BR
They're not the force they once were on Saturday nights that's for sure - and Strictly and the Lloyd Webber shows (which don't look like returning anytime soon) can only sustain the schedule for a few weeks.
As for Graham Norton - well, at least he's not Dale Winton, or John Barrowman, but the biggest problem they had with him initially was they signed him up before they had a show for him - and since then have practically given him every Saturday night gig going, and shows like Totally Saturday have made it too screen far too early. They commissioned and began broadcasting the series within weeks of a tentative pilot being shot, when it clearly needed much longer (centuries perhaps) before it would be in anyway fit for broadcast.
The lottery shows have got stuck in a rut of being repetitive gameshows too. The problem with the BBC is when they find something that works, they basically clone it and see how many guises they can get away with basically giving the viewers the same programme, rather than complement the hit programming with different genres and styles of entertainment.
As for Graham Norton - well, at least he's not Dale Winton, or John Barrowman, but the biggest problem they had with him initially was they signed him up before they had a show for him - and since then have practically given him every Saturday night gig going, and shows like Totally Saturday have made it too screen far too early. They commissioned and began broadcasting the series within weeks of a tentative pilot being shot, when it clearly needed much longer (centuries perhaps) before it would be in anyway fit for broadcast.
The lottery shows have got stuck in a rut of being repetitive gameshows too. The problem with the BBC is when they find something that works, they basically clone it and see how many guises they can get away with basically giving the viewers the same programme, rather than complement the hit programming with different genres and styles of entertainment.
JA
Isn't Strictly starting again in a few weeks?
They're not the force they once were on Saturday nights that's for sure - and Strictly and the Lloyd Webber shows (which don't look like returning anytime soon) can only sustain the schedule for a few weeks.
Isn't Strictly starting again in a few weeks?
GO
It's the general crapness of the sets that put me off more than anything with BBC Saturday night shows. They manage to really cheapen things like 1 vs 100 where they had a stupid industrial fan in the background (all the rage back in the 1990s 
). The graphics they use tend to look quite dated as well; cheap looking pinks and purples and boring light colours. Why can't they do something daring and, dare I say it, modern. Look at Sweden's Melodifestivalen, gorgeous 'electric' colours set on a black background with nice, simple graphics.
I think ITV's big programmes always appear to have much bigger audiences giving them a greater sense of importance (Saturday Night Takeway's seemingly endless audience for example). I don't know if this is perhaps down to extended shots of the audience or generally bigger studios but I think ITV uses the power of an audience to its advantage.
). The graphics they use tend to look quite dated as well; cheap looking pinks and purples and boring light colours. Why can't they do something daring and, dare I say it, modern. Look at Sweden's Melodifestivalen, gorgeous 'electric' colours set on a black background with nice, simple graphics.
I think ITV's big programmes always appear to have much bigger audiences giving them a greater sense of importance (Saturday Night Takeway's seemingly endless audience for example). I don't know if this is perhaps down to extended shots of the audience or generally bigger studios but I think ITV uses the power of an audience to its advantage.
AN
I agree completely with what the original post said on this - a lot of live shows made by the BBC tend to be a bit of a shambles. There are far too many occasions of presenters looking at the wrong camera, not knowing what to say or do, and not knowing how to handle any mistakes or unforeseen circumstances. ITV's equivalent shows tend to be a lot slicker.
BR
At times it's seemed like the BBC have used virtually the same set for every programme.
It's the general crapness of the sets that put me off more than anything with BBC Saturday night shows. They manage to really cheapen things like 1 vs 100 where they had a stupid industrial fan in the background (all the rage back in the 1990s ).
).
At times it's seemed like the BBC have used virtually the same set for every programme.
NT
I think another problem is the over-use of presenters ( John Barrowman / Graham Norton as mentioned previously ).
The BBC really needs to try out some new quiz show formats so that they don't have to put on The Weakest Link every time there's a gap to fill. I agree with the sentiments of the above postings - ever since the end of Noel's House Party the BBC have struggled to fill in the Saturday night slot with non reality type shows. Remember how bad Red Alert was?
Also there's no real variety ( excuse the pun ) on a Saturday when they've come to rely heavily on Casualty / Doctor Who / Strictly Come Dancing to pull in the viewers. I also agree that they should leave Graham Norton to do what he does sort of best - later night stuff.
I really think it's time for them to wheel out The Generation Game again, with a well thought out presenter.
The BBC really needs to try out some new quiz show formats so that they don't have to put on The Weakest Link every time there's a gap to fill. I agree with the sentiments of the above postings - ever since the end of Noel's House Party the BBC have struggled to fill in the Saturday night slot with non reality type shows. Remember how bad Red Alert was?
Also there's no real variety ( excuse the pun ) on a Saturday when they've come to rely heavily on Casualty / Doctor Who / Strictly Come Dancing to pull in the viewers. I also agree that they should leave Graham Norton to do what he does sort of best - later night stuff.
I really think it's time for them to wheel out The Generation Game again, with a well thought out presenter.
GU
They really should give a new chap an opportunity - Someone like Greg Scott, who can be seen at www.gregscott.tv
Shameless self-promotion? Moi?
Shameless self-promotion? Moi?
CH
Because there's so much snobbery in the BBC that they're just not willing to lower themselves to ITV's 'level' - which they wrongly perceive as being inferior and common. Add the huge amounts of BBC bureaucracy into the mix and they're guaranteed to fail every time.
Noel's House Party was the one exception, only because Noel knew how to put on a show and he had so much control over the production.
So why does the BBC get this area of programming wrong so often?
Because there's so much snobbery in the BBC that they're just not willing to lower themselves to ITV's 'level' - which they wrongly perceive as being inferior and common. Add the huge amounts of BBC bureaucracy into the mix and they're guaranteed to fail every time.
Noel's House Party was the one exception, only because Noel knew how to put on a show and he had so much control over the production.