Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[alexx]

^I think it kind of goes back to what I was saying a few posts back. They have created a new show, new style of wrting, a new style of casting etc. and in doing that they have attracted a lot of new viewers that seem to have replaced some of the older viewers who have switched off.

So whilst H&A may be popular and well liked by the current audience, to those that have switched off it's been 'ruined' or gone downhill. The producers wont care about those who have switched off now though because they have a new audience and if they're wining logies then the show won't be seen as 'ruined' by any of the producers.

I decided to give it a shot and watch all of last week. Bit's of it were good, but I found it pretty bland and boring for the most part to be honest. Even the stuff that was supposed to be 'emotional' seemed quite cold and blaze. As a Screen Writing student, I just think the qualty of the writing could be so much better and the characters could be far more intersting and well defined - but most people switching on will just take it as it is and won't be thinking about it in that way.

I'd say that it's definitly a youth focused and prodemintely relationship/romance focused show now. So I've just accepted that I don't like or enjoy it, it's not intersting enough for me and I've pretty much moved on from it. Still, I think it's a shame.

BIB you have said that a couple of times but I disagree to an extent. I think to say the current episodes are a new show and H&A has ended is an opinion which is going against facts. Facts distorted to suit a personal opinion.

Every episode has followed on from the previous episode since 1988, it is set in the same town, has the same title, same characters, it is the same show. None of the production team have said it is a separate show and I find opinions that say "H&A ended for me years ago" a bit odd. I dont think H&A has lost its roots entierly, it still has a lot of its original basis.

Sorry I had to say this. Home And Away has its errors and it can be too Braxton orientated but it is still the same show that began in 1988 no matter what personal opinions are. Same with Neighbours.

That's fine. I just personally think of it as a new show. It's got the same name, some of the same locations and characters - but I don't think of it as Home and Away, not the H&A I understood it to be. I think it's lost too much of what made it what it was and lost the 'essence' that appealed to me.

I don't think about, or blame the Braxtons the way some others seem to, I'm judging the show on whole and my opinions are based on all of the characters, the way the show 'feels'/the tone of the show, the direction, the type of actors that are employed now, the type of characters that are created, the scripts/dialogue, the music etc. The whole package.

As for Neighbours, I think that's kept a lot closer to its roots than H&A has. It might not be the same as it was, but you can still tell that it’s Neighbours at its core. But I don't compare the two anyway because they drifted apart years ago when it comes to seeing them as 'rivals' or aiming the show at the same audience. I think the audience that H&A want to attract has changed quite dramatically over the past few years - and that shows in the direction and writing. A lot of people might like the way that it's changed, but it doesnt appeal to me.

[cadyctslover]

Interesting to note that Home and Away won the Logie for Most Popular Drama.

Now I know there isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing or the appropriateness of the content but at least some of the voters must be finding both of these acceptable to bother voting.

It would also be a little strange that a show that was being "ruined by its current producers" would be popular enough to attract enough votes to win that category.

Perhaps in fact, it isn't being ruined at all.

You said it John

[John]

Interesting to note that Home and Away won the Logie for Most Popular Drama.

Now I know there isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing or the appropriateness of the content but at least some of the voters must be finding both of these acceptable to bother voting.

It would also be a little strange that a show that was being "ruined by its current producers" would be popular enough to attract enough votes to win that category.

Perhaps in fact, it isn't being ruined at all.

You said it John

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

[~Lynd~]

To be honest I have seen an improvement with all the crime and violence lately.It hasn't been to much.I still find a lot of the characters boring though.Spencer and Oscar could be the same person.Or we could look at wet paint and it would have the same affect as watching them.Evie is a whiny brat.So while the violence has decreased I don't think characterization has which is just as important if not more so.How are we supposed to care about what happens to them if we don't like them?Or even love to hate them?

