TV Comedy Executives

I've decided to start this thread after reading the Ricky Gervais thread about him "slagging off British comedy".

What really annoys me is how writers tend to get blamed for the state of comedy these days. I'm not saying that's what Ricky was saying (if indeed he actually said anything on the topic at all, it was The Sun that reported it after all) but it frustrates me.

Nobody seems to blame the Executives at BBC or ITV or C4 for the rubbish that is on our screens. John Cleese said that he received a letter from a BBC Executive after the second episode of FT went out, the letter read 'I can't see this being anything other than a disaster', John Cleese went on to say "It shows what these Executives really know".

What do these Executives really know? Who decided that it was a good idea to make Reggie Perrin AGAIN? If we're going to make Reggie Perrin, why not do another Dad's Army, Rising Damp, or Steptoe & Son?!

It just baffles me how these Executives seem able to wash their hands of most of the rubbish that makes it onto our screens. It's ok for them to sit in their plush offices pushing out crap show after crap show, but do they get questioned for it? No. I know evereybody has their own tastes but Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps has to be one of the worst shows I have ever seen, yet we keep getting series after series of jokes about sex, and cocks etc etc etc.

These Executives have so much to answer for, instead of writers being blamed for "not working hard enough" why don't these Execs start doing their jobs and spotting decent talent rather than remaking old shows, or making new series' of worn out shows. The state of British comedy is rather pathetic right now, as is America's at the moment. However, we show no real signs of recovery unless some of these Execs get a grip. After all, aren't Execs just like comedy fans, they only put into production what they like, I hate to think how many great ideas/scripts have been ripped up because it wasn't to an Executive's taste.

It's like they say in the theatre. You can make a bad script good with a great director and actors but you can't make a bad director and actors good with a great script.

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ July 2 2009, 12:51 PM BST

It's like they say in the theatre. You can make a bad script good with a great director and actors but you can't make a bad director and actors good with a great script.

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They don't say that in the theatre.

Well this stuff we hate is still watched by millions. Miserablist comedy writers are a tiny slice of the audience.

Quote: chipolata @ July 2 2009, 12:52 PM BST

They don't say that in the theatre.

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Yeah you are right... I wouldn't know that of course not having anything ever to do with it.

Not in the theatre as the play is going though, it's a bit rude!

Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 2 2009, 12:30 PM BST

I've decided to start this thread after reading the Ricky Gervais thread about him "slagging off British comedy".

What really annoys me is how writers tend to get blamed for the state of comedy these days. I'm not saying that's what Ricky was saying (if indeed he actually said anything on the topic at all, it was The Sun that reported it after all) but it frustrates me.

Nobody seems to blame the Executives at BBC or ITV or C4 for the rubbish that is on our screens. John Cleese said that he received a letter from a BBC Executive after the second episode of FT went out, the letter read 'I can't see this being anything other than a disaster', John Cleese went on to say "It shows what these Executives really know".

What do these Executives really know? Who decided that it was a good idea to make Reggie Perrin AGAIN? If we're going to make Reggie Perrin, why not do another Dad's Army, Rising Damp, or Steptoe & Son?!

It just baffles me how these Executives seem able to wash their hands of most of the rubbish that makes it onto our screens. It's ok for them to sit in their plush offices pushing out crap show after crap show, but do they get questioned for it? No. I know evereybody has their own tastes but Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps has to be one of the worst shows I have ever seen, yet we keep getting series after series of jokes about sex, and cocks etc etc etc.

These Executives have so much to answer for, instead of writers being blamed for "not working hard enough" why don't these Execs start doing their jobs and spotting decent talent rather than remaking old shows, or making new series' of worn out shows. The state of British comedy is rather pathetic right now, as is America's at the moment. However, we show no real signs of recovery unless some of these Execs get a grip. After all, aren't Execs just like comedy fans, they only put into production what they like, I hate to think how many great ideas/scripts have been ripped up because it wasn't to an Executive's taste.

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TV executives are just people, much like you and I. They're under pressure. They make mistakes. They make stupid decisions. And I'm sure if we were in their shoes the programmes made wouldn't be a whole lot different from the shows made nowadays.

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ July 2 2009, 12:54 PM BST

Yeah you are right...

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If I can just convince the other 50* BSGers of that my work here will be done.

*Generous estimate

I mean did Peep show in it's first 2 seasons ever beat a million viewers?

Perhaps in this new digital age with multiple channels for tiny audiences we'll see more original material aimed at people like us.

Quote: Griff @ July 2 2009, 12:58 PM BST

I'm with Chip, and to put what he's saying another way, "Hello, TV executives, I think you're great and I am in no way difficult to work with. Call me!"

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(Although I am actually quite difficult to work with! Or indeed be near for any length of time!)

Quote: sootyj @ July 2 2009, 12:58 PM BST

I mean did Peep show in it's first 2 seasons ever beat a million viewers?

Perhaps in this new digital age with multiple channels for tiny audiences we'll see more original material aimed at people like us.

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And what exactly do you mean by 'people like us'?

Quote: Rob H @ July 2 2009, 1:00 PM BST

And what exactly do you mean by 'people like us'?

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Malcontented loners five years from a rampage killing.

Quote: chipolata @ July 2 2009, 1:03 PM BST

Malcontented loners five years from a rampage killing.

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Ah. That would make sense.

*returns to torturing the cat*

Rampage sounds far to jolly you faker.
Hmm I was going to suggest spree killing but that sounds even jollier.

I can't say anything about TV but I have seen first hand how a lousy director and cast can kill a good script. I always feel bad for the writers because this is their vision and it's being destroyed by some idiot. One of my former tutors was a playwright and she told us how when she was starting out, she once wrote a piece about domestic abuse and the director kept changing bits in the actual play and in the end, when it was performed, the reviews were awful and she got a lot of the blame because the critics assumed she wrote the dodgy pieces they didn't like. I myself have dropped out of a piece of work in the past because I saw it getting destroyed and I wanted no part of it. I think if I was a proper sitcom writer, my worse fear would be someone coming in on my big break and ruining my work with ideas I didn't like.

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ July 2 2009, 1:06 PM BST

I can't say anything

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Don't then.

Quote: Rob H @ July 2 2009, 1:00 PM BST

And what exactly do you mean by 'people like us'?

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Comedy aficionados with a love and respect for the genre and an interest in how it works as an artform.

or

Embittered blokes in their pants avoiding daylight.