Are TV dramas too factual?

[plastic penguin]

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

 

[ElectroMan]

Most contemporary crime dramas do seem to go for serious and 'gritty' (even if the basic setup isn't too likely, e.g. pathologists solving crimes, old detectives solving old cases etc).

On the other hand, you have glossy stuff like Spooks and Hustle, but nothing really in the vein of The Professionals, or the great ATV series such as The Avengers, The Prisoner, The Champions etc!

Maybe you should write one ...

 

[plastic penguin]

ElectroMan:

Most contemporary crime dramas do seem to go for serious and 'gritty' (even if the basic setup isn't too likely, e.g. pathologists solving crimes, old detectives solving old cases etc).

On the other hand, you have glossy stuff like Spooks and Hustle, but nothing really in the vein of The Professionals, or the great ATV series such as The Avengers, The Prisoner, The Champions etc!

Maybe you should write one ...

Not that talented, sadly. It's a hobby.....

 

[Big Chris]

plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

 

[plastic penguin]

Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Ironically, Granada Plus actually edited most of the episodes of the Professionals because, it was deemed, too violent. It's laughable cause a couple of years ago wasn't there a shoot-out on The Bill where two of the regulars were fatally wounded? Plus abuse cases and the rotting corpses you see on Prime Suspect. These are now repeated on ITV3 before the watershed. Puzzling me thinks.....

 

[Big Chris]

plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Don't get me started on The Professionals. My Missus reckons I could go on Mastermind and have it as my specialist subject. I'm pretty close to memorising the dialogue, I've watched them all sooooo many times.

It's my default 'nothing-on-TV-don't-know-what-to-watch' show.

 

[plastic penguin]

Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Don't get me started on The Professionals. My Missus reckons I could go on Mastermind and have it as my specialist subject. I'm pretty close to memorising the dialogue, I've watched them all sooooo many times.

It's my default 'nothing-on-TV-don't-know-what-to-watch' show.

I know the feeling.

Which episode are these line from:

Bodie, Doyle and Cowley are walking towards a huge Manor House

Cowley is explaining the importantance of the protection of this certain dignitary.

DOYLE

So, we are the elastoplast?

COWLEY

The job of CI5 is to protect ******* and *******

if that is what your juvenile metaphor was meant to

convey.

 

[ElectroMan]

I can't answer that question, but my local Poundland were recently selling pretty much all The Professionals DVDs at, er, a pound a pop!

 

[Big Chris]

plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Don't get me started on The Professionals. My Missus reckons I could go on Mastermind and have it as my specialist subject. I'm pretty close to memorising the dialogue, I've watched them all sooooo many times.

It's my default 'nothing-on-TV-don't-know-what-to-watch' show.

I know the feeling.

Which episode are these line from:

Bodie, Doyle and Cowley are walking towards a huge Manor House

Cowley is explaining the importantance of the protection of this certain dignitary.

DOYLE

So, we are the elastoplast?

COWLEY

The job of CI5 is to protect ******* and *******

if that is what your juvenile metaphor was meant to

convey.

Sounds like 'Long Shot' with Nadim Sawalha and Trigger. I could be wrong.

 

[plastic penguin]

Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Don't get me started on The Professionals. My Missus reckons I could go on Mastermind and have it as my specialist subject. I'm pretty close to memorising the dialogue, I've watched them all sooooo many times.

It's my default 'nothing-on-TV-don't-know-what-to-watch' show.

I know the feeling.

Which episode are these line from:

Bodie, Doyle and Cowley are walking towards a huge Manor House

Cowley is explaining the importantance of the protection of this certain dignitary.

DOYLE

So, we are the elastoplast?

COWLEY

The job of CI5 is to protect ******* and *******

if that is what your juvenile metaphor was meant to

convey.

Sounds like 'Long Shot' with Nadim Sawalha and Trigger. I could be wrong.

Good try, BC. It was from season five: Ojuka Situation. At the beginning of the episode, after a shoot-out, Cowley gets a briefing from the "14th heavy metal brigade," as Doyle says.

 

[Big Chris]

plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:Big Chris:plastic penguin:

We all love a bit of escapism, regardless of whether you see a film at the cinema or if it's a hobby that allows you a short-term distraction. We all yearn for something different.

Occasionally, when the family is tucked up in bed, I watch an episode from my DVD collection of the 70's & 80's series The Professionals. After watching The Bill, Prime Suspect (not that often), which are a very good watch; the scripts, plot and acting are generally tight and believable. However, they do tend to lack excitment, lend themselves too much to reality. Some of the older stuff, generalising, iffy fashion and scary hairdos aside, has a freshness that newer stuff struggles to even get near.