[sindikatas]

Some members here have expressed that the show has to send a message to society and should teach values of life, while the others argued that it's only a soap and it shouldn't teach anything. If it indeed doesn't have to teach anything and just show life the way it is, I find it annoying that nobody smokes on the show. It's so unrealistic. And it's always been like with the only difference being that earlier only villains would smoke, but now nobody does that. And smoking is much smaller malady than drug dealing, violence etc. But it's probably the Australian policy in general nowadays. For example "Prisoner" reimagined series "Wentworth" are supposed to be much grittier and more gruesome, but none of the characters smoked in it which I find absolutely ridiculous.

[cadyctslover]

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

Yes I did thanks John. There certainly isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing, that much is clear to me.

I would suggest that there is a large audience that doesn't know what good writing is, or doesn't care for it. They want male characters to spend a minimum of 50% of each episode partly dressed, caricature villains, and a good proportion of simplistic, crime-related storylines. These people watch X-Factor and Big Brother all day, read TV Week and then vote for Most Popular Drama.

I often wince watching H&A these days, at the plot holes, character assassination and inattention to detail.

To give you an example, today's UK episode was the aftermath of Zac and Bianca sleeping together again, and Bianca's decision to leave for London with Ricky.

A couple of weeks ago they set up this new MacGuire/Wilson family, which was quite interesting, an unusual situation where the relatives of two teenagers come together to provide a safe and secure family home for them. I like Zac, and I think it's an interesting storyline concept which played out nicely. Fast-forward 20 or so episodes, and Zac has decided to reject a relationship with Hannah to focus on the twins, so Hannah moves on with Andy. This situation suddenly leaves Zac so distraught that he sleeps with Bianca, refusing the next morning to give any explanation as to where he had been all night to his housemate, or the children in their care. In fact he tells them to mind their own business.

Then there is Bianca, who after admitting that it probably wasn't fair to ask Heath to choose between her and his own child, decides to just hop on the plane and accompany Ricky to London. A quick throwaway line about getting some time off from the school department is all that we, as viewers, are given. So, the headmistress of a high school is able to take holiday at a moments notice, with absolutely no indication of when she may return? Somehow she also gets a ticket on the same flight as Ricky.

In my view this is not especially convincing script-writing. Which is why H&A wins the Logie for most popular drama, not most outstanding drama.

Disclaimer: I am not targeting any particular group of board members with my comments here. If you really wish to take offence to my opinions that says more about you than me.

[Light of the Bay]

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

Yes I did thanks John. There certainly isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing, that much is clear to me.

I would suggest that there is a large audience that doesn't know what good writing is, or doesn't care for it. They want male characters to spend a minimum of 50% of each episode partly dressed, caricature villains, and a good proportion of simplistic, crime-related storylines. These people watch X-Factor and Big Brother all day, read TV Week and then vote for Most Popular Drama.

I often wince watching H&A these days, at the plot holes, character assassination and inattention to detail.

To give you an example, today's UK episode was the aftermath of Zac and Bianca sleeping together again, and Bianca's decision to leave for London with Ricky.

A couple of weeks ago they set up this new MacGuire/Wilson family, which was quite interesting, an unusual situation where the relatives of two teenagers come together to provide a safe and secure family home for them. I like Zac, and I think it's an interesting storyline concept which played out nicely. Fast-forward 20 or so episodes, and Zac has decided to reject a relationship with Hannah to focus on the twins, so Hannah moves on with Andy. This situation suddenly leaves Zac so distraught that he sleeps with Bianca, refusing the next morning to give any explanation as to where he had been all night to his housemate, or the children in their care. In fact he tells them to mind their own business.

Then there is Bianca, who after admitting that it probably wasn't fair to ask Heath to choose between her and his own child, decides to just hop on the plane and accompany Ricky to London. A quick throwaway line about getting some time off from the school department is all that we, as viewers, are given. So, the headmistress of a high school is able to take holiday at a moments notice, with absolutely no indication of when she may return? Somehow she also gets a ticket on the same flight as Ricky.

In my view this is not especially convincing script-writing. Which is why H&A wins the Logie for most popular drama, not most outstanding drama.

Disclaimer: I am not targeting any particular group of board members with my comments here. If you really wish to take offence to my opinions that says more about you than me.

