Phil Redmond attacks Ch4 for moving Brookside
Mark
From Ananova
The creator of Brookside has attacked Channel 4 for moving the show to
Saturdays before judging whether a major revamp will prove a hit with
viewers.
Phil Redmond described Channel 4 managers as "daft" after it emerged they
are shifting the soap to a single slot on a Saturday.
The soap will be moving to Saturdays only from next month.
He said: "We are all a bit pole-axed by the decision. Our big beef is that
Channel 4 did not wait for the results of the £1.5 million revamp changing
the soap's look, story and music.
"We have a fantastic storyline planned for the re-launch on the show's 20th
anniversary on November 2 - some people say it is the best Brookside ever
made.
"They have made the decision without taking this on board. They have not
even seen a frame of the new show - it is daft of them."
He added: "At least the storyline will hit the air and if it is a great
success then I think they would change the plans."
But he says he is not disappointed with the Saturday afternoon slot as the
time has always been a popular slot with the soap's fans.
"Channel 4 have been bouncing the schedule around so much in the past few
years that the soap's regular appointment with the viewer has been lost. I
have been pushing for a regular slot for a long time so this move could be
good for Brookie."
Redmond also blamed stifling television regulations for the programme's
decline in viewing figures. He says the aim of the changes is to
"re-position" Brookside in its 20th year, to keep the soap "fresh", to deal
with family issues and to create an agenda that others follow.
Story filed: 17:25 Thursday 10th October 2002
Dylan Horowitz
worked before. We've had a new "look" with the awful film technique they
introduced this year. What now? Make it like a dream sequence? Blur round
the edges so that we watch each episode in hope Barry Grant will wake up and
we'll find the last few years were all his hidious nightmare? New stories in
the last few years have been dragged out for every last drop (year long rape
saga anyone?), and new music? Becuase thats why we don't watch it anymore...
The theme tune...
I honestly don't blame Channel4 for not waiting until the shows "special"
birthday to announce this. Anybody remember the last story that we had as a
big brookie birthday story? It was billed as one of the greatest soap
mysteries of all time. This thing was compared to Who Shot JR... What did we
get? Who killed Susanah. Which owuld have been fantastic had it not resulted
in a cop out resolution (who killed her? no one did, she fell down the
stairs while max was there) and also resulted in some of the strangest
scenes I've ever witnessed in a soap (ie: max opening the coffin every other
episode).
They can cry about channel four all they like but they made it what it is.
They picked the producers, who picked the stories, who set the stage for a
spectacular downfall. Bye bye brookie, we should have put you down years
ago.
"Mark" <mcr...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
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Mark
should bring back that one back before it's cancelled.
Mark
"Dylan Horowitz" <sebast...@esatclear.ie> wrote in message
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Dee
Channel 4 have moved Brookside times around so often I never know when it's
next on.
It used to be monday, wednesday and Friday and this worked really well, it
was convient and made sense with the story's timelines.
But now the schedule is a mess. The newspapers are saying Brookside is to be
Axed totally in order to pay for the Simpsons Cartoons to be shown.
But I also have to admit the storylines are so boring now - whatever
happened to bodies under the patio and that sort of thing? Brookside used to
be the only exciting soap on TV, Eastenders is dull in comparison, but now
Brookside sucks compared to before.
HollyOaks is more exciting. If I was going to revampt the show I'd axe that
new family that's moved in, can't rememebr the name but the most interesting
story line they can bring is that their father is trying to give up
smoking!! (boring) and their daugther is getting divorced (boring)
Jimmy Corkhill no longer adds value to the show without Sue Jenkins to play
off against.
Even Jackie Dixon doesn't do any more wheeling and Dealing. And I'm sick to
death of Mike Dixon, it would be wonderful to actually see him get off his
behind and make something of himself and prove everyone wrong, and make his
dad proud of him, instead he's the same sad sod he's always been, even
though he's probably the most educated person in his family. Why doesn't he
use his film making skills and make the next "Balir Witch Movie" and become
a huge success?
And fror Ray and his moaning wife, I'm so sick of her, I'd like to see Ray
have an affair cos he deserves someone better.
To be honest I now have Brookside running in the background whislt I surf
the net, or am eating, it no longer holds my full attention like it used to.
How far ahead is Brookside shot? Because I'm getting so bored of it now and
with Sky TV and it's over 100 channels to chose from it's never been easier
to switch over and watch something better or at least more interesting.
Jean
"Dee" <diamond...@NOSPAMPLEASEfastmail.fm> wrote in message
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Dee
"Jean" <not...@nothing.com> wrote in message
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> Absolutely. Well said, couldn't have put it better myself.
>
Thanks ..
I watched Brookside again today .. and to be honest I'm just going through
the motions with it ...It's just meaning-less now.
All I saw today was 4 familes moaning at each other.
I remember I used to love watching a comedy called "Bread" when it started
it was new and fresh, but towards the end the writing got worse and worse.
Maybe this happens to all shows, espacially when one person does most of the
writing??
I think Brookside has had it's day, if they want to attempt to save the show
they need to bring back some of the old gang - Sinbad for starters, Sue
Jenkins. Even Anna Friel - I know her character died but she could be
brought back as beth's cousin or something. What Brookside needs isn't brand
new faces, but some of the old ones.
I remember when Neighbours brought back Harold, it was great for me anyway
to see him back.
The characters in Brookside have nothing left but moaning and a move to
saturday along with the boring story lines will just kill this show off.
I think it's funny when thy say how much money they've spent revamping the
show, because good story lines are totally free
Dee
"Dee" <diamond...@NOSPAMPLEASEfastmail.fm> wrote in message
Finally a bit of good humor in Brookside, Ray in the Coffin was pretty Funy,
Althought it would have been much better if the boys had packaged him
properly instead of just using bubble wrap.
Jean
Steve & Tinhead are eye candy, and Jimmy Corkhill's still away, as are the
moaning Murrays.
And Jessie's ranting about Ray was good, as was the coffin joke :-)
"Dee" <diamond...@NOSPAMPLEASEfastmail.fm> wrote in message
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