Yes it looked like GMTV were providing the ads this morning, they managed to cut off the sponsorship bumper almost everytime and did that frozen last ad with white dotted line thing like they do. They also seemed to start running an ad break early around that preview of CD:UK after Chums
This doesn't explain why the CITV DOG kept going on and off though, or why when Emma Bunton was welcomed on the Chums set, we saw the SM:TV Gold logo stuck on the screen or why the logo froze for ages at the end instead of going to the sponsorship. This is all the resposibility of the SM:TV gallery I would have thought
Did look pretty weird, the programme crashed to black, then part of a commercial appeared, then it crashed back into the programme.
Maybe LNN are doing software tests again this weekend
But the normal itv1 graphics did re-appear before part two of CD:UK - which is even more baffling because it is strictly still CITV?
Not really I wouldn't say CD:UK was fully part of CITV, there used to be an ITV1 ident before it at one time
I wouldn't ever say that now. Ever since Cat Left SMTV, the distinction between it and CDUK has got more and more blurred to the point where the only conenction is a 30-second trailer & muaic video at the end of SMTV. It's a shame really, as it felt really good with the feeling that the 2 shows were one and the same even with the same hosts. I'll say it again- SMTV execs shuold have tried to get Ant, Dec & Cat back, They could have restored the format and saved the show. Let's hope the new show is like SMTV in the early days.
I wish that they'd show some more classic moments on SM:TV Gold than they do, and get rid of Eat My Goal.
Stuff like the opening sketch, and Dec shouting at the callers on Wonkey Donkey, plus lesser sketches will never get shown in the current vote format. What was everyone's favourite sketches from the Ant and Dec era anyway? Notice how the Brian, Tess and James era seems to have totally been forgotten about!
BTW, does anyone know why eat my goal has suddely moved outside? it doesn't seem the same.
Yes, and the only way we'll see this is if we ever get full episodes of SMTV repeated, maybe we should start camapigining(!)
One of the funny things about SMTV is that we had the same presenter line up for over 3 years, but since then we must have mad no less than 10 since (And anoraks, post them here). Also, goes with the sketches- we used to have some really long running ones with Ant & Dec (Chums ran for well over 2 years) and most were really good (even the ones which didn't run for long), but then after they left they only seemed to last for a few weeks before changing to something else, and sone were dismal (Esepcially Eminemmerdale- what the hell was that about). The show wasn't that bad for around the first 9 months after Ant & Dec left but then it descended into mediocrity (and I think Des helped that- IMO he's crap, he's the one that should have mysteriously disappeared, not Shavaugn). After Brian left, we could see the show has run out and there wa sonly 2 options- either axe it, or bring bakc Ant & Dec. Sadly they choise the latter and only did the former by showing clips. If only they could have bought back Ant, Dec & Cat they could have ressurected some of the best sketches and saved the show (And kicked the ratings of the mediocre Dick & Dom).
Well, do you really think it would have been so easy for Conor just to say "lads, will you come back?" and for them to just say "yeah, alright then" It was never gonna happen! Des & Stephen are much better than Dick & Dom in my opinion! Although, obviously no one's close when it comes to Ant & Dec.
And, as much as I love Ant & Dec, I don't think they should have ever left SM:TV, Nothing they have done since has been as good. Because shows like Pop Idol, I'm A Celeb... are taking a bit more seriously. But on SM:TV they just had a laugh for two hours and it was pointless, but fun.
Thats what Saturday Morning TV should be about. They could have brought the lads back temporarily, just have them present the show when they've nothing else to do, and them letting them off for a few weeks to do other shows, but it was never gonna happen. Ant & Dec had moved on and now its too late for them to do anything!
Ant & Dec wouldnt have come back full time, unless they had a big load of cash for them.
(BTW. What does everyone think of reports that the BBC are going to try and poach them from itv when their itv contract ends october 2004 for £3million each!)
It cant all be blamed on Ant & Dec leaving, the chemistry especially earlier this year between Tess & Brian was great, they should have changed the show but just for them, so that it became more like Live & Kicking with more competitons and features, and some of the sketches were great too. Its more about the writing. The same people that worked with Ant, Dec & Cat stuck around and wrote things like Casually & Delia Whiffs, which were very funny sketches. Casually even had longevity as it was more like a comedy drama and just like the hospital drams they had much material that they could use, and a nice theme tune!
When Des & Shavaughan came along, things looked promising as we had some well written sketches (true, many could only be used as one offs, but they were well written), a new set, and new ideas coming through. It was when they started to revert back to things like eat my goal, and wonkey donkey that everything headed downhill!
