV will be rubbish long before it's even confirmed, then posting about it on or after December 25th The ratings, on the other hand, suggest that the BBC at least get it right. |
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#56 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Waterford Ireland
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The BBC should be brave for 2017 and commission a night of entirely newly authored material both drama and comedy - not a familiar title in sight.
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#57 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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The BBC should be brave for 2017 and commission a night of entirely newly authored material both drama and comedy - not a familiar title in sight.
The BBC One's schedule from late afternoon onwards is specials of some of their most popular programmes from throughout the year (or that are popular in their own right at Christmas, e.g. Mrs Brown's Boys). It would be absurd to replace them with completely new and untested programming. |
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#58 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Waterford Ireland
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Why would it be absurd? BBC One wins the war every year, let the licence fee backed station take some risks for once. they might even discover they still win the war.
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#59 |
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Why would it be absurd? BBC One wins the war every year, let the licence fee backed station take some risks for once. they might even discover they still win the war.
And is in fact what it's always done. The shows from days gone by that people have listed in this thread were just the (new) Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Call The Midwife and Mrs Brown's Boys of their day. |
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#60 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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There is the odd gem if you search for it. West Side Stories: The Making Of A Classic, yesterday BBC2, was an excellent documentary about the story behind the classic Broadway musical. It also followed on directly from Channel 5's screening of the multi Oscar winning movie version, which was a nice bit of inter channel co-operation.
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#61 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
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40 years ago Boxing Day on BBC Television.
Boxing Day on BBC1 this very time in 1976 - http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules...don/1976-12-26 Boxing Day on BBC2 in '76. It didn't even start until 1.35pm! - http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules...and/1976-12-26 Not quite wall to wall classics. Two great programmes tonight are The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, part 1 of 3 is on BBC4 at 8pm. Also at 9.30pm on BBC2 - The Entire Universe, a comedy with Professor Brian Cox and Eric Idle. ![]() |
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#62 |
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
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That all sounds terrible.
Meanwhile, I have Doctor Who, Great British Bake Off and Mrs Brown's Boys all recorded (someone else has recorded Call The Midwife on the box as well). What this thread basically boils down to is one or more of: 1) A longing for the "good old days" (which actually weren't that good at all) 2) "I don't like something so it shouldn't be shown" (classic DS really) 3) Deciding that Christmas TV will be rubbish long before it's even confirmed, then posting about it on or after December 25th The ratings, on the other hand, suggest that the BBC at least get it right. I've been watching BBC 1 either live or on catch-up all over the holiday. A really good schedule this year. |
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#63 |
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Join Date: May 2014
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40 years ago we still had only had 3 channels,. people still spent time with families, instead of sitting in front of a TV, maybe they should that now.
If you want proof of this, look at the ratings for Xmas Day 40 years ago, which are often cited as proof of the supposed 'quality' of TV at the time. |
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#64 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wiltshire
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Last night I watched EastEnders, Still open all hours, The Witness for the Prosecution followed by Outnumbered. All that on BBC One. To me, it was a great schedule. TV is now crap to some people because viewing habits have changed. People now stream content from the Internet and binge watch tv series, and it's natural they find linear TV boring.
TV is not crap, it's better today then ever before as we have so much to choose from. As for Christmas TV, I am afraid that it doesn't make any sense in today's world. Back in the old days, we had to wait for years to be able to watch a good film on television and we did not have 50 + channels available like we do today. When you don't have much to choose from, of course Christmas schedules looked amazing and interesting because TV stations would invest more money to make good Christmas programmes. - Christmas film premieres nowadays would not make sense when we have Sky Movies, Netflix and other sources to stream VOD content. - TOTP, same as above. Who would anxiously wait to watch TOTP when we have YouTube with billions of music and other videos available just a single click away and available on many platforms, including phones. Not to mention Pandora, Spotify and other music streaming services. |
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#65 |
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They also showed Fleabag episodes late night, that's a great original comedy from BBC III this year, also shown on BBC TWO, was good to see that included in the Christmas schedule.
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#66 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Absolute rose-tinted rubbish. In the 70s the TV would go on in the morning and stay on all day, in every single household I knew of.
If you want proof of this, look at the ratings for Xmas Day 40 years ago, which are often cited as proof of the supposed 'quality' of TV at the time. My dad worked and other people in the family worked, I was still at school, so the TV was not on that often. You can not go by ratings, they was as much a nonsense them as they are now. |
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#67 |
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Join Date: May 2012
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Firstly the cost of the LF for two weeks was £5.60, what can you get or expect for that nowadays? Some expect far too much for £5.60. They expect a personalised service.
Secondly I read the guides, planned recordings of good shows, and have a heck of a lot to now watch and catch up on. I agree with the above poster, few people sit in front of a TV or even on Internet forums all day. They go to religious services, hobbies, families, friends, play games, movies, pubs, sale shopping, etc. Very very few watch TV 24/7. It's easy to record shows then watch, if you plan, there is a lot to see for everyone, but a few will always moan. |
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#68 |
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Join Date: Oct 2013
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Is that all the people you knew had to do was to watch Tv all day?
