Christmas on TV

[Brian Gaff]

Somebody had a whinge on a local forum that even if you had all subscription
channels and all of Freeview, there was basically crap on TV this Christmas.
The Kings Speech was not a patch on what his mother came up with each year
as well.
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made. Where are the household names nowadays with shows that were
genuinely funny? Have we all been overtaken by this not upsetting a
particular group of people brigade, that you can say nothing any more?


Also who is this new Dr Who, he sounds like somebody trying to put on a
pseudo black Estuawy accent like so many youngsters do. its not endearing,
and makes everyone sound the same and a trifle thick, which I'm sure they
are not.
Brian

[Woody]

Post by Brian Gaff
Somebody had a whinge on a local forum that even if you had all subscription
channels and all of Freeview, there was basically crap on TV this Christmas.
The Kings Speech was not a patch on what his mother came up with each year
as well.
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made. Where are the household names nowadays with shows that were
genuinely funny? Have we all been overtaken by this not upsetting a
particular group of people brigade, that you can say nothing any more?
Also who is this new Dr Who, he sounds like somebody trying to put on a
pseudo black Estuawy accent like so many youngsters do. its not endearing,
and makes everyone sound the same and a trifle thick, which I'm sure they
are not.
Brian

+1 and +1

The late Queen wasn't known in the trade as 'One Take Windsor' for
nothing you know!

[Brian Gaff]

No I know and she was quite witty ad spontaneous at times. I think she
enjoyed the job in the main, but I cannot help but wonder if Charles is tht
legendary fish on a bicycle. He should get a convenient ailment and defer to
his more sensible some, in my view. Also how can Camilla be called queen,
After all, Duke of Edinburgh was not King.
Not that it probably matters, but only met Charles twice and he was a
boring old far back then, ahem.
So I did not watch Dr Who other than the trails which put me completely
off, is he of mixed race or what?

Brian
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Post by Woody

Post by Brian Gaff
Somebody had a whinge on a local forum that even if you had all subscription
channels and all of Freeview, there was basically crap on TV this Christmas.
The Kings Speech was not a patch on what his mother came up with each year
as well.
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made. Where are the household names nowadays with shows that were
genuinely funny? Have we all been overtaken by this not upsetting a
particular group of people brigade, that you can say nothing any more?
Also who is this new Dr Who, he sounds like somebody trying to put on a
pseudo black Estuawy accent like so many youngsters do. its not endearing,
and makes everyone sound the same and a trifle thick, which I'm sure they
are not.
Brian

+1 and +1
The late Queen wasn't known in the trade as 'One Take Windsor' for nothing
you know!

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Brian Gaff
No I know and she was quite witty ad spontaneous at times. I think she
enjoyed the job in the main, but I cannot help but wonder if Charles is tht
legendary fish on a bicycle. He should get a convenient ailment and defer to
his more sensible some, in my view. Also how can Camilla be called queen,
After all, Duke of Edinburgh was not King.

Different rules for boys and girls in the past: the wives of kings were
called queen, but the husbands of queens weren't called king, because
people (including those in other countries with whom we had to deal)
thought King was above Queen, so would be confused about who was the
actual monarch. And those rules applied up to well after Philip was
consort.

Post by Brian Gaff
Not that it probably matters, but only met Charles twice and he was a
boring old far back then, ahem.

I think he's always been a bit serious. I don't hold that against him.

Post by Brian Gaff
So I did not watch Dr Who other than the trails which put me completely
off, is he of mixed race or what?

(I haven't either. There's certainly a dark-skinned person in the
trailers I've seen; wasn't paying enough attention to notice if he was
the Doctor or another character.)

Post by Brian Gaff
Brian

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by Brian Gaff
Somebody had a whinge on a local forum that even if you had all subscription
channels and all of Freeview, there was basically crap on TV this Christmas.

