Having spoken to Penny Croft about what she thinks of the show she helped to create, she's not the only one...
Does anyone know.... Page 4
Quote: Tim Walker @ August 17 2009, 3:28 PM BSTHaving spoken to Penny Croft about what she thinks of the show she helped to create, she's not the only one...
Tim, have you met Penny Croft by any chance? 
Quote: chipolata @ August 17 2009, 3:27 PM BSTAgreed. And yet for all that, it's one of the Beeb's - indeed any channels - few mainstream comedy successes of recent years. It may only be the star power of the two leads, but it has something that works for a wider audience.
It says a lot about how out of touch so many writers are with the public, that shows they seem to almost despise being part of, are the biggest, most successful ones around. It's no wonder we get such a mish-mash of stuff, with channels and producers wanting mainstream hits like My Family but writers wanting something a bit more sophisticated. The constant tearing between the two has rarely made a success for either party.
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 3:34 PM BSTIt says a lot about how out of touch so many writers are with the public, that shows they seem to almost despise being part of, are the biggest, most successful ones around. It's no wonder we get such a mish-mash of stuff, with channels and producers wanting mainstream hits like My Family but writers wanting something a bit more sophisticated. The constant tearing between the two has rarely made a success for either party.
I think it's more a case of the audience putting up with what they're given. My Family might get viewers, but it's not made any cultural impact in the modern consciousness in the way, say, OFAH did.
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 3:34 PM BSTIt says a lot about how out of touch so many writers are with the public, that shows they seem to almost despise being part of, are the biggest, most successful ones around. It's no wonder we get such a mish-mash of stuff, with channels and producers wanting mainstream hits like My Family but writers wanting something a bit more sophisticated. The constant tearing between the two has rarely made a success for either party.
I would agree with that.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 17 2009, 3:30 PM BSTTim, have you met Penny Croft by any chance?
I've even worked on a script of mine with her. (She's off doing game show pilots with Les Dennis and Biggins at the moment.) She's a wonderful gossip.
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 3:34 PM BSTIt says a lot about how out of touch so many writers are with the public, that shows they seem to almost despise being part of, are the biggest, most successful ones around. It's no wonder we get such a mish-mash of stuff, with channels and producers wanting mainstream hits like My Family but writers wanting something a bit more sophisticated. The constant tearing between the two has rarely made a success for either party.
I can't comment on the Penny Croft thing, but having met him I know for a fact Fred Barron is very proud of My Family.
Quote: chipolata @ August 17 2009, 3:37 PM BSTI can't comment on the Penny Croft thing, but having met him I know for a fact Fred Barron is very proud of My Family.
But does he own Barron's Nightclub?
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 3:34 PM BSTIt says a lot about how out of touch so many writers are with the public, that shows they seem to almost despise being part of, are the biggest, most successful ones around. It's no wonder we get such a mish-mash of stuff, with channels and producers wanting mainstream hits like My Family but writers wanting something a bit more sophisticated. The constant tearing between the two has rarely made a success for either party.
See my latest post on the My Family thread.
I would love to be involved in a popular pre-watershed family sitcom. But the reason most of us new writers are put off these kind of shows is not because of the genre or style, but because of the content and (what appears at times to be) the lack of ambition.
Quote: chipolata @ August 17 2009, 3:37 PM BSTI can't comment on the Penny Croft thing, but having met him I know for a fact Fred Barron is very proud of My Family.
Why wouldn't he be? He's also made a fair bit of money out of it as well.
Quote: Tim Walker @ August 17 2009, 3:37 PM BST( She's a wonderful gossip.
I love it when you can get someone to spill the beans like that.
I tried to get info out of a producer who'd worked with Daniel Craig and he wasn't too forthcoming. Maybe he thought asking for a contact number was going to far.
I know what my problem is with My Family, apart from the lack of humour that I find funny, is there's no warmth to it.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 17 2009, 3:35 PM BSTI think it's more a case of the audience putting up with what they're given. My Family might get viewers, but it's not made any cultural impact in the modern consciousness in the way, say, OFAH did.
Fair point about cultural impact. Although I'm not sure that society is really going through much of a change at the moment in order to be influenced in the manner that it was by OFAH in the 1980s and 1990s? However, the DVD sales, I would argue, discredit the notion that the audience are simply "putting up" with what is broadcast.
Quote: Tim Walker @ August 17 2009, 3:40 PM BSTWhy wouldn't he be? He's also made a fair bit of money out of it as well.
The money's chickenfeed compared to what he could have made in the states on an equivalent show.
Quote: Aaron @ August 17 2009, 3:44 PM BSTFair point about cultural impact. Although I'm not sure that society is really going through much of a change at the moment in order to be influenced in the manner that it was by OFAH in the 1980s and 1990s? However, the DVD sales, I would argue, discredit the notion that the audience are simply "putting up" with what is broadcast.
I wonder if anyone re-watches their My Family DVDs? I don't know anyone who would.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 17 2009, 3:47 PM BSTI wonder if anyone re-watches their My Family DVDs? I don't know anyone who would.
That reflects poorly on you, Dolly.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ August 17 2009, 3:35 PM BSTI think it's more a case of the audience putting up with what they're given. My Family might get viewers, but it's not made any cultural impact in the modern consciousness in the way, say, OFAH did.
Do the audience put with what they are given?
I don't watch anything unless I want to - I simply turn over or turn off. ( Unless Mrs Bigfella tells me I'm watching something of course)
I can't go to the Beeb, knock on the door and say enough of this crap, give me a quality Bigfella sitcom. So I vote with my remote - I don't put up with it.