RTE The Clinic - cancelled

SeanOBigMan · 23-11-2009 4:47pm #1

Seems definite now from various sources on Facebook etc that The Clinic has been cancelled by RTE. That was the last ever series.

Personally, I thought it was a landmark programme in Irish tv drama. Some bits worked better than others sure, but overall - the quality of the acting, some truly memorable characters, the look of it and the writing... made it not only one of the best shows to come out of Ireland ever, but one of the best shows of its kind fullstop.

It'll be missed and looked back on with respect and affection.

Any thoughts?

Shane10 · 23-11-2009 4:52pm

always seemed a good programme but have to admit never really watched much of it. seemed that it would depress me to much if i did. had it run its course anyway.

JonathanAnon · 23-11-2009 4:52pm

I think it suffered from too many changes in the cast. Was a very good show though, I watched the first few series and it was very good.

mike65 · 23-11-2009 4:52pm

Not that I ever watched and it may be down to RTE being broke but why can't RTE sustain a drama series?

Aidric · 23-11-2009 5:31pm

It seemed to be one of RTE's better productions. Budget cutbacks I presume.

Quazzie · 23-11-2009 5:33pm

Watched it a few times. Good programme by all accounts.

Its funny to see it cancelled while Fairly Shítty continues

kmick · 23-11-2009 5:40pm

My wife watches it and I can confirm for those who hadnt seen it the acting was/is as wooden as pinochio's leg.

scargill · 23-11-2009 5:41pm

i enjoyed it - pissed off that a few storylines are left hanging now!!

Tabnabs · 23-11-2009 5:43pm

As was said above, far too many cast changes (like Spooks). The last episode of the current series was the worst acting by far, akin to a badly written sitcom. Patrick the councillor, WTF was his "mediating" attempt all about?

Soon it'll be non stop Reeling In The Years on RTE...

eth0_ · 23-11-2009 5:45pm

kmick wrote: »

My wife watches it and I can confirm for those who hadnt seen it the acting was/is as wooden as pinochio's leg.

True but I think it had good ratings?

It must be a bummer for the actors in this show...especially when RTE go and waste money commissioning a series for Ryan Tubridy's cousin David McSavage, a man so unfunny and abusive that he's banned from most of the comedy clubs in Dublin....

scargill · 23-11-2009 5:49pm

the cast changes did unsettle it a fair bit but overall I thought the storylines and acting were decent ?
my wife always watched it - I could never warm to it when Cathy was in it (she was too moany!), but when that character left I got it into it.

Meeja Ireland · 23-11-2009 5:55pm

mike65 wrote: »

Not that I ever watched and it may be down to RTE being broke but why can't RTE sustain a drama series?

Seven years is quite a run for a prime-time drama series.

KerranJast · 23-11-2009 6:15pm

7 years is more than Lost is going to have. It seemed slick but suffered from the perennial RTE problem of actor overlap. They'd be better sticking to the kind of miniseries style stuff that ITV do well.

mailforkev · 23-11-2009 6:15pm

It didn't really work for me, although the other half and my mother seemed to think it was ok. Production values better than anything TV3 will ever knock out at least.

Mind you, whether you liked it or not, at least it was scripted television. It will be interesting to see if RTE replace it with likewise or continue the rush to the bottom with more reality dross.

JonathanAnon · 23-11-2009 6:23pm

Dyflin wrote: »

Soon it'll be non stop Reeling In The Years on RTE...

Maybe they would be better off cancelling the Reeling In The Years. Can you imagine Reeling In The Years for 2009:

Banking system all but collapses, National strikes.
Dell and other multi nationals leave, Mass unemployment.
Cheating French and FIFA deny Ireland a chance of going to the WC
Flooding, torrential rainfall and overall sh1te-er weather than usual.
Michael Jackson dies, and Jedward live.
Published reports of sex abuse in the church,
Tubridy takes over the Late Late Show.