Well, I have all of FreeView, though nothing paid, and I _sort of_ see
what s/he means; nothing really memorable. Of course, the three standard
films were on - weigh a pie, blown-down-by-helicopter, and
motorbike-over-the-fence - though I don't _think_ I saw a Bond film, on
the main channels anyway.

Post by Brian Gaff
The Kings Speech was not a patch on what his mother came up with each year
as well.

I missed it this year - didn't mean to, but just was doing something
else. Keep thinking I should watch him on iPlayer or whatever, but hate
doing catchup (not sure why).

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made. Where are the household names nowadays with shows that were

Not sure about the talent, but the money certainly isn't there where it
was when there were only two to four channels (the electricity bill
alone, in the days of incandescent lighting, for a Morecambe and Wise
Christmas show would probably exceed the [inflation-adjusted] budget for
quite a long part of the schedule for many channels now).

Post by Brian Gaff
genuinely funny? Have we all been overtaken by this not upsetting a

Agreed, I can't think of many genuinely funny people these days. I have
had a few belly laughs recently, usually over episodes of QI, but that's
a niche sort of humour.

Post by Brian Gaff
particular group of people brigade, that you can say nothing any more?

There is that. Not so much the not doing it, but the fear of doing it
(especially among those in charge).

Post by Brian Gaff
Also who is this new Dr Who, he sounds like somebody trying to put on a
pseudo black Estuawy accent like so many youngsters do. its not endearing,

Haven't seen him.

Post by Brian Gaff
and makes everyone sound the same and a trifle thick, which I'm sure they
are not.

I share your prejudice - and it _is_ a prejudice, and I know I have it,
but I can't do much about it: I too find it make the people using it
sound thick. Or rather, as they'd put it, fick.

Post by Brian Gaff
Brian

John

[Brian Gaff]

I have to say I spent longer on my Alexa this time listening to a channel
called blindy.tv or old time radio sci fi.
They have the audio described versions of all the various star treks from
the original to and including deep space 9. Now most of these seem to have
AD made for something called the Sky Sci Fi channel, yet when these same
episodes come over freeviews Legend and Mix channels, both run by sky, they
do not have AD. Its all very annoying, but it sure makes the shows far more
interesting.
Brian
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Post by J. P. Gilliver

Post by Brian Gaff
Somebody had a whinge on a local forum that even if you had all subscription
channels and all of Freeview, there was basically crap on TV this Christmas.

Well, I have all of FreeView, though nothing paid, and I _sort of_ see
what s/he means; nothing really memorable. Of course, the three standard
films were on - weigh a pie, blown-down-by-helicopter, and
motorbike-over-the-fence - though I don't _think_ I saw a Bond film, on
the main channels anyway.

Post by Brian Gaff
The Kings Speech was not a patch on what his mother came up with each year
as well.

I missed it this year - didn't mean to, but just was doing something else.
Keep thinking I should watch him on iPlayer or whatever, but hate doing
catchup (not sure why).

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made. Where are the household names nowadays with shows that were

Not sure about the talent, but the money certainly isn't there where it
was when there were only two to four channels (the electricity bill alone,
in the days of incandescent lighting, for a Morecambe and Wise Christmas
show would probably exceed the [inflation-adjusted] budget for quite a
long part of the schedule for many channels now).

Post by Brian Gaff
genuinely funny? Have we all been overtaken by this not upsetting a

Agreed, I can't think of many genuinely funny people these days. I have
had a few belly laughs recently, usually over episodes of QI, but that's a
niche sort of humour.

Post by Brian Gaff
particular group of people brigade, that you can say nothing any more?

There is that. Not so much the not doing it, but the fear of doing it
(especially among those in charge).

Post by Brian Gaff
Also who is this new Dr Who, he sounds like somebody trying to put on a
pseudo black Estuawy accent like so many youngsters do. its not endearing,

Haven't seen him.

Post by Brian Gaff
and makes everyone sound the same and a trifle thick, which I'm sure they
are not.

