ST
That was a particularly good episode last night.
It was a very well-written storyline and the acting was excellent. The incidental music was used very effectively to enhance the mood without being instrusive.
They certainly seem to have been able to step up a gear in terms of quality by concentrating on a single episode each week.
EDIT :
However, Broadcast are reporting:
Just watched the BIll for the first tie since the revamp, and I have to say, I thought the actual content was amazing and I loved it! I know that some will be forever in mourning over the old themetune but in the grand scheme of things, this relaunch HAD to happen an di think its for the best!
That was a particularly good episode last night.
It was a very well-written storyline and the acting was excellent. The incidental music was used very effectively to enhance the mood without being instrusive.
They certainly seem to have been able to step up a gear in terms of quality by concentrating on a single episode each week.
EDIT :
However, Broadcast are reporting:
Quote:
The Bill continued to lose ground last night, shedding almost a million viewers since its launch in a post-watershed slot.
An average of 3.6m (16% share) tuned in for the fourth instalment of the 9pm police drama, down from 4.2m (17.8%) last week.
The night marked a drop of nearly 1m viewers since The Bill was re-launched as a moodier post watershed drama on 23 July. The first episode averaged 4.5m, but dipped slightly last week before plummeting further last night.
About 3.9m (17.3%) tuned in for the first 15 minutes of the programme, helped by a strong lead in from Coronation Street. But it couldn’t keep viewers hanging around and by 9.45pm had dropped to an average audience of 3.36m (14.9%).
An average of 3.6m (16% share) tuned in for the fourth instalment of the 9pm police drama, down from 4.2m (17.8%) last week.
The night marked a drop of nearly 1m viewers since The Bill was re-launched as a moodier post watershed drama on 23 July. The first episode averaged 4.5m, but dipped slightly last week before plummeting further last night.
About 3.9m (17.3%) tuned in for the first 15 minutes of the programme, helped by a strong lead in from Coronation Street. But it couldn’t keep viewers hanging around and by 9.45pm had dropped to an average audience of 3.36m (14.9%).
Last edited by Stuart on 7 August 2009 3:31pm
AM
now that does work - although new theme is good its just not The Bill!!!!
Going back to the theme tune for a second, I was just tinkering around on my computer and I was surprised how well the previous theme tune actually fits in with the new title sequence.
I thought I'd post it here as it isn't really a mock or a recreation
Clicky
I thought I'd post it here as it isn't really a mock or a recreation
Clicky
now that does work - although new theme is good its just not The Bill!!!!
CC
The Bill needs to go back to its roots for the programme to survive IMHO. None of the current characters are as strong as the likes of DI Galloway, Sgt Cryer and DS Ted Roach etc. I find the the new format rather slow and as much as I try to engage with it I find myself not caring about anyone or anything in it. The programme should go back to being about the coppers and not about the criminals, thankfully it has got away from the soap era but the producers should try and recreate some of that Geoff McQueen magic of the first few series'.
MW
Reggie Babe, Tony, Dave, George, Polly, Luke and the rest of the great cast from 1998. I liked Andrew Monroe, shame they blew him up.
____________________________
The other problem they have got is the inside of Sun Hill looks nothing like a police station. It's too bright.
Standard police station walls are Dark Grey on the bottom, Lighter on top. The feel of the station is too weak.
Bring back Reggie babe!
Reggie Babe, Tony, Dave, George, Polly, Luke and the rest of the great cast from 1998. I liked Andrew Monroe, shame they blew him up.
____________________________
The other problem they have got is the inside of Sun Hill looks nothing like a police station. It's too bright.
Standard police station walls are Dark Grey on the bottom, Lighter on top. The feel of the station is too weak.
ST
But it suits the new dramatic direction they want to develop for the stories, and the theme has enough of the 'Old Bill' in it to make it recognisable.
I think it's been a positive change. I like the new arrangement of the theme music, although it's only heard in full on ITV3 (where it's repeated especially for those pesky Scots who secretly like Sassenach dramas -
)
Here is the full (uninterrupted) closing credits, for those who don't watch ITV3...
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-CloseHQ.flv
I also quite like the almost monochrome "coming next" sequences. Here is the above clip including the "coming next" segment:
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-Next-CloseHQ.flv
...although new theme is good its just not The Bill!!!!
But it suits the new dramatic direction they want to develop for the stories, and the theme has enough of the 'Old Bill' in it to make it recognisable.
