TV on Christmas Days in years gone by

[DrWho]

Being at a loose end, I decided to power up the Tardis and visit London Earth in 10 year intervals to see what people were watching on BBC.  It was 4.16pm and I started in 1933. 

1933. Try as I might I couldn't actually find anyone watching a TV on Christmas Day 1933, despite doing a full sweep with my EMOD electro magnetic output detector.

1943 Hooray, a TV!  However, it was switched off 

1953 Well What a lot of differences 10 years makes.  TVs everywhere. Well the old EMOD was positively blinking but on further inspection far from every household had one and most people were huddled round the radio.  However, at 4.16pm on 25th December they had on Andy Pandy.  A puppet character in striped pyjamas and a little bear.  Needless to say, it was in black and white.  There didn't appear to be an ITV.

1963 OK, I expected a lot more.  A lot more TVs but not that much on tbh.  At 4.16pm on BBC it was a test card with some different shades of grey bands.  Ho hum.  ITV had a Carols Service.  Nice.

1973 The old EMOD went into over drive.  Nearly everyone has TV and some in colour!  They're watching Billy Smart's Circus!  Over on ITV there's a pantomime of Babes in the Wood.  Christmas TV has arrived!

1983 Whoopee a film!  Treasure Island.  On the other side it's Jason and the Argonauts.  Virtually all TVs are in colour now, especially with all that Yupee money about.

1993 It's Films again!  The afternoon blockbuster is Back to the Future III with Michael J Fox.  The competition meanwhile, are showing The Neverending Story.

2003 The BBC are taking a break from late afternoon films and instead are showing Outtake TV, a programme about Bloopers and scenery that has a life of its own.  The other side have a James Bond film on - Tomorrow Never Dies.  I think ITV win that one.

2013 So we're up to date.  BBC had Toy Story III and ITV showed a cartoon called Tangled.

2023 BBC - 50 Shades of Gray the movie.  ITV - The Sound of Music

2033 Hologramatic TV is here.  Both sides are showing the King's address to the Commonwealth which is now shown at 4pm.

[wjp666]

I knew we were in trouble this year when I noticed the Xmas edition of the Radio Times featured a great big picture of The Snowman And The Snow Dog... which was LAST YEARS main show.

[smurfboy]

I think what I missed this year on TV was comedy. I found the Birds of a Feather 1992 Christmas special on Drama and my parents and I loved it; however,  I knew it practically by heart because I used to have it on VHS with the Only Fools and Horses, 2 Point 4 Children and Waiting for God specials from the same year, which I used to watch over and over. The only sitcoms I can think of that even got Christmas specials this year were Mrs Brown's Boys and Outnumbered (and don't get me started on how I loathe the former), unless you count the Open All Hours revival, which was a nice slice of nostalgia, but didn't appear to have a plot of any kind. Is sitcom just a dead format in the UK now?

[wjp666]

For me, the UK sitcom was crucified by the writers of My Family 15 years ago, though it had been flailing for years. The only brit comedy shows I will watch now are the ones Gervais churns out, though I accept he's not for everybody and they are not what I would describe as standard sitcoms.

And I know it's tradition - plus I adore them personally, I really do - but Morcambe and Wise repeats every Xmas is getting a little silly now. Why not just shove The Great Escape on as well and do it properly?

And I know this is an obvious criticism but who really wants to watch morbidity on Eastenders on Xmas day? (Or is this just me not understanding this because it still is insanely popular.)

The only mildly interesting things I caught this year was The Muppets/Gaga special (which focussed to much on the latter for my tastes), the interesting alternative Christmas Speech on C4, and Arthur Christmas, which I caught on sky Xmas eve which I simply ADORED. Can't remember the last really excellent family Christmas film I saw.

Anyways, it's January 6th now so I'll shut up for another year now.

[oldspice]

I like comedy, but I have to be able to relate to it. I adored Grandma's House and Jam & Jerusalem but they were short-lived. I have dabbled with Outnumbered and Mrs Brown's Boys but do not watch either regularly.

I agree with your comments about EastEnders Wjp. It's a miserable, negative bag of tripe that cannot compete in any way with the gentle humour, pathos and often nonsense of Coronation Street.

[wjp666]

I think Outnumbered has got the right idea but the kids are all too annoying for me to watch properly. I haver yet to bother with Mrs. Brown, though everyone I know raves about it.

At this point I would like to recommend the Alan Partridge movie to everyone. Saw it at the cinema and again the other day on disc and can truly say it is what British comedy is all about.

[wjp666]

So this time a month ago it was Xmas Eve. Wow. Seems like ages ago.

[oldspice]

When I was walking to work about two weeks ago, even though it was not quite light, I realised the birds were singing. Not exactly chirping merrily, but singing nevertheless. each morning, it has been a little lighter when I leave for work (about 7.30am) and each morning the birdsong is stronger. Although Christmas is just one month behind us, spring seems so much closer!

[wjp666]

Just need to tell that to Jack Frost now.