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Christmas TV is crap this year!


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Old 28-12-2016, 00:25
sparkie70
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This was Christmas day 1987.
BBC1
14.05 TOTP christmas special
1500 The Queen
15.10. Eastenders
15.40 Film Indiana Jones & the temple of doom
17.35 News
17.45 Ross Abbot
18.25 Only Fools & Horses
19.25 The Two Ronnies
20.15 Miss Marple the 4.50 from Paddington.
22.05 In Sickness & in Health

There is a classic Porridge in there & Noel Edmonds LIVE from the BT tower.

ITV had a Bond film the spy who love me and Inspector Morse & nothing much else.

Not the hayday of the 70s but comedy on BBC 1 was strong with four shows in primetime & no soap in primetime.
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Old 28-12-2016, 03:58
Bill Clinton
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This was Christmas day 1987.
BBC1
14.05 TOTP christmas special
1500 The Queen
15.10. Eastenders
15.40 Film Indiana Jones & the temple of doom
17.35 News
17.45 Ross Abbot
18.25 Only Fools & Horses
19.25 The Two Ronnies
20.15 Miss Marple the 4.50 from Paddington.
22.05 In Sickness & in Health

There is a classic Porridge in there & Noel Edmonds LIVE from the BT tower.

ITV had a Bond film the spy who love me and Inspector Morse & nothing much else.

Not the hayday of the 70s but comedy on BBC 1 was strong with four shows in primetime & no soap in primetime.
Would have been stronger this year to have also had a special episode of something like "Not Going Out" alongside the "Outnumbered" we got which was a nice surprise.

I don't see the point of complaining about the soaps, it's not just that they are obvious ratings winners and there is a lack of thinking of anything else to put on, fans of the likes of Coronation Street & Eastenders want to see what their favourite characters get up to in the context of Christmas, it's an obvious focal point in the continuous stories of the soaps, and it's not just another episode, it's a bit of a treat if you're soap fan to see how everyone deals with Christmas and stories of extra significance are usually thrown in, so the Christmas Corrie, Eastenders etc is going nowhere! Haven't seen all the Christmas Corries yet, looking forward to it.

It's more of a genuine point criticising the networks for not coming up with new original programming of imagination, but it's always something based on something already popular or familiar that does really well at Christmas such as specials of the already beloved "Only Fools & Horses" or "The Royle Family" etc, that's why The Christmas Bake Off went down so well this year, it was something already deep in the nation's psyche. So for really good Christmas programming it needs to be a payoff of stuff they've invested in over the whole year, hence why we badly need new favourite sitcoms that the nation becomes fond of to get decent Christmas specials from, if BBC ONE doesn't have anything exciting on for most of the year it's going to impact on what they can offer us at Christmas as well!

In recent years BBC ONE has been struggling with this, at first they had My Family which usually gave them a good basis for a christmas special most years, then they had a big hit with Miranda which was also great for Christmas but they only got 3 series out of it and wasn't around for many Christmas seasons, they've been down to Mrs Browns Boys and Not Going Out for specials following the dropping off of those two other massive hits. Returning specials of otherwise over but previously massive mainstream hits sometimes come to save the day as we used to see with OFAH, The Royle Family, Ab Fab and the surprise return this year of one more Outnumbered episode. BBC ONE does continue to have the ongoing problem that it doesn't really have a big all round appeal sitcom series that is still running!, Not Going Out is back for another series however and Mrs Brown's Boys may linger on.

As for films there's always the Netflix or I could just buy it on DVD etc argument but would we prefer to have a world in which big films never get shown for "free" at some point to the nation at large, it still does kinda feel like a bit of an event when BBC ONE premieres something like "Frozen" on Christmas Day albeit not as much of one as it would've been if we were literally not able to watch it any other way, the ratings still seem to indicate that these films pick up a decent amount of viewers, people who presumably didn't go out of their way to seek them out on Sky, DVD.Blu-Ray, Amazon or even unofficial torrent or just watch them because they're on.
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Old 28-12-2016, 06:24
snafu65
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Pointless complaining about Christmas TV when there are so many other avenues to explore. We've watched very little broadcast TV but watched loads on Netflix, including The OA, The Crown, Sense8 Christmas Special and some good movies. Also went to the cinema to see Rogue One and watched some Blu-rays.
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Old 28-12-2016, 09:53
CappySpectrum
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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
I cannot say I've watched much TV either. Been having too much fun. Anything I do decide to watch has been recorded. Usually that takes a while to get around to as stuff can sit several months still not viewed.

