The way RTE One shows The Bill.

CO19

Does anyone else that watches The Bill on RTE One find the way it's shown very confusing ? RTE splits one hour long episode into 2 half hour episodes which is bad enough but they have now resorted to removing the clip at the beginning of the show which gives viewers who may have missed the episode(s) before a recap of what went on aswell as removing the 'Next time on The Bill' clip at the end, so viewers are left confused as to what is going on in the show due to the geniuses at RTE.
If you do will you please send them an email and ask that they stop cutting these clips from the show,they'll stop if enough fans of the show complain to them about it.

Anyway just wondering does anyone else think the same,thanks for any replies

RadioCity

I don't think its even worth watching that programme the way RTE attempts to show it.

Each episode should be shown in full and given a more consistent slot earlier in the day (9 or 10am) instead of showing some other dross from the previous afternoon. If they only showed 25 mins of the previous day's "Afternoon Show" and 55 minutes of "The Bill" would anybody complain?

anotherlostie

Personally I think the Bill isn't suitable for this time of the evening. I've seen it on in the gym with scenes of violence, drug taking and sex, and it is only 5.30 when lots of kids are watching TV when the parents are busy getting the dinner ready. It would be better suited to a later slot on RTE 2, say 8pm where they seem to have difficulties in scheduling.

CO19

RadioCity wrote: »

I don't think its even worth watching that programme the way RTE attempts to show it.

Each episode should be shown in full and given a more consistent slot earlier in the day (9 or 10am) instead of showing some other dross from the previous afternoon. If they only showed 25 mins of the previous day's "Afternoon Show" and 55 minutes of "The Bill" would anybody complain?

Couldn't agree with you more,they say that they have no other time slot to accomodate the show other than at half 5 or at 2 or 3 am and that's why they have to split it into 2 half hour parts and cut off all the clips that are on the show aswell as they don't have enough time to show them,bare in mind that these clip i.e the 'Previously on The Bill' clip and the 'Next tim on The Bill clip are only 18 seconds so they can't be seriously expecting people to accept that as their genuine reason
Of Course they can make a slot available- instead of showing that Seoige&O'Shea at half 4 they could show The Bill from then and at half 5 show Seoige&O'Shea,the whole set up is off the wall, how RTE is getting away with it I don't know,they're ruining a great show :mad:
As I said in my original post if more people emailed them to complain about the removal of these clips and the way they show it then then will have to act.

ElNino

I used to watch The Bill repeats on RTE but I switched over to UKtv Gold because they show full uncut episodes.

Wertz

anotherlostie wrote: »

Personally I think the Bill isn't suitable for this time of the evening. I've seen it on in the gym with scenes of violence, drug taking and sex, and it is only 5.30 when lots of kids are watching TV when the parents are busy getting the dinner ready. It would be better suited to a later slot on RTE 2, say 8pm where they seem to have difficulties in scheduling.

I kind of agree with this, especially the bit about RTÉ2 being wide open in and around the 8pm slot...they could move some of their wildlife/docu type stuff to the Bill's current slot and fit it in that way.
When the bill was 30 minutes and had a bit less of an adult edge to it, it was somewhat suitable but as of now, it's risqué and is doubtlessly being seen by young eyes.

I think they're at the stage where I stopped watching it originally, due to the way they went with the show's format, characters and storylines. IMO it's all downhill from here.

RadioCity

I find The Bill as it is on ITV1 at the minute, the best it has been is a long time. The 2 or 3 part storylines are great and keep you watching to the very end, like Wednesday's and last night's episodes.

Regarding RTE2 at 8pm, would the Bill work there 5 nights a week, assuming this is what is being suggested? This would clash with the current episodes 2 nights a week which, if you're a fan, would want to watch both!

RadioCity

Just a thought, but wouldn't RTE be better to go back and show The Bill from the 1990s when it was 30 minute show, and shown 3 nights a week, A bit of nostalgia for fans at 5.30 and it would fit properly into the time slot!!:D

Then keep the hour long specials that cropped up like "Spill" and "Deadline" for days that the usual afternoon guff and Nuacht might not be on, like Bank Holidays.

Even UKGold would have shown these out of sequence around 1999-2001.

Elmo

I don't think RTE should buy The Bill, it is just another badly acted soap and doesn't deserve to be on the air. The Bill is just another Soap Opera in a long line of soap operas showing ITV's lack of imagination.

RTE should let TV3 have this show. IMO.

Its scheduled againist Neighbours on RTE Two at 5:30 surely this is a major clash for Soap fans.

I honestly don't get this obsession with this show.

Also 8pm is would be just as bad a place for The Bill if it has so much sex and violence, 9pm is better suited.

And to put it out at 8 would have it clash with other badly acted soaps on RTE.

Wertz

Bring back Blue Heelers!
Or Water Rats!
Or some other aussie cop show...

Even perhaps some home produced police drama...The Shades, featuring riveting storylines of motorway checkpoints, highspeed government minister escorts and multiple court adjournments ending in suspended sentences. I'd watch it.

Elmo

Bring back Blue Heelers!
Or Water Rats!
Or some other aussie cop show...

Water Rats was brilliant espically the first season.

The opening sequence is a cop squence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpJcapCCi3k&feature=related

Even perhaps some home produced police drama...The Shades,

Making the Cut or DDU: District Detective Unit, based in Waterford.

But they are Dramas just like Prime Suspect even Water Rats is a Drama.

Wertz

I was being a bit facetious with my last suggestion in fairness...I know RTÉ do home produced cop stuff, although I didn't bother watching any of them.
So in your estimation, would The Bill not have fitted into the drama genre before they went all story arc/soap-like on us?

RadioCity

It has lost its "soap" feel in recent times.

When it was a 30 minute show on ITV years ago, it was individual episodes and events in one (such as a death) might have been referred to in subsequent episodes. Other than that each show was generally its own investigation.

In recent years one episode followed another with characters own lives being delved into.

Lately, they have been only very loosely linked or not linked at all, like it used to be, which is making it better with greater emphasis on solving crimes rather than private lives of the characters.

To be honest it's one of the very few programmes I even make an effort to watch on TV.

Elmo

The Bill was always a soap. It lack any imagination. The sets are poorly made and the acting has a lot to be desired.

Orginally The Bill was a single story which went out for half an hour, and even at the time it was a cheeply made drama, but the cheepness lended to the attraction. Now it is just a pretend drama like Holby City, Casulty and Holby Blue. These shows aren't drama they are more soap like. Even though the generally have a beginning, middle and end and avoid bring in other aspects of previous stories.

I just don't respect the Bill as it is on for so many years. Really a drama should end after 10 years or less.

Even Law & Order which is now into 15th year???? is still a far better drama.

The British aren't good a producing a long running serial, those which they do produce can end up turning into a Soap Opera. E.G. Heartbeat which began life as a fairly good 6 parter, now its on nearly every week and stuck in the 1960, with a spin off soap call The Royal Today :rolleyes:

I think there are better cop dramas out there which even allow for a good long running story line and which will refer back to previous episodes.

Water Rats is a good example from Australia.

This to me is a soap opera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ae5KtUzkhw

Also none of these Police seem to retire, I though police had to retire before they turn 56.

Also I miss this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMz2XVIHbDc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQYX93_13U&feature=related
Now those are titles.

Elmo

They are coming to get you, keep cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fm4oW11zsY&feature=related

Nah its cool, they are going now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQYX93_13U&feature=related