EastEnders, The Royle Family and what about those British Men behaving badly.
Written: Jul 25 '01 (Updated Oct 21 '03)
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Pros: I waited for this station for years.
Cons: No more Eastenders. The best program on British television.
The Bottom Line: BBC America has stopped buying solid, good quality programs, and left us repeat after repeat. Extremely upsetting, especially for Brits.
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| Susie-34668's Full Review: BBC America |
I had to come back to this review because I feel BBC America has really let us down. Now let me explain. When I first wrote this review we were getting EastEnders, which is the highest rated program in England, twice a week. If you missed it, you could always catch it again.
The BBC had changed the time to Saturday afternoon, from 1pm to 3.30pm. Not the most convenient time, but heck, if you love a soap that much you will either watch it, or record it.
We were sitting watching it one Saturday afternoon last month. It had been recorded so Len went to skip the commercials. I started to hear an announcement, so asked him to let it run. I couldn't believe my ears. This was to be the last Eastenders that they would show. I actually cried. For American people to understand this let me try to explain. Think of living in another country and you have a program from your hometown. You know and love/hate anyone associated with it. It is your link to them and it is being taken away.
We went onto the web-site and message boards were jammed. Thousands of people asking why. We were informed that we could attend a chat with the CEO on the following Monday at 1pm. Well we try to get on until 2pm, and by that time it had closed. So no more Eastenders. You can sign a petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/EEfans/
The Royle Family are no longer on. I have no idea if they plan to buy another series.
British Men Behaving Badly finished too. I have seen several repeats of these.
Now all we seem to get are repeats of Changing Rooms, Ground Force, Keeping Up Appearances, and all the other programs they purchased years ago.
I still have BBC America, but am seriously thinking of stopping it. There are still a few programs I enjoy.
Here is my original review of what the Beeb now lacks!!
Where do I begin. When I left England 14 years ago I so missed the English humor, my soaps, and soccer.
Each year vacationing in England my family would catch me up on my old favorites, and I got to check out new ones. I had even been to Canada and found that they carried several English programs, including "Cornation Street". This had been running in England for as long as I could remember.
Anyway, I am so excited about BBC America even though I had to wait 11 years before we were able to purchase it through digital cable.
The program I just die for!
EastEnders.
Len comes from London and I come from Kent. This is based in Albert Square, Walford, London. It used to be on 3 times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Now the powers that be have canceled the 'Early Years', which helped us to catch up on the episodes we had missed. Cut it down to Sundays from 11am ET. to 1pm, with the repeat on Fridays. This certainly didn't please me but what is a 'gal' to do about it.
The entwining plot centers around the pub, 'The Queen Vic'. This continually seems to change hands. It is now back in the 'Watts' family, Sharon the daughter of previous owners, Angie and 'dirty Den'. Pauline Fowler still is a domineering character, she has lost a mother, husband, a son who was in prison and now is HIV, and Martin a teenager who loves to get into trouble.
The Mitchell family are the 'hard guys'. Peggy has just sold the pub, Grant is living abroad, but Phil is still making people's lives a misery. His old girlfriend is pregnant with his baby, but has told him that it is someone elses.
Now Steve married Melanie. Did she know what she was getting into. He murdered on old girlfriend, let another take the rap. Luckily Mathew got out of jail, but not with Steve's help. Melanie slept with Phil Mitchell just before the wedding and Steve knows about it! I wonder how that will turn out.
Ian Bealle has been in the series forever. Started as a teenager. Now on third wife. He married Melanie a while back and it lasted 24 hours. What a nice bloke he is. I don't think so. How will this new marriage work. We will just have to wait and see.
I could mention all the other wonderful and entertaining people in this soap but I want to write about a couple of others I enjoy. Check it out yourself.
The Royle Family.
It set in Manchester, in the north of England. The set comprises of the living/dining room and kitchen. These people are disgusting. You have to be British to enjoy this. Ricky Tomlinson, who plays Jim, the father, picks his nose, farts, scratches private parts, and basically tells everyone just what he thinks.
His poor wife, daughter, son, and son-in-law take the brunt of his remarks. His wife's mother, called Nana, visits from time to time. He is down right rude to her, but you will find yourself laughing at this corny English humor.
Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash and Sue Johnston are absolutely brilliant. The place is filthy, the ashtrays are over flowing and nobody gives a toss. You say, have can this be funny. I tell you, I almost fall of my seat laughing so much. If the series comes on again, I urge you, don't miss it.
British Men Behaving Badly.
I first saw this in England. It was very late at night so the children would be in bed. Bad language is used and it is very suggestive. Actually it can be taken two ways, very much like the 'Benny Hill show' was. A clean way and a naughty way.
Gary, played by Martin Clunes, has a long time girlfriend, Dorothy, Caroline Qwentin. Then there is Tony, Neil Morrissey and Deborah, who lives upstairs, played by Leslie Ash.
The blokes think they are 'Jack the Lads'. An English expression meaning that they can do exactly what they want to. Most times they do. They spend a great deal of time in the pub getting drunk. Chat up every 'bit of skirt' (girl) around. Think they can get away with it, which is never the case.
Tony does everything possible to try to get Deborah into bed, and Gary tries to explore other options, as well as keep Dorothy happy.
Every episode is comical. Especially the one where Gary and Dorothy are supposed to tie the knot.
I would not recommend watching this with children.
Okay, now I would like to mention some other programs on BBC America.
Great movies.
Beggar Bride.
Bernard and the Genie.
Crossing the floor.
Cruel Train.
Happy Birthday Shakespeare. Saw this one a couple of nights ago. Most enjoyable.
Ice House.
Sex 'n' Death.
Summer in the suburbs.
However, these do get repeated.
I love the BBC World News. It comes on at 6am, noon, and 6pm. I find that watching news here in America, we really do not find out what is going on in other countries. Here we do.
Others I like are:
Antiques Roadshow.
Changing Rooms. Now on back to back with
Ground Force.
Ballykissangel.
Keeping Up Appearances.
Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Hetty Wainthropp.
Inspector Morse.
Frost.
Midsummer Murders.
If you plowed through this whole review on the BBC, you will know how much I appreciate receiving this channel. I can get some of the older British programs on Public television, but the BBC have the monopoly for us Brits.
My only disappointment is that we do get repeats. Not all programs, but some. It is always the case that the one I missed will not show again, and others repeat continually.
Would dearly love some new soaps and movies.
Susie.
Recommended:
No
Average Program Rating: TV PG -- parental guidance suggested
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