Only last month I was writing here of how film critics were becoming increasingly endangered species, with some 28 losing their jobs in America in the last two years alone and not being replaced. Now a worrying trend is starting to emerge over here for TV critics, too. The Evening Standard, which once prided itself on fielding one of the most acerbic in the business, Victor Lewis-Smith, no longer runs a review column of the previous night’s viewing highlights (or lowlights); and now the Daily Telegraph won’t anymore, either, from next week.
James Walton signed off his final column yesterday by saying, “The time has come to bid you a sort of farewell - because this is my last daily TV review. From Monday the Telegraph is redesigning its TV pages in a way that means this space will be occupied by more features and interviews.”
Some of his loyal readers have already posted comments to the online version of his last column, that show that not everyone thinks this is the way to go - but could be proof of the way things are going.
As someone called Penny writes, “The loss of a daily TV column and one so well written is not only deeply disappointing, but also sad in that TV, for all its weaknesses, is thought to be less culturally important than opera, or is the DT getting rid of that too?”
Another, Patricia Lydall, notes that, “James Walton’s column was always one of the first I turned to in the D.T. and I loved to have my opinions of the previous evening’s programmes either confirmed or totally disagreed with by him. I have kept complaining to friends that the D.T. is fast turning into a magazine type paper and unfortunately this seems to be the case.” One more, who identifies herself as Sarah, says, “I never read ‘features and interviews’ because they’re nothing but free publicity. If The Telegraph is dumping the tv review, it’s making a mistake, but one very typical of our times: get rid of the journalist you have to pay for, replace with reworked press releases and self-promoting puff-pieces. How sad.”
I hardly ever watch television since I’m out every evening, so I never read TV features or interviews, either. But I read veteran Guardian TV critic Nancy Banks-Smith whenever she appears, simply for the writing. Most of those who read a theatre review won’t see the show concerned, either; as Ian Shuttleworth commented in a reply to a recent Guardian blog on the role of theatre reviews, “Just do the math - how many of a national paper’s or magazine’s readership, let alone the global reach of the Web (or the FT!), are even going to have the chance to see a production that’s reviewed? It’s not about telling people whether to go or not to go; it’s not about advising them; it’s not even about saying whether it’s good or bad, although that will arise naturally and organically out of what it is about, which is telling people what it’s like: this gives them the information to enable them to make their own decisions if they’re in a position to go and see it and are considering doing so, and it keeps them briefed if not.”
In Simon Gray’s play Quartermaine’s Terms (about to be revived for a national tour), there’s a blissful line in which a character says he always reads book reviews, because “I like to keep abreast of my ignorance”. And though, of course, we should all read more, watch more TV programmes and go to more theatre, there’s a limit - even for me! So reviews are an invaluable (and informed) way of keeping in touch with what’s going on. And as I head off to New York this morning for a week, I’ll be reading the reviews of what I’m missing while I’m away even more avidly than usual!
Greetings from "someone called Penny"!
The loss of TV review columns is hardly on the WWF's extinction list, but I for one enjoy immensely reading someone elses opinion about something I may have watched last night, and even their opinion about something I didn't, as in these heady days of iPlayer and 4OD, I 'm likely to be able to catch it, or avoid it as the case may be!
I appreciate reviews; film,book, opera, theatre; for their own sake. Charlie Brooker and Grace Dent are two of the most entertaining writers around, I frequently spout tea in fountains when reading their columns, despite not having watched the reality TV of which Charlie is fond or the soaps that Grace reviews. Well crafted reviews are a pleasure to read whether or not you agree with them. Nancy Banks Smith is a gem, I agree, her review of The Mary Whitehouse film on TV a few nights ago was tempered and improved by her own recollections of the protagonists and was very readable.
I must say it was a surprise to see my comment nestling in your blog tonight, the world sometimes seems like a very small place.
Penny Greene
The idea of a 'good film' for film critics I think, is something completely different to the majority of public. Maybe thats why they are in less demand.
I'm directing the tour of Quartermaine's Terms but i can't in any of the many versions find the line you refer to! Which text are you quoting??
HB