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Post by Pete Seaton on Nov 15, 2008 0:02:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2008 9:24:54 GMT
Hmm, doesn't surprise me in the least. We all know it's a famous brand that the BBC would have been mad to throw away for good. I'm bemused (and amazed) by the comment about it being brought back as "public service"; I thought that was a dirty word these days in TV terms! If they can make it work on that basis though, i'll be very pleased. Forgive my scepticism though if anyone suddenly starts talking in those terms nowadays.
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Post by Rich Cornock on Nov 15, 2008 10:11:15 GMT
thats brilliant news..........if it happens
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Post by Paul Cooksley on Nov 15, 2008 14:50:41 GMT
promising news indeed....
However, readng it closely, it doesn't seem to be anything definate, does it?
I wouldn't be surprised to see it back what so ever. Most people I spoke to up at the BBC on the final day of recording in July 2006 were all convinced it would be back very shortly - not one person on the TOTP production/BBC news I spoke to that night believed that it was gone.
Looks like they were right!
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Post by Peter Elliott on Nov 15, 2008 15:21:19 GMT
I'll only believe it when it actually appears in the Radio Times listings.
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Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Nov 15, 2008 16:07:16 GMT
WARNING:- RANT COMING UP! I noticed the bit in the article where it is mooted that if TOTP comes back, it will have to have changes....I have no problems with most of it....what I do have a problem with is where it is said that records will perhaps have to be featured BEFORE they are his. WHAT ARE YOU F#####G MAD?  This breaks the premise that TOTP exists on.... not only that I can see that potentially record companies (the majors) will do all they can to get their artists featured on it. Independent labels have been crucial to changing styles in the music industry. Please note, INDEPENDENT LABELS release all sorts of things, including pop and dance, not just rock. TOTP was about hits, wherever they come from. Not a thing where the artists were pushed on by their record company, irrespective of whether the public thought the record was a stinker. |
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Post by Jonny Williams on Nov 15, 2008 17:50:17 GMT
And the promise of a Christmas special too . . can that really be possible??
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Post by David Barron on Nov 15, 2008 18:08:59 GMT
I think the only way if Top of the Pops is to return, if the BBC re-organise Saturday Nights on BBC1. Put it on before the National Lottery Draw on Saturday Nights, maybe reintroduce the album slot, and have the number one single artist to play their "B-Side" (one problem in the age of digital downloading), and have the show be 45 minutes each week (maybe between 7.45-8.30 and show it again after Midnight.
Also revamp the TOTP2 show, and bring it back to the format of the 1995-96 shows I used to enjoy so much with Johnnie Walker narrating. Have the best bits of the previous week's broadcast, with a slot dedicated to classic shows. Also show clips that have been lost in the BBC archives, also clips that have been returned recently, have people who are far more thorough in their archive searching, use performaces from other BBC music shows. Also have hosts who like music and who will give the music the respect in deserve. Maybe then people might switch on and watch.
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Post by Paul Cooksley on Nov 15, 2008 18:56:03 GMT
I also read the bit about the Christmas Special - but - unless this was all planned way in advance (i.e some sort of publicity stunt/Simon Cowell's offer and all that) I would have thought there is no way what so ever there would be time to record a Christmas Special. Studio space (especially coming up to Christmas) usually needs to be booked months in advance - it would all be too quick in my opinion - unless, as I say, they planned to do a Christmas Show all along..... I do doubt we'll see it return this Christmas. As for next year...let's just wait and see. The article, whilst promising, doesn't really confirm anything in particular. I'll believe it when I see it! PS - just for the record, I thought you might like to see this - a reply from the BBC that I got via email a couple of days ago, concerning my "complaint" made about the cancellation of the Christmas Show and TOTP in general. I appreciate it's probably pretty 'standard' though! "Dear Mr Paul Thanks for your e-mail regarding our Christmas schedule I appreciate that you would like to see 'Top of the Pops Christmas Special' on Christmas day. As you know 'Top of the Pops' was a show that ran for 42 years. You can read about it at: www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/06_june/20/totp.shtmlI don't have any confirmation of our Christmas schedules yet. As a general rule our future schedules are only confirmed up to ten days in advance, which means that I can't give you details for programmes beyond this period. I'm sure you can appreciate that plans can change and I don't want to give you information that could prove incorrect. I'd advise you to visit the BBC website which carries listings up to ten days in advance. The address is: www.bbc.co.uk/tv/You may also wish to visit the 'Radio Times' website at: www.radiotimes.comI've registered your complaint and request to bring 'Top of the Pops' back on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's circulated to many BBC staff, including members of the executive board, channel controllers and other senior managers. The audience logs are seen as important documents that can help shape decisions about future programming and content. All feedback we receive, whether positive or negative, is appreciated. We're committed to developing better links with our audience to further our understanding of your viewing and listening needs. I realise that you would like 'Top of the Pops Christmas Special' on Christmas Day but I'm sure that you'll enjoy many of the programmes that we will be broadcasting. Thanks again for contacting the BBC. Regards John BBC Complaints" __________________________________________ |
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Post by garyjordanbrum on Nov 15, 2008 20:24:18 GMT
Yes Paul I'm fed up with getting the same sort of replies from the complaints dept too. Just take a look at some of the stupid replies I've had, read through the archived posts: gaztotp.blogspot.com/ |
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Post by Paul Cooksley on Nov 16, 2008 11:38:14 GMT
Gary
Yep, I've had a look at those a little while back - absolutely ridiculous.