I think it's been a positive change. I like the new arrangement of the theme music, although it's only heard in full on ITV3 (where it's repeated especially for those pesky Scots who secretly like Sassenach dramas -
)
Here is the full (uninterrupted) closing credits, for those who don't watch ITV3...
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-CloseHQ.flv
I also quite like the almost monochrome "coming next" sequences. Here is the above clip including the "coming next" segment:
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-Next-CloseHQ.flv
Last edited by Stuart on 8 August 2009 7:45pm - 2 times in total
RM
Reggie Babe, Tony, Dave, George, Polly, Luke and the rest of the great cast from 1998. I liked Andrew Monroe, shame they blew him up.
It saddens me that they are getting rid of Tony Stamp, who 'is' The Bill for me. I'm sure that real-life stations have police-officers in their 50s, valuable given their experience. For it's me it's wrong to have just Meadows as an older officer, then everybody else under the age of 45.
I doubt Reggie Babe will be coming back, since actor Jeff Stewart's reportedly erratic and unprofessional behaviour got him dismissed from the show indefinitely.
I'm glad they haven't changed The Bill too much; although I've found the storylines since the change have been a bit pedestrian, here's hoping it picks up again. As long as it never returns to the soapiness of the dreadful Marquess, I'll stick by the show.
Bring back Reggie babe!
Reggie Babe, Tony, Dave, George, Polly, Luke and the rest of the great cast from 1998. I liked Andrew Monroe, shame they blew him up.
It saddens me that they are getting rid of Tony Stamp, who 'is' The Bill for me. I'm sure that real-life stations have police-officers in their 50s, valuable given their experience. For it's me it's wrong to have just Meadows as an older officer, then everybody else under the age of 45.
I doubt Reggie Babe will be coming back, since actor Jeff Stewart's reportedly erratic and unprofessional behaviour got him dismissed from the show indefinitely.
I'm glad they haven't changed The Bill too much; although I've found the storylines since the change have been a bit pedestrian, here's hoping it picks up again. As long as it never returns to the soapiness of the dreadful Marquess, I'll stick by the show.
Last edited by Roger Mellie on 11 August 2009 9:43pm
PA
I thought Thursday's episode was really very good. The story was excellent and intriguing, the acting was top notch, I enjoyed the use of music and the shooting style .... there wasn't much action but it was all in the suspense and mystery and I was gripped. I was a little bit alarmed to see some people on DS calling it dull - it was anything but. Perhaps they wanted some officers shagging in the changing rooms. 
Taking a quick glance at Digital S hite and I see blanket moaning about the new format, "The Bill is dead!", "they keep playing whale music, it's not working", "the new format is like it's been shot on a foggy day by a drunk cameraman" etc etc ad nauseum.
I think what it signifies is this: people are shockingly resistant to change of any kind, and a lot of people want The Bill to be a soap. It's not a soap. It's a contemporary 9 o'clock drama and in my opinion is now of the calibre of shows like Law & Order and other decent cop shows.
For me the new show is far superior to the previous incarnation. Okay, it may be suffering in the ratings a TAD at the moment (though 3.8m + 1.0m for the Friday repeat after News at Ten is not exactly disastrous) but I highly doubt the BBC has any other ratings-busting shows about the police to pit up against it after September - and I forsee a ratings rise and a solid 9pm hit for ITV1.
As for people moaning about the new theme, again it's resistance to change IMO. I really like the opening - it's got a Spooks-esque feel about and feels less sensational and more serious, reflecting the show's new edge. I applaud the producers for having the guts to do this and I think it will pay off.
Taking a quick glance at Digital S hite and I see blanket moaning about the new format, "The Bill is dead!", "they keep playing whale music, it's not working", "the new format is like it's been shot on a foggy day by a drunk cameraman" etc etc ad nauseum.
I think what it signifies is this: people are shockingly resistant to change of any kind, and a lot of people want The Bill to be a soap. It's not a soap. It's a contemporary 9 o'clock drama and in my opinion is now of the calibre of shows like Law & Order and other decent cop shows.
For me the new show is far superior to the previous incarnation. Okay, it may be suffering in the ratings a TAD at the moment (though 3.8m + 1.0m for the Friday repeat after News at Ten is not exactly disastrous) but I highly doubt the BBC has any other ratings-busting shows about the police to pit up against it after September - and I forsee a ratings rise and a solid 9pm hit for ITV1.
As for people moaning about the new theme, again it's resistance to change IMO. I really like the opening - it's got a Spooks-esque feel about and feels less sensational and more serious, reflecting the show's new edge. I applaud the producers for having the guts to do this and I think it will pay off.
