Fiver's screenings of Out of the Blue in the UK finally came to an end on Wednesday, meaning that the twists, turns, shocks and great storylines are now all over for the 'second generation' of British viewers.
With the show having been relegated to an early morning slot weeks earlier, it would have been easy for it to finish without anybody noticing or caring. However, the dramatic finale has once again left viewers desperate for more.
Since Wednesday, there's been a flurry of new signatures on the Save Out of the Blue Petition and Out of the Blue Second Series Petition, and their totals now stand at 325 and 432 respectively. If you haven't yet signed the petitions, please do so as it only takes a couple of minutes to add your support and it certainly can't do any harm. Additionally, if you have any family members or friends who enjoyed the show, encourage them to sign too!
Another thing worth doing is contacting the BBC to complain about their treatment of Out of the Blue as it was their fault that the show never built up an audience last year and the reason that there currently won't be a second series for the dramatic cliffhanger of episode 130 to be resolved.
The many comments on the petitions are worth a read because they demonstrate just how this show managed to grab viewers and get them completely hooked, even if only a few people were watching. However, Australian readers should be aware that the petition comments do contain spoilers.
Meanwhile, people have even been writing in to Teletext to find out what's going on with the show. Read the comments here.
Fans may now be split on whether it is worth keeping up the fight for more Out of the Blue. Certainly, it would be very surprising if more episodes were commissioned. However, it takes so little time to make your voice heard to the people who make the decisions, so here at this blog we're still encouraging people to do what they can.
Important links:
> Sign the Save Out of the Blue Petition
> Sign the Out of the Blue Second Series Petition
> Complain to the BBC
> Contact Five/Fiver to praise Out of the Blue
Showing posts with label bbc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bbc. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Important warning for Aussie viewers
As expected, Out of the Blue's shocking Episode 62, which sees the murderer caught out, is now live on Ten's website and available to watch - a week before it airs on TV.
However, we're advising fans NOT to try and watch it online unless you want the outcome of the mystery to be spoiled. The front page of Ten's Out of the Blue website now explictly reveals who the killer is - with the identity revealed in the synopsis.
Additionally, all of the Australian TV guide synopsises we've seen for next week's episode also reveal who the killer is.
Our advice is to try to hold out until next weekend when it airs on TV, avoiding Ten's website and TV guides.
The BBC was also a nuisance for spoilery synopsises when they aired Out of the Blue last year. However, even they managed to be vague when it came to the murderer reveal episode.
However, we're advising fans NOT to try and watch it online unless you want the outcome of the mystery to be spoiled. The front page of Ten's Out of the Blue website now explictly reveals who the killer is - with the identity revealed in the synopsis.
Additionally, all of the Australian TV guide synopsises we've seen for next week's episode also reveal who the killer is.
Our advice is to try to hold out until next weekend when it airs on TV, avoiding Ten's website and TV guides.
The BBC was also a nuisance for spoilery synopsises when they aired Out of the Blue last year. However, even they managed to be vague when it came to the murderer reveal episode.
Friday, 24 July 2009
BBC axes Out of the Blue website
Bad news for fans of the BBC's Out of the Blue website. Without warning, they've got rid of the whole thing and replaced it with a basic page showing the episode synopsises and nothing else.
The site was never the greatest, since the BBC didn't bother to update it from about a week after the show launched and they decided to give up on Out of the Blue completely. However, it did have useful character biographies and an exclusive behind the scenes video featuring interviews with the cast.
Clips relating to Poppy and Peta from the video are still on Youtube courtesy of the petapoppy video channel, however the rest of the interviews may now be lost completely.
The site was never the greatest, since the BBC didn't bother to update it from about a week after the show launched and they decided to give up on Out of the Blue completely. However, it did have useful character biographies and an exclusive behind the scenes video featuring interviews with the cast.
Clips relating to Poppy and Peta from the video are still on Youtube courtesy of the petapoppy video channel, however the rest of the interviews may now be lost completely.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
More reaction to last night
Well the aftermath of last night's murderer reveal is certainly making waves among the show's characters, but what about the show's Fiver fans? Here's some more responses that we've found online. As usual, it's close to impossible to find any criticism of the show from those who actually take the time to watch it.
