Are the current producers ruining Home and Away?

[CaptainHulk]

Friday's evening H&A on Channel 5 scored its lowest audience figure in almost a year (409k),

​Yesterday's evening figure was even lower - 393K with 160K at lunchtime. Hopefully ratings can't sink much lower. Any possible changes in storyline direction can't come soon enough!

​Ratings drop over time plus we have to factor in online/on demand/repeats/timeshift.

Usually I avoid Twitter like the plague, but I like Dan's response!

[Gerard]

You're right, ratings for all TV shows have dropped over the years. It's a pity there doesn't seem to be an accurate way of measuring how many unique viewers an episode gets in total adding up all the shows, catch up etc.

How much of the dip in ratings is down to these "external factors" and how much is down to the series not being as good as it once was? How do the TV execs decide a series is a success these days, and how low do the ratings have to get before they declare a "revamp" or start sharpening the axe?

Anyway, I am hopeful Dan can turn the series around in the coming months.

[James Martin]

I'm not entirely sure about this news.  On one hand, Dan's last time in charge was very much the "BC/AD" moment of Home & Away for me, and it's where we started to get some get a character in hospital seemingly every other week.  The Lost-type storyline which followed the barn explosion just didn't work for me either.

But there's also some great stuff which came out of that era - the first Eve Jacobsen storyline was genuinely unmissable TV, and Sally's move from supporting character to lead was inspired.  It's also undeniable that Dan knows the history of the show inside out, and I think that can only be a bonus.  I'm really excited by the plans hinted at on Twitter that Leah will be pushed forward.  I hope he can find more for the older, more long-standing cast to do.

I wonder if Alf's 70th birthday, which is due in a few weeks, will be marked?

Sad to see that Bevan Lee has moved on from Seven Network however, he has left an incredible legacy by way of his contribution to Home & Away.

[gutterboy]

I got curious and went snooping through the Character forum to see which appreciation threads were started in 2007. Aden and Geoff, thank you very much  (although the Aden AND Geoff thread wasn't started til 2008 ). Both threads were started later in the year so I'm not sure when the characters arrived, but I hope Dan was responsible for them, because if so *settles in*. 

EDIT: And yes, I know Aden was briefly around before his starring role so I take that as a good sign. 

EDIT AGAIN: 

I've wandered over to the actual character profiles, and wow. WOW. Robbie, Kim, Tash, Ric, Mattie, Peter, Dan (all present in 2004 but came into their own in 2005), Lucas, Tony, Jack (and Martha I guess), Belle, Aden, Geoff, Drew, Zoe/Eve, Corey, Amanda, Jazz...and probably dozens more I'm blanking on. I hope I don't have to start obsessively taping episodes again because I don't think the VCR still works   I wonder if that era was lightning in a bottle, or if some of that magic can be recreated??

EDITEDITEDIT: JOSIE!!

​

Some great characters there for sure...... Robbie/Tash two of my all time favs (note the avatar ) and so many others you mentioned!

[joany208121]

Alf turns 70 hey? Could Olivia Fraser be coming back 10 years after her mum died? (Fingers crossed) also give Irene something to do dan.

[locohero]

I've been ok with the Braxton's.... until now. The Brax back in prison story line is the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm now fast forwarding through anything to do with it. Far too repetitive. Jeez writers, show some imagination.

[Homeandawayfan.]

Billie has now arrived to a love triangle life in Summer Bay. I did find the show very addictive last week and H&A seemed to be getting its crown back as the better show over Neighbours. Neighbours is quite lacklustre at the moment since the 30th.

I do remain optimistic. Dan Bennett has probably matured as a writer and he seems to be aware of the shoddy storylines. I did watch some 2001 episodes of H&A in From The Bay To LA repeats and it was really firing on all cylinders since the revamp the year before.

[John]

Now I am a little  scared.

The show is at a crossroads. The era of the Braxtons has come to an end and the writers are faced with the task of moving the show on to the next era.  I am terribly disappointed with the early signs.  I see no sign of the show taking a new and interesting direction or going "back to the future" either.  Hopefully that will come in the next few weeks.  

I don't believe that Dan Bennett is any kind of messiah although I have appreciated his writing in the past.  No do I believe that looking back for any other purpose than to understand the history of the show is the way forward either.

The show needs a new and interesting direction consistent with its history.

 

[TelephotoMarigold]

Honestly if the show is to continue then the following needs to start happening:

 

No introduction of characters just to add plot points to someone's story. 

No focus on one set of characters at the expense of others or decent storytelling.

Removal of hastily introduced characters. 

No hooking up characters because you can't think what else to do with them. 

And how about giving people jobs outside of Summer Bay.  You don't have to show external sets all the time but seriously a town that small supporting just about everyone with a handful of businesses?  Hey, what do you want to do when you leave school? Oh, I've always wanted to work in Alf's bait shop, how about you?  Me, I've my eye on working in the diner for the next forty years.  

 

 

[gutterboy]

Honestly if the show is to continue then the following needs to start happening:

 

No introduction of characters just to add plot points to someone's story. 

No focus on one set of characters at the expense of others or decent storytelling.

Removal of hastily introduced characters. 

No hooking up characters because you can't think what else to do with them. 

And how about giving people jobs outside of Summer Bay.  You don't have to show external sets all the time but seriously a town that small supporting just about everyone with a handful of businesses?  Hey, what do you want to do when you leave school? Oh, I've always wanted to work in Alf's bait shop, how about you?  Me, I've my eye on working in the diner for the next forty years.  

 

 

​Yep...... totally agree about the job thing; I have wanted to see more of that too. I remember when we had other places such as when Josh was in council, Ric was in the car garage, Belle had a job as a journalist and you routinely seen them all there, now you don't see any of that - it's either go work at the diner, gym, Angelos, Bait Shop or the hospital lol....... honestly, Ricki apparently works right!? Can't say I remember what she even does as you never see her there LOL!

Since Dan Bennett has taken over can't say I have noticed much change as of yet, but it's early days and I guess he has a big mess to cleanup that has been left in his lap; but the addition of more love triangles isn't a good start.