Why Britain Can't Do The Wire
We did Wire in the Blood with Robson Greene, does that count?
Cheers, Dan, a good article.
Part of the problem over here that writers are generally so powerless. Writers write, but producers and commissioners all-too-often determine the show's content, story arcs, style etc.
If you're a writer who creates a drama or comedy show in the US, you are already an exec producer and you will be (initially at least) the show runner. You pull the creative strings. Over here, however good your agent, you aren't going to get that kind of creative control. Part of the problem is that even our most successful TV writers still put up with occupying this subservient position in relation to the networks and the producers. We need a few of them to step-up to run their own shows and hire other writers in.
The other problem is that US writers that get to work on great shows are picked from from a wider "gene pool" and they have more drama shows which demand high quality scripts in order to hone their skills and demonstrate their talent. Over here, if you were looking to hire writers for The Wire who would you hire? Someone with a good track record writing for Holby City or Ballykissangel? You have to make more innovative dramas in the first place, in order to breed other shows.
Part of the culture difference is that a drama writer over here can write 6 scripts per year. In the US they will usually demand a minimum of 12 show per season, which no one writer will ever be able to fulfil (not scripts of quality anyway).
The sad irony (as alluded to in the article) is that 20 years ago British TV taught the Americans how to make drama of an unconventional nature, epic story-telling in shows like GBH, The Singing Detective, The Jewel In The Crown etc. Shows where the writer(s) was/were God. Episodes which felt more like film than TV. The US has learnt these lessons and done it back at us, whilst we produce mostly safe, conventional, banal dramatic eye candy. (We still make great one-off shows, but we're not in the same league anymore when it comes to epic story-telling.)
Dispiriting reading.
Yet bizarrely that fishing show Robson Green did was quite good. And he's done better than that big chinned bloke he used to hang around with... The state of British drama is depressing. And possibly in a poorer state than British comedy, which does still throw up the odd gem.
Isn't also budget a problem? A lot of British dramas just look cheap. We're good at gritty drama that can be made fairly cheaply, but fears over language and content hamper any real drama. Saying that I think The Street is a very well-written and acted series and in the past we've had some terrific shows.
Well, Jimmy McGovern and Stephen Marchant aren't bad.
Quote: Griff @ November 5 2009, 11:47 AM GMTIt's a good point Dolly, but then again British film directors like Ken Loach, Mike Leigh etc work wonders with "gritty" and "low budget".
A British Mad Men wouldn't need to be expensive. It's just a bunch of guys in an office wearing 60s suits, who go to the pub occasionally. But I can't ever imagine one being made.
Also whenever we do spend a ton of money on shows (e.g. Doctor Who) the scripts are f**king rubbish and the end result isn't worth watching.
*sticks to watching re-runs of Inspector Morse on ITV3*
Then maybe ratings is the problem? Critically acclaimed American shows seem to be put on at 11.30pm and don't get huge ratings I imagine. We do good period dramas and adaptations. And maybe there's a lack seriousness about drama and a trend towards the camp and self-knowing. Stuff like Spooks and that thing about the con people (The Hustle?) look like children's programmes to me.
I f**king hate The Street. It bores the pants off me. I love McGovern, but who the f**k wants to watch the dreary goings on of a bunch of dreary tossers living on a dreary street. Thank f**k it's gone.
I went to a BBC Drama talk not too long ago. The guys from the Beeb said they were looking for "the next State Of Play".
I obtained a copy, watched it, thought it was fantastic, then realised it was *six years old*. Couldn't really think of anything decent I'd watched since then.
Quote: chipolata @ November 5 2009, 11:44 AM GMTWell, Jimmy McGovern and Stephen Marchant aren't bad.
As the article says, it's not that we don't have writers of quality, it's just that they are too busy fighting to get their own stories made as it is.
Also, the way writers are paid, frankly, is appalling. If the Beeb decided to hire in the best writers around for a ground-breaking drama, they would still expect these great writers to deliver an episode for under £10,000 per script. Because they don't see the writer as important as the director, the producer, the costume department etc. They view a new show as a product rather than a story that might be exciting to tell. This stems from a culture of fear amongst middle and senior management in TV, to take any sort of risk, try anything untested. 
Part of any solution would be to finally have a strong Writers Union in this country. The Writer's Guild is very well-meaning, but ultimately toothless.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ November 5 2009, 11:51 AM GMTThen maybe ratings is the problem? Critically acclaimed American shows seem to be put on at 11.30pm and don't get huge ratings I imagine.
Plus they tend to originate from subscription only channels in the states like Showtime and HBO. We don't have an equivalent here.
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 5 2009, 11:53 AM GMTAs the article says, it's not that we don't have writers of quality, it's just that they are too busy fighting to get their own stories made as it is.
Don't get expecting me to read the article, Walker. 
Quote: chipolata @ November 5 2009, 11:53 AM GMTI f**king hate The Street. It bores the pants off me. I love McGovern, but who the f**k wants to watch the dreary goings on of a bunch of dreary tossers living on a dreary street. Thank f**k it's gone.
What do you want loads of car chases and shootings? The Street is very good; there's been some brilliant stories on it and the cast are top notch. Isn;t The Wire dreary? Or does it seem more glamorous because it's set in the US?
Quote: chipolata @ November 5 2009, 11:54 AM GMTDon't get expecting me to read the article, Walker.
Sorry, Chip, I know you're a busy man.
Quote: Griff @ November 5 2009, 11:55 AM GMTDidn't you see Dream Team on Sky One?
I did if it had naked breasted ladies in.