TV was hardly on Christmas/Boxing Day.
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Old 28-12-2016, 10:54
Rachel2006
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Thank God for my Amazon Fire stick. The TV this Christmas (especially ITV) has been appalling this year.
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Old 28-12-2016, 11:19
John Dough
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ITV just seems to give up, hence the repeats yet again of the Harry Potter films whilst the BBC does at least try to put on new stuff in the midst of a lot of rubbish out of peak hours.

If this is 'special event' scheduling why do they even pretend to be making an effort?
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Old 28-12-2016, 12:55
billpa
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I watched the Nutcracker/Royal Ballet show- it was very entertaining.
I streamed 3 very funny xmas shows, even though I've seen them several times: Him and Her, Friday Night Dinner and Peep Show.
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Old 28-12-2016, 16:58
JEFF62
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I saved Michael McIntyre and Birds Of A Feather for Christmas night so my schedule was this:-

4pm Frozen
5.45 Doctor Who
6.45 Michael McIntyre
8pm Birds Of A Feather
9pm Coronation Street
9.50 Eastenders

A good mix of variety, comedy and drama and great to have Birds Of A Feather back on Christmas night. I was going to end the night with Mrs Browns Boys until my wife looked her iPad and said you wont believe who has died. Then I went Sky news. Sad end to the day.
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Old 28-12-2016, 17:15
hyperstarsponge
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The George Michael tribute was very good to watch last night.
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Old 28-12-2016, 18:10
Jimez
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It's certainly been slim pickings this year. All i can say is thank god for Netflix and NowTV. If anything, all i've really watched is what was on Christmas Day, didn't watch anything either side or onwards so far. Mrs Brown's Boy's wasn't particularly great this year, it's like they were trying too hard for the laughs and it slapped them in the face a bit.

Otherwise, all i've been watching is classic Sharpe and various movies. And catching up through the pile of games i have.
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Old 28-12-2016, 18:30
dave_windows
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoWv9AZExCE
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:02
miss buzzybee
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Apart from the soaps, EE and Corrie I watched Witness for the Prosecution which was a bit lacking. Even the soaps were meh. Only other thing I will watch is The Real Marigold on Tour. Christmas TV not what it used to be
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:55
rfonzo
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Netflix, Amazon Prime, catch up/on demandTV, DVDs, Boxsets, online entertainment etc etc.
This seems to be not only the way Christmas TV is going.but all TV. My sister watches all her TV via Netflix.
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Old 29-12-2016, 19:28
ML11
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Is it compulsory to watch TV at Christmas?

Why not listen some good music if you have any on CD or good old vinyl, I mean, come Hogmany night, me and my wife will be in our music room to listen to our favourite sounds rather than having the TV on. Being a native Scot in Scotland, Jackie Bird and co with all that hoochin and choochin gets on my wick
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Old 29-12-2016, 20:23
cnbcwatcher
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Is it compulsory to watch TV at Christmas?

Why not listen some good music if you have any on CD or good old vinyl, I mean, come Hogmany night, me and my wife will be in our music room to listen to our favourite sounds rather than having the TV on. Being a native Scot in Scotland, Jackie Bird and co with all that hoochin and choochin gets on my wick
I don't think it is, but my mother seems to think it is. She's a bit old fashioned in that sense and seems to think she's obliged to watch Christmas TV. Then she moans if me or dad decide to go on the internet or play video games instead. I listened to music more than I watched TV at Christmas. I spent a good portion of the day on Youtube.

