Big Top critical and forum reaction Page 9

I wrote my first "mainstream" pilot over the summer. The problem is that what I consider should be mainstream, which is essentially a pre-watershed Lineham type of comedy, is unlikely to fit in with what the BBC etc seem to consider the blueprint for mainstream success. At the moment, I'm afraid, "mainstream" doesn't stand for family-orientated shows with appropriate limits on themes and content, it stands for bland, generic shows about dysfunctional families, which poorly serve their audience.

The success of Outnumbered (albeit a post-watershed show, though considering its content is fairly tame, no reason it has to be) I suspect will change bugger all at the BBC when it comes to mainstream family-friendly sitcom.

I think the term mainstream is getting muddled up with the word bland; mainstream doesn't have to mean bland, unfortunately it often does. I'd love to write a big, popular BBC1 programme.(Not that I'm saying I could, I'm rubbish)(I haven't seen Big Top, so my comments aren't aimed at that show)(I have nothing else to add here)

Quote: Ben @ December 13 2009, 12:53 PM GMT

Why do you think it has developed this contempt? HONEST QUESTION.

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I suspect it is due to the nature of the people running the BBC, and that a generic problem with our corporate society. Banks are run by marketing men not bankers, railways are run by venture capitalists not engineers, the post office is run buy the twit who used be in charge of the FA, and television companies are run by precisely the same "what's in it for me?' corporate bullies, bullshitters and bumlickers, who thrive in every other area of public life. Anyone with a knowledge of their chosen profession, is regarded, at best, as a 'techie' who cannot be trusted with real responsibility, and at worst, should they show any actual passion for they do, as the sort of dangerous crank who must be silenced at all costs. In a management culture pervaded by fear and ignorance, orders will not be questioned, risks will not be taken, and values will be lost. And when the people who run show are governed by self-interest without self-respect, it is not to be wondered that the audience is held in the same contempt.

Of course it does not help that much of the audience are demonstrably morons, but I do at least feel that the likes of Cowell and Bazelgette have a passion and a craft, that is lacking in the BBC's cynical attempts to follow them in chasing the demographic downmarket.

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2009, 6:33 PM GMT

Thanks for coming in to see us Mr.Smith, we'll let you know if your interview was successful in a couple of days.

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Hang on, we've not discussed holidays yet...

Quote: Griff @ December 13 2009, 6:33 PM GMT

Thanks for coming in to see us Mr.Smith, we'll let you know if your interview was successful in a couple of days.

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Quote: Timbo @ December 13 2009, 6:30 PM GMT

I suspect it is due to the nature of the people running the BBC, and that a generic problem with our corporate society. Banks are run by marketing men not bankers, railways are run by venture capitalists not engineers, the post office is run buy the twit who used be in charge of the FA, and television companies are run by precisely the same "what's in it for me?' corporate bullies, bullshitters and bumlickers, who thrive in every other area of public life. Anyone with a knowledge of their chosen profession, is regarded, at best, as a 'techie' who cannot be trusted with real responsibility, and at worst, should they show any actual passion for they do, as the sort of dangerous crank who must be silenced at all costs. In a management culture pervaded by fear and ignorance, orders will not be questioned, risks will not be taken, and values will be lost. And when the people who run show are governed by self-interest without self-respect, it is not to be wondered that the audience is held in the same contempt.

Of course it does not help that much of the audience are demonstrably morons, but I do at least feel that the likes of Cowell and Bazelgette have a passion and a craft, that is lacking in the BBC's cynical attempts to follow them in chasing the demographic downmarket.

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The revolution will not be televised.

Or will it?

Quote: Ben @ December 13 2009, 7:51 PM GMT

The revolution will not be televised.

Or will it?

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It would in the old days, it used to work as Prince's backing band. Then the Revolution got too big for it's boots and started to refuse all interviews or televised appearances. Sad really what fame can do to an idea.

Quote: Ben @ December 13 2009, 7:51 PM GMT

The revolution will not be televised. Or will it?

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Yes, it will. But as long as it doesn't interfere with Corrie, no one will give a rat's ass. Sadly.

I just watched five minutes of this on iPlayer. It didn't make me want to watch a full episode but it wasn't anything like the car-crash I'd been led to believe.

Watch a whole episode...

Hi Badge.

I've just watched next week's episode of Big Top on BBC iPlayer and it contains a few sequences shot on location in a town centre.

For the few minutes the show is away from the studio, it is transformed out of all recognition into a perfectly good sitcom.

In the street, the usuai gut-busting barrage of jokes is halted temporarily and replaced by character comedy and situational comedy and it's actually very funny - until they go back to the studio when the same old characterless crap is rammed down down our throats again until we want to vomit.

I can only hope more future episodes contain location scenes.

Are you certain you didn't just accidentally change channels for a few minutes?

I wonder who those three were?