Say you would end up swinging from the rafters after watching that. I'd nearly rather watch Val Falvery TD again.. well almost.

jimmyw · 23-11-2009 6:24pm

Was it in any newspapers about it been axed? I didn't hear or see anything about it anywhere except here on this site. B*****ds!!:mad:.I liked that programme.If they wanted to have cut-backs why did they not cut that flippin fair city, that is utter tripe with c**p actors. I was in a car showroom last Friday and could not believe it was on in the showroom :eek:.I had to go out in the cold as I could not bear to look at it.

thegoodlife · 23-11-2009 6:26pm

I only ever seen the last episode it's not half bad...pity it's cancelled..

Meeja Ireland · 23-11-2009 6:30pm

jimmyw wrote: »

Was it in any newspapers about it been axed? I didn't hear or see anything about it anywhere except here on this site. B*****ds!!:mad:.I liked that programme.If they wanted to have cut-backs why did they not cut that flippin fair city, that is utter tripe with c**p actors.

Fair City gets a lot more viewers (and therefore advertising revenue) and is a lot cheaper to make. I presume it's a bit closer to the brink now that The Clinic has been axed, but it would leave a huge hole in prime time four nights a week.

Some of the acting is exceptionally good, incidentally, but that's not an argument I expect to win.

WestWicklow1 · 23-11-2009 6:31pm

SeanOBigMan wrote: »

Seems definite now from various sources on Facebook etc that The Clinic has been cancelled by RTE. That was the last ever series.

Any thoughts?

Fantastic!!

Shea O'Meara · 23-11-2009 6:33pm

Did they not recently sign up Alison Doody as a new cast member, (not seen it in a while)?

Look on the bright side, more Gerry Ryan Top Ten lists!!! :rolleyes:

anotherlostie · 23-11-2009 7:05pm

I think I will wait for more definite confirmation than sources on Facebook before I post my obituary.

joey54 · 23-11-2009 7:47pm

I personally can't believe this. The Clinic, in my opinion, is one of RTE's best shows ever. I know they like everyone else are facing budget constraints but surely there is something they could do to keep this excellent show running. The Clinic is far better than some of the other stuff RTE puts on our screens.

I suppose I'm also annoyed at the way RTE frequently just stop a programme with no conclusion, there's just never another episode!

It's a real pity that The Clinic has been canceled.

The Express · 23-11-2009 9:57pm

Very well shot, in high definition too. Not that we can truly appreciate it until RTE HD arrives.

yosser hughes · 23-11-2009 10:54pm

I'm not surprised and I predicted this in another thread. The final episode was ridiculous and their plot lines were awful.
The guy they had on the reception desk was the funniest hammy actor I've seen in ages. He operated the desk like it was the starship enterprise.
Dan was the only half decent character really.
Having said all that,it wasn't the worst RTE have come out with but my god did it cost mega bucks.
RTE need to make cuts but they won't go near certain sacred cows and there are a lot of people in there that actually do sweet fa.
By the way, how many do they have working in their sports dept?
What does Des Cahill actually do?

obutler · 24-11-2009 8:28am

I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE AXING THE CLINIC - LIKE BACHELORS WALK AND BULL ISLAND. 3 GREAT PROGRAMMES WITH GOOD ACTING AND THEY KEEP FAIR CITY ON 6 TIMES A WEEK!! TV LICENCE EXPENSIVE ENOUGH. JUST TYPICAL

Rineanna · 24-11-2009 11:34am

I really loved this show, particularly the earlier seasons. Both E.R and the Clinic finished, Sunday nights will never be the same again!

anotherlostie wrote: »

I think I will wait for more definite confirmation than sources on Facebook before I post my obituary.