Supersoapgirl, on Digital Spy: "I've been really shocked by just how good this is when you get into it. I've only been watching since it started on Fiver but now I'm hooked! It'll be interesting to see how it progresses now the mystery is over. It's a shame it hasn't been recommissioned as I think it had a lot of potential."
misspeg, on Digital Spy: "They really need to rethink recommissioning it. [...] I think they should keep an eye on viewing figures towards the end of the series and advertise it more! If they'd advertised some of the more recent storylines then I think more people might have picked up on it and thought OH maybe this is getting better."
Pierced Musie, on Back to the Bay: "Wow... the acting completely put some of the Home and Away cast to shame. [...] Awesome moments."
Luke, petition supporter: "I can't believe I missed this fantastic soap on the Beeb! I really hope Five recommission another series!"
Ruth, petition supporter: "It's the best show in a long time."
Sam, petition supporter: "Please please add another series! This is a great show, but it was NEVER marketed properly so most of my friends who love Home and Away, and who would have loved this show, never watched it!"
As usual, we encourage anyone who feels the same way to express their views directly (but politely) to the people who count - the BBC, Five and Ten. Emails are great too but bear in mind that physical letters often show more passion/commitment because they take a little bit more effort.
Thanks for reading the blog and keep visiting.
Supersoapgirl, on Digital Spy: "I've been really shocked by just how good this is when you get into it. I've only been watching since it started on Fiver but now I'm hooked! It'll be interesting to see how it progresses now the mystery is over. It's a shame it hasn't been recommissioned as I think it had a lot of potential."
misspeg, on Digital Spy: "They really need to rethink recommissioning it. [...] I think they should keep an eye on viewing figures towards the end of the series and advertise it more! If they'd advertised some of the more recent storylines then I think more people might have picked up on it and thought OH maybe this is getting better."
Pierced Musie, on Back to the Bay: "Wow... the acting completely put some of the Home and Away cast to shame. [...] Awesome moments."
Luke, petition supporter: "I can't believe I missed this fantastic soap on the Beeb! I really hope Five recommission another series!"
Ruth, petition supporter: "It's the best show in a long time."
Sam, petition supporter: "Please please add another series! This is a great show, but it was NEVER marketed properly so most of my friends who love Home and Away, and who would have loved this show, never watched it!"
As usual, we encourage anyone who feels the same way to express their views directly (but politely) to the people who count - the BBC, Five and Ten. Emails are great too but bear in mind that physical letters often show more passion/commitment because they take a little bit more effort.
Thanks for reading the blog and keep visiting.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
A year ago today...
Well it's been one year since Out of the Blue launched on BBC One on April 28, 2008. As most people will know, it made a decent debut with 1.2m viewers but steadily dropped to around 600,000 viewers over the next nine days, prompting the BBC to shift it to BBC Two and thus killing the show off from pretty much day one.
One year on, and the impact of that decision is still being felt. Many people regard Out of the Blue as a turkey, when in fact it was a million times better than Neighbours and Home and Away and just needed a fair chance to prove itself.
The loss of the BBC's backing also put Australia's Ten network off the show, perhaps partly due to financial reasons (ie reluctance to take over financial responsibility for the series if it became popular). For that reason, we've seen appalling timeslots and abysmal treatment in Australia, with the show now running just once a week at 5.30pm Sundays despite building up a decent fanbase at 10.30pm which was growing all the time.
The latest news about the show is that, after this week's murder-related bombshells, it's being taken out of its 7.30pm slot on Fiver. From next week, the schedule will be as follows:
Fiver
6.45am Out of the Blue
4.05pm Out of the Blue
Fiver+1
7.45am Out of the Blue
5.05pm Out of the Blue
This new schedule won't come into effect properly until Tuesday 5th May. On Monday 4th, only the 6.45am showing will air - a repeat of Friday's episode. The logic behind it seems to be that, from Tuesday, the two showings will be the same episode each day.
