Its become a machine, its make so much money now, there is no entertaining value to the programme, and hasn't been the case in years. but no one cares since its make lots of money.
It was still the most watched show on TV yesterday - averaging 6.2m (over 30% share I think ) and peaking at 7.1m. So people chose to watch it.
You have to agree, Comic Relief is far better at the telethon now than Children in Need.
Yet many of the things that are said about CIN these days can also be said about Comic Relief.
In particular, getting people to watch and donate matters more than being tremendously artistic and enormously entertaining (though obviously if there *weren't* decent amounts of artistry and entertainment, hardly anyone would watch or donate).
We'll probably never again have moments like this:
You have to agree, Comic Relief is far better at the telethon now than Children in Need.
Yet many of the things that are said about CIN these days can also be said about Comic Relief.
In particular, getting people to watch and donate matters more than being tremendously artistic and enormously entertaining (though obviously if there *weren't* decent amounts of artistry and entertainment, hardly anyone would watch or donate).
We'll probably never again have moments like this:
In a way they kept things simpler, comic relief had their desk, children in need had a sofa area, a lot of the fun and entertaining pieces came from people dropping in on the night and chats to donators in the crowds. Plus it comes down to the quality of writing and performers, that Rowan Atkinson performance would have fitted in well on Not the Nine O’Clock News, nowadays sketch comedy doesn’t seem to be worth the money for the broadcasters.
The main problem with modern day sketch comedy, not withstanding the fact a large amount of it is crap, is that the betters stuff is post watershed. I seem to remember Brendan O'Carroll on something or other relatively recently where it wasn't appropriate to 'feck' this that and the other and the character just didn't work.
Compare this to some older comedic characters who can quite easily be taken out of their source material and they can work near enough anywhere. Kevin The Teenager for example, later put into an admittedly sub-standard movie. Mr Bean, two movie adaptions and a cartoon series. Dad's Army, later turned into a movie (which was disappointing but was more of a backstory to the TV show) and a later film (also disappointing but could have been worse).
The One Show kicking off the night is just boring. Then from 7.30-10.00pm they have a very mediocre night. After the news, the whole night just fizzles out, which is why now they end at 12.30am instead of 2.00am.
A new format could easily be created. Get the big BBC shows to do 15 minute sketches and specials, intermixed with live musical guests and that could do it.
It seems very half hearted approach now. They make millions yes, but the entertainment is just appalling. The "previews" are pathetic. Call the Midwife preview, near midnight before it aired and for what, 90 seconds at most.
A whole structural change is needed, and maybe, they could host the show from a theatre, like Michael McIntyre does with his Big Show, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, instead of Elstree Studio D. Different atmosphere.
Compare this to some older comedic characters who can quite easily be taken out of their source material and they can work near enough anywhere. Kevin The Teenager for example, later put into an admittedly sub-standard movie. Mr Bean, two movie adaptions and a cartoon series. Dad's Army, later turned into a movie (which was disappointing but was more of a backstory to the TV show) and a later film (also disappointing but could have been worse).
I thought Mr Bean's Holiday was more in the spirit of the original than the Hollywood version which was overboard.
The One Show kicking off the night is just boring. Then from 7.30-10.00pm they have a very mediocre night. After the news, the whole night just fizzles out, which is why now they end at 12.30am instead of 2.00am.
.
Every year this comes up. I agree it should start at 7pm bang on, move the one show slot to maybe 8.15 and have the rickshaw challenge with that, We need to get a single host that is big enough to do 6 full hours from 7 -1.
As for a single host the BBC have one who could carry it. Greg James, and he's not employed on Fridays as well. He's got the persona to attract young ones and isn't too gross for the older viewer too. I'd include Roman Kemp despite not being a BBC presenter as one for the future too.
The One Show really needs (apart from it's fundraising segment) to be ditched. The almost seemless flow from regional news magazine to CIN was a brainwave when introduced.
As for a single host the BBC have one who could carry it. Greg James, and he's not employed on Fridays as well. He's got the persona to attract young ones and isn't too gross for the older viewer too. I'd include Roman Kemp despite not being a BBC presenter as one for the future too.
The One Show really needs (apart from it's fundraising segment) to be ditched. The almost seemless flow from regional news magazine to CIN was a brainwave when introduced.
Greg James doesn’t exactly have much experience of hosting shows like this...