Well said Cadyctslover. You sum up my thoughts exactly!

[Blaxland 89]

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

Yes I did thanks John. There certainly isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing, that much is clear to me.

I would suggest that there is a large audience that doesn't know what good writing is, or doesn't care for it. They want male characters to spend a minimum of 50% of each episode partly dressed, caricature villains, and a good proportion of simplistic, crime-related storylines. These people watch X-Factor and Big Brother all day, read TV Week and then vote for Most Popular Drama.

I often wince watching H&A these days, at the plot holes, character assassination and inattention to detail.

To give you an example, today's UK episode was the aftermath of Zac and Bianca sleeping together again, and Bianca's decision to leave for London with Ricky.

A couple of weeks ago they set up this new MacGuire/Wilson family, which was quite interesting, an unusual situation where the relatives of two teenagers come together to provide a safe and secure family home for them. I like Zac, and I think it's an interesting storyline concept which played out nicely. Fast-forward 20 or so episodes, and Zac has decided to reject a relationship with Hannah to focus on the twins, so Hannah moves on with Andy. This situation suddenly leaves Zac so distraught that he sleeps with Bianca, refusing the next morning to give any explanation as to where he had been all night to his housemate, or the children in their care. In fact he tells them to mind their own business.

Then there is Bianca, who after admitting that it probably wasn't fair to ask Heath to choose between her and his own child, decides to just hop on the plane and accompany Ricky to London. A quick throwaway line about getting some time off from the school department is all that we, as viewers, are given. So, the headmistress of a high school is able to take holiday at a moments notice, with absolutely no indication of when she may return? Somehow she also gets a ticket on the same flight as Ricky.

In my view this is not especially convincing script-writing. Which is why H&A wins the Logie for most popular drama, not most outstanding drama.

Disclaimer: I am not targeting any particular group of board members with my comments here. If you really wish to take offence to my opinions that says more about you than me.

Yes. Excellent analysis of the current show.

[John]

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

Yes I did thanks John. There certainly isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing, that much is clear to me.

I would suggest that there is a large audience that doesn't know what good writing is, or doesn't care for it. They want male characters to spend a minimum of 50% of each episode partly dressed, caricature villains, and a good proportion of simplistic, crime-related storylines. These people watch X-Factor and Big Brother all day, read TV Week and then vote for Most Popular Drama.

I often wince watching H&A these days, at the plot holes, character assassination and inattention to detail.

To give you an example, today's UK episode was the aftermath of Zac and Bianca sleeping together again, and Bianca's decision to leave for London with Ricky.

A couple of weeks ago they set up this new MacGuire/Wilson family, which was quite interesting, an unusual situation where the relatives of two teenagers come together to provide a safe and secure family home for them. I like Zac, and I think it's an interesting storyline concept which played out nicely. Fast-forward 20 or so episodes, and Zac has decided to reject a relationship with Hannah to focus on the twins, so Hannah moves on with Andy. This situation suddenly leaves Zac so distraught that he sleeps with Bianca, refusing the next morning to give any explanation as to where he had been all night to his housemate, or the children in their care. In fact he tells them to mind their own business.

Then there is Bianca, who after admitting that it probably wasn't fair to ask Heath to choose between her and his own child, decides to just hop on the plane and accompany Ricky to London. A quick throwaway line about getting some time off from the school department is all that we, as viewers, are given. So, the headmistress of a high school is able to take holiday at a moments notice, with absolutely no indication of when she may return? Somehow she also gets a ticket on the same flight as Ricky.

In my view this is not especially convincing script-writing. Which is why H&A wins the Logie for most popular drama, not most outstanding drama.

Disclaimer: I am not targeting any particular group of board members with my comments here. If you really wish to take offence to my opinions that says more about you than me.

Good post Cadyctslover. I've never argued that the writing of Home and Away is uniformly good. In fact I have argued that in many cases the introduction of information for us to understand characters and timing is almost uniformly poor.

That's why the show will probably never win Most Outstanding Drama.

