Re: The Woman Who Lived

by Mbast1 Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:41 pm

tony ingram wrote:The difference is, as I understand it (correct me if I'm wrong) your PBS stations are reliant on donations,

They are, although they do get funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation_for_Public_Broadcasting#Political_composition_of_the_CPB_Board

tony ingram wrote:Their job is to provide something for everyone, including niche interests.

So, for my own curiosity, how DO they decide what to air and what not to air? And is this need to cover so many interests why your series are so short?

I find this fascinating.

by **tony ingram** Fri Nov 13, 2015 5:00 pm

[quote="Mbast1"]

tony ingram wrote:
tony ingram wrote:Their job is to provide something for everyone, including niche interests.

So, for my own curiosity, how DO they decide what to air and what not to air? And is this need to cover so many interests why your series are so short?

I find this fascinating.

Why some things are commissioned and others aren't is often a seemingly arbitrary process, I've never really understood it. Sometimes, it just seems to come down to the personal preferences of the decision makers (as was the case when Doctor Who was dropped in the eighties, basically because BBC1's controller at the time disliked science fiction and wanted to free up the budget for a very expensive new soap opera). But as for your second question, the length of a series is basically dictated by nothing more than how long it takes to film and what else they want to show. Doctor Who, at one time, ran for 44 weeks of the year. Later, it was 26. Now, it runs for twelve, because it takes a very intensive nine months to shoot that many,and any more would probably kill the entire production team. Some other shows run for eight episodes at a time. Midsomer Murders usually comes in at about three a year, often spaced out over several months. There's no pressure on them to produce more than they want to.

by Lucy Ingram Fri Nov 13, 2015 6:30 pm

How the BBC caters for everybody

◘BBC One: big-budget important stuff like David Attenborough* wildlife documentaries, Doctor Who or Strictly Come Dancing. The jewels in the BBC's crown.

◘BBC Two: quirkier, more original stuff. Stuff intended to be 100% fun, like Top Gear or QI. Cutting-edge documentaries, like Louis Theroux talking about/to transgender children.

◘BBC Three: god-awful teenage dross like Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents, or (titles I've invented) Help! I've Got An STD! or Sixteen and Pregnant. Includes American cartoon Family Guy, which makes me lose the will to live. and REALLY REALLY BAD sitcoms. For a while was alleviated by excellent supernatural/young adult comedy drama Being Human... which was cancelled.

◘BBC Four: serious, grown-up, cultural, life-enhancing stuff about opera or railways. Can be a teeny bit boring.

◘BBC Radio 1: popular music. For young people. Also makes me lose the will to live. Sometimes has DJs talking about STDs or domestic violence to prove that they're providing a public service as well as playing One Direction or Thuggy Rap Meister Smack My Bitch Up.

◘BBC Radio 2: easy-listening middle-of-the-road stuff. I don't want to talk about this.

◘BBC Radio 3: Classical music. If Radio 1 is a sleezy fast-food joint where you don't want to see what goes on in the kitchen, Radio 3 is a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

◘BBC Radio 4: Spoken word radio. Documentaries, dramas, interview programmes, science, sociology, mathematics, history... basically the closest you can get to listening to a broadcast from Heaven itself. RADIO FOUR IS LIFE. RADIO FOUR IS LOVE. RADIO FOUR IS THE WAY.

◘BBC Radio Five Live: um... blokey chat about sports and stuff. I dunno. All you ever wanted to know about football.

◘BBC Six Music: programme featuring 'alternative' and/or 'black' music. All I know is the BBC tried to cancel it and changed their minds when there was an uproar because apparently it's actually really good. I don't know, because I am a musical Philistine and only listen to Radio Four.

◘BBC Radio 4 Extra: Used to be called 'BBC Seven'. Repeats of old radio comedies. For people who miss the Seventies but also miss episodes of The News Quiz from 2005.

