Quote: Aaron @ May 23 2009, 7:40 PM BSTI'm not sure I would have put it down as a sitcom, but that was very good.
Yes, more of a comedy serial. Fair enough
Who killed the sitcom? Page 3
Quote: Aaron @ May 23 2009, 7:41 PM BSTStarted in 1990.
My 1980s decade lasted longer
Quote: Griff @ May 23 2009, 7:36 PM BSTI can't remember whether Whoops Apocalypse was any good or not.
A while since I've watched it, but I remember being quite impressed with it.
Might watch Hot Metal this evening.
Quote: Griff @ May 23 2009, 7:43 PM BSTAaron what are you doing to my BBCode tags?
Cleaning up to BCG-compatible: c will link the title to the show's guide once re-launched.
Whoops Apocalypse was pretty good, it was just overshadowed by the film.
Thanks. There's also for people, for companies, and [y] for years. 
zooo and I have very similar tastes in TV. We've not had any problems so far - and I'm sure there'll be more than one, so not a problem when she wishes to watch boring old shite like The Apprentice.
Who killed the sitcom? Two words:
BBC THREE.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ May 12 2009, 2:41 PM BST"Last night, I stumbled on a brilliant repeat of an old show on ITV3. It was charming, funny, yet extremely moving. It's called Goodnight Sweetheart - and Laurence Marks and I wrote it. "
I use to love that. Got a little tired once the war was over, though.
Quote: Emma123 @ May 23 2009, 9:34 PM BSTWho killed the sitcom? Two words:
BBC THREE.
Sorry, don't agree. That's where "Gavin and Stacey" started out, and that's easily the best new Sitcom I've seen this decade. I think, "Two Pints of Lager and..." started there as well.
A sense of humour is a matter of opinion and everyone has their own tastes. I see too many sitcoms and comedies, for that matter, that just seem to be an endless of stream of gags. Gets a bit boring when there's no real storyline.
Quote: JJ Cocker @ May 27 2009, 12:41 AM BSTdon't agree. That's where "Gavin and Stacey" started out,
There are other goodies too; such as 'The Mighty Boosh' and 'Pulling'.
I think Maurice Gran makes some interesting points to say in his feature in the Mail, but overlooks the fact that audience viewing habits are changing as a reflection of our current times.
Of course there's room for nostalgia, particularly when economically times are tough. Some viewers will want to hunker down, and watch the familiar.
Others want to see new forms of comedy, reflecting the here and now.
With audiences, particularly the younger generation, spending increasing time watching video on the internet, demand is changing and so should the sitcoms we're offering audiences. Whilst mainstream TV will continue to mirror the mainstream offerings put out by multiplex cinemas, the internet and other new forms of distribution will cater towards niche audiences.
Innovation often springs from economic depression, and we're already beginning to see that in comedy offerings - not on TV, but in the brave new world of the web. For those writing off online comedy as amateur video clips of laughing goats on YouTube, look again. The web is opening up a whole new world for writers to experiment and innovate. History demonstrates that some of our most dazzling comedians have developed in times of economic hardship.
These will be exciting times for new sitcoms. With budgets slashed, and commissioners cautious, possibly not on TV.
But certainly on the web.
Was it Cock Robin?
Incredibly well-spun, but unfortunately not true. No evidence that the best comedy/sitcom has ever been produced as a result of economic hardship. It's a tempting thing to claim that not having any money is in some way "liberating", but the best shows have always had money on board. Money buys talent, either in front of the camera or behind it.
The internet may be a vehicle to showcasing new talent, but it is not the future of comedy.
Sitcom and other comedy used to be considered a must in television. The real problem is that too many idiots in charge of TV now see it as an expensive and dangerous luxury. Far easier to order another series of some formulaic cop show than to take a leap of faith with an original comedy.
We have a huge amount to learn still from the US, not just in comedy but in drama. It is shameful not one of our networks has a tenth of the quality, ambition to quality, or daring, that HBO does. As we demand a purge of the mediocre and feather-bedding self-servers in Parliament, we should go and examine every single management level job in (that other publicly-funded institution) the BBC.
Quote: Marc P @ June 9 2009, 2:18 PM BSTWas it Cock Robin?
Yes, cock Robin Askwith, in Bottle Boys. The sitcom never recovered after that.
Quote: Tim Walker @ June 9 2009, 2:34 PM BSTWe have a huge amount to learn still from the US, not just in comedy but in drama. It is shameful not one of our networks has a tenth of the quality, ambition to quality, or daring, that HBO does. As we demand a purge of the mediocre and feather-bedding self-servers in Parliament, we should go and examine every single management level job in (that other publicly-funded institution) the BBC.
I largely agree. But HBO seems to have been having a bit of a dry patch of late.
Quote: chipolata @ June 9 2009, 2:52 PM BSTI largely agree. But HBO seems to have been having a bit of a dry patch of late.
But I would imagine that's more to do with a simple lack of new shows of sufficient quality, rather than a lack of desire, dedication and ambition on their part. The point is that the BBC is to a major degree fire-proofed during economic downturns. When commercial broadcasters are finding it hard to fund programming, the BBC should actually take more risks and pay even less attention to ratings.
Defensively citing ratings has always been a red herring, used as an excuse for a culture of mediocrity and paucity of imagination. Great programmes appear to get made in spite of the current BBC regime, not because of it.
Quote: chipolata @ June 9 2009, 2:52 PM BSTI largely agree. But HBO seems to have been having a bit of a dry patch of late.
I hate to disagree with myself, but that John Adams thing was pretty good. And I believe that was HBO.