‘Does Red Dwarf deserve a comeback?’ News Posted by Jonathan Capps on 2nd September 2008, 17:25 Better get used to this sort of crap, everyone. Once things *really* start kicking off with this new Dwarf content we’re going to be absolutely swimming in mis-informed gob shites claiming they “grew out of” Red Dwarf years ago because it’s just about knob gags and curry, or something.
The dodgy effects and rubbish sets were tiny flies in a huge pot of comedic ointment – for me it was always about the ideas and the brilliant chemistry of the cast. Isn’t that the Doctor Who defence?
For someone who got over Red Dwarf a long time ago he’s paid very close attention to the various details that have gone out since 2000. Which is good, but it makes me wonder if the disparaging tone isn’t more for the readers…
The best bit is “What’s more, they’re still making Red Dwarf calendars” nevermind all 13 dvd’s released since 2002 the calendars are way more important that tells me that this site was one of the sources fot that article go us!
For someone who got over Red Dwarf a long time ago he?s paid very close attention to the various details that have gone out since 2000. Which is good, but it makes me wonder if the disparaging tone isn?t more for the readers? Well, he mentioned he ‘used to love Red Dwarf’, so he obviously has reason to have followed the various goings-on purely from a nostalgic point of view, if nothing else. But I think perhaps it’s the same thing I’ve seen from fans a lot around here and in the newsgroup: expecting the worst so as not to set themselves up for possible disappointment. Frankly, I find that attitude a bit frustrating, assuming the worst before ever giving something a chance, but given my less-than-steller opinion of the last two series, I’d be lying if I denied keeping my own expectations low. Still really looking forward to new Dwarf, though! :D
I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again: whilst you certainly can’t accuse *everybody* who says this kind of stuff of doing this, I’m sure that some people who “grew out” of Red Dwarf really don’t like the kind of person they were back when they were fanatical about it. Not because of Dwarf itself – just other things about them. They’re embarrassed about what they used to be like. So they transfer their dislike of their former selves onto the show.
> I think perhaps it?s the same thing I?ve seen from fans a lot around here and in the newsgroup The key word there is ‘fans’. I’m honestly not convinced people who disregard the show as being ‘for teens’, and see it as a knob-joke-based relic of their immaturity, would be paying regular attention to the RD website. I think the rest of that article has a more optimistic tone – one that ahs to be hidden because of what ‘everyone else’ will think. I think the truth lies in the way people come to believe a perception. Men Behaving Badly hardly featured the laddish behaviour people believe it did, Queer As Folk had way less sex in it than you remember, and Red Dwarf wasn’t only about penis jokes and the word ‘smeg’. You only have to look at the ‘consensus’ over the last couple of series. People (on both sides) think it’s all one way because of the groups they spend time with, in life and online, but the reviews at that time (and the ratings) tell a more balanced story. When enough people get together and say they agree on a fact, the facts themselves cease to matter. It’s how religions get started… :-)
I only have a problem with the first paragraph (which, as mentioned above, leads you to wonder why, if he’s so indifferent to the show, he’s prepared to write a blog entry about its future). >Naylor let the character comedy slip and started to take the science fiction too seriously. An interesting remark, but wrong considering the stories in VIII. I certainly believe that Red Dwarf got far too heavily up its own arse in later years (how many sitcoms have 3 part stories that feature minor characters that haven’t been seen in 9 years and only the core fanbase will remember?) but I don’t think the show could be called “hard” Sci-fi past VII. The article doesn’t really make a point, it just asks a question and then gives us a history lesson of failed attempts to make the movie. Does Red Dwarf deserve a comeback? Not if that comeback is 4 30 minute clip-shows on Dave. No show deserves that. Sorry.
“Ron Grant”, there. People were saying similar things about Doctor Who between 1989 and 2005, you know. Then it became the biggest thing in the world ever and the same hacks who’d spent years sneering about “wobbly sets” were falling over themselves to write articles declaring how they’d always loved it. Anyway, we’re used to this kind of thing with Dwarf. Fuck ’em, frankly.
There’s nothing original here. He’s got all his information from that article in ‘The Sun’ and a (very) brief glance at TOS. As for the ‘clip-show’ comment, I’ve not heard that from any source other then The Sun (unless I’ve missed something …?), and I’m not likely to take that source at face value. I’m reserving judgement until the official announcement. All the stuff about growing out of it…. I went through a stage – post VI – when I thought I’d done the same, and it was literally only about a year ago that I started to watch RD again*. But now I’m even more of a fan than I ever was, and in a way I appreciate it more due to the fact that shows even remotely as good are few and far between these days. *needless to say that I only saw VII and VIII for the first time then, which, to be honest, I could have lived without.
I think we can put up with the tone of this article because at least it mentions Dwarf coming back. Whether Daniel Martin really is/was a Dwarf fan it simply wouldn’t do for him to be pro-nerdy sci-fi sitcom in a GUARDIAN blog! It’s fairly unfortunate that all he mentions is the Dave ‘clip show’ specials, but for all we know they ARE happening. Something that makes me think they are is a cryptic comment made by teh Wellardz on the webboard where he basically said just because the DVD audience has been given all these docos and has been reminiscing since 2002 doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be worthwhile to bring some of that to TV for the non-doco viewer. I would be all in favour of the Dave specials (hopefully they would play like the Smeg Ups/Outs videos/Just The Smegs DVD) as long as we knew we were getting a seperate all-new episode as well.
