Quote: Tim Walker @ December 12 2009, 1:50 AM GMTjust actors in costumes saying lines.
You give the show too much credit, Tim.
The fact is they're just people in costumes saying lines.
Yes, those people make their living as actors in other programmes but they're not 'acting' in Big Top. They're just standing where they're told to and saying the words.
Quote: Timbo @ December 11 2009, 11:14 PM GMTWhy? The thread is not about Big Top it is about Michael's blog which was not specific to Big Top.
Your white charger seems higher than usual tonight, you might want to climb down.
I blame the bourbon myself but the Norfolk nip might be worth looking into.
Quote: sootyj @ December 11 2009, 10:27 PM GMTWouldn't it be a dull word if every potential writer said "I want to be just like..." as opposed to "I can do so much better..."
He speaks the truth you know.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 12 2009, 12:43 AM GMTI suppose one of the other outstanding questions from MJ's blog and all this reaction is "Why can't BBC One make great pre-watershed comedy anymore?". It used to be able to. They're able to in the US. The BBC has no major problems creating really good shows post-watershed, especially on other channels.
That is the more interesting question. I watch a show like Life of Riley and I wonder, did anyone say to themselves,"I really want to see this show made?". There is a lack of passion about so much of the Beeb's output, particularly in prime time on BBC1.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 12 2009, 1:50 AM GMTPerhaps the solution is to only post about sitcoms/comedies one enjoys? Wouldn't make for representative threads but if people's feelings are that easily bruised by negative criticism from strangers on the internet then...?
I made a conscious effort not to comment on UK comedy after realising that some comments I made here had a negative impact on me elsewhere. So much for freedom of speech.
If I ever get a broadcast, I hope I'd be big enough to accept criticism (whether I felt it justified or otherwise) and humble enough not to seek vengeance.
It was reassuring to see Jonathan Ross on the Comedy Awards putting the boot into Big Top.
It means 2Christiantypists will have to accept the possibility that not all of the show's critics are motivated entirely by jealousy of Danny Peak's success in the world of TV.
Sorry, I haven't read all this thread, so I might be entering a discussion here that's sewn up... but, basically, most BCG members are interested in writing a particular type of comedy that's not that mainstream. You may be writing good stuff, but it's not mainstream. Good example: pretty much all BCG members love Peep Show, but for every one BCG member there's probably 10 people out there who haven't even heard of Peep Show, but watch stuff like My Family.
It'll probably be easier to back this up with statistics. They're massively depressing statistics though, I'll warn you now:
Mad About Alice: 6.5 million
Big Top: 3.3. million
According To Bex: 2.8 million
Peep Show's biggest ever audience: 1.8 million
The Thick Of It: 1.1 million
The Smoking Room (one of my all time favourite sitcoms): doesn't even show up on my stats
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 12 2009, 10:34 PM GMTIt was reassuring to see Jonathan Ross on the Comedy Awards putting the boot into Big Top.
It means 2Christiantypists will have to accept the possibility that not all of the show's critics are motivated entirely by jealousy of Danny Peak's success in the world of TV.
Or it just means that Jonathan is a snobbish aspiring writer.
Quote: Mark @ December 13 2009, 3:29 AM GMTSorry, I haven't read all this thread, so I might be entering a discussion here that's sewn up... but, basically, most BCG members are interested in writing a particular type of comedy that's not that mainstream. You may be writing good stuff, but it's not mainstream. Good example: pretty much all BCG members love Peep Show, but for every one BCG member there's probably 10 people out there who haven't even heard of Peep Show, but watch stuff like My Family.
It'll probably be easier to back this up with statistics. They're massively depressing statistics though, I'll warn you now:
Mad About Alice: 6.5 million
Big Top: 3.3. million
According To Bex: 2.8 millionPeep Show's biggest ever audience: 1.8 million
The Thick Of It: 1.1 million
The Smoking Room (one of my all time favourite sitcoms): doesn't even show up on my stats
I'm not sure I entirely agree with your analysis (your figures I can't dispute!)