This seems to be not only the way Christmas TV is going.but all TV. My sister watches all her TV via Netflix.
I have a friend who does the same. She has no TV and she just streams the few shows she wants to see. She manages quite well without it.
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Old 29-12-2016, 22:01
ney
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Indiana Jones movies although very good have been repeated on the BBC far to offen now.
Would not have minded if the Indiana Jones movie from the last few years Kingdom of the crystal skull had been shown. As that's not really been on TV much. The other Indiana Jones movies have been shown 3 times in the past 4 years.
I did watch the amazing Spider-Man 2 on STV HD earlier and I did enjoy the movie. It was only the second time I had seen the movie.
I did watch The Simpsons on CH4 the other day.
I also watched the film the Glenn Miller Story on CH5 yesterday, I had seen it twice before years ago.
Apart from that I have not really watched much on the 5 main channels over the festive season so far.

Darren
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Old 30-12-2016, 06:17
snafu65
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Indiana Jones movies although very good have been repeated on the BBC far to offen now.
Would not have minded if the Indiana Jones movie from the last few years Kingdom of the crystal skull had been shown. As that's not really been on TV much. The other Indiana Jones movies have been shown 3 times in the past 4 years.
I did watch the amazing Spider-Man 2 on STV HD earlier and I did enjoy the movie. It was only the second time I had seen the movie.
I did watch The Simpsons on CH4 the other day.
I also watched the film the Glenn Miller Story on CH5 yesterday, I had seen it twice before years ago.
Apart from that I have not really watched much on the 5 main channels over the festive season so far.

Darren
Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull was on last night. At the strange time of 11.20pm though so I'm not surprised you missed it.
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Old 30-12-2016, 07:43
Andrew1954
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I don't enjoy or watch much standard Christmas fare - soaps, strictly type stuff, etc etc - but I usually find there's some odd ball progs to enjoy. James May's The Assembler and the slow journey of the Flying Scotsman fitted that bill nicely, as did the Roald Dahl animation and the Agatha Christie Case for the Prosecution.
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Old 30-12-2016, 17:24
Projectionist
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I mean you know how low we have sunk as a respected TV nation when the likes of Bake Off and Strictly get top billing on CHRISTMAS DAY.

Unbelievable.

In my mum and dad's day they were treated to numerous TV comedy specials like Dad's Army, Morecombe and Wise, Steptoe and Son, Likely Lads, Porridge, Rising Damp, Are You Being Served, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, etc, etc, ALL on Christmas Day!
Yes & they usually were not repeats for the umpteenth time!
Christmas night with the stars was pretty good too.
The truth is, NONE of the broadcasters have the slightest clue on how to entertain the UK public, at a time when people are mostly at home for once.
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Old 30-12-2016, 17:32
Cricketblade
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I'm glad christmas tv gets worse. Other than sport, which you can easily put on in the background with sound off, house full of people doesn't make for good tv watching
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Old 30-12-2016, 17:36
lundavra
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Yes & they usually were not repeats for the umpteenth time!
Christmas night with the stars was pretty good too.
The truth is, NONE of the broadcasters have the slightest clue on how to entertain the UK public, at a time when people are mostly at home for once.
Are they "mostly at home" and wanting to watch TV?
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Old 30-12-2016, 17:45
Projectionist
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Are they "mostly at home" and wanting to watch TV?
Very probably....because as the roads were pretty dead & everything closed, there is little else for people to do at Xmas, once the bird is eaten & the presents are opened.
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Old 30-12-2016, 18:01
thms
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Watched Hidalgo on BBC2 yesterday, one of my all time favourite films.
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Old 30-12-2016, 23:00
Baz_James
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Very probably....because as the roads were pretty dead & everything closed, there is little else for people to do at Xmas, once the bird is eaten & the presents are opened.
If this was 1960! That is so far out of touch with the present that I have to wonder whether you're living on some far flung island to which the ferry stopped coming twenty years ago.
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Old 31-12-2016, 00:01
CappySpectrum
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I don't enjoy or watch much standard Christmas fare - soaps, strictly type stuff, etc etc - but I usually find there's some odd ball progs to enjoy. James May's The Assembler and the slow journey of the Flying Scotsman fitted that bill nicely, as did the Roald Dahl animation and the Agatha Christie Case for the Prosecution.
I've watched very little TV this Christmas. Were any of the old pantomimes rerun?
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