I find it hard to understand the reasoning of those that commission and cancel television dramas around the world. I’m sure they listen to focus groups and look at ratings to make their decisions on the programs that we get to watch. However I can’t help but wonder if they really give that much care, thought and consideration to it or just decided on a whim to ruin people’s lives.
Over the past few years I’ve watched some really great shows from America like House, Breaking Bad, Quantum Leap, Star Trek, Dexter, Twin Peaks, Heroes, X-Files, The Wire, 24 and The Sopranos. The list of shows could go on forever and I’m sure you all have a show you couldn’t live without. My TV listings are filled with shows I’ve never watched or even heard of and when I channel surf I see even more unknown dramas. I’m starting to wonder if anyone in America could actually watch everything each week and still have a life where they go to work and go down the pub? Given that they broadcast over 120,000 shows I somehow doubt it. To add to this multitude of visual excitment I then watch British shows like Luther, Utopia, Ripper Street, Doctor Who, Silent Witness, Life on Mars, Spooks and Sherlock. The amount of shows worldwide now exceeds 2,000,000 and despite this I’m not happy when my favorite shows disappear and so much drivel survives.
Last night I watched the final episode of SILK on BBC One. I really love this show. Its a BAFTA award winning drama based in and around a Barristers Chambers in London. Last night the BBC decided they’ve had enough of it after 3 seasons and its now gone. The same thing happened to other shows like Ripper Street, The Eleventh Hour, Survivors, Outcasts and The Paradise all of which seemed to have a steady following. What are the commissioning editors thinking??? Clearly some people see extra mileage in these show with Ripper Street being recently recommissioned by Amazon. Could this be the future for all our loved and cancelled TV shows? I really hope the likes of Amazon and Netflix can use their new online channels and money to keep these shows alive. Or maybe the BBC could stop making Cash in the Attic, Bargain Hunt, Flog it, Heir Hunters and Homes under the Hammer? They even have a show called Pointless for goodness sake. Please spend the money on shows millions of people watch and enjoy. Alternatively you could shoot the people that cancel these shows and employ me. I clearly watch too much TV and could do a better job…
I’m about to start watching True Detective, which I’m told is amazing and a must see. However, if it’s really popular then it will undoubtedly get cancelled just as it gets interesting.
M