I share your prejudice - and it _is_ a prejudice, and I know I have it,
but I can't do much about it: I too find it make the people using it sound
thick. Or rather, as they'd put it, fick.

Post by Brian Gaff
Brian

John
--
half the lies they tell about me aren't true. - Yogi Berra

[Roderick Stewart]

On Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:46:43 -0000, "Brian Gaff"

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made.

I remember somebody making a similar observation about television
itself when it re-started after the war. They had wondered if there
would be enough talent to sustain it. In the days when entertainment
would mean going to the theatre or the cinema to see something perhaps
once a week, the idea of creating several hours worth of original
material every day must have seemed very ambitious.

Rod.

[Brian Gaff]

I remember an old interview with Morecombe and Wise where they were asked
about doing more TV, The basic thrust was that if you tour a show you can
use the same material all year, put it on TV, and everyone will know it and
you have to get new stuff written. I'm sure there is a lot of truth in that.
If you recall the way Eric at the end of a show would say there were two
old men in deck chairs, and Ernie would shut him down? Well in the theatre
show they were quite happy to tell it. It was not rude at all, it was all in
the mind of the listener.

Two old men were sitting in deckchairs and one said to the other, nice out
isn't it?

The other one replied, Is it, I'll get mine out then.

Brian
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Post by Roderick Stewart
On Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:46:43 -0000, "Brian Gaff"

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made.

I remember somebody making a similar observation about television
itself when it re-started after the war. They had wondered if there
would be enough talent to sustain it. In the days when entertainment
would mean going to the theatre or the cinema to see something perhaps
once a week, the idea of creating several hours worth of original
material every day must have seemed very ambitious.
Rod.

[JMB99]

Post by Brian Gaff
The other one replied, Is it, I'll get mine out then.

Or usually "Yes but put it away, someone is coming!"

[JMB99]

Post by Roderick Stewart
I remember somebody making a similar observation about television
itself when it re-started after the war.

I was going to make a similar comment, there are moaners every year and
always have been.

I found quite a lot of interest to watch and only have Freeview Lite and
don't think I looked anything on ITV/STV or CH4.

A nice little programme that most will have missed was 'Bill agus an
Spitfire' on BBC Alba. Very enjoyable.

[John Williamson]

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made.

It is partly that, but the blockbuster series are now being made for pay
per view channels, which are the only ones to have the money.

Another problem is that a lot of the British talent is working full time
for American film makers, so is not working on TV programmes. Our film
studios have a very good reputation for quality work, delivered in time.

I have seen a couple of stand up comics on TV lately, who are using
jokes that Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies had nicked from
previous comics, with the addition of gratuitous F-words. The audience
only laughed when the comic swore.

[Brian Gaff]

Well, Swearing does not bother me much, its what we were all used to at
work, after all.

I even heard a swear word in Star Trek Voyager over the weekend. Maybe we
need some new ones. As I recall Battlestar Galactica tried this with worst
that sounded like felbacarb and the like.

No I don't think the paid for channels have blockbusters either. Not my
scene, but For all Mankind, was the last one people raved about, The
alternate history if Russia had got to the moon first.
There is a series that has been around for some time called Fringe, which
seems completely nonsensical, with time travel mixed up with police and all
sorts of bizarre stuff. Its not got the humour of Dr Who.
No, who are the big comedy and singing stars these days who could hold a
variety show together. Most of the old guard are now dead or retired. Not
much modern comedy as in stand up appeals to me, its clever, but just not
funny. Tommy Cannon was on the radio the other day, more or less saying the
same thing. People would laugh at stereotypes of themselves, but now
everyone was so careful to not upset anyone, it took out the spontaneity.
I have to say that some of the shows by Catherine Tate still crack me up,
as although she over does things a bit, we can often see people we know who
are frighteningly similar in real life.
Brian
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Post by John Williamson

Post by Brian Gaff
I cannot help wonder if the issue now is that the talent of people making
shows is spread so thin now over all these channels, that blockbuster stuff
is never made.