*In the UK he's basically one level below God.

by Mbast1 Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:37 pm

tony ingram wrote:Sometimes, it just seems to come down to the personal preferences of the decision makers

I think maybe I'm too conditioned by the US system of market-driven everything. I KNOW it's not always the case (I've seen plenty of times when decisions are made in big companies where the reason isn't profit, but personal preference) but I'm so used to profit being the driver that I find it hard to conceive of people making decisions based on anything else. Even our public stations seem to be driven by ratings, whose measure is how profits are decided in the corporate world.

tony ingram wrote:basically because BBC1's controller at the time disliked science fiction

I've read more than once about a "rural purge" here in the 1970s, where a number of popular shows were cancelled because the network execs wanted to move to more urban shows. Weird.

tony ingram wrote:But as for your second question, the length of a series is basically dictated by nothing more than how long it takes to film and what else they want to show.

Which thought I love. As I said I like a LOT of British tv, and I like the idea that whatever producers really want can be done, to some degree. We do have a lot of great shows here, but a LOT of dreck.

tony ingram wrote:Some other shows run for eight episodes at a time. Midsomer Murders usually comes in at about three a year, often spaced out over several months. There's no pressure on them to produce more than they want to.

Sherlock is only three episodes at a time... Evil or Very Mad

And Black Adder was 6. Just 6.

As an American, again, I'm conditioned to much longer seasons, although that's definitely changing. We are getting more breaks during the season. We used to have 26 new shows per season for a lot of shows, with 22 being probably average.

I don't know, I find your whole system fascinating.

by Mbast1 Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:44 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:How the BBC caters for everybody

You should write this kind of thing for a living!

Lucy McGough wrote:BBC Two: quirkier, more original stuff. Stuff intended to be 100% fun, like Top Gear or QI. Cutting-edge documentaries, like Louis Theroux talking about/to transgender children.

Would this be where Mock the Week goes? I found it on Youtube, and absolutely adore this show. QI I love too.
I seem to be using the word adore a lot lately. No idea why.

Lucy McGough wrote:Includes American cartoon Family Guy, which makes me lose the will to live

I used to love this show, but for years haven't been able to watch it. Well put, though!

Lucy McGough wrote:Being Human

My niece has a huge crush on Aidan Turner.

Lucy McGough wrote:BBC Radio 4: Spoken word radio. Documentaries, dramas, interview programmes, science, sociology, mathematics, history... basically the closest you can get to listening to a broadcast from Heaven itself. RADIO FOUR IS LIFE. RADIO FOUR IS LOVE. RADIO FOUR IS THE WAY.

Probably what I'd spend most of my time listening to. I'm old, I don't listen to a lot of music.

Lucy McGough wrote:For people who miss the Seventies but also miss episodes of The News Quiz from 2005.

Seriously, do this for a living.

Lucy McGough wrote:*In the UK he's basically one level below God.

I don't know a lot about his work, but what I do know tells me this is appropriate.

by **tony ingram** Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:54 am

Mbast1 wrote:
I think maybe I'm too conditioned by the US system of market-driven everything. I KNOW it's not always the case (I've seen plenty of times when decisions are made in big companies where the reason isn't profit, but personal preference) but I'm so used to profit being the driver that I find it hard to conceive of people making decisions based on anything else. Even our public stations seem to be driven by ratings, whose measure is how profits are decided in the corporate world.

Here, even the existence of BBC Worldwide is a matter of controversy in certain quarters, as the BBC actually having a commercial arm (even if what it can and can't do is heavily regulated and, in theory, has no bearing on programming decisions) is seen by some as compromising the integrity of the system, potentially causing the Corporation to be influenced by market forces. Some say BBCWW should be abolished. Others say if the BBC wants to keep BBCWW, then the licence fee should be abolished, and the BBC should become like other networks and rely on commercials or become a subscription service. Like a lot of people, I think that would basically be the doom of the BBC, but there's a real fear that it's what the current government wants to happen.

by Lucy Ingram Sat Nov 14, 2015 11:54 am

Mbast1 wrote:You should write this kind of thing for a living!