>I would be all in favour of the Dave specials (hopefully they would play like the Smeg Ups/Outs videos/Just The Smegs DVD) as long as we knew we were getting a seperate all-new episode as well. I agree entirely. I don’t care if we get clipshows, or best-ofs, or even a 30 minute special episode compiled from all the different times a character says smeg…as long as it leads to an actual, genuine revival next. Dave (that article seems convinced that it’s going to be on Dave, but has that actually been confirmed? I could have missed a post somewhere…) can do whatever it thinks it has to do to interest viewers…and even if it doesn’t interest me I’ll be perfectly in support as long as it leads to proper Dwarf down the line.
I cant wait for an offical announcement, the mounting speculation is giving me a bad feeling. I cant see at the moment how a new sketch inter mingled with clips show is going to enhance Dwarfs prospects in truth, which seems to be a popular sceculation at the moment. Everyone has an opinion on wether it should be brought back or not, some sighting that the money should be spent on new comedy. Well, there is new comedy about and rightly so, but that doesn’t alter the fact that there’s more than enough room for re-visiting the older stuff as well. The rise of ‘Dave’ as a channel proves that viewers have a craving for the past so why shouldn’t a proven formulae be given a come back? I agree with John that some things are associated with times in our lives, often in the negative, but my circle of friends (those that like Dwarf) were well past their spotty teenage angst years when Dwarf arrived. Likewise, many youngsters around have only ever seen Dwarf in repeats and via DVD’s, so perhaps these fans will make up in numbers for those that look back in anger. A friend (jokingly) suggested the other day having read the rumours that maybe the cast were only being re-assembled to see out the old Dwarf and introduce a new younger cast aimed at taking the show on. Whilst a joke, this still makes more sense than some of the suggestions being banded around, maybe.. I also read on the above site that Martin Clunes is going to star in a new Reggie Perrin remake…Oh Dear. But like everything, I guess we shouldn’t knock it without trying it first..
Mr Monkey said: ‘It?s fairly unfortunate that all he mentions is the Dave ?clip show? specials, but for all we know they ARE happening. Something that makes me think they are is a cryptic comment made by teh Wellardz on the webboard where he basically said just because the DVD audience has been given all these docos and has been reminiscing since 2002 doesn?t mean it wouldn?t be worthwhile to bring some of that to TV for the non-doco viewer.’ I think Andrew said that this wasn’t connected to the current ‘big news’ debate and was in reply to another posters comments, but I think a few people picked up on this. It would get the docos out to a bigger audience and as a taster for new things to come it would be worthwhile. As a stand alone venture though, it would be a downer for the DVD buying fans. I’m clinging to the Doug Naylor working on ‘something’ angle myself..
There?s nothing original here. He?s got all his information from that article in ?The Sun? and a (very) brief glance at TOS. As for the ?clip-show? comment, I?ve not heard that from any source other then The Sun (unless I?ve missed something ??), and I?m not likely to take that source at face value. And even the Sun said there would be a mixture of new stuff with the old.
Thank you Steve – absolutely. > a cryptic comment made by teh Wellardz on the webboard Just before everyone gets sand in their vagina about this ‘cryptic’ comment – it said this: “Unrelated to the coming news – this isn’t meant to indicate anything – it should be mentioned that most people haven’t SEEN the documentaries.” It was a response to a specific point – that, “Another retrospective surely won’t be able to offer anything new” – and the word UNRELATED should be a giveaway. Because it’s TOTALLY UNRELATED. I’ll say it again – lots of the bits are right, nobody’s got the whole thing correct, in print or online, news will come soon. But if it’s even close to the same project that was on the cards when I left GNP, it’s an extremely interesting and surprising piece of work…
Clip-show specials are all well and good, but they repeat RD several times a week on Dave anyway, so I can’t really see the point. Or how that would attract a bigger/new audience, which surely would be the only reason for doing it in the first place. But I have to agree with what’s already been said – as long as we get an all-new ep too they can make as many clip shows as they like.
If Craig’s break from Corrie from mid-September til the start of November? now let’s say they use the first 2 weeks rehearsing and getting back in to characters, then that would leave then 1 month for filming, which if they record in the old way with audience would take place on a Thursday/Friday. Now I can’t remember but did they used to film one whole show (audience sections) on one night? If so then that would tie up with the 4 recording blocks, but if they are recording links to scenes, ala the Smeg Ups, then would they need such a long recording schedule?
Ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh fingers crossed this project hasn’t changed. IO9 is having a moan as well and most of the commenters are following suit: http://io9.com/5044050/what-is-going-on-with-the-red-dwarf-comeback Which is dismaying because they have a massive readership. At least this suggests that they care… right? Anyway, may I suggest that it can’t hurt to say some positive things in response on these blogs, if you’re into that sort of thing.
>IO9 is having a moan as well and most of the commenters are following suit: http://io9.com/5044050/what-is-going-on-with-the-red-dwarf-comeback And they cite their sources as Daniel Martin and The Sun. *weary sigh*
Blimey, from that IO9 article I’ve just seen a quotation from the Daniel Martin piece that shows just how fucking clueless he is : It sounds a lot like those special episodes of 80s US sitcoms where they’d run out of budget and the characters would be forced to sit round a table and reminisce about the events of the series. Yes, Daniel. The clip show (yes, there’s even a name for it) is a phenomenon entirely limited to ’80s US sitcoms. It doesn’t have any kind of tradition or history outside of that decade. No.
> But if it?s even close to the same project that was on the cards when I left GNP, it?s an extremely interesting and surprising piece of work? A remake of Tongue Tied featuring a Chemical Brothers remix?
