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Post new threadCurse BBCAMERICA, Benny Hill, Are You Being Served, no more
| Poster | Message |
Charley Chase
Rank : 89 |
Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago at Apr 5 22:21 - The jerk that ruined US daytime with Ricki Lake is getting rid of classic British television on BBCAmerica, I hate this guy so much and what is happening. Too many idiots with their noses up their arses arrogant snobs killing off the good shows of the past to make way for new rubbish. We could coexist but idiots win out and heroes die. I hate this.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/04/namerica104.xml BBC America to drop 'dated' Benny Hill By Richard Alleyne Last Updated: 1:58am BST 05/04/2007 What's in and what's out on BBC America His saucy slapstick may have lost favour in Britain more than two decades ago but Benny Hill remains that rare thing: a long-running hit in America. But not for much longer, if the BBC has its way. The corporation's US commercial arm, which currently airs the show twice a day to millions of Americans, has decided to axe the comedy because it no longer reflects modern Britain. The programme, which first broadcast in 1955, is to be ditched along with other British favourites - The Avengers, Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served? - to make way for more contemporary shows. Executives feel their outdated, often sexist jokes and innuendoes belong to a less politically correct Britain, and they must be axed. Instead executives at the BBC think that the likes of Hollyoaks, the teenage soap set in Chester, Wire in the Blood, a crime drama about a forensic psychologist, and Footballers' Wives better reflect Britain today. The "refocusing" is the brainchild of Garth Ancier, a former US network chief, who took over BBC America a month ago. "We're undergoing a radical makeover," he said. "We are now going to focus exclusively on bringing US audiences the very best in contemporary British programming. We want to present a view of contemporary Britain. It's what the BBC does best. I'd rather have Wire In The Blood than Benny Hill." Amy Mulcair, his director of publicity, added that although Benny Hill remained surprisingly popular among Americans it was not the image the BBC wanted to portray. "I am afraid Benny Hill reflects older Britain and our job is to reflect contemporary Britain and all the cool shows coming out." She said that American viewers had never been so "hungry" for British comedies because they were so different to their homegrown counterparts such as Friends and Ally McBeal, both ironically incredibly successful in this country. BBC America, which is free to air and makes it money from advertising, has been broadcasting across the US for nine years and is now available in 54 million homes. Although it has occasionally introduced audiences to innovative shows such as The Office and Extras, it has tended in the past to stick to repeating programmes such as Cash In The Attic and Whose Line Is It Anyway? several times a day, sometimes in blocks of two hours at a time. Daytime programming has recently been based around episodes of The Saint featuring Roger Moore, which were first shown on British television in 1969, and The Prisoner, with Patrick McGoohan, which first saw the light of day in 1967. They will also be axed, as well as repeats of 'Allo 'Allo. While no doubt many will be happy with the new line up, others complained that it was change for change's sake and that many of the new shows are inferior to the ones they replaced. David Croft, the doyen of British comedy who wrote Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army and 'Allo 'Allo, as well as producing Benny Hill, said: "It is very sad. "I am afraid this happens from time to time. A new executive comes in and decides to clear the boards and realise their mistake later. "As for Benny Hill not reflecting modern Britain that is just rubbish. It never reflected anything. It is just a funny show. This is a case of taking these things far to too seriously. The writer Carla Lane, who created Bread, Butterflies and the Liver Birds, said: "I am so confused by the BBC nowadays. These comedies are just good fun and if people like them then why throw them out. "I adore 'Allo 'Allo and the Benny Hill show is just a giggle. It is ridiculous to say they are outdated. Nobody ever thought they represented modern life even when they were first made." What's in and what's out on BBC America IN Hollyoaks Channel 4 daily soap about some teenagers in Chester Whistleblower BBC America/ITV production about those who risk their careers to expose dangerous secrets Torchwood Doctor Who spin-off Hotel Babylon Tacky BBC1 hotel drama with Tamzin Outhwaite Lead Balloon BBC4 comedy series starring Jack Dee OUT Benny Hill Show Slapstick comedy best known for his chasing near-naked women to music Are You Being Served? Innuendo-laden 70s sitcom in a department store The Avengers Sixties espionage with Patrick Macnee Keeping Up Appearances Suburban comedy with "Hyacinth Bucket" As Time Goes By Sitcom with Geoffrey Palmer and Dame Judi Dench The Saint Cult Sixties detective series starring Roger Moore |
coyoteblue
Rank : 16 |
Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago at Apr 5 22:56 - Well, the good news is that most of the 'out' shows are either available on dvd R1 or R2(UK). I already own all the Avengers I want (Peel & King) and the Prisoner, plus others that you've never heard of that weren't likely to show up on BBC America much less R1 dvd (though Timeslip did show up, so there's always exceptions I guess).I'm looking forward to Torchwood, even though I know the first series is uneven at best. I was hoping they'd pick up Primeval; maybe next 'season'. |
John
Rank : 47 |
Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago at Apr 7 19:07 - im from england and im glad to see some of our classic comedy shows to go to the US keeping up appearances is a great show but theres other you should check out. Shameless, Waterloo Road, balls of steel, which should be on bbc america |