Minor thought on Saturday’s Doctor Who

[nineveh_uk]

Bit of a bummer if it turns out that the Silent were responsible for inventing all the good stuff.

Also, I think I need to do a post about the BBC’s editorial guidelines and how they relate to children’s programming, general programming, and the watershed, for doctorwho.

Comments

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. What are they complaining about this time?

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Not so much complaining as saying "It was too complicated for a family show, my infant was baffled. Also it was dark and scary". As if the DW "brand" hasn't been that it makes kids hide beside the sofa since before TV brands were a concept.

[antisoppist.livejournal.com]

What still???

The BBC has Ceebeebies and CBBC for things that won't frighten the horses. That is not where they put Doctor Who. And even with programmes on specifically children's channels, as a parent, you are alert to the peculiar phobias of your own offspring and keep half an eye (or ear) on it and judiciously grab the remote control at signs of skulls on Horrible Histories or children with their faces painted on Our Planet before the screaming starts. That is your job. It is not the BBC's.

And yes, Doctor Who was dark and scary when I was 12. It's how it works. We Know This. Good luck.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

That is your job. It is not the BBC's.

I think you may have put your thumb on the nub of the issue. (I don't blame the non-UK posters for not knowing about OfCom and the watershed, but I do blame them for making assumptions about how another country's TV scheduling/regulation works.)

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

"It was too complicated for a family show"

Oh what rubbish!
It's a *family* show, there must be some stimulus for the parents. Plus, kids are smarter than we tend to givem credit for.
And anyway, if the kids don't get it all the first time round (or indeed, the adults - I need to rewatch some of this!), understanding more second time round (or third, or fourth) makes having the DVDs all the more enjoyable...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Bright cheery simple plots hopping along is what the children's programming is for. And then it turns out your sister is scared by cheery bright blocks and you are not allowed to speak the name of "Chockablock", let alone watch it.

[bookwormsarah.livejournal.com]

CHOCABLOCK! I had completely forgotten that show. Wikipedia informs me there were only ever thirteen episodes.