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Series lengths

Why are they so short in the UK? (February 2007)

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JE
Jez Founding member
cwathen posted:


This is also why in the UK a US series will usually start in January - several months after the US run but yet will usually finish in June only a few weeks after the final episode has had it's US airing.



Ive noticed that. I wish they would do the same as the US and start the series a few weeks later and take breaks. Sky One have done that with Lost. Sometimes 22 episodes all in one block can be hard to keep up with.
RM
Roger Mellie
dbl posted:
I'm really enjoying Benidorm and Bonkers, it's a shame it's just 6 episodes far too short. Sad


Remember these are both brand new series. A production company doesn't intially want to risk money on making loads of episodes for a new show, which may be poorly received (and subsequently cancelled)!

Six episodes seems a sensible number of episodes to make in the first instance.
PE
Pete Founding member
Brekkie Boy posted:
Worth noting though the US are now with big shows such as Lost and 24 looking at running series uninterupted.


hasn't series three ran for 6 eps then gone on a longish pause though?
PA
pad
Hymagumba posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:
Worth noting though the US are now with big shows such as Lost and 24 looking at running series uninterupted.


hasn't series three ran for 6 eps then gone on a longish pause though?


It tends to go like that, weird hiatuses, leaving a trail of repeats in their wakes.
BR
Brekkie
Hymagumba posted:
Brekkie Boy posted:
Worth noting though the US are now with big shows such as Lost and 24 looking at running series uninterupted.


hasn't series three ran for 6 eps then gone on a longish pause though?


The first six ran in the Autumn, with the last 16-17 airing uninterupted from now until the end of the season. Also reports they are looking at running next year's completly uninterupted.


Jez posted:
I wish they would do the same as the US and start the series a few weeks later and take breaks.


To a certain extent I agree. I wouldn't want random breaks of a couple of weeks throughout the series, but I think with most US series UK broadcaster could air the first ten or so episodes in the Autumn, and then the rest of the series in the Spring.

And I suspect we'll begin to see that sooner rather than later as broadcasters react to impatient viewers watching the series online soon after it's broadcast in the States.
PA
pad
Roger Mellie posted:
dbl posted:
I'm really enjoying Benidorm and Bonkers, it's a shame it's just 6 episodes far too short. Sad


Remember these are both brand new series. A production company doesn't intially want to risk money on making loads of episodes for a new show, which may be poorly received (and subsequently cancelled)!

Six episodes seems a sensible number of episodes to make in the first instance.

Here's hoping ITV recommission Bonkers, it's a good "dramedy" with potential to do well. The ratings have been pretty good and I'd like to see it recommissioned for a longer run. Knowing ITV, they won't though.

I agree with Brekkie Boy about Primeval - it would be better in the week, Friday nights as mentioned with Supernatural (which, IMO, is worth a primetime slot) would be a good pairing.
JE
Jez Founding member
I agree that Supernatural is worthy of an ITV1 primetime slot rather than ITV2. However ITV dont seem to want to risk showing it in primetime ITV1.
PA
pad
Jez posted:
ITV dont seem to want to risk showing it in primetime ITV1.


Yeah, suppose it's easier to bang in a Midsomer repeat Rolling Eyes
JE
Jez Founding member
pad posted:
Jez posted:
ITV dont seem to want to risk showing it in primetime ITV1.


Yeah, suppose it's easier to bang in a Midsomer repeat Rolling Eyes


Or A Touch of Frost from about 1993!

Its funny we should be discussing this but there was a letter in todays Whats on TV saying they should do longer series of UK dramas.
PA
pad
Jez posted:
Its funny we should be discussing this but there was a letter in todays Whats on TV saying they should do longer series of UK dramas.


Great minds and all that. Smile
JE
Jez Founding member
pad posted:
Jez posted:
Its funny we should be discussing this but there was a letter in todays Whats on TV saying they should do longer series of UK dramas.


Great minds and all that. Smile


Ive also read 2 letters in the past few days calling for EE to be axed! Wink
PA
pad
Jez posted:
Ive also read 2 letters in the past few days calling for EE to be axed! Wink


That's just common sense! Laughing

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