It is partly that, but the blockbuster series are now being made for pay
per view channels, which are the only ones to have the money.
Another problem is that a lot of the British talent is working full time
for American film makers, so is not working on TV programmes. Our film
studios have a very good reputation for quality work, delivered in time.
I have seen a couple of stand up comics on TV lately, who are using jokes
that Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies had nicked from previous
comics, with the addition of gratuitous F-words. The audience only laughed
when the comic swore.
--
Tciao for Now!
John.

[Laurence Taylor]

Post by Brian Gaff
I even heard a swear word in Star Trek Voyager over the weekend.

I don't remember that in Voyager, Which episode was it?

I know the reboot series (which I haven't seen) has some F-words
inserted for no very good reason, which caused some conversation amongst
the fanbase.

[JMB99]

Post by Laurence Taylor
I know the reboot series (which I haven't seen) has some F-words
inserted for no very good reason, which caused some conversation amongst
the fanbase.

Perhaps not relevant but cinema films would sometimes try and get a
higher classification, particularly during the school holidays, because
younger people can be put off by a low classification of a fault.

[JMB99]

Post by John Williamson
I have seen a couple of stand up comics on TV lately, who are using
jokes that Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies had nicked from
previous comics, with the addition of gratuitous F-words. The audience
only laughed when the comic swore.

I listened to ISIRTA first time around and many of gags from that
appeared later on various radio and TV 'comedy' programmes.

One good point this year is BBC Four have been showing a wide range of
BBC sitcoms and comedies.

[JMB99]

BBC Four are showing an episode of Scotch & Wry tomorrow, not seen one
for many years - actually a funny Scottish comedy programme, very rare.

[Brian Gaff]

So rare, I'd never heard of it. After the Samsung voice guide has had a go
at pronouncing many shows you would be scratching your head for ages. Brian
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BBC Four are showing an episode of Scotch & Wry tomorrow, not seen one for
many years - actually a funny Scottish comedy programme, very rare.

[JMB99]

Post by Brian Gaff
So rare, I'd never heard of it. After the Samsung voice guide has had a go
at pronouncing many shows you would be scratching your head for ages. Brian

For many years, STV virtually gave up on New Year's Eve because most of
the audience was watching Scotch & Wry - I think there was also
programme on every year with people impersonating various Scottish
footballers but I never watched that.

I am sure I had never seen the episode of Monarch of the Glen before but
I was often away at New Year.

[Brian Gaff]

I have never watched one at all. Brian
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Post by JMB99

Post by Brian Gaff
So rare, I'd never heard of it. After the Samsung voice guide has had a go
at pronouncing many shows you would be scratching your head for ages. Brian

For many years, STV virtually gave up on New Year's Eve because most of
the audience was watching Scotch & Wry - I think there was also programme
on every year with people impersonating various Scottish footballers but I
never watched that.
I am sure I had never seen the episode of Monarch of the Glen before but I
was often away at New Year.

[JMB99]

Post by Brian Gaff
I have never watched one at all. Brian

It has extra interest because I have visited Ardverikie House and Cille
Choirill (which they used several times). Never saw them filming but
often saw the "MOTG" signs.

[charles]

Post by JMB99

Post by Brian Gaff
I have never watched one at all. Brian

It has extra interest because I have visited Ardverikie House and Cille
Choirill (which they used several times). Never saw them filming but
often saw the "MOTG" signs.

I've seen Ardverkie across Laggan, but not ventured across the loch. I note
Cille Choirill is in Roy Bridge (down the road), but I don't recall a
church is any episode that I watched

[JMB99]

Post by charles
I've seen Ardverkie across Laggan, but not ventured across the loch. I note
Cille Choirill is in Roy Bridge (down the road), but I don't recall a
church is any episode that I watched

I don't think Ardverikie is normally open.

Cille Choirill has has had (at least one) wedding and funeral and the
one shown on New Year's Eve had something else. It is East of Roy Bridge
but beware, the road joins the main road on a nasty bend - I have
sometimes turned left and gone up the road then turned around. The
church is normally locked but you can get the key and go inside.

