Latest musings via Twitter

[almostwitty]

These were my twittered thoughts over the last 24 hours...

• 16:49 Note to self: throwing a heavy suitcase off a fourth floor balcony onto grass makes a sound like a distant bomb going off. #
• 20:31 Best. Doctor Who episode. ever. Well, one of them. #

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Comments

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I know how to bittorrent, but I've recently adopted a policy of not stealing stuff off the internet - well, not until it's broadcast in the US, that is. ;)

[almostwitty]

Well, you're not stealing in the sense that you'd watch it on Sci-Fi anyway. It's the digital equivalent of getting a friend to mail you a tape across the ocean, which is how we used to do things back in the old days... this method is more environmentally-friendly and better ;)

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I have my reasons for not pinching it off the 'net until it's broadcast in the US - not the least of which having to do with the fact that Sci-Fi will hack 6 - 8 minutes out per eps for running time/advertisments and, besides, the show isn't *shot* for ad breaks and thus wedgeing 'em in there is a bit jarring, to say the least.

The other reasons are mostly to do with bouts of puppy eyes from assorted DW writers and a hell of a guilt-trip from the big cheeses at BFA. ;)

So I'll complain and moan and mutter, but I can manage the wait. I managed to do it with S2 of Torchwood, but I'll admit that it's MUCH harder to resist the temptation with DW. ;)

[almostwitty]

They still hack bits out of it? I was under the impression that new Who lasted 45 minutes precisely so they *could* put ad breaks in it for commercial reasons.

So hang on, DW writers and the like would much rather you wait until it airs on Sci-Fi *before* you (ahem) 'borrow' the original UK broadcast? That doesn't make much sense ... sounds like the guy who's still boycotting the Jubilee Line 25 years on because he doesn't like the Monarchy. Or me boycotting Tiscali...

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that new Who lasted 45 minutes precisely so they *could* put ad breaks in it

I wouldn't be surprised at that, but I *would* be surprised if they're writing it and shooting it with those commercial breaks in mind. It's pretty easy to discern, of course, and I've not noticed it in S1 - S3. Those cliff-hanger-ish endings every three and a half minutes get pretty obvious, after a while...

But yeah, DW was cut for running time, although I'm hearing rumors that S4 won't be, either by Sci-Fi or by BBCA (when it goes into reruns, there) so maybe things are getting better. A lot of the US fans have been complaining about the cuts and, heck, maybe the network's realized that's precisely the sort of thing that has the fans running after torrents...

Torchwood, go figure, was cut, a LOT. They swore it was just for running time, not content but, gawsh, funny how those running-time cuts kept coinciding with the more "risque" content...

Meanwhile, said writers don't know I'm pinching it after the US airing... Well, I think they suspect I am. :)

But I record the thing on my DVR, too, so the network gets the ratings data. Granted, I'm not doing the bit that's most important to them - ie, watching the commercials - but I haven't seriously watched a commercial since... well, since we got the DVR!

And, of course, one buys the DVDs. When particularly crazed (and flush with cash) I get both the US and the UK versions (the UK versions, along with an earlier release date, invariably have much nicer cover art, imho) so they get their money's worth out of me... ;)

[almostwitty]

New Who is a tad breathless. I hardly ever get the time to look at my watch in some episodes!

Actually, I think viewing figures on the whole are what's important to a network. As long as you're the right demographic with lots of spare income to fling around. As long as you can be "said" to be watching the adverts, of course...