Yes, in a world where we are forced to choose between 'edgy' and 'bland' is it any wonder the creative mind will head towards the former.
But who here wouldn't have sawn their own leg off to have written, Fawlty Towers, Porridge, OFAH, Steptoe, Till Death, Likely Lads, Liver Birds...well, you can write your own list.
Massivley popular with a broad range of people and, as history has proved, quality writing.
Believe it or not,popularity and quality weren't always mutually exclusive.
The hunger for this sort of stuff is equal amongst both writers and viewers.
I can't believe we've lost the talent to write this sort of stuff - so why have we lost the ability to commission it.
Perhaps the true snobs lurk in the commissioning departments - dealing out slops for the masses whilst nuturing their own 'hipper-than'thou' little projects to make them look good.
Don't get me wrong, I like 'edgy' - but when I fancy something a little more mainstream it's ashame that I have to take such a massive step down in quality.
The forum's general approval of Miranda - not exactly the best thing ever written - proves a point I think.
Quote: Mark @ December 13 2009, 3:29 AM GMTmost BCG members are interested in writing a particular type of comedy that's not that mainstream. You may be writing good stuff, but it's not mainstream. Good example: pretty much all BCG members love Peep Show,
Peep Show's good but it'd be 100 times better without Andrew Ridgeley.
In the same way, Big Top would be better if it had a writer rather than a simple jokesmith and some characters rather than tired-looking embarrassed actors who have nothing to do on set other than serve as static mouthpieces for the jokes.
As for BCG members preferring non-mainstream comedy, 'Miranda' is more mainstream than 'Big Top' and BCG members seem to love it.
Quote: Mark @ December 13 2009, 3:29 AM GMTSorry, I haven't read all this thread, so I might be entering a discussion here that's sewn up... but, basically, most BCG members are interested in writing a particular type of comedy that's not that mainstream. You may be writing good stuff, but it's not mainstream. Good example: pretty much all BCG members love Peep Show, but for every one BCG member there's probably 10 people out there who haven't even heard of Peep Show, but watch stuff like My Family.
I am not sure that Peep Show is intrinsically alternative. It just appears on a channel with low ratings; if it had been a BBC2 show it could easily have moved across to BBC1 by now, as Miranda will probably do.
And mainstream does not have to mean lame. Outnumbered demonstrates this, and I am sure most writers on here would be proud to be associated with mainstream shows such as OFAH, Porridge, Steptoe, Rising Damp. One Foot in the Grave, Open All Hours, Fawlty Towers, Shelley, Dad's Army, Brittas Empire, Butterflies, dinnerladies, Fall and Rise, Royle Family etc.
The truth is that the BBC had abandoned its mission to "make the good popular and the popular good"; it has developed a contempt for its audience, and this shows through in misjudged attempts at producing populist programming.
Quote: Timbo @ December 13 2009, 10:34 AM GMTit has developed a contempt for its audience
Why do you think it has developed this contempt? HONEST QUESTION.
I have to agree with the comments with regards mainstream and non-mainstream comedy; I think most TV viewers (BCG posters included) want good mainstream comedy, with great characters and funny lines that's on at a reasonable time, the likes of which we have seen before.
Just because I like Peep Show doesn't mean I don't like OFAH, One Foot in the Grave, etc.
Gosh...
Quote: Mark @ December 13 2009, 3:29 AM GMTSorry, I haven't read all this thread, so I might be entering a discussion here that's sewn up... but, basically, most BCG members are interested in writing a particular type of comedy that's not that mainstream.
Forgive my ignorance, Mark, but how do you know what I, or all the other writers on here, are writing? I'm fairly certain you've not read any of my scripts and I know that I've only read a small number of scripts from other members here - some of which most definitely are "mainstream", some which aren't. However, I certainly don't feel in the position of stating that "most BCG members" aren't interested, or not trying to, write "mainstream" comedy.
No offence, mate, but that is a bit of an unfounded accusation, isn't it?