Thank you so much Smile

Mbast1 wrote:Would this be where Mock the Week goes?

Yes. I used to love Mock the Week but it's gone downhill since they had to sack Frankie Boyle, its best comedian, following a newspaper-manufactured uproar after he 'insulted' the Queen. Right-wing newspapers lose no opportunity to imply that the BBC is a disrespectful Britain-hating trendy right-on mendacious left-wing monolith funded by coercive taxation. This is because the papers are often owned by people who have television businesses that rival the BBC.

Also, the BBC is a window on all life in Britain, and think that what some people see on it disturbs them because they never leave their ancestral manor in the Cotswolds. So... if they see any non-white or non-hetero people on their screens, well, such people must be there out of tokenism or because the BBC is box-ticking. After all, such... creatures... can't possibly exist in the land of John Bull, the Empress of India and old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the early morning mist.

Mbast1 wrote:My niece has a huge crush on Aidan Turner.

Your niece'll have to join the queue Very Happy

Apparently nowadays he's quite the sex symbol, although I would like to point out that I was into Being Human (and watched all of it) before Aidan Turner became the new Mr Darcy.

Mbast1 wrote:Probably what I'd spend most of my time listening to. I'm old, I don't listen to a lot of music.

Gods, yes, me too! High five! For me — and yes, I know I'm weird — spending a day not hearing Radio 4 is like not being able to hear my own breathing, or looking into the mirror and seeing somebody else's face.

Mbast1 wrote:Seriously, do this for a living.

Awww, you're a dude Very Happy

Mbast1 wrote:I don't know a lot about his work, but what I do know tells me this is appropriate.

Like God, David Attenborough can see everything. Unlike God, he provides a voice-over.

by Mbast1 Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:20 pm

tony ingram wrote:as the BBC actually having a commercial arm (even if what it can and can't do is heavily regulated and, in theory

Here it's mostly the opposite. The idea that the profit motive isn't the driving force is what's seen as problematic. People honestly think business produces non-biased material and government is all propaganda. It's quite bizarre.

by Mbast1 Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:25 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:but it's gone downhill since they had to sack Frankie Boyle,

I heard he left because they tried to control his material too much. Either way, it IS less funny without him, but I still enjoy it.

Lucy McGough wrote:after he 'insulted' the Queen.

If it's the bit I'm thinking of I can't watch it without laughing. No disrespect to your Queen, but's it's really funny.

Lucy McGough wrote:Right-wing newspapers lose no opportunity to imply that the BBC is a disrespectful Britain-hating trendy right-on mendacious left-wing monolith funded by coercive taxation.

Your right-wingers seem as nuts as ours.

Lucy McGough wrote:This is because the papers are often owned by people who have television businesses that rival the BBC.

Yeah, no one seems to notice that kind of thing.

Lucy McGough wrote:So... if they see any non-white or non-hetero people on their screens, well, such people must be there out of tokenism or because the BBC is box-ticking. After all, such... creatures... can't possibly exist in the land of John Bull, the Empress of India and old maids bicycling to Holy Communion through the early morning mist.

Huh. I thought that kind of nonsense was just American.

Lucy McGough wrote: before Aidan Turner became the new Mr Darcy.

She loves him in The Hobbit.

Lucy McGough wrote:spending a day not hearing Radio 4 is like not being able to hear my own breathing, or looking into the mirror and seeing somebody else's face.

I wonder if there's a way I can listen to it here. I'll have to find out.

Lucy McGough wrote:Unlike God, he provides a voice-over.

See? This is why you should write more things.

by **tony ingram** Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:05 am

Mbast1 wrote:
tony ingram wrote:as the BBC actually having a commercial arm (even if what it can and can't do is heavily regulated and, in theory

Here it's mostly the opposite. The idea that the profit motive isn't the driving force is what's seen as problematic. People honestly think business produces non-biased material and government is all propaganda. It's quite bizarre.

