PA
I've also sent an email. It's truly disgusting.
'So not only must we contend with your disgusting generic, tacky blue-bars end credits for your most popular and supposedly valued programmes, but we now are being subjected to horrific IPP (in programme pointers) telling us what is on next, OVER the scenes in the show, as much as three times.
Coronation Street is serial drama. You are exploiting its popularity to promote other shows. This is unacceptable. You talk over the credits the second the theme tune fades in anyway, so leave the actual contents of the show ALONE please.
I would suggest to senior managment you review this new policy and remove it from all but live entertainment without delay. Consider also trying a less tacky way of displaying the end credits on shows like Coronation Street too; a simple block colour, black background is highly preferable to those horrible, tacky, nauseous blue bars. You could even push the boat out and try a picture of some cobbles or something. Or is that too much work, or too diverse?'
ITV makes me sick at times like these.
'So not only must we contend with your disgusting generic, tacky blue-bars end credits for your most popular and supposedly valued programmes, but we now are being subjected to horrific IPP (in programme pointers) telling us what is on next, OVER the scenes in the show, as much as three times.
Coronation Street is serial drama. You are exploiting its popularity to promote other shows. This is unacceptable. You talk over the credits the second the theme tune fades in anyway, so leave the actual contents of the show ALONE please.
I would suggest to senior managment you review this new policy and remove it from all but live entertainment without delay. Consider also trying a less tacky way of displaying the end credits on shows like Coronation Street too; a simple block colour, black background is highly preferable to those horrible, tacky, nauseous blue bars. You could even push the boat out and try a picture of some cobbles or something. Or is that too much work, or too diverse?'
ITV makes me sick at times like these.
PT
Duty Office do listen. Last year I contacted them about comedian Brendon Burns awful presenting style on ITV2's I'm A Celeb after show (it was a slow news day and I was bored) - the following night he was gone and Mark Durden-Smith was reinstated. I like to think that was all down to my email of sarcastic wit but...doubt it.
It all depends how many compaints they get and how the emails are constructed. If you just go "ARRGH! Get rid of da slugs telling me next programme! SO ANNOYING!" - They won't tend to listen. A carefully crafted email in a "Nick Harvey comment" style should make them read it.
As a compromise, I think the slugs should at least be reduced in size - currently the big black barrier takes up half the bottom of the screen and is totally unnecessary. If they must have them...make them small!
It all depends how many compaints they get and how the emails are constructed. If you just go "ARRGH! Get rid of da slugs telling me next programme! SO ANNOYING!" - They won't tend to listen. A carefully crafted email in a "Nick Harvey comment" style should make them read it.
As a compromise, I think the slugs should at least be reduced in size - currently the big black barrier takes up half the bottom of the screen and is totally unnecessary. If they must have them...make them small!
PA
Perhaps you have low standards then.
I think you'll find Tony Wood took all the credit from the real star, Carolyn Reynolds. She masterminded the Richard Hillman storyline with Kieran Roberts I believe and worked with Tony Wood for a year (his good year). She was behind the recent classics like Roy/Hayley/Tracy/Steve/Karen, Shelley/Peter/Lucy and Todd/Sarah/Karl. When she left, Tony Wood forgot about drama and put too much emphasis on crap, slapstick comedy with the likes of Cilla.
Tony Wood and Carolyn Reynolds are now at Hollyoaks I believe, overseeing it during one of its most successful periods in its history.
Steve Frost has been, in my opinion, pretty useless for the show. Mike's death was pretty poorly done, as was Fred's. Two classic characters deserved much, much more for their exits. Some argue Fred's was understated but I'm sorry, opening the second episode of the night with Jerry Morton stuffing his face with a bacon butty is not the way to do an exit episode for a Street legend. Both death episodes were badly structured. Likewise, the Tracy and Charlie storyline had its moments but overall was quite poorly done and over hyped, not to mention farcical.
Steve Frost also criminally underuses promising talent in the cast, like Jenny Platt who plays Violet. She is an example of someone who, given a decent, meaty storyline, could produce some excellent scenes. Likewise, Eileen Derbyshire is underused and has been ever since the crazy grandmother of Bethany came along, Barbara Knox hasn't done anything since her fantastic performances when Cilla took her to court, and when she was mugged, and Sue Cleaver's best storyline was a rather weak 'dumped baby' plot.