However the fact that enough people find the show enjoyable to vote it Most Popular Drama must mean they find the writing and storylines at least acceptable. I think if we simply dismiss those people completely as "not knowing any better" in contrast to us who are able to judge what is good and bad writing we are being a little unfair.

In the long run ratings are essentially a popularity contest. While the show rates well enough to win a popularity vote it wont change.

So what we are really arguing about is what the Topic starter meant by "ruined"'.

As for the people running around in beach wear i.e swimming togs,, shorts etc. this is show set in a mythical beachside town of Summer Bay. The way people dress is typical of what you would see in any Australian seaside place during summer. It doesn't come across as gratuitous at least to us in Oz who enjoy our seaside holidays.

[Blaxland 89]

Did you see the last part of the sentence I've extended the bold type to?

Yes I did thanks John. There certainly isn't a 100% correlation between popularity and the quality of the writing, that much is clear to me.

I would suggest that there is a large audience that doesn't know what good writing is, or doesn't care for it. They want male characters to spend a minimum of 50% of each episode partly dressed, caricature villains, and a good proportion of simplistic, crime-related storylines. These people watch X-Factor and Big Brother all day, read TV Week and then vote for Most Popular Drama.

I often wince watching H&A these days, at the plot holes, character assassination and inattention to detail.

To give you an example, today's UK episode was the aftermath of Zac and Bianca sleeping together again, and Bianca's decision to leave for London with Ricky.

A couple of weeks ago they set up this new MacGuire/Wilson family, which was quite interesting, an unusual situation where the relatives of two teenagers come together to provide a safe and secure family home for them. I like Zac, and I think it's an interesting storyline concept which played out nicely. Fast-forward 20 or so episodes, and Zac has decided to reject a relationship with Hannah to focus on the twins, so Hannah moves on with Andy. This situation suddenly leaves Zac so distraught that he sleeps with Bianca, refusing the next morning to give any explanation as to where he had been all night to his housemate, or the children in their care. In fact he tells them to mind their own business.

Then there is Bianca, who after admitting that it probably wasn't fair to ask Heath to choose between her and his own child, decides to just hop on the plane and accompany Ricky to London. A quick throwaway line about getting some time off from the school department is all that we, as viewers, are given. So, the headmistress of a high school is able to take holiday at a moments notice, with absolutely no indication of when she may return? Somehow she also gets a ticket on the same flight as Ricky.

In my view this is not especially convincing script-writing. Which is why H&A wins the Logie for most popular drama, not most outstanding drama.

Disclaimer: I am not targeting any particular group of board members with my comments here. If you really wish to take offence to my opinions that says more about you than me.

Good post Cadyctslover. I've never argued that the writing of Home and Away is uniformly good. In fact I have argued that in many cases the introduction of information for us to understand characters and timing is almost uniformly poor.

That's why the show will probably never win Most Outstanding Drama.

However the fact that enough people find the show enjoyable to vote it Most Popular Drama must mean they find the writing and storylines at least acceptable. I think if we simply dismiss those people completely as "not knowing any better" in contrast to us who are able to judge what is good and bad writing we are being a little unfair.

In the long run ratings are essentially a popularity contest. While the show rates well enough to win a popularity vote it wont change.

So what we are really arguing about is what the Topic starter meant by "ruined"'.

As for the people running around in beach wear i.e swimming togs,, shorts etc. this is show set in a mythical beachside town of Summer Bay. The way people dress is typical of what you would see in any Australian seaside place during summer. It doesn't come across as gratuitous at least to us in Oz who enjoy our seaside holidays.

On the contrary, once again the way the character are dressed has changed in recent times and its always been a seaside towns.

They were once all dressed very individually to express the personality of the character. But now as they're all carbon copies of one another that has been lost.

Also as it is (was) a slightly backward chilled out town with locals that weren't loaded with cash the clothes reflected that. A contrast to the city. Now the women especially, are done up to the nines just walking by the sea!

All these little things are why people say its not the same show any more. And I agree. Not because the show has changed because all shows have to. But because I personally feel that the heart or core of the show is no longer there.