Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[alexx]

I'm not that 'old' myself, but I took time to educate myself on the history of the show and the characters. In time, I got to know the characters and their back stories in great depth and I'm so glad I did that as it gives you a much better outlook when you're aware of so much history!

These 'new' viewers could easily take some time to learn about the history of Home and Away and maybe then they'd realise that there's so much more to the show than what is being produced today.

Just my opinion.

Actually I'm with you right up to where you conclude that what is being produced today is some how less than what has past.

I certainly agree that new viewers would benefit greatly from an understanding and familiarity with the past history of the show. This would include an understanding and knowledge of past iconic characters and storylines..

However I would see that knowledge as making for a greater appreciation of how the show has developed and an appreciation of what it has become.

I think my point in all of this is that some viewers, old or new don't even know that Irene has kids. This is the fault of the current producers/writers who should be developing Irene as a character every single year. Surely that includes some concentration on the fact that she actually has kids that never ever come to visit her or haven't been spoken of enough to the extent that some viewers don't even know she has kids. It's slack writing and boring writing. I assume those same viewers don't know Alf has a son either.

[John]

I understand where you're coming from and I certainly value an understanding of the history of the show and it's characters.

However are we to say that the part of the audience that watches the current show with interest but has no interest in exploring it's history has no value. Or that there is no possibility that their interest in the show will start from here and extend into its future?

[JamesC10]

I am just wondering why there wasn't an interview with Lucy Addario from Digital Spy last year. Every year, Digital Spy has always interviewed Home and Away producers. Strange it didn't happen last year. Digital Spy asked some difficult but honest questions. I wonder if Home and Away decided not to do it anymore.

[alexx]

I understand where you're coming from and I certainly value an understanding of the history of the show and it's characters.

However are we to say that the part of the audience that watches the current show with interest but has no interest in exploring it's history has no value. Or that there is no possibility that their interest in the show will start from here and extend into its future?

I just think that it's poor form to have a character such as Irene in the show and some viewers don't even know she has kids. It's got nothing to do with doing your own research as a viewer or looking to the past, it's about keeping Irene realistic and developing her realistically in the present, which Imo should involve her kids or referencing why she has nothing to do with her kids. It's about character writing, its got nothing to do with the viewers Imo - they can't be blamed if they don't know much about Irene other than the woman who serves coffee in the Diner. It's the fault of the writers.

I do think that a lot of the viewers, particularly quite a few on this forum, know a lot more about H&A on whole, than some of the producers and writers do.

[Light of the Bay]

I am just wondering why there wasn't an interview with Lucy Addario from Digital Spy last year. Every year, Digital Spy has always interviewed Home and Away producers. Strange it didn't happen last year. Digital Spy asked some difficult but honest questions. I wonder if Home and Away decided not to do it anymore.

I was wondering that too!

All Cameron Welsh and Lucy Addario did in those interviews was evade the difficult questions!

[cadyctslover]

I am just wondering why there wasn't an interview with Lucy Addario from Digital Spy last year. Every year, Digital Spy has always interviewed Home and Away producers. Strange it didn't happen last year. Digital Spy asked some difficult but honest questions. I wonder if Home and Away decided not to do it anymore.

I was wondering that too!

All Cameron Welsh and Lucy Addario did in those interviews was evade the difficult questions!

Yep, I have raised that with Lucy on Twitter, and would you know, she never replied !

Going back to the thread on this site where her answers were discussed following the interview in 2012, a lot of posts focussed on her arrogance and complete ignorance to the problems with the show that existed at the time, many of which still exist.

It's far easier for her to bin off Digital Spy interviews and focus on those with TV Week, where she won't be asked any complicated questions. Lucy's behaviour has some worrying similarities to Susan Bower when she was in full-on denial mode over the quality of Neighbours a few years back.

[Light of the Bay]

Would it really be so hard for a producer to do an interview and actually admit the weaknesses and faults with their show?

At least they'd acknowledge them and hopefully do their best to fix them.

Personally, I think the writing room needs a round of firings and Network 7 need to bleep! off and leave TPTB to use their own vision when making the show.

[TelephotoMarigold]

You're not going to encourage 'new viewers' or maintain the trust of your present audience if you give an interview and admit your product isn't any good...

[Light of the Bay]

I don't mean that they should say their show is rubbish and not worth watching etc. but I think they should admit (where Lucy's concerned) that there is a blatant favouritism and lack of story lines for older characters.

Just why doesn't she do that? I don't doubt for a second that she isn't aware of the writing issues that have plagued the show for years and that certain characters are underused. It's just a shame that these problems continue to fester after all this time.

[John]

I think that the vision of the show held by a number of members of this forum may be significantly different to that held by the "powers that be" at 7 and transmitted from them to the producers and writers. I guess each will believe that they have the vision "right" in their own way. Whether that vision is "in the spirit of the show" is also a matter of opinion. You only have to read back in this thread to see that.

I think that we all need to acknowledge that the Channel 7 PTB , producers and writers are working day to day in the industry. They are subject to all the pressures of peer scrutiny, critical appraisal, audience reaction, ratings etc every single day. If they are perceived as failing by enough of those groups their jobs are on the line. That's a level of accountability which none of us looking at the show critically as audience members, whether we have some writing "credits" or not, are subject to. I don't think they can be blamed for backing their own judgement when they are the ones who will take the fall if they show fails.

We have no evidence they do not read and consider feedback. All we know is that they don't always reply and don't always change the show in accordance with suggestions or criticism that may be submitted. That could simply mean that they have read the criticisms and suggestions but don't agree with them.

Are we suggesting that not agreeing with us and not acting on our criticisms amounts to arrogance? Are we being arrogant in demanding that they should?

In saying this I am trying to look at all this from the point of view of the writers. There are aspects of the shows writing and storylines that I don't like. I have suggested ways I think the characterization could be improved. I think the pacing of some storylines is very poor. However I am reluctant to start accusing the PTB, writers and producers at 7 of arrogance for not immediately taking my suggestions on board and changing the show. After all it's their a@#$ on the line not mine.