The Mortons are a shockingly bad family, who I find I just hate. There are supposedly like the Battersbys when they first came; I couldn't disagree more. Jerry is irritating, the female twin does nothing, the male twin is irritating and the little kid does nothing either. The Connors are the only good characters Mr Frost has introduced.
The cast is too large, there are very few 'outstanding' episodes. The two hander with Tracy/Deirdre was one of the few highlights of this year. Many of the writers have left, like John Stevenson who resigned and Daran Little who was absolutely brilliant when writing nostalgic episodes. We're left with average writers like Julie Jones and Peter Whalley who are incapable of producing episodes that are above average. John Fay and Jonathan Harvey are probably the two best writers but they only write episodes once in a blue moon. It's Frost's job to ensure the writers are good enough, and to my mind they aren't.
It's not in a rut as such, it's just plodding along with no real substance. They seem to focus on one thing at a time without having lots of plot threads running in synchrony. I find I can miss up to whole weeks at a time and still not feel like I've fallen behind. That's not right.
Jez posted:
Tony Wood was ok and his first year (2004) was excellent apart from the Todd storyline but im not going to get into that again. But are we forgetting that his final year on Corrie (2005) was the worst this decade so far particularly the Summer of 2005. Steve Frost taking over as producer saved Corrie from going down the pan and I really hope he isnt going anywhere for a good while as he is doing an excellent job.
Perhaps you have low standards then.
I think you'll find Tony Wood took all the credit from the real star, Carolyn Reynolds. She masterminded the Richard Hillman storyline with Kieran Roberts I believe and worked with Tony Wood for a year (his good year). She was behind the recent classics like Roy/Hayley/Tracy/Steve/Karen, Shelley/Peter/Lucy and Todd/Sarah/Karl. When she left, Tony Wood forgot about drama and put too much emphasis on crap, slapstick comedy with the likes of Cilla.
Tony Wood and Carolyn Reynolds are now at Hollyoaks I believe, overseeing it during one of its most successful periods in its history.
Steve Frost has been, in my opinion, pretty useless for the show. Mike's death was pretty poorly done, as was Fred's. Two classic characters deserved much, much more for their exits. Some argue Fred's was understated but I'm sorry, opening the second episode of the night with Jerry Morton stuffing his face with a bacon butty is not the way to do an exit episode for a Street legend. Both death episodes were badly structured. Likewise, the Tracy and Charlie storyline had its moments but overall was quite poorly done and over hyped, not to mention farcical.
Steve Frost also criminally underuses promising talent in the cast, like Jenny Platt who plays Violet. She is an example of someone who, given a decent, meaty storyline, could produce some excellent scenes. Likewise, Eileen Derbyshire is underused and has been ever since the crazy grandmother of Bethany came along, Barbara Knox hasn't done anything since her fantastic performances when Cilla took her to court, and when she was mugged, and Sue Cleaver's best storyline was a rather weak 'dumped baby' plot.
The Mortons are a shockingly bad family, who I find I just hate. There are supposedly like the Battersbys when they first came; I couldn't disagree more. Jerry is irritating, the female twin does nothing, the male twin is irritating and the little kid does nothing either. The Connors are the only good characters Mr Frost has introduced.
The cast is too large, there are very few 'outstanding' episodes. The two hander with Tracy/Deirdre was one of the few highlights of this year. Many of the writers have left, like John Stevenson who resigned and Daran Little who was absolutely brilliant when writing nostalgic episodes. We're left with average writers like Julie Jones and Peter Whalley who are incapable of producing episodes that are above average. John Fay and Jonathan Harvey are probably the two best writers but they only write episodes once in a blue moon. It's Frost's job to ensure the writers are good enough, and to my mind they aren't.
It's not in a rut as such, it's just plodding along with no real substance. They seem to focus on one thing at a time without having lots of plot threads running in synchrony. I find I can miss up to whole weeks at a time and still not feel like I've fallen behind. That's not right.
SE
There's a way of making a point and that isn't it. I bet that will cause a good laugh in the office.
Square Eyes
Founding member
pad posted:
I've also sent an email. It's truly disgusting.
'So not only must we contend with your disgusting generic, tacky blue-bars end credits for your most popular and supposedly valued programmes, but we now are being subjected to horrific IPP (in programme pointers) telling us what is on next, OVER the scenes in the show, as much as three times.
