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Kevin Spacey vs. The BBC
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
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Putting aside any opinions about public service broadcasting in general for a second, do these programmes effectively constitute free advertising, and should the BBC allow such programmes? I can see the difference between this and a quick plug on a chat show, but is it much different from something like Fame Academy, where presumably the BBC didn't hold the rights to the performers either?
Actor and theatre director Kevin Spacey has criticised the BBC for airing talent shows such as Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything.
"I felt that was essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical - where's our 13-week programme?" Spacey said.
Putting aside any opinions about public service broadcasting in general for a second, do these programmes effectively constitute free advertising, and should the BBC allow such programmes? I can see the difference between this and a quick plug on a chat show, but is it much different from something like Fame Academy, where presumably the BBC didn't hold the rights to the performers either?
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Of course he is, the bbc is giving free promotion, through our tax payers money to a show
stargalaxy, all the times you rant about mispent public money, you of all should be annoyed by it.
Methinks he is spot on.
If they'd just limited their collaboration with Webber to one show, and then done the next one with a different production company you could at least argue others in theatreland would benefit. But Webber seems to be getting all the attention and all the benefits.
Exclusive in the sense that only his play is mentioned (actually, the Oliver play isn't his, but it's still 13 weeks dedicated to a single play). Something like Top of the Pops promotes bands, but it doesn't exclusively promote the bands of a single record company.
Although -
'Oliver! is being produced by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, though Lord Lloyd-Webber remains on the judging panel.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/oliver/
To be frank I fully agree with the idea of bringing back the Wednesday Play - I can't think of any significant British playwright or television writer of note who didn't get their start with a quick hour play on the Beeb (Potter, Loach, Leigh, etc).
It's about time the BBC stopped chasing ratings and started to invest in the talent in the UK, and I don't mean a couple of graduate schemes or a one off competition that gets the winner a 10 minute drama aired at 3am. America's current high quality TV production, at least over the last 10 years, is due to a massive focus on the value of writers.
The Beeb should be at the very center of developing new and significant talent that pushes the envelope of television and especially documentary and drama - not running around with a hidden camera watching a fucking goalkeeper skate badly whilst being serenaded by a 17 year old drama school protegé dressed as an Austrian pickpocket.
It's nice to see the shite on ITV do badly but it's a hollow victory if to do it the BBC and Channel 4 surrender everything that made them worthwhile.
From - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_for_Today
Still a valid example though.
TBH if the rumours are true then I stand more chance than you do
It should be acting in a more generalist sense to further the arts and drama. The Play of the Day would be a good start. Much better than another repeat of sodding Weakest Link.
I think the BBC uses its monopoly status to put commercial broadcasters out of business all too often, but for once it's not.
The continuing impact of Play For Today can be seen here: http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/biglist/drama_single.html
Amazing how many on this list are from that series. Even more amazing to think that ITV used to produce serious plays.
:yes:
Strongly agree. The amount of aural and visual detritus that spews forth from The Idiot Box at the moment is dia-fucking-bolical; it's mind-rot television of the highest order.
Some of the shows T4 put out quite literally make me feel sick. There seems to be an equation that TV show producers appear to be adhering to currently: attractiveness x stupidity = chance of being on TV.
Wow. I didn't realise how strongly i felt about it till it wrote that.
I have fancy pants cable TV and still there is only 1 or 2 shows a day worth bothering with.
Having said that though BBC4 has been putting out some good shows about advertising recently.
I havent, but I thought that was on in the evenings. I'll keep my eyes open for it.
I also thought No. 1. Ladies' Detective Agency starring Jill Scott was brilliant. So the BBC ain't all bad.
But yeah, T.V. talent shows are a load of twaddle in general, though I totally agree with Kevin Spacey's comments.