What's the point?
As an MA screenwriting veteran, still struggling after five years with what can only be descibed as a commissiong system as inpenetrable as Fort Knox, it's reassuring to discover that ITV is planning to jetison its last paltry commitment to children's programming by getting Ofcom to agree to just 2 hrs per week.
What happened to the days when ITV produced some of the best kids programming that became seared on the memory cells of children who were inspired by a range of adventure/thriller and comedy shows throughout the 70's and 80's?
Now it seems all today's kids have on offer is a polarised choice of infantile programming aimed at under 11's or some hideous, anodyne claptrap about kids wanting to become popstars. Tracey Beaker may be fine as a light social drama but it hardly allows kids to lose themselves in a world beyond their own experiences. Dull, dull, dull.
With the current depressing situation being that the BBC unofficially believes that anyone over 13 is more interested in watching Eastenders - as opposed to producing imaginative shows designed to captivate and enthrall them- and ITV, clearly preferring to entertain housewives and students with mindless chat shows, it does beg the question why do we writers even bother to consider children's TV in this country?
The US produces some of the most brilliant, smart and entertaining youth shows that have cross over appeal, from the likes of Malcolm in the Middle to witty, irreverant cartoons. Why can't UK producers and broadcasters be as bold and realise the same market potential? Instead we have more derivative Paul O'Grady daytime tosh to look forward to while a whole generation of British kids are being short changed by the UK TV companies. Doesn't it ever occur to the latter that if you capture kids' imaginations with shows that form their cultural landscapes - and gets them talking at the tuck shop - that they are more likely to become loyal TV viewers rather then turning to the internet - or worse MTV.
It's a depressing day for British telly.
What happened to the days when ITV produced some of the best kids programming that became seared on the memory cells of children who were inspired by a range of adventure/thriller and comedy shows throughout the 70's and 80's?
Now it seems all today's kids have on offer is a polarised choice of infantile programming aimed at under 11's or some hideous, anodyne claptrap about kids wanting to become popstars. Tracey Beaker may be fine as a light social drama but it hardly allows kids to lose themselves in a world beyond their own experiences. Dull, dull, dull.
With the current depressing situation being that the BBC unofficially believes that anyone over 13 is more interested in watching Eastenders - as opposed to producing imaginative shows designed to captivate and enthrall them- and ITV, clearly preferring to entertain housewives and students with mindless chat shows, it does beg the question why do we writers even bother to consider children's TV in this country?
The US produces some of the most brilliant, smart and entertaining youth shows that have cross over appeal, from the likes of Malcolm in the Middle to witty, irreverant cartoons. Why can't UK producers and broadcasters be as bold and realise the same market potential? Instead we have more derivative Paul O'Grady daytime tosh to look forward to while a whole generation of British kids are being short changed by the UK TV companies. Doesn't it ever occur to the latter that if you capture kids' imaginations with shows that form their cultural landscapes - and gets them talking at the tuck shop - that they are more likely to become loyal TV viewers rather then turning to the internet - or worse MTV.
It's a depressing day for British telly.
posted by Jumping Shark at 6:17 AM
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