Posted by Peter Ceresole on December 11, 2010 at 07:39:07 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Swallows& Amazons the Musical posted by Owen Roberts on December 11, 2010 at 01:51:14:
I did use revue deliberately - to forwarn people about the "performances" of the "revuers" - who seemed far more interested in themselves than the subject they were reviewing.
I've just watched it; I think that this is a grotesque distortion of what they did. They seemed to me to do their best to explain their reaction to the plays- and why. Okay, they waved their hands from time to time, but they were reviewing theatrical performances; it's allowed.
In my view - this is a further example of the dumbing down of the BBC in general.
And in my view that's a perfect example of gratuitous Beeb-bashing, of which there has always been a lot about. I have to state an interest here; I was a producer in current affairs (mainly Panorama) and science programmes (mainly Horizon), for 30 years. People have always been saying this stuff, and it has never been more wrong. There is less dumbing down now than there has ever been; maybe you don't remember what programmes were like in the past.
Just recently I have been looking at the German art series on BBC4, which has been excellent. Great programmes, involving a lot of imaginative work. Not perfect, but I'm so glad the Beeb is there to make them. Nobody else does. There are also excellent programmes on popular culture, that are rarely made apart from at the Beeb, because they cost a lot of money to make and attract relatively small audiences. Again, the programme on ways of showing science, including especially Florence Nightingale's diagram that demonstrated the appalling standards of medicine in the Army, and which led to the reforms that saved many many lives. These are not 'easy' programmes- and absolutely not 'dumbed down'. But it's such an easy accusation to make- and it's so totally untrue.