It looks old but was actually built around the 1930s supposedly by some
of the navvies working on dams and tunnels.

There is Laggan Dam up the road but there was also a small hydroelectric
plant built between Roy Bridge and the church, to power the construction
project. It is difficult to access!

Also driving across towards Newtonmore, watch out on the South side of
the road for the aqueduct bringing water over the watershed from the
Spey Valley.

If you cut across through Glen Truim to the A9, you pass the Centre of
Scotland (allegedly).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157682203058183

[Brian Gaff]

I'm noticing that there are still many Christmas themed episodes of stuff
around now. It is, I suppose just that every show has a Christmas episode as
it costs little to do.
It must be odd though, making Christmas shows in July. Also why are they
nearly always in snow. I remember the last truly White Christmas and it was
way back when I worked and could see. Also, half the world has their
Christmas in Summer, so traditionally Christmassy songs like Sleyride and
Winter Wonderland are often doubly wrong.
Even in New Zealand though, they get novelty songs like Grandma got run
over by a Reindeer, etc.

I mean Santa Clause is a mix of an old legend and a coca Cola invention.
Brian
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Post by JMB99

Post by charles
I've seen Ardverkie across Laggan, but not ventured across the loch. I note
Cille Choirill is in Roy Bridge (down the road), but I don't recall a
church is any episode that I watched

I don't think Ardverikie is normally open.
Cille Choirill has has had (at least one) wedding and funeral and the one
shown on New Year's Eve had something else. It is East of Roy Bridge but
beware, the road joins the main road on a nasty bend - I have sometimes
turned left and gone up the road then turned around. The church is
normally locked but you can get the key and go inside.
It looks old but was actually built around the 1930s supposedly by some of
the navvies working on dams and tunnels.
There is Laggan Dam up the road but there was also a small hydroelectric
plant built between Roy Bridge and the church, to power the construction
project. It is difficult to access!
Also driving across towards Newtonmore, watch out on the South side of the
road for the aqueduct bringing water over the watershed from the Spey
Valley.
If you cut across through Glen Truim to the A9, you pass the Centre of
Scotland (allegedly).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doffcocker/albums/72157682203058183

[Sid]

BBC is complete crap now they are not getting their huge bonuses.
Attenborough just about keeps it afloat. John Birt milked it, there must be
so many more.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes Dr Who seems to have gone downhill since the politically correct mob
decided we needed a gay, a black an Asian and a disabled person in it all
talking Estuwery.
Brian
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Post by Sid
BBC is complete crap now they are not getting their huge bonuses.
Attenborough just about keeps it afloat. John Birt milked it, there must
be so many more.

[JMB99]

Post by Sid
BBC is complete crap now they are not getting their huge bonuses.
Attenborough just about keeps it afloat. John Birt milked it, there must
be so many more.

What huge bonuses?

Can you give details if you access to people's salaries?

[J. P. Gilliver]

Post by JMB99

Post by Sid
BBC is complete crap now they are not getting their huge bonuses.
Attenborough just about keeps it afloat. John Birt milked it, there
must be so many more.

What huge bonuses?
Can you give details if you access to people's salaries?

While not necessarily agreeing with Sid (I'm not sure what point he's
making above), ISTR the BBC deciding to make public the details of all
salaries above some threshold (100k was it?), some while ago; I think
they're published in some BBC report, but I presume that means the media
republish them so they're effectively public domain.

[JMB99]

Post by J. P. Gilliver
While not necessarily agreeing with Sid (I'm not sure what point he's
making above), ISTR the BBC deciding to make public the details of all
salaries above some threshold (100k was it?), some while ago; I think
they're published in some BBC report, but I presume that means the media
republish them so they're effectively public domain.

The BBC released some salary information but I don't think they
identified people, the tabloids just guessed what particular people
might be being paid.