Finally, we haven't updated on the Aussie ratings for a while because it's just been more of the same. However, here's how the show has been doing recently:
April 13
Episode 48: 239,000
April 20
Episode 49: 262,000
April 27
Episode 50: 221,000 according to OzTam figures, 229,000 according to Ten figures.
With 80 episodes left to air on Ten, who knows how long this situation is going to be allowed to play out for. As has been stated before, it'd be a huge surprise if Ten got rid of the show altogether as they need it for local drama points. To get these points, the show must air between 5.00pm and 11.00pm.
You would think that it would make more sense for them to play the episodes out more quickly to avoid Out of the Blue sticking around forever. However, airing it more frequently could see the show creating the momentum and buzz that it was successfully building up at 10.30pm - a situation that Ten seems determined to avoid. As always, we'll keep you informed of any updates.
No matter what the figures say, we know that Out of the Blue is a fantastic programme with great talent involved in every aspect of the show. Nobody who has given the show a fair chance - whether in the UK or Australia - has a bad word to say about it. The problem lies with poor promotion and lack of faith from TV networks who should know better.
All we can do as fans, especially those in Australia where there are still many episodes left to run (containing some truly fantastic moments), is try to keep spreading the word about the show, sending the Youtube videos along, signing the petitions - and perhaps most importantly - writing to letters pages, newsdesks and the network itself.
One year on, and the impact of that decision is still being felt. Many people regard Out of the Blue as a turkey, when in fact it was a million times better than Neighbours and Home and Away and just needed a fair chance to prove itself.
The loss of the BBC's backing also put Australia's Ten network off the show, perhaps partly due to financial reasons (ie reluctance to take over financial responsibility for the series if it became popular). For that reason, we've seen appalling timeslots and abysmal treatment in Australia, with the show now running just once a week at 5.30pm Sundays despite building up a decent fanbase at 10.30pm which was growing all the time.
The latest news about the show is that, after this week's murder-related bombshells, it's being taken out of its 7.30pm slot on Fiver. From next week, the schedule will be as follows:
Fiver
6.45am Out of the Blue
4.05pm Out of the Blue
Fiver+1
7.45am Out of the Blue
5.05pm Out of the Blue
This new schedule won't come into effect properly until Tuesday 5th May. On Monday 4th, only the 6.45am showing will air - a repeat of Friday's episode. The logic behind it seems to be that, from Tuesday, the two showings will be the same episode each day.
Finally, we haven't updated on the Aussie ratings for a while because it's just been more of the same. However, here's how the show has been doing recently:
April 13
Episode 48: 239,000
April 20
Episode 49: 262,000
April 27
Episode 50: 221,000 according to OzTam figures, 229,000 according to Ten figures.
With 80 episodes left to air on Ten, who knows how long this situation is going to be allowed to play out for. As has been stated before, it'd be a huge surprise if Ten got rid of the show altogether as they need it for local drama points. To get these points, the show must air between 5.00pm and 11.00pm.
You would think that it would make more sense for them to play the episodes out more quickly to avoid Out of the Blue sticking around forever. However, airing it more frequently could see the show creating the momentum and buzz that it was successfully building up at 10.30pm - a situation that Ten seems determined to avoid. As always, we'll keep you informed of any updates.
No matter what the figures say, we know that Out of the Blue is a fantastic programme with great talent involved in every aspect of the show. Nobody who has given the show a fair chance - whether in the UK or Australia - has a bad word to say about it. The problem lies with poor promotion and lack of faith from TV networks who should know better.
All we can do as fans, especially those in Australia where there are still many episodes left to run (containing some truly fantastic moments), is try to keep spreading the word about the show, sending the Youtube videos along, signing the petitions - and perhaps most importantly - writing to letters pages, newsdesks and the network itself.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Mention on Mirror blog & more Five promotion
Out of the Blue was given a rare mention in the UK media yesterday after a fan emailed The Mirror's We Love Telly blog to express their dismay at the show being dropped by the BBC.
In response, the site said: "Well there might be some good news for you [...] Out of the Blue is getting a second shot on Fiver, and if it performs well on the ratings it might be the boost it needs to get new episodes produced."