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/1124/theclinic.html

Lorcan02 · 24-11-2009 1:29pm

I just can't believe it .. I loved that programme. Now we have been left high and dry - never knowing if Patrick lived or died !! But seriously though - it ended like there was going to be another series - loads of loose ends .. can't believe it. There was worse stuff that could have got the chop !

obutler · 24-11-2009 4:42pm

it was in this mornings newspapers:mad:

jimmyw · 24-11-2009 9:03pm

Unfortunately I am beginning to think that it is true that its getting the axe because I heard a competition question on Matt Coopers last word show today asking which show is going to be axed, the Sunday game, something else and the clinic. Did not hear the answer though.

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/im-heartbroken-says-leigh-as-rte-axes-hit-clinic-series-1952174.html

Ann22 · 24-11-2009 9:08pm

I was shocked and disappointed to hear this...wtf?! They left everything hanging...How am i going to survive without my weekly dose of Dastardly Doctor Dan?:(:(:(Just got rid of booooring Cathy too. Feck sake!

I was mildly peeved 'cos of the way it had implied there was some passion brewing between him and Daisy then all of a sudden dopey daisy turns to Rory...not even a quickie in the medicine cupboard:mad:.

In saying that I could've forgiven the scriptwriters. Why oh why have they done this?! What a pack of b*stards!

Btw the only wooden actor in it was Patrick, he was a total waste of space.

sparklyprincess · 26-11-2009 12:05pm

I'm delighted. I thought it was awful rubbish and the acting was embarrassing. I think I would get sicker going to a clinic like that. At least we dont have to look at that Donal Sutherland-like face of daisy any longer!!!

JP Liz · 26-11-2009 12:13pm

Its a shame its cancelled

So was the last series it or is there one more final series?

gubby · 26-11-2009 5:59pm

I missed last sunday night... was that the last one? where can I see it again anyone?

WestWicklow1 · 26-11-2009 6:25pm

I guess it'll be available here soon....

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1060141

jpfahy · 26-11-2009 6:30pm

Goodbye Amy, I'll miss you

The Pontiac · 26-11-2009 6:57pm

I heard Ian Dempsey mention on the radio that TV3 want to take over The Clinic and keep it running. I'm not sure if RTE owns the production company that makes the series or anything, but thought I'd mention it. I've never watched a single episode in my life so I can't comment on its greatness or awfulness, sorry.

obutler wrote: »

I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE AXING THE CLINIC - LIKE BACHELORS WALK AND BULL ISLAND. 3 GREAT PROGRAMMES WITH GOOD ACTING AND THEY KEEP FAIR CITY ON 6 TIMES A WEEK!! TV LICENCE EXPENSIVE ENOUGH. JUST TYPICAL

I loved Bachelors Walk, the acting was top notch and the storyline was great. It ran for three seasons, with a total of only thirteen episodes. You'd think such a great drama would be turned into a full 12-13 episode per season and left to run for a few years, like the US TV dramas. Pure Mule was the same, with only six episodes ever made. What is the reasoning behind this? These show had very high ratings and were properly made (good acting etc), and then get scrapped very prematurely.

Fair City, although only a soap opera, is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. The acting is just atrocious. It borders on a comedy at times.

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Maybe they would be better off cancelling the Reeling In The Years. Can you imagine Reeling In The Years for 2009:

Banking system all but collapses, National strikes.
Dell and other multi nationals leave, Mass unemployment.
Cheating French and FIFA deny Ireland a chance of going to the WC
Flooding, torrential rainfall and overall sh1te-er weather than usual.
Michael Jackson dies, and Jedward live.
Published reports of sex abuse in the church,
Tubridy takes over the Late Late Show.

Say you would end up swinging from the rafters after watching that. I'd nearly rather watch Val Falvery TD again.. well almost.