Yes, that is one of the things about America that I've never quite been able to get my head around. Your people really seem to hate their government, but for some reason think the drive to make a profit is somehow noble! It's quite odd.

by Lucy Ingram Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:21 am

Mbast1 wrote:If it's the bit I'm thinking of I can't watch it without laughing. No disrespect to your Queen, but's it's really funny.

I'm a massive fan of the Queen, and I thought that it was dead funny too Very Happy

Mbast1 wrote:Your right-wingers seem as nuts as ours.

Hey, no fair! You guys have Donald Trump and Sarah Palin Razz

Mbast1 wrote:Huh. I thought that kind of nonsense was just American.

Sadly, no.

Mbast1 wrote:I wonder if there's a way I can listen to it here. I'll have to find out.

That'd be mint Very Happy

Mbast1 wrote:See? This is why you should write more things.

My ego is purring like a cat who's just eaten a tin of sardines Very Happy

by Mbast1 Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:41 pm

tony ingram wrote:Your people really seem to hate their government, but for some reason think the drive to make a profit is somehow noble! It's quite odd.

It is, and I live here. It's, I think, largely religious. For the most fanatical proponents (right-libertarians) they worship capitalism with the same fervor as others do their god.
I think both government and business can do good, or can do bad or something in between. I don't think I can explain it.
That said, your system sound interesting.

by Mbast1 Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:42 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Hey, no fair! You guys have Donald Trump and Sarah Palin

You want them?

Lucy McGough wrote:That'd be mint

I found their website, so when I have the time I'm going to try some. I think it showed they have podcasts, so it should be fun. Thanks for the heads up!

by Lucy Ingram Tue Nov 17, 2015 9:26 pm

You're welcome Smile

If we had Donald Trump he'd probably propose filling the Channel with laser-eyed robot sharks to keep out the French.

by Mbast1 Wed Nov 18, 2015 12:50 am

Lucy McGough wrote:If we had Donald Trump he'd probably propose filling the Channel with laser-eyed robot sharks to keep out the French.

I like the French, but that is a cool idea anyway.

by **tony ingram** Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:14 am

Mbast1 wrote:
Lucy McGough wrote:If we had Donald Trump he'd probably propose filling the Channel with laser-eyed robot sharks to keep out the French.

I like the French, but that is a cool idea anyway.

I would certainly vote for laser eyed robot sharks in any proposed referendum on Britain's EU membership.

by Lucy Ingram Wed Nov 18, 2015 9:33 am

And so say all of us! Very Happy

by Mbast1 Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:50 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:And so say all of us!

Are you unanimous in that?

by Lucy Ingram Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:27 pm

Tony and I are unanimous. And let's face it, we're the only people in Britain who really MATTER Very Happy

by Mbast1 Fri Nov 20, 2015 4:45 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:Tony and I are unanimous. And let's face it, we're the only people in Britain who really MATTER

Sorry, I meant that to be an "Are you being Served?" reference.

by **tony ingram** Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:18 pm

Mbast1 wrote:
Lucy McGough wrote:Tony and I are unanimous. And let's face it, we're the only people in Britain who really MATTER

Sorry, I meant that to be an "Are you being Served?" reference.

Lucy is too young to remember that. But I do. Razz

by Lucy Ingram Fri Nov 20, 2015 7:03 pm

*whispers to Mike* He always says I'm "too young." Pay no attention.

by Mbast1 Sun Nov 22, 2015 5:56 pm

Lucy McGough wrote:*whispers to Mike* He always says I'm "too young." Pay no attention.

Got it.

by Lucy Ingram Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:30 pm

Mbast1 wrote:Got it.

TVM (= ta very much). I think he just wants to be superior, like "all the best stuff was filmed before you were born (1988)" Smile

But I win, because Capaldi Who was filmed in the twenty-first century.

In fact, it was filmed after I graduated from university. And now I feel old. C'est la vie.

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