Coronation Street is serial drama. You are exploiting its popularity to promote other shows. This is unacceptable. You talk over the credits the second the theme tune fades in anyway, so leave the actual contents of the show ALONE please.
I would suggest to senior managment you review this new policy and remove it from all but live entertainment without delay. Consider also trying a less tacky way of displaying the end credits on shows like Coronation Street too; a simple block colour, black background is highly preferable to those horrible, tacky, nauseous blue bars. You could even push the boat out and try a picture of some cobbles or something. Or is that too much work, or too diverse?'
'So not only must we contend with your disgusting generic, tacky blue-bars end credits for your most popular and supposedly valued programmes, but we now are being subjected to horrific IPP (in programme pointers) telling us what is on next, OVER the scenes in the show, as much as three times.
Coronation Street is serial drama. You are exploiting its popularity to promote other shows. This is unacceptable. You talk over the credits the second the theme tune fades in anyway, so leave the actual contents of the show ALONE please.
I would suggest to senior managment you review this new policy and remove it from all but live entertainment without delay. Consider also trying a less tacky way of displaying the end credits on shows like Coronation Street too; a simple block colour, black background is highly preferable to those horrible, tacky, nauseous blue bars. You could even push the boat out and try a picture of some cobbles or something. Or is that too much work, or too diverse?'
There's a way of making a point and that isn't it. I bet that will cause a good laugh in the office.
JE
Perhaps you have low standards then.
No just a different opinion to you, nothing wrong with that.
Jez
Founding member
pad posted:
Jez posted:
Tony Wood was ok and his first year (2004) was excellent apart from the Todd storyline but im not going to get into that again. But are we forgetting that his final year on Corrie (2005) was the worst this decade so far particularly the Summer of 2005. Steve Frost taking over as producer saved Corrie from going down the pan and I really hope he isnt going anywhere for a good while as he is doing an excellent job.
Perhaps you have low standards then.
No just a different opinion to you, nothing wrong with that.
SE
If they value their viewers it shouldn't. Oh wait...
It sounds like the rantings of an irrational weirdo anorak. I agree about the in programme pointers, they are intrusive, but let's hope others put their point more rationally and politely.
Square Eyes
Founding member
pad posted:
Square Eyes posted:
I bet that will cause a good laugh in the office.
If they value their viewers it shouldn't. Oh wait...
It sounds like the rantings of an irrational weirdo anorak. I agree about the in programme pointers, they are intrusive, but let's hope others put their point more rationally and politely.
PA
That's fair enough. Perhaps it was a bit strong. Perhaps I am irrational, weird and an anorak. But you know, it's frustrating. ITV are supposed to be the biggest independent broadcaster yet they seem to be clueless about so many things. I'm sure others will put the point across more profoundly.
And Jez, can you explain to me how Steve Frost is doing a good job in your eyes?
Square Eyes posted:
It sounds like the rantings of an irrational weirdo anorak. I agree about the in programme pointers, they are intrusive, but let's hope others put their point more rationally and politely.
That's fair enough. Perhaps it was a bit strong. Perhaps I am irrational, weird and an anorak. But you know, it's frustrating. ITV are supposed to be the biggest independent broadcaster yet they seem to be clueless about so many things. I'm sure others will put the point across more profoundly.
And Jez, can you explain to me how Steve Frost is doing a good job in your eyes?
DA
Well I hate to say it but it's the truth Jez. And let's be clear, I don't think it's as bad as it was in mid-2005 but then that's not really saying much. Steve Frost seems to live for sensationalist rubbish and he can't even do that very well. Tony Wood was never great on his own but under Carolyn they both managed to steer the show into one of its finest years in terms of quality.
I love Corrie, I always will, and I don't think I'll ever stop watching but I can't pretend I'm enjoying it because I'm really not - there are great moments (the fire episode was brilliant, another John Harvey as well) but they are few and far between.
Jez posted:
Its a shame to hear that such loyal fans are not enjoying it.
Well I hate to say it but it's the truth Jez. And let's be clear, I don't think it's as bad as it was in mid-2005 but then that's not really saying much. Steve Frost seems to live for sensationalist rubbish and he can't even do that very well. Tony Wood was never great on his own but under Carolyn they both managed to steer the show into one of its finest years in terms of quality.
I love Corrie, I always will, and I don't think I'll ever stop watching but I can't pretend I'm enjoying it because I'm really not - there are great moments (the fire episode was brilliant, another John Harvey as well) but they are few and far between.