It all sounds very depressing alright. You could add the Cork Hurling strike, the PS strike..the list just goes on and on..

sonyair · 26-11-2009 9:26pm

Ya tv3 are to take the clinic on if it is profitable and it seems to be, the production company is seperate to rté

The Express · 26-11-2009 9:56pm

sonyair wrote: »

Ya tv3 are to take the clinic on if it is profitable and it seems to be, the production company is seperate to rté

Supposedly foreign sales were good

SeanOBigMan · 27-11-2009 4:17am

This is a PR stunt by TV3 to ride the wave of public discontent at The Clinic's cancellation. They'll look like the knights in shining armour who wanted to come to the beloved Clinic's rescue. It will quietly fizzle away to nothing. The Clinic twice a week? A soap? Sure, but it wouldn't be The Clinic.... it would be something else completely that happened to be filmed on the same set. None of the actors involved would want to be associated with that! Look at the calibre of the cast. Daft cynical ploy. Can't believe anyone's taking it seriously.

DO'Carlo/Wex · 27-11-2009 5:47am

It was One of RTEs' Cash Cows I would've thought.
Prime Time Viewing on a Sunday Night.
What've we got since? Battle of the Sexes for TWO Shows.
Not a Metrosexual, ALL Man but I enjoyed The Clinic & don't give Private Practice, Nurse Jackie or E.R. time of day.
IF TV3 do commission it, I'd like it to be on more regular than what it was on RTE for. I.e. September to November Maximum.
Say a 6 Month Stint. Don't want it as a Soap though.
And the same production values need to be applied.
Obviously a 1 Hour Show with Ads would have to be stretched-out to 1 & 15?
Didn't they bring out a DVD of The Clinic last year or two?
The Box Set should be out soon so!

Shane10 · 27-11-2009 9:54am

sicken rte if tv3 take it over and by all sounds looks like they will.

TheBlock · 27-11-2009 3:29pm

Shane10 wrote: »

sicken rte if tv3 take it over and by all sounds looks like they will.

At 500k an epiosde I don't think the clinic RTE provided will be the Clinic TV3 provide. It did sell well but there is no way on earth that TV3 will be commisiong it as it stands a watered down version with a complete new cast and significantly lower production values maybe, but then it would be more like that Austrailian soap ****e that goes out at lunchtime daily.

Shane10 · 27-11-2009 3:32pm

500,000 an episode?? on what?

Elmo · 27-11-2009 9:31pm

Shane10 wrote: »

500,000 an episode?? on what?

Locations
Sets
Scripts
Directors
Camera
Lighting
Actors
Make Up
Costumes

And other things that you need to make a drama.

It was One of RTEs' Cash Cows I would've thought.
Prime Time Viewing on a Sunday Night.

IMO I think shows should finish and make way for new shows, US serial only last for the max of 12 years and even that is some times too long e.g. ER.

What've we got since? Battle of the Sexes for TWO Shows.
Not a Metrosexual, ALL Man but I enjoyed The Clinic & don't give Private Practice, Nurse Jackie or E.R. time of day.

I don't think you can put Private Practice in the same sentence as Nurse Jackie or ER. I would rate the Clinic with both NJ and ER and far a head of Gray's or PP.

IF TV3 do commission it, I'd like it to be on more regular than what it was on RTE for. I.e. September to November Maximum.
Say a 6 Month Stint. Don't want it as a Soap though.
And the same production values need to be applied.

If you want the same quality you won't have the show on for 22 episodes like a US series, because it would cost too much for either RTÉ or TV3, (11million at the very least that is 1/6th of TV3 turnover and 1/12th of RTÉ One's budget. If they were to do that it would have to become a soap like Casualty.

Obviously a 1 Hour Show with Ads would have to be stretched-out to 1 & 15?
Didn't they bring out a DVD of The Clinic last year or two?
The Box Set should be out soon s

The show goes out for 52mins on RTÉ, TV3 would possible only want a 45min episode like a US drama to squeas in more advertising, thus keeping it to 1hour rather than 1hr 15mins.

I think Season 1 - 4 is available in shops.

Also RTÉ plan to replace it with another drama, which is in development.