As a person who loves scriptwriting, I believe a series based on a bogus situation is well overdue. So phrases like "Bodie! Doyle!" or "He's blagged a few banks, George...." makes a wonderful change from the politically correct, almost in-situ perfect plots.

Any comments welcome.

I too have all 57 episodes of The Professionals on DVD (And VHS too, free to anyone who wants them). Being born in '74 I was too young to fully get into The Professionals, The Sweeney and the like first time around. I can thank Granada Plus for airing them all when I was between jobs in '97.

I much prefer these more far-fetched, action based cop shows to The Bill and the more realistic shows.

Factual dramas are all well and good, but they're supposed to be entertainment first and foremost. I mean, what would you rather watch? A copper having a cuppa tea chatting to some old lady about pickpockets, or Bodie and Doyle disarming a nuclear bomb in a bowling alley? I know which I'd choose.

Blimey! two of us then, BC?

Don't get me started on The Professionals. My Missus reckons I could go on Mastermind and have it as my specialist subject. I'm pretty close to memorising the dialogue, I've watched them all sooooo many times.

It's my default 'nothing-on-TV-don't-know-what-to-watch' show.

I know the feeling.

Which episode are these line from:

Bodie, Doyle and Cowley are walking towards a huge Manor House

Cowley is explaining the importantance of the protection of this certain dignitary.

DOYLE

So, we are the elastoplast?

COWLEY

The job of CI5 is to protect ******* and *******

if that is what your juvenile metaphor was meant to

convey.

Sounds like 'Long Shot' with Nadim Sawalha and Trigger. I could be wrong.

Good try, BC. It was from season five: Ojuka Situation. At the beginning of the episode, after a shoot-out, Cowley gets a briefing from the "14th heavy metal brigade," as Doyle says.

Oh nuts....... Looks like I'll have to postpone my meeting with John Humphreys.......

 

[plastic penguin]

Clearly you're slipping, BC. You require an extra supplement of Bodie, Doyle and Cowley.....

 

[survivor]

I generally prefer the older style. Whilst saying that I tended to have more time to watch them years ago whereas nowadays I don`t so I can`t honestly say I`ve given the modern style a fair crack.

However, there are a couple of things that I don`t like about modern filming. The `reality` aspect is getting a bit too much. We live in the real world and when we turn the box on it`s all reality, reality, reality. Loads of Soaps, reality this and reality that programmes. I`ve also noticed soapy/reality/heavy drama style shows during Children`s tv. That`s really sad. Give them a chance to be kids please!

The other thing is that modern cameras can be at times a little too detailed. A lot of filming seems to be right up in the actors face and to be honest I don`t always want to see quite as much as they are showing me. Many directors seem particulary keen on shooting scene after scene of close up of faces from the `under the nose` angle. Is this really necessary? Anyone else notice this?

The Professionals - I own all four dvd boxsets and have done for about three years but still haven`t opened them yet! Must stop buying box sets because they are good value and saying to myself I`ll try to make time to watch them but never do. Think I`ve had The Prisoner on dvd for eighteen months but still only managed to watch the first four episodes so far!

 

[plastic penguin]

survivor:

I generally prefer the older style. Whilst saying that I tended to have more time to watch them years ago whereas nowadays I don`t so I can`t honestly say I`ve given the modern style a fair crack.

However, there are a couple of things that I don`t like about modern filming. The `reality` aspect is getting a bit too much. We live in the real world and when we turn the box on it`s all reality, reality, reality. Loads of Soaps, reality this and reality that programmes. I`ve also noticed soapy/reality/heavy drama style shows during Children`s tv. That`s really sad. Give them a chance to be kids please!

The other thing is that modern cameras can be at times a little too detailed. A lot of filming seems to be right up in the actors face and to be honest I don`t always want to see quite as much as they are showing me. Many directors seem particulary keen on shooting scene after scene of close up of faces from the `under the nose` angle. Is this really necessary? Anyone else notice this?

The Professionals - I own all four dvd boxsets and have done for about three years but still haven`t opened them yet! Must stop buying box sets because they are good value and saying to myself I`ll try to make time to watch them but never do. Think I`ve had The Prisoner on dvd for eighteen months but still only managed to watch the first four episodes so far!

I've singled out the Professionals because as stated in my original post, it's pure escapism. Granada edited a lot of the episodes cause they were deemed too violent

. It's ok to show r^^^^^g corpses in Prime Suspect and abuse in other modern dramas. I personally don't have a problem with what they show, but how they can state that screeching car tyres and th a few shooting scenes, especially when Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw 'camp up' the roles, is beyond me.