Thing is, you can never ever get to voice your opinion to anyone that really matters. All this crap about "audience logs" etc.. is just pure standard BBC para-phrasing - I have a feeling that no matter what BBC programme you write in about, you would receive almost exactly the same reply.
The people that reply obviously just have a word document open and probably just "cut and paste" various sentences to somehow try and justify a substancial reply - I know, because this is what I have done myself before in my job - not good - but what I was advised to do, in order to keep the correct "tone" of the organisation.
Never mind..
Going back to the TOTP potential return, I see a couple of Scottish papers have picked on this now - with headlines such as "Top of the Pops to get another spin" etc.. Everything in the headlines/lead write in suggests it's a done deal - but, unless I am missing something, the basis of this story seems to be (other than fan/music industry pressure/Simon Cowells rejected offer) all based on this paragraph:-
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"Mark Cooper, head of entertainment for BBC TV, said he would love to see the BBC music show return on a weekly basis. "It's a sleeping beauty. One day it will come back, in the way that Top Gear and Doctor Who came back." But he added: "It's probably no longer the case that Top Of The Pops can be revived on the basis of it being an entertainment programme – instead it may have to be judged as a public service"
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Note the use of the words "One day it will come back".
Don't get me wrong. I desperately want the show to come back. I really, really do.
Only something bugs me that this was just a 'general' comments and perhaps the papers/online editions have read too much into this...
Anyway, fingers crossed. Time will tell, as they say....
PS - Apparently the story has been picked up by 'The Mirror' today - and some people have apparently "heard" that it will re-launch around next Easter....... Hmmmmmm..... we'll see......
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Post by Chris Barratt on Nov 16, 2008 12:04:05 GMT
TOTP has featured tracks that weren't hits in the past, the 'chart hits only' rule is more of an urban myth as a glance at the artists that have featured on the show proves. Even Michael Hurll broke his 'number one rule' on a few occasions, so in that respect they are just talking bjollocks
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Post by Scott Hunter on Nov 16, 2008 13:02:16 GMT
Hmmm sounds interesting! Easter, i think that its safe to say the show will retrun, even the bbc wont be this stupid? or will they? gets me thinking what theme and image they will go for, what day it will be on tv etc, i have a feeling if it does return the bbc will pump money into it and care, unlike its later years put to sunday, they dont want to get it wrong again!!!
I think if it does return however, they need to rejig the format a little but keep the basic style, as thats what people world wide regognise, i think that the one video rule should stick, acts can be live unless they dont want, a constant array of presenters, no celebs taking the mic out of the acts. Also i think they need to do a chart rundown, even if over a performance like they used to do, and the top 40 not just the top ten, the top ten is generally pop acts that dont necessarily interest everyone, people want to see whats in the charts, thats what has been missing in the past 2 years is no one really knowing whats in the charts anymore, therefore some acts not getting a chance like they once did when they had their debut performances to get themselves known, and totp was great for this as it always in its day played a variety of music.
anyways, it looks promising, this was unheard of a year ago, now tongues are definately wagging!!! and it seems all for the right reasons!!
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Post by William Martin on Nov 16, 2008 13:19:28 GMT
I think they will have to use more unknown acts to keep the interest up, as jimmy saville said these days kids don't have to wait for thursday to see a pop show, using a higher proportion of new artists would mean the opertunity for the audience to see what they looked like and there would be less chance of promos and at least more of a reason to watch, unless youtube et al has rendered this completely futile.
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Post by Paul Cooksley on Nov 16, 2008 20:37:26 GMT
William
Yes, they could resort to using a few unknowns if needs be, but don't forget, whilst we do have the likes of satellite music channels/You Tube etc.. there is no where on terrestrial television at the moment that regularly features chart artists/bands performing live in the studio.
This at the moment, represents a huge gap - which is probably why the BBC just might be re-considering....
Obviously, if you want to see whoever performing a chart single, yes, you can always You Tube it or check out the many music channels (if you have access to them - otherwise you can try the likes of 4 Music on Freeview).
However, for me personally, I much, much prefer to see an artist performing live in the studio (even if it came down to them miming!) - simply because it gives you a better experience that just watching a music video (well that's my opinion anyway)
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This breaks the premise that TOTP exists on.... not only that I can see that potentially record companies (the majors) will do all they can to get their artists featured on it. Independent labels have been crucial to changing styles in the music industry. Please note, INDEPENDENT LABELS release all sorts of things, including pop and dance, not just rock. TOTP was about hits, wherever they come from. Not a thing where the artists were pushed on by their record company, irrespective of whether the public thought the record was a stinker.