Torchwood Season 3
From BBC Entertainment:
Torchwood cut 'like punishment'
Torchwood follows secret agents battling human and alien enemies
Cutting the new series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood to five shows from 13 felt like "we were being punished", its star John Barrowman has said.
The third series of the sci-fi show - which began on BBC Three before moving to BBC Two - will now be shown on consecutive days on BBC One.
Barrowman said other shows moved to BBC One "and they don't get cut".
The BBC said it wanted to create "a powerful sense of event" with Children of Earth, which will start on Monday.
Barrowman told the Radio Times: "I'm going to get a little political and I'll probably get into trouble for it."
He said Torchwood's first series had been "the most successful show on BBC3 - ever" and, as a result, had been moved to BBC Two where "we were beating shows that had been on BBC Two for a long time".
"The decision was made to go to BBC One and then we were cut - from 13 episodes down to five."
'Very special'
Barrowman said the new episodes were "incredible, I have no doubt about that".
"But personally, I felt like we were being punished.
"Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut.
"So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
But the show's writer and creator Russell T Davies told the magazine: "Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'.
"But why not change it?"
He said if the show was made in the US, "they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week".
He added: "It's the British audience we make these for.
"And I don't think audiences are remotely lost by a change in format."
A BBC spokesman said: "We wanted to create a powerful sense of event when the show came to BBC One and so talked with the show makers about a story that could run over five consecutive days."
This was something "very special" that had only been done before with 2008's five-part thriller Criminal Justice and Iraq-based drama Occupation, shown earlier this month.
Torchwood: Children Of Earth follows the alien-chasing team as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered.
From IO9:
Torchwood Mini-Series "Like A Punishment" Says Star
Feeling disappointed that the third season of Torchwood is only five episodes? You're not the only one; Series star John Barrowman has been talking about the new format, and he's not exactly that happy about it.
Talking to British TV Guide magazine Radio Times, Barrowman revealed hurt feelings about the decision to move networks from BBC Two to BBC One and limit the season to five episodes:
[P]ersonally, I felt like we were being punished. Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut. So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves.
Torchwood producer Russell T Davies explained the choice as less a punishment and more of a creative challenge:
Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'. But why not change it?
Someone should introduce Davies and Barrowman; it sounds like they'd have a lot to talk about.
Reminder, for those who do not have cable or get the BBC-America find someone who does have it and ask that they tape or find a way to record it for you. Because this one looks like the best ever Torchwood short season ever.
The series will be presented July 20th through July 24th on BBC-America.
This is probably some of the best Science Fiction/Horror type of genre you can ever come across for a series. Seems like the Brits know how to mix the two genres as well as keep them apart (Hear that Alan), I will also admit the first season was very uneven as they were getting their feet wet, but if you ever get a chance to watch the 13 episode second season in its entirety be ready to be amused, amazed, scared and entertained by the one hour episodes. PT. I know if you got into the series you would enjoy it as well. Bro, we are similar in many ways and I know you do love a good sound set of shows once you get past the hype. The lead is very openly gay most of the time, but he also enjoys good looking women as well no matter where they are from (shade of Captain Kirk there). 8-)
Torchwood cut 'like punishment'
Torchwood follows secret agents battling human and alien enemies
Cutting the new series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood to five shows from 13 felt like "we were being punished", its star John Barrowman has said.
The third series of the sci-fi show - which began on BBC Three before moving to BBC Two - will now be shown on consecutive days on BBC One.
Barrowman said other shows moved to BBC One "and they don't get cut".
The BBC said it wanted to create "a powerful sense of event" with Children of Earth, which will start on Monday.
Barrowman told the Radio Times: "I'm going to get a little political and I'll probably get into trouble for it."
He said Torchwood's first series had been "the most successful show on BBC3 - ever" and, as a result, had been moved to BBC Two where "we were beating shows that had been on BBC Two for a long time".
"The decision was made to go to BBC One and then we were cut - from 13 episodes down to five."
'Very special'
Barrowman said the new episodes were "incredible, I have no doubt about that".
"But personally, I felt like we were being punished.
"Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut.
"So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves."
But the show's writer and creator Russell T Davies told the magazine: "Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'.
"But why not change it?"
He said if the show was made in the US, "they'd try to keep it going for seven years, doing the same thing every week".
He added: "It's the British audience we make these for.
"And I don't think audiences are remotely lost by a change in format."
A BBC spokesman said: "We wanted to create a powerful sense of event when the show came to BBC One and so talked with the show makers about a story that could run over five consecutive days."
This was something "very special" that had only been done before with 2008's five-part thriller Criminal Justice and Iraq-based drama Occupation, shown earlier this month.
Torchwood: Children Of Earth follows the alien-chasing team as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have encountered.
From IO9:
Torchwood Mini-Series "Like A Punishment" Says Star
Feeling disappointed that the third season of Torchwood is only five episodes? You're not the only one; Series star John Barrowman has been talking about the new format, and he's not exactly that happy about it.
Talking to British TV Guide magazine Radio Times, Barrowman revealed hurt feelings about the decision to move networks from BBC Two to BBC One and limit the season to five episodes:
[P]ersonally, I felt like we were being punished. Other shows move from BBC Three and Two to One and they don't get cut. So why are we? It felt like every time we moved we had to prove ourselves.
Torchwood producer Russell T Davies explained the choice as less a punishment and more of a creative challenge:
Part of us thought, 'we could do another 13 episodes, we've learnt how to do that, and the second series was better than the first'. But why not change it?
Someone should introduce Davies and Barrowman; it sounds like they'd have a lot to talk about.
Reminder, for those who do not have cable or get the BBC-America find someone who does have it and ask that they tape or find a way to record it for you. Because this one looks like the best ever Torchwood short season ever.
The series will be presented July 20th through July 24th on BBC-America.
This is probably some of the best Science Fiction/Horror type of genre you can ever come across for a series. Seems like the Brits know how to mix the two genres as well as keep them apart (Hear that Alan), I will also admit the first season was very uneven as they were getting their feet wet, but if you ever get a chance to watch the 13 episode second season in its entirety be ready to be amused, amazed, scared and entertained by the one hour episodes. PT. I know if you got into the series you would enjoy it as well. Bro, we are similar in many ways and I know you do love a good sound set of shows once you get past the hype. The lead is very openly gay most of the time, but he also enjoys good looking women as well no matter where they are from (shade of Captain Kirk there). 8-)