MW
I also quite like the almost monochrome "coming next" sequences. Here is the above clip including the "coming next" segment:
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-Next-CloseHQ.flv
Silly blonde bitch, hit the panic strip. Don't let the guy attack you.
I also quite like the almost monochrome "coming next" sequences. Here is the above clip including the "coming next" segment:
http://vid273.photobucket.com/albums/jj219/StuartPlymouth/ITV3-TheBill2009-Next-CloseHQ.flv
Silly blonde bitch, hit the panic strip. Don't let the guy attack you.
AM
Let me expand on my post further up....
Firstly I am not saying that this new bold brave move in direction of the show is rubbish - quite the opposite it is a great move and one that should be applauded.
Secondly is it right to remove some of the older cast??? On the one hand, no because in the real world, which this drama (and not soap) is supposedly trying to depict then yes there will be some older officers in the stations. On the other hand the drama is now more action and character driven led - therefore does the actor who plays Tony Stamp have the ability to do that (a few years ago maybe but now??? Anyway Tony has been a lost charaacter ever since his side-kick, cannot remember the name now, left the show a few years ago.
Thirdly, I never said that I didn't like the new theme tune, - to be honest it is great but it isn't The Bill, its more of a CSI, Law and Order, NCIS style theme. They could have easily rejigged the original theme to suit the new direction and people would still be able to recognise the theme and instantly know which show they are watching. People on here would be able to recognise some of the old features of the old theme in thee new one, but the common everyday person just sees it as a completely new tune!!! It would be like changing the theme tune to Coronation Street, Emmmerdale, Taggart, News at Ten or even Sharpe (yes a couple of soaps included).
Just look at some shows where the theme tune changed and look at what happened to them....
Crossroads (original) changed its theme and went off less than a year later
Doctor Who (original McOy era) - although based on the theme (just like The Bill) but still too different and then went on a multi-year hiatus
ITN/ITV News - changed their theme and lost viewers (well mainly because of change in ITV news direction but the tune didn't help)
I have carefully been listening to thee tunee, and unlike its predecessor I cannot imagine having a lasting longevity - it maybe could be updated once or twice but it's a tune with very few possibilities - yes it's a tune for noww, contemporary to many other crime shows, but what about 5 or 10 years dowwn the line when themes and directions have changed yet again on other shows???
Firstly I am not saying that this new bold brave move in direction of the show is rubbish - quite the opposite it is a great move and one that should be applauded.
Secondly is it right to remove some of the older cast??? On the one hand, no because in the real world, which this drama (and not soap) is supposedly trying to depict then yes there will be some older officers in the stations. On the other hand the drama is now more action and character driven led - therefore does the actor who plays Tony Stamp have the ability to do that (a few years ago maybe but now??? Anyway Tony has been a lost charaacter ever since his side-kick, cannot remember the name now, left the show a few years ago.
Thirdly, I never said that I didn't like the new theme tune, - to be honest it is great but it isn't The Bill, its more of a CSI, Law and Order, NCIS style theme. They could have easily rejigged the original theme to suit the new direction and people would still be able to recognise the theme and instantly know which show they are watching. People on here would be able to recognise some of the old features of the old theme in thee new one, but the common everyday person just sees it as a completely new tune!!! It would be like changing the theme tune to Coronation Street, Emmmerdale, Taggart, News at Ten or even Sharpe (yes a couple of soaps included).
Just look at some shows where the theme tune changed and look at what happened to them....
Crossroads (original) changed its theme and went off less than a year later
Doctor Who (original McOy era) - although based on the theme (just like The Bill) but still too different and then went on a multi-year hiatus
ITN/ITV News - changed their theme and lost viewers (well mainly because of change in ITV news direction but the tune didn't help)
I have carefully been listening to thee tunee, and unlike its predecessor I cannot imagine having a lasting longevity - it maybe could be updated once or twice but it's a tune with very few possibilities - yes it's a tune for noww, contemporary to many other crime shows, but what about 5 or 10 years dowwn the line when themes and directions have changed yet again on other shows???
BP
I don't get what your all moaning about! I totally agree with Stuart and Pad. The characters are great, the theme is very good, the use of music is awesome and acting is superb. It may not be what your used to but that's life. Things don't stay still. I agree that the The Bill was a ratings hit and winning formula before the revamp but they really havent changed it that much. There are plenty of other more disatrous things that could've happened. I think any doubters should learn to love it !! I know this is a TV Forum and I'm not saying don't be negative but just accept that its not about to go back in time!