My dad worked and other people in the family worked, I was still at school, so the TV was not on that often. You can not go by ratings, they was as much a nonsense them as they are now. |
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#69 |
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NW England
Posts: 9,647
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What people are missing are variety specials - a classic sit com, a decent non medical drama or soap.
Christmas Day was a Sunday, so SCD, CTM were always going to be shown. Next year it is a Monday so hopefully the duller stuff can be on Christmas Eve. It is a shame that a variety show cannot be shown on Christmas night - top variety acts, sharp comedians, circus performers and world famous singers. With the right formula it could get 7 or 8 million viewers. Even if viewers did not watch the whole show viewers could dip in and out of the programme 8-10pm. Here is my ideal schedule on BBC One Christmas Day peak time 5.00pm Disney Film Premiere 6.15pm News 6.30pm EastEnders 7.00pm Strictly Christmas 8.00pm Variety Show 10.00pm Mrs Brown/ Miranda / Michael McIntyre 10.40pm News 11.00pm Movie Premiere Action or Comedy 00.30am BBC News Channel |
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#70 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: airdrie near glasgow
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Quote:
There is the odd gem if you search for it. West Side Stories: The Making Of A Classic, yesterday BBC2, was an excellent documentary about the story behind the classic Broadway musical. It also followed on directly from Channel 5's screening of the multi Oscar winning movie version, which was a nice bit of inter channel co-operation.
Well worth a watch on iPlayer |
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#71 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Quote:
What people are missing are variety specials - a classic sit com, a decent non medical drama or soap.
Quote:
Christmas Day was a Sunday, so SCD, CTM were always going to be shown. Next year it is a Monday so hopefully the duller stuff can be on Christmas Eve.
What has Sunday got to do with it?The Christmas specials of Strictly Come Dancing and Call The Midwife have always been on Christmas Day (for as long as Christmas specials of these programmes have been made, natch). Quote:
It is a shame that a variety show cannot be shown on Christmas night - top variety acts, sharp comedians, circus performers and world famous singers. With the right formula it could get 7 or 8 million viewers. Even if viewers did not watch the whole show viewers could dip in and out of the programme 8-10pm.
Variety shows are invariably rubbish. They try to cater to everyone, and end up catering to no-one.The current formula works. Each and every one of the Christmas specials was from a popular series. Why on earth shouldn't the BBC opt for such programmes? |
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#72 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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Your father and others in the family all worked on Xmas Day? You were at school on that day too?
Our family was not a Tv family, we used to play a lot of board games, something people do not do these days, which is sad. |
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#73 |
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Xmas day, no, but you did not say that first of all. xmas day the Tv did not go on until the evening.
Our family was not a Tv family, we used to play a lot of board games, something people do not do these days, which is sad. Happy New Year |
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#74 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 941
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Quote:
What people are missing are variety specials - a classic sit com, a decent non medical drama or soap.
Christmas Day was a Sunday, so SCD, CTM were always going to be shown. Next year it is a Monday so hopefully the duller stuff can be on Christmas Eve. It is a shame that a variety show cannot be shown on Christmas night - top variety acts, sharp comedians, circus performers and world famous singers. With the right formula it could get 7 or 8 million viewers. Even if viewers did not watch the whole show viewers could dip in and out of the programme 8-10pm. Here is my ideal schedule on BBC One Christmas Day peak time 5.00pm Disney Film Premiere 6.15pm News 6.30pm EastEnders 7.00pm Strictly Christmas 8.00pm Variety Show 10.00pm Mrs Brown/ Miranda / Michael McIntyre 10.40pm News 11.00pm Movie Premiere Action or Comedy 00.30am BBC News Channel No to that schedule. I preferred the one this year (apart from Call the Midwife and EastEnders - but that is because I don't watch it). A better schedule: 3:00 The Queen 3:10 Film: Frozen 4:45 BBC News 5:00 Top of the Pops 6:00 EastEnders 6:30 Call the Midwife 7:30 Doctor Who 8:30 Strictly Come Dancing 9:30 EastEnders 10:00 Mrs Brown's Boys 10:40 Michael McIntyre's Big Show - allow for more adult humour These are the shows that gets the most viewers on BBC One, so the BBC will put them out, strongly believing they will gain more viewers than ITV. Anyway, to everyone who has moaned on here. You don't have to watch TV. It is a choice. There are times I don't anything interesting on. If I find nothing to watch on 'live tv', there are films on Sky Cinema, boxsets on my Now TV, or something away from TV. |
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#75 |
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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I've not had much time to watch TV over xmas but I'd say there was plenty to watch if you had the time to do so.
Xmas day I cooked Chine of Beef for eleven and have more stuff recorded than I can realistically watch. We did have a home Backgammon tournament on the go
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