Torchwood and the CBC...

[fajrdrako]

You might recall that back in September, I wrote a letter to the CBC objecting to their cuts in Torchwood (e.g., Jack's mention of having been pregnant, Owen's kiss with the guy in the bar) and accusing them of homophobia.

Thought you might like to see the reply they sent.

Dear Elizabeth,

We received your letter in National Audience Relations where we review written communication for CBC TV and Radio.

After reading your letter, we understand that you believe some scenes were edited from the television show "Torchwood" because of "homophobia".

This is not the editing practice at CBC TV.

The CBC does not edit programs because of personal opinions. Shows are edited to meet time criteria after the contents meet CRTC standards.

During the time that Torchwood aired on CBC TV, the show enjoyed favourable response from viewers but it was not renewed for another season.

If you are seeing current episodes on television, it will be through another broadcaster.

Your comments are noted in a weekly audience reaction report that is shared with CBC producers and executives across Canada.

Maza Molar
Communications Officer
CBC AUDIENCE RELATIONS
P.O.BOX 500. STN A
TORONTO. ON M5W 1E6

I think the reply speaks for itself - they don't have an explanation as to why they cut those bits with such unerring consistency.

Really, SPACE has treated Torchwood so much better. I wish they could show Doctor Who.

Comments

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love the consequences of budget constrainment?

[iclysdale.livejournal.com]

I just love the scare quotes around "homophobia".

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee - that amused me, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love the consequences of budget constrainment?

Seems to me they've been chipping away at the CBC for decades. It becomes a little more generic all the time. Emasculated. (If that isn't too sexist a word.)

[editrx.livejournal.com]

I find it fascinating that the CBC is saying that Torchwood didn't get renewed due to low viewership.

I know that BBC-America's Torchwood viewership was apparently the highest viewership of any show BBC-America has ever shown. I find it questionable that CBC had such opposite results -- but who knows, maybe it did. If so, that's a shame.

And the scare quotes around homophobia are ridiculous. The cuts were unreasonable; time constraints aren't quite so ... pointed.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Did you use the word? If so, the quotes might indicate that they're quoting from your comment.

I'm wondering about the scheduling of the finale episode of Doctor Who for this Friday evening. The on-line schedule shows it going from 9 to 10 p.m., but according to the Wikipedia entry for that episode, it's extra-long: 65 minutes actual content, not counting commercials which would probably take it to about 90 minutes. I sent a query to the CBC on Sunday, but haven't had a reply yet.

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

Wait-- they cut the reference to Jack's unborn child? They're anti-family!

[dewline.livejournal.com]

There are synonyms as polite, but equally terrible in their honesty. I might use any one of them, perhaps, were it not for the fact of so many still working like the most loyal of sled dogs to keep the institution running.

Rumour is, there's worse to come. (http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/2008/12/conservatives-planning-attack-on-cbc.html)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Faugh.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

they cut the reference to Jack's unborn child? They're anti-family!

So they are! I am shocked, I tell you.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Well, there's also, on that same URL, the e-dresses with which to keep hammering at those who might choose to make it worse. Best we remind'em that we're watching.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

My guess is they'll leave it in the one-hour time slot with ads, and chop it to pieces. The episode to start with has a lot of content and seemed rushed and crammed even at its original 65 minutes. I'm not sure it will even be coherent if it's cut to, say, the CBC's customary 45 to 50 minutes. (Am I being optimistic there? Is that what it usually is?)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I find it all questionable and perplexing but it seems clear to me that the CBC doesn't particularly value either Torchwood or Doctor Who. They've sent Torchwood over to SPACE now, which is a good thing for both Torchwood and SPACE. They continue to move Doctor Who around and pre-empt it and delay it to show long, long after it has aired in the UK - and even after it has aired in the States. They they air it rather too late in the evening for children to watch it (at 9 p.m.) and they cut the longer episodes - looks as if they're going to cut "Journey's End" to about 50 minutes.

Annoying, in my opinion.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Good point. Communication can do no harm.

[editrx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, SciFi and BBC-America both show Doctor Who after kids are in bed, which is the biggest mistake they could make. Then they wonder why the viewership is lower than they predicted. DOH.

Children's. Show. (Which adults love, too.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yeah, SciFi and BBC-America both show Doctor Who after kids are in bed, which is the biggest mistake they could make.

I don't understand that. Do they think it's just a show for adults? It's one of the few shows on television anywhere that plays perfectly for young and old alike, and they don't think to capitalize on that? Stupid. In the UK, part of the fun of Doctor Who for a lot of adults is remembering watching it (and being scared but fascinated) as a kid. We don't have that. We should start cultivating it for the next generation!

The did show old episodes of classic Doctor Who on our BBC Kids-Canada station, but they showed them at 1 a.m. Makes no sense to me at all.

[peterwilliams.livejournal.com]

Did they leave the kisses with Ianto in from Cyberwoman and End of Days or were those butchered out as well?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't know, because I didn't watch that - I should go back, see if I still have it recorded, and check it out. I was upset enough that they'd cut so many scenes (and had so many ads, and so many animated logos on the screen) that I stopped watching it from on-air broadcasts.

[bunsen-h.livejournal.com]

Two phone calls later (since they never replied to my E-mail nor to my first phone call): yes, they're going to chop 20 minutes out of the episode for broadcast.

Incoherent, yes.

Do you happen to have a recording of an uncut broadcast? If so, may I impose upon you? I don't think I want to even try to follow the hacked-up CBC version.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

they're going to chop 20 minutes out of the episode for broadcast.


That is going to make no sense whatsoever! There just isn't 20 minutes worth of cuttable, extraneous material.

Do you happen to have a recording of an uncut broadcast? If so, may I impose upon you?

Yes, of course. I bet I have other local friends who'd like the see the uncut version - maybe I should invite a few people over.

I don't think I want to even try to follow the hacked-up CBC version.

Very wise.

[elebridith]

Interesting. Very interesting. They just don't say *anything*, just fidget around it... *frowns*
And not renewed... aha... no, no homophobia at all. Nope. Nothing. *growls*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

They just don't say *anything*, just fidget around it...

Yup. They deny homophobia (or any opinions at all) and then imply that if there is homophobia, it's all the CRTC's fault... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRTC) which is nonsense.