Hopefully the new saturday morning show, whilst featuring some sketches will head in other directions also, such as the saturday show did in 2001 by including the audience more, having games such as Risk, and Karaoke Criminals, a live band, artists that performed live.
Stephen could and most probably would work well as he has done for years if things were left for live tv, giving him the freedom to do things, and as its going to be made partly by foundation, a company that stephen has worked with to make the shows: the quick trick show, brilliant creatures, finger tips, globoloco and you can do magic; he must know the people well, and will hopefully have a good working relationship with everyone. I believe that the two exectutive producers of the new show are going to be the execs on globoloco, and globoloco is a crazy, mad show. This sort of show on a Saturday morning and LIVE could seriously do Dick & Dom some damage!
BTW. What does everyone think of reports that the BBC are going to try and poach them from itv when their itv contract ends october 2004 for £3million each!)
ITV would be mad to let them go back to the BBC, they are considerable assets to the station. However, we all know Nigel Pickards views on celebrities, he doesn't think that anyone is bigger than the station itself so who knows. How the BBC can justify spending £6m of licence fee payers money on 2 individuals is another story, but there you go, just goes to show how much of a hot property they have become.
Its £3million for two years. Greg Dyke says because their shows have hit ours badly, like pop idol (they are the presenters, they add something special, but wouldn't people still watch it if it was fronted by chaz 'n' dave?), i'm a celebrity (their witty banter is again an added bonus, but people watch it for the tourment that the celebrities go through!).
He should be looking at Saturday Night Takeaway, this has been a great show for ant & dec, they have been consultants on it and it has finally paid off for them. Slap Bang didnt work taking SM:tv primetime. The first takeaway was better but still missed something, they worked on that and now have a winning formula, that the BBC could nick. Obviously not the win the ads part, but the format that they have created.
I hope that itv will either outbid, or Ant & Dec will look at their relation with granada & itv, and see what a progress in their lives they have made rather than just going to the largest figure!
The article:
the people; sunday 19th october 2003 posted:
BEEB'S £6M BID FOR ANT & DEC
BBC bosses are making an audacious £6million bid to lure Ant and Dec back from rivals ITV.
Controller Greg Dyke sees the cheeky pair as the saviours of Saturday night TV.
He will offer them £3million each over two years when their ITV deal ends next year.
A BBC source admitted: "Ant and Dec are the kings of prime-time telly and we have taken a bashing from their shows since 1999. They are a big success and the boss wants to bring them back to the BBC.
"Their ITV deal only runs until next October and there are lots of projects for them to look at.
"The truth is money talks, and cheque book is ready."
Ant and Dec, alias Anthony McPartlin, 27, and Declan Donnelly, 28, started on BBC's Byker Grove in 1989 but have since become Saturday night darlings with ITV.
They are rarely off our screens - presenting Pop Idol and I'm A Celebrity as part of a golden handcuffs deal worth £850,000 each.
But the BBC believes they are underpaid compared with other ITV stars. The source added: "To have Ant and Dec on Saturday nights would be a real bonus."
BTW. What does everyone think of reports that the BBC are going to try and poach them from itv when their itv contract ends october 2004 for £3million each!
I can't see them going. Besides the money what could the BBC offer them that ITV doesn't? Unlike other defectors, they are already at the top of the industry on ITV and can't really get any higher
Surely itv can spend more money, they would just show more adverts, it isnt as though it is as much as was spent on the football rights, but enough to make sure that they stay. With itv plc looming, they are bound to be able to cover their costs.
They should also be looking for new talent though. There are many people in the world that are capable of doing shows, but they have to get a break to do it. I would like to see itv launch an itv talent campaign, to see if the talent itv can get out of it is better than the BBC, plus, new talent would be cheaper!
Well new talent includes the likes of Des Clarke but it seems a lot don't think much of him. I think he should move to CITV when SM:TV finishes to present links alongside Michael and Leah
I think he should too. He is really good within sketches, his live presenting skills could do with pollishing, but are better than when he first joined sm:tv. If only they could find shavaughan, they always seemed to work well together, perhaps having them on one day, with michael and leah the next, so that they alternate. Im not sure if i would want them mixing and matching, such as they did in 2000. Is it a good idea to mix the presenters or have two sets of two? Michael would work well with all, and should it be girl & boy or the same some days?
I hope that they do consider taking Des on, even if its to do a sketch show with some other people! He apparently started as a commedian, so he must know others. He is very tallented when it comes to acting, he has pulled off many accents. I think my favourite is his vicar of dribbley accent!
Speaking of Des, my favourite moment from saturday was when he was dressed up as the gorilla costume and scared emma bunton!