I love you.
Which sitcoms would you bring back? Page 12
Quote: NickTheDon @ May 14 2008, 7:20 PM BSTFather Ted would be impossible without Dermot Morgan!
There's a few that I wouldn't want to bring back for fear of spoiling them. While I'd love a few more episodes of Blackadder, I'd be a bit scared in case it was terrible. The one off episodes for Comic Relief were pretty ropey too.
Yes but in my OP I stated clearly that you could have the original actors back.
This was a hypothetical carte blanche. A shame people can't be bothered to actually read the thread.
Aaron, is there any way we can close this thread now? People simply won't stick to the original topic and go swanning off into totally irrelevant areas. In all the 170 or so postings, I've had about 5 relevant replies...
Have Manchester people not got a sense of humour?
Quote: Jolanta Zofia Nowak @ May 15 2008, 7:15 PM BSTAaron, is there any way we can close this thread now? People simply won't stick to the original topic and go swanning off into totally irrelevant areas. In all the 170 or so postings, I've had about 5 relevant replies...
I won't close it, because there might actually be someone at some point with a real response, but I'll be starting to beat people up (including myself) for not staying on-topic in the British Sitcoms and Other British Comedy forums from now on. 
Quote: manchester's trendy chorlton @ May 15 2008, 8:38 AM BSTAnd even after I have made my point, you still get someone (dave chapman) saying that 'they don't have a clue' or words to that effect. Dear lord, do the research, learn about the industry a bit before making such bananas remarks.
My bias against American sitcoms is quite simple - I cannot relate to the people or the situations. No question they are well written and well produced but for the amount of money thrown at them and the number of writers needed to create these shows I would be very surprised if they weren't excellent productions. However, I truly admire the ability of British writers to create comedy in isolation and to know that they are the only person responsible for the dialogue. They stand and fall by what they write and cannot hide behind a team nor do they have to create 22-24 episodes in order to fill a season. Creativity should not be predominantly a commodity and, alas, American networks would never have given a chance to some of our greatest comedy hits because they would not have seen the dollars flooding in after three shows.
Quote: Alan Cornforth @ May 15 2008, 9:55 PM BSTMy bias against American sitcoms is quite simple - I cannot relate to the people or the situations. No question they are well written and well produced but for the amount of money thrown at them and the number of writers needed to create these shows I would be very surprised if they weren't excellent productions. However, I truly admire the ability of British writers to create comedy in isolation and to know that they are the only person responsible for the dialogue. They stand and fall by what they write and cannot hide behind a team nor do they have to create 22-24 episodes in order to fill a season. Creativity should not be predominantly a commodity and, alas, American networks would never have given a chance to some of our greatest comedy hits because they would not have seen the dollars flooding in after three shows.
I agree entirely.
Quote: David Chapman @ May 15 2008, 10:28 PM BSTI agree entirely.
Please call me Alan, I only use the name "entirely" when I'm being more expansive 
Interesting point regarding network pressure. An alternate take on that is that the very severity of the networks (poor auidence reaction = cancelled mid season) leads to a greater neccessity for better writing.
Had Ricky Gervais wanted, he could have written endless series' of The Office or Extras, regardless of quality. This simply would not happen in the US. There is no sentimentality or cosy creator/show/network relationships. If The Office: American Workplace starts dropping its standards, it will be cancelled - and it nearly was midway through it's first season. But it wasn't, and guess what, four seasons later it is still maintaining an incredible standard.
And as for not relating to the 'character or the situations'. People are pretty much universal in their issues. You should be a little more open minded perhaps. One love.
[quote name="manchester's trendy chorlton" post="156562" date="
And as for not relating to the 'character or the situations'. People are pretty much universal in their issues. You should be a little more open minded perhaps. One love.
[/quote]
Yes I am new to ths planet and I watched one American show and didn't like it! Must try harder to be assimilated - get a McDonalds, watch The Simpsons, ... wow these American shows are fantastic aren't they!?
A very well considered response, good luck in your career as a writer and musician. Keep waving that flag!
Quote: manchester's trendy chorlton @ May 16 2008, 9:11 AM BSTIf The Office: American Workplace starts dropping its standards, it will be cancelled.
No, if it starts dropping audience figures, it will be cancelled. An audience drop might be DUE to a drop in standards, but this isn't always the case.
Well said chips.
Countless shows I've thought have been fantastic - well written, hilarious, well acted, have been cancelled due to lower viewing figures than they wanted.
Incredibly frustrating.
Sometimes (often) they don't give a show time to build up from word of mouth etc, they could have achieved those viewing figures if they'd given it a chance.
Quote: zooo @ May 16 2008, 10:39 AM BSTWell said chips.
Countless shows I've thought have been fantastic - well written, hilarious, well acted, have been cancelled due to lower viewing figures than they wanted.
Incredibly frustrating.
Sometimes they don't give a show time.
Arrested Development, anyone?
Quote: manchester's trendy chorlton @ May 16 2008, 10:23 AM BSTA very well considered response, good luck in your career as a writer and musician. Keep waving that flag!
You will note that I did not address your main response because it was a well-considered and interesting point. However, when you took it upon yourself to take a dig at me for not being open-minded - despite not knowing anything about me or my life experience - then I chose to be less than serious in my reply. Lo and behold you come back with another dig at me. I have noted that certain people in these forums can not resist being judgemental about the person they are speaking to when they do not share the same opinion as them.
Let it wash over you, Alan, otherwise you just end up getting involved in lots of little petty squabbles about nothing.