The 'Save the BBC' thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1123002

In the light of Tony Blair's attempts to cripple the British Broadcasting Corporation, I thought I'd just point out a few of the things the BBC has given us over the years that a profit-based broadcaster would not take risks on.

Doctor Who - The world's longest running (arguably best) Sci-Fi show (back in 2005)

Monty Python's Flying Circus - The world's greatest sketch comedy show (do you think a commercial broadcaster would have the balls to back it?)

Fawlty Towers - One of the greatest sitcoms ever.

Absolutely Fabulous - (see above)

The Young Ones - (see above, above)

The Fast Show - The second greatest sketch comedy show in the world.

Newsnight interviewer Jeremy Paxman - The world's greatest political interviewer.

The Day Today / Chris Morris - The most cutting satire ever.

Red Dwarf - Very popular in the lounge.

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Would never have happened without BBC support from day one, on radio and TV.

I'm sure you can add some more.

SAVE THE BEEB!

I have learned about countries that I didn't even know existed. Also, it's reporting on the US is a breath of fresh air.

BBC World Service is a truly global news service. No commercial advertiser would ever subsidise such a plan.

The Office ... the smartest, funniest thing I've seen since ... well, Python.

There is also a hefty slab of Faulty Towers in there as well as satirizing docusoaps,and of course, we cannot forget the influence of the mighty Slough! :-) The main plus point of the Office is how very real it all is.

My own favourite TV shows at present are Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Jeremy Clarkson's Inventions That Changed The World.

Plus Terry Jones's stuff on medeival life is pretty good too.

But they criticised our lord and Master Tony.

You've missed out a couple of my favourites

The League of Gentlemen - Not to everybody's taste but very funny.

Little Britain - Genius

The Office - V funny

Just a small point,was Brass Eye was Channel 4?

On top of all that brilliance the BBC has made in my opinion the best wildlife programmes ever made.

I just listed what was on the top of my head at that moment, the rest is for other people to fill in.

you mean "Grade is a cunt" subliminals.

That in itself was pretty funny.

Shooting starts was pretty funny.

Fawlty Towers!

but I've never been able to hear it. Not in Canada.

all you want here:

http://cabinessence.cream.org/

& for Chris Morris stuff aplenty (inc some Radio 1/GLR shows):

http://chilled.cream.org/forums/portal.php

Out of interest, did the paedophile special episode of Brass Eye (from about 2001) air in Canada?

Thanks for the links.

"Life on earth"
"The Life of Mammals"
"The Life of Birds"
"The Blue Planet"
I'm sure there are more.

Thanks for the reminder. A very funny man.

If the Auntie Beeb goes away, I may change into blue sweats and new Nike sneakers and go lay down for a while...

Well, so what? after Mikey Powell lets every power company in the state fill the airwaves with BPL leakage, I won't be able to hear anything anyway...'cept maybe the Oxycontin Kid...<irony>

By Jacob Bronofsky. The best ever science series charting humankind's path from the stone age artists in the caves of France, through the metallurgic, chemical, electrical and industrial revolutions. His chapter on Newton alone, is pure poetry.

Developed by the BBC. Ugly bastard, but the sound is phenomenal!

Best vocal mic I ever heard.



:loveya: my Auntie,
dbt

Season 1 would never EVER air on American privatizd TV. Not just because of the language, but because it's funny and doesn't appeal to the lowest common denominator.

It seems that only a few months ago, before Blair was musing about getting rid of the BBC, SKY TV/Murdoch was suggesting the same thing--largely attacking the BBC's bid for a Digital service that would compete against his own service...

Now under the guise of Hutton Report, a Labour gov't is contemplating doing what Murdoch, Black and the Barclays have been pulling for for years...

Anyhow...this is funny

BBC Governors to be executed live on Sky TV
Details of the nature of the first public executions in Britain in years have yet to be confirmed but it is believed that Gavin Davies - who has already quit, admitting that the BBC was responsible for everything from sexing up the dossier to shooting British troops in Basra - and his Governors will be given the choice of death by firing squad, being hung, drawn and quartered or by lethal John Prescott.
(more satire...)
http://www.deadbrain.co.uk/news/article_2004_01_28_5449.php

:kick:

Now ITV has Formula 1 (I know that from the Brits in the F1 group I hang out at) and they tack THREE-MINUTE AD BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIVE RACE!

I live in Brazil and all sports coverage here is ad-less. They say Mika Häkkinen clinched his first title during an ad break. I think I would smash my head against the wall.