Disappearing Talent For Television

A rather sad day for telly enthusiasts, as it's been announced that
TalkbackThames as a brand will disapear from next year,
trading as Fremantle UK from the 1st of January 2012.

It will be sad to see the Thames name disappear from television
screens, despite it being a shadow of it's former-self and with the
days of production company idents before programmes long gone,
I heavily doubt many people will immediately associate The Apprentice,
and The X Factor as Talkback Thames programmes on first thought.

Not least because the above examples are co-productions with
other companies but that's another story.

Oh hang on, as I type it appears that the brands will remain,
but Talkback and Thames will be split.

Straying slightly, another subject that's also drawn up a similar
onslaught of nostalgia cynics is the axing of Adrian Chiles and
Christine Bleakley from Daybreak.

In no way am I defending the outgoing hosts, but I will be on the warpath
the next time I see a "Bring back Roland Rat!" comment.

Whilst the grey sack may have saved TV-AM some near 30 years ago,
it's worth bearing in mind that Channel 4's Big Breakfast brought him
back around this time 10 years ago when they were struggling (a loose
sense of the word) in the ratings, only for the puppet to shortly disapear
without anyone noticing.

There always appears to be a conglomerate of individuals that want
something from their past brought back, and when it does get resurrected
they either complain that it's not the same, or take very little notice
when the move proves unsuccessful.

What more do they want, cans of Quatro for the full viewing experience?

Fellow telly enthusiast Stephen Howie recently referred to this as
"not knowing it's been axed".

Recent examples being Challenge TV's ill-fated revival of Bullseye
as hosted by Dave Spikey, and if they're not careful, the umpteenth revival Blockbusters, the rights of which are now owned by Fremantle surprise surprise.

There's nothing wrong with the odd wallow in nostalgia (and some of
my own have been very odd) but there's being nostalgic, and then there's
being a miserable old bastard.

Probably too late for me to change my spots.