DublinDecco · 28-11-2009 4:50pm

I loved The Clinic on RTE, it was a great programme. I really do hope that TV3 do buy the rights to continue the programme, as it has lots of potential with it. However I am not entirely sure that changing its category from drama series to soap opera woud necessarily go down well with fans like myself. I suggest that possibly it stays a weekly drama series like BBC's successful series Casuality, or perhaps becomes a twice weekly half hour episode like ITV's The Bill was was for a few years. I gather that TV3 maybe thinking of creating an Irish version of the Doctors, that is a popular BBC series/Soap.

I personally think TV3 should buy it, and screen in the present format, once weekly prime time show. But please don't let our Clinic go to join the likes of Glenroe and co up in the RTE archives heaven.

ITS TOO GOOD A PROGRAMME!

gubby · 28-11-2009 5:44pm

can somebody clarify for that the last episode was on the 15th November?? that seems to be the last one on rte player

Elmo · 28-11-2009 7:23pm

DublinDecco wrote: »

But please don't let our Clinic go to join the likes of Glenroe and co up in the RTE archives heaven.

Why not? 50 year even 10 years of anyone drama series is too long. Why can't the Bill, Casualty, EastEnders, Coronation Street, Holby City, Emmerdale be part of ITV and BBC Archive heaven.

I actually like remembering serieals like Hill Street Blues, I would hate to see it still on the air to this day. 5 years for anyone show is enough and if it has legs perhaps 10 years. But after that it has had its day.

Old shows should make way for new shows. I hope that TV3 do pick it up, and I look forward to seeing RTÉs new Sunday night drama. I will tune in for both.

SeanOBigMan · 28-11-2009 9:07pm

I agree with Elmo. It's right that the old make way for the new. New can be exciting and innovative. We wouldn't have had The Clinic if older dramas had stayed. The Clinic was fresh and exciting. It was filmed in a way that hadn't been seen on home produced dramas before. The cast were exceptional. The scripts assumed a level of intelligence in the viewer. The last series of The Clinic seemed to lose some of its original qualities. It seemed to lose trust in its audience and pandered to a lower common denominator. The scenes were quicker and the story beats far too obvious. Character made way for exposition. In the past The Clinic wasn't afraid to take its time and dwell. Not in the last series. The introduction of Ishka - the nightclub - was a joke. A transparent and laughable attempt to seduce a younger demographic. But it looked all too much like the embarrassing uncle sporting a new earring. Any young person could see that it was a) nothing like a club that they knew and b) if it was, it was a club that they wouldn't be seen dead in. Add to that the ridiculous idea that it would become the after hours meeting place of all the staff.....! Nuts. But the stories became desperate. The characters became foils to ever melodramatic plot twists and the original integrity was lost. The people that the audience had grown to know became alienated. How to balls up a well loved television series - The Clinic, textbook case number one. Nevertheless, there were still many good things left in the series. The regular characters still had their souls in tact, just about. I strongly believe that The Clinic could continue as a wonderful show... IF the producers (whoever they are, TV3, whoever) learn the lesson that THE IRISH TELEVISION AUDIENCE IS NOT STUPID. To bring The Clinic back as a soap, or with significantly lower production values or with tabloidy, cheap and quickfire story lines, would not only kill it stone dead - it would tarnish the memory of what was, at its best, one of the best Irish TV dramas ever.

Elmo · 28-11-2009 9:52pm

gubby wrote: »

can somebody clarify for that the last episode was on the 15th November?? that seems to be the last one on rte player

That is what it says according to RTÉ player alright. Which seem to be right since Men V Women started last week.

Nolanger · 29-11-2009 9:12pm

What a load of sh*te - photogenic and posh characters, dirge-like music on the soundtrack, crap direction, 'realistic' lighting, stupid storylines, and pretentious camera angles.
Good riddance - bring back The Riordans!

Keth_tgi · 12-01-2010 5:48pm

Never liked it. Was one of those shows that was all-talk, not that thats a bad thing, but never any real gusto or tension either. Agree it had a certain style and one could see where the money was spent.... but was a little too stylish over content. Good luck with it TV3!

RTE The Clinic - cancelled

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