Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Jezz]

RR1 is not the only long term fan who still watches the show, there are many of us.

Sorry. Was just after RR1 opinion because I always read the analyse of the show each week. And he seems to know a lot about the show. I'm sure there are many other long term fans. What has kept you watching all these years. Just interested to know what is still working for some people.

I can't speak for any other long-term viewer but in my view the fact that the show continues to 'evolve' keeps me interested and I like remaining loyal to the show even though it does have it's poor moments at certain times.

Also I'm interested to see what direction the show takes in the future. For the last few years the Braxtons have been on the forefront of the show but what happens when they leave and who begins to be on the forefront after that. The show goes through its phases and the one we're experiencing won't last forever so the continual unpredictability is what keeps me watching.

I find it very difficult to stop watching a show I've invested a lot of time in the past.

How are the ratings doing in Australia?

They have plummeted in the UK, that's for sure.

The ratings have remained relatively strong. The season finale got 1.14 million viewers this year!

[Red Ranger 1]

I think you must be the most dedicated fan ever. You clearly have watched the show for a very long time and seen the way its changed and you still look for positives in the current and continue to watch it on a daily basis when most long term fans have given up. I'd love to still enjoy the show now but can't. I think thats great that you do but interested in what good you still see it?

I guess it's partly out of loyalty, there are still characters I like and storylines I'm interested in and as long as that remains the case then I'll keep watching.I can see the show has its faults and isn't perfect but that's always been the case and it does seem like they're learning from recent mistakes and toning down some of the elements that made for uncomfortable viewing.

[JosieTash]

I'd have to say that I'm similar to RR1. Although there are charecters [like Chris and Kyle] and stroylines that i'm not really keen on, ther's always been something/someone to keep me interested ....like currently, i REALLY like Sasha, Evie, Bianca and Heath !!!!!

I'll add that i've been watching since day 1 adn have only missed the occasional episode amongst its 25 year run !!!!

[alreetlike]

I think I keep watching out of habit & loyalty, mainly. I don't watch other soaps but I've stuck with this for years (since around 1998-9) and as much as I complain about it, I do feel my Sky planner is a bit 'naked' when it goes on a summer/Christmas break.

[Homeandawayfan.]

H&A will be the Big 26 on 17 Jan 2014. I think while the show is not great under Louise and Lucy it still has its good moments. Some people say "I miss the days of Scott and Charlene" or "Bobby and Pippa and Shane and Angel" but people have to realise that soaps change and actors come and go. For example Shane and Angel have not been in the show for almost 20 years now, soaps move on. I think the past can be seen through rose tinted specs.

The two big Aussie soaps have always had drama and intrigue. 1988 saw the Summer Bay Nutter, and a few arson attacks and Neighbours had disasters and explosions galore as well in the 1990s.

We do need new producers or at least a new executive one.

[cadyctslover]

^ I would suggest Richard Jasek now that he has finished working on Neighbours.

[Light of the Bay]

I'm not sure.

He was okay on Neighbours but he seemed to focus on teens a lot (although less than Susan Bower) and the pacing of storylines was shocking at times!

I would wish for someone who is passionate about the history and spirit of Home and Away and wants to build on that and tell emotional and gripping drama.

I also hope that Home and Away cut an episode away entirely so that more effort can be put in from the writers (having one less episode should allow them to focus on the characters more and be under less pressure).

[Jamie!]

I don't think there are too many teens, I think they chose the wrong teens. Maybe should have introduced younger teens or brought back characters such as Ryan Baker or Lily Smith having teens with good history within the show. There is also Irene's grandchildren at that age group too. I think someone hit the nail on the head when they said the problem they have is they are casting older actors to play the teens. I think Will McDonald is a brilliant example of being able to find an actor that is both age appropriate and talented. VJ needs to be upgraded to a regular and given storylines. If Felix Dean isn't able to, recast him. I think we also have the problem of characters that aren't that great sticking around longer then what they should be, because of the actors 3 year contracts. Justine Clarke only stuck around for about 18 months but she was memorable as Roo because she was given the right storylines for that time and stuck around for as long as she needed to, Georgie Parker is a Gold Logie winning actress but she hasn't even been nominated for Home and Away, she's been on the show 3 years now. With a character like Roo she should be winning awards, she isn't because they aren't utilizing her the best they can.

I totally agree with what you have said about Roo. When I heard Georgie was joining I thought she would fill the void left by Kate Ritchie and would be reeling in the awards. Her initial story was good and hinted at her bad girl past and we were left wondering if the money went to Martha or did she pocket it?! Then when she returned they turned her into a sticky beak good two shoes who is quite frankly somewhat annoying. Roo has a 20 year void that we practically know nothing about apart from the time her friend came back to visit. She has roots in the show and an immense potential. But that is the problem with H&A these days, it lacks depth and insight. Sometimes I see something and I think are they trying to insult our intelligence! And I get that people mature and grow up (that is why I am glad Marilyn isn't as ditzy and as bimbo-ish as she once was as she went through a very dark time that would obviously have changed her) and that because Roo was a wild teen she shouldn't necessarily be bad now but it would be nice for it to be explained how this happened, how she coped without her daughter for such a long time etc. I liked the triangle with her Sid and Marilyn as it was a proper grown up love story and not the teen crap we are used to. But then it was forgotten about within an episode and her and Marilyn were besties. (I do like their friendship though and I think Georgie and Emily have amazing chemistry)

And Roo's super New York career has disappeared for a part time job in the diner?!!

I mentioned this in the Sally and the money thread but how would a bank give an almost 70 year old man and two part time waitresses (and pretend hair dresser and wedding organiser when the story suits) a mortgage for such a big house and caravan park? It wouldn't happen. That story was never really fully tied up anyway. It's just unrealistic that the shows three 40+ female characters are thrown together in the diner because they can't find anything else to do with them. Marilyn should open up her own salon again.

When Marilyn was first brought back three years ago, I felt she was the exact same Marilyn that we saw in the 80's and 90's. She was the same ditzy person that we all knew her for, (I think this clip shows that): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzvdswj8t0o

Nowadays, she's not as ditzy. That side of her still appears every now and again, but not nearly as much. I know she's also always had a sensible side to her, as this clip from the 90's shows, (from 2:13): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HtLFtr24nM but I just wish the ditzy side to her was shown as much as it used to be. Emily Symons is still acting out the role really well. You can tell that it's Marilyn, but not the exact same Marilyn that originally made her a successful character. Hope that makes sense.

[Blaxland 89]

I do agree with the above post but I'm glad Roo didn't come back bad as she had come good by the end of 1988 and it would of undone all her character development in 1989.

This is what they did with Gypsy, bringing back how she was most remembered rather than how the character was resolved by the time she left.

And even with Marilyn it felt like the were taking her from her first stint. With being close to Alf but no friendship with Irene. Even having her not getting on with Colleen, though in 1999 the two got on very well.

[cadyctslover]

I would wish for someone who is passionate about the history and spirit of Home and Away and wants to build on that and tell emotional and gripping drama.

I see what you mean, and that probably isn't Richard! I wonder if Julie McGauran would ever return to that sort of role. She's now Head of Drama at Seven so she might see that as a demotion!

I would suggest that for all his faults Cameron Welsh was a far better producer than Lucy Addario. At least the show still felt like it had a heart during his rein.