Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[Jacklost]

Yeah, she might. She is terribly annoying though.

But she is far from the biggest problem.

Everything about it is shallow now. The way they brought in those geezers - the Mitchells is it - and we're supposed to care about the lad getting shot. Sure he'd only been in it five mins and had spent all that time moaning. Why would people care?

Annoying but so hot:)

I have been watching the show for over 10 years and despite not being as good as before i still think the show is great now, i will never stop watching it:)

[JamesC10]

It's a shame that the Bay lost its identity from 2008 onwards (when Sally left). I don't want Home and Away to be known as a teen soap. I want Home and Away to be for ALL age groups.

[Jacklost]

It's a shame that the Bay lost its identity from 2008 onwards (when Sally left). I don't want Home and Away to be known as a teen soap. I want Home and Away to be for ALL age groups.

Hehe it was always a teen soap:)

That´s what makes it so special and much better than grown up soaps like Bold and the beautiful and Hollyoaks

[Light of the Bay]

It wasn't always a teen soap actually.

It used to be a drama that catered for viewers of all ages. It was a family show than anyone and everyone could watch together.

Now it's pretty much aimed at a teenage audience. Ever wondered why they cast catalogue models so much? Although, there are a few exceptions.

[John]

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?

No. The arrogance lies in ignoring the fact that a significant proportion of the audience aren't interested in the Braxton's.

You don't have to then go as far as changing the whole show to suit those viewers, but failing to admit this fact in interviews, and explain that they aim to give equal share of storylines to all characters is wrong. And the real issue is that they're not trying to do that.

Do they aim to do that? Is that the strategy they work to for character use? Are some characters content to be used in background roles and does that suit the PTB vision for the show?

[Homeandawayfan.]

I think in the early years H&A wasn't an all teen soap (whereas today it is more teen based) but has always had a fair amount of teenagers I have been watching episodes of 2 soaps from Jan to May 1988, H&A and the UK soap Emmerdale Farm and H&A was head and shoulders more modern than Emmerdale which had about 3 characters under 25 compared to the 10 or so H&A characters and Emmerdale in 1988 was still a pretty outdated rural soap.

I think it is natural for a fan of the show past and present to defend the modern day show when necessary. Also I dont get this "the show was great in the 1980s" theory. Some 1988 Neighbours and H&A had some dreadful acting in it IMHO.

Yes, maybe the older ones like being more background characters like Alf and Irene do. Ray Meagher may value his contract a lot but I always trust his opinion as he has worked on the show for 26 years so which opinion will I trust more, Ray or a mere viewer who has not watched for years.

[Light of the Bay]

Some of the 80s was cheesy but still some great and memorable story lines. I loved the beginning of Alf/Ailsa. One of the best soap couples ever IMO.

I personally think the show was at its best in the mid 90s and lasted through 2004. The stories were true to character and not the other way round.

[alexx]

It's a shame that the Bay lost its identity from 2008 onwards (when Sally left). I don't want Home and Away to be known as a teen soap. I want Home and Away to be for ALL age groups.

Hehe it was always a teen soap:)

That´s what makes it so special and much better than grown up soaps like Bold and the beautiful and Hollyoaks

It started to become more of a teen soap from the early/mid 00's-present. Before then, it was far more balanced. If you watch the Early Years or episodes from the 90's you'll see that it really is much more of a show about an ensemble cast of characters where they all got quite equal amounts of screen time, old or young.

[Jacklost]

Wish they where showing early years here in Norway, Far more interresting than watching OL

[Jamie!]

It wasn't always a teen soap actually.

It used to be a drama that catered for viewers of all ages. It was a family show than anyone and everyone could watch together.

Now it's pretty much aimed at a teenage audience. Ever wondered why they cast catalogue models so much? Although, there are a few exceptions.

I remember watching it with my grandmother. I think that's how I started watching Home and Away. I was about five/six years old, and she was in her 70's. So I do definitely think that it catered to all ages; something that the whole family could watch. Nowadays, I don't get that feel. Put it this way - if the feel of today's Home and Away had always been part of the show, I'm not sure whether I would have continued watching up until today. I just remember how warm-hearted and tight-knit the show felt and I loved it. I yearn for it to go back like that someday. I don't think there's any real reason why it can't.