Torchwood cut 'like punishment'
- Thread starter Haggis and tatties
- Start date
Apart from the first and seventh series which were six and eight episodes respectively, Spooks has been ten episodes a series.
Classic Doctor Who series typically had 26 half-hour episodes, basically equivalent to what the series does now. The first six years had more per series, around 40, and the last four years it was down to 13 half-hours. Never 6-8, unless you mean serials, but it's not really fair to compare whole Who serials with episodes of other series, is it?
^ apologies, yes I was thinking of the serials. You are right that they ran into much longer seasons.
When I talk about BBC comedies, I refer to things like Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Absolutley Fabulous, Red Dwarf, Smith and Jones, Fry and Laurie, The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle, Alan Partridge, Bottom, Extras, The Office, Dad's Army, Vicar of Dibley, Reeves & Mortimer, Big Train, Yes Prime Minister etc etc etc, all of which had a very definite 6 episode format, which is certainly the norm for the BBC.
When I talk about BBC comedies, I refer to things like Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Absolutley Fabulous, Red Dwarf, Smith and Jones, Fry and Laurie, The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle, Alan Partridge, Bottom, Extras, The Office, Dad's Army, Vicar of Dibley, Reeves & Mortimer, Big Train, Yes Prime Minister etc etc etc, all of which had a very definite 6 episode format, which is certainly the norm for the BBC.
That's quite a list. Maybe six is the norm for comedy, but given the number of dramas, past and current, that run eight, or ten, or twelve, or thirteen, I don't think you can argue that there's a set number that's normal for drama.
Does this mean from now on Torchwood is probably only going to have 5 episode seasons? 
I'm in the U.S., so I don't know the difference between being on BBC One or BBC Two or BBC Three, but 13 episodes is a nice season. Five is brief... really brief.
In other words, I'm with Barrowman.
I'm in the U.S., so I don't know the difference between being on BBC One or BBC Two or BBC Three, but 13 episodes is a nice season. Five is brief... really brief.
In other words, I'm with Barrowman.
hard to say really, depends on how well Children of the Earth does on BBC 1 I guessDoes this mean from now on Torchwood is probably only going to have 5 episode seasons?
6 is definitely the norm for comedy, but like you say drama varies, even from season to season of the same show.
We don't know if we're getting quality or not. Wait until they air. Just because there are fewer doesn't mean they'll be better.
Mr Awe
Hmm...Well, a popular format for playwriting is the five act play. You could even say that it's been taken down to a formula in the way that people have analyzed it over the years and figured out where the best places to put rising action and climaxes and stuff are. I don't think I've ever seen a chart like that for anything with more than five acts...
What's going on in Britain? First Primeval gets cancelled and now Torchwood is being cut back. Meanwhile the US keeps shoveling out the crap TV shows and cancels good shows.
well ITV cant afford Primeval, and the BBC is having its budget cut, and is being forced to give money to ITV.
I think the question is, why dont ITV make Primeval audio, if its good enough for Torchwood, it also gets around the cost of those expensive CGI dinosaurs.
I forgot about television being subsidized in Britain. I was wondering why the BBC didn't just do what was done for Dr. Who this year: Have four or five stories scattered thruout the year. Some episodes of Torchwood barely have any FX so I'm wondering why it's being cut back?
Various reasons. From production scheduling, to Digital Switch over budgeting, politics and scheduling reasons.
BBC are cutting budgets all over the place from job cuts, to current affairs and news, and children's TV, etc. Personally I'm more annoyed about the way the government seem to be using the BBC as a way to earn money/subsidise other things than any of the scheduling stuff.
I guess my problem with this whole 5 episodes in one week thing is we've been waiting over 2 years for the new season. They bring in Mickey and Martha (Whom doesn't seem to be in the new season) and the third season is only 5 episodes long. Is that really worth the wait? I liked the show even in the first season, I'm a loyal viewer but to think Monday is the premeire and then Friday is the season finale already feels like a slap in the face. What will it be, another 2 years before we get another 5 night season? That's not cool.
It hasn't been 2 years, Series 2 started airing in Jan and ended in April 2008.
Who said Martha and Mickey were going to be in it? No one, just assumptions from the way Doctor Who series 4 ended..
I wish American's would stop thinking seasons, it's a British show, we work in series and they're generally not that long. British TV works different, get over it.
I wish people would stop whinging.
Personally, I like the way they do that though. Here it's like a full season is 22-24 episodes. Compared to British TV, it does seem like overkill. That's capitalism for you though. Trying to milk it for every dime.
Similar threads