Bear in mind that, as previously discussed on here, Five are currently ruling out commissioning any more of our favourite soap. Who knows what could happen in the future, though: there's certainly no harm in trying to create a buzz around the show by talking to friends about it, as well as emailing or writing to Five to express your interest.
Meanwhile, Five have also put a promotional article about the show up on its Official Neighbours Website.
The repeats continue on Fiver tonight with the immediate fall-out of Philby's murder.
In response, the site said: "Well there might be some good news for you [...] Out of the Blue is getting a second shot on Fiver, and if it performs well on the ratings it might be the boost it needs to get new episodes produced."
Bear in mind that, as previously discussed on here, Five are currently ruling out commissioning any more of our favourite soap. Who knows what could happen in the future, though: there's certainly no harm in trying to create a buzz around the show by talking to friends about it, as well as emailing or writing to Five to express your interest.
Meanwhile, Five have also put a promotional article about the show up on its Official Neighbours Website.
The repeats continue on Fiver tonight with the immediate fall-out of Philby's murder.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Mystery begins & Petition update
The show's big mystery has now started on Fiver, with the murder having occurred (off-screen of course) in tonight's episode. Pretty much every episode from this point onwards is excellent, so let's hope the show starts getting some great ratings.
The only other news today is that the Save Out of the Blue petition has now been signed by over 200 people. Here's a selection of the latest comments on there, which once again illustrate the passion that fans have for the show.
David: "Out of the Blue is the best soap with the best storylines I have seen in YEARS! Please, please save this magnificent show!"
Sarah: "Loved the show, can't believe the BBC messed it up so badly!"
Jane: "Please save Out of the Blue, I am lost without it!!! And how the hell can it be left on such a cliffhanger!!!"
Anonymous: "What a nightmare!! I've been watching Out of the Blue since the start on BBC Two and it's just keep me hooked but didn't realise that last Thursday's episode was the last one and what a cliffhanger [...] Bring it back BBC Two!"
Jaonne: "It's the only programme I watch on TV, and now it's been axed... such a shame for a good programme."
L May: "It is simply unfair to introduce a cliffhanger [...] and leave the loyal fans hanging. There is plenty of scope left, and sticking to a schedule will ensure viewers are loyal."
Shabnum: "This is pathetic by the BBC, I switched on today 2 Feb thinking what the hell is going on!!! Why isn't the programme on!!! BBC get a grip and don't show replays of wildlife and I can't stand bloody Loose Women on ITV!"
Margaret: "I was angry but not surprised by the BBC after the way it mucked about with the viewing times of OOTB. They seem to think that all viewers want to watch is their precious DEPRESSING EastEnders which I stopped watching long ago. Good luck with the petition."
Anonymous: "There HAS to be a second series of this programme!!! It is one of the best TV shows out there! I didn't watch every single episode not to find out what happens next!!! So PLEASEEEEEEEEE give us round 2 :)"
Claire: "This drama is brilliant, couldn't believe it when it stopped last Friday especially leaving on a huge cliffhanger like that!!!!!! Don't axe it."
Susan: "I have really enjoyed watching Out of the Blue and can't believe that it is at the end of its run, why can't you see it is sooo goood and if you give it a chance and a sensible timeslot then you would soon see how popular it was."
Janet: "If I was only allowed to watch one programme on TV it would be Out of the Blue. It's brilliant [...] It should have been shown in an evening slot - wasted on daytime TV. Although we've already seen this, mum and I will be watching again on Fiver. Thank God we've got a digibox."
Samantha: "One of the best things produced by the BBC in a long time. Perhaps if BBC spent less of our licence fee on funding untalented and lewd presenters (which are not even name worthy!) then a 2nd series would already be in the bag. I guess this is indicative of today's Britain - a country which I am ashamed of."
Joanne: "I have been engrossed by this drama since it started on BBC Two, despite the ridiculous and erratic viewing schedule it was given. Thank goodness Five have taken it over, but please please please let them continue with it after episode 130. It's a real worthy TV drama with great characters, exciting plotlines and wonderful locations. Please keep it going!"
The only other news today is that the Save Out of the Blue petition has now been signed by over 200 people. Here's a selection of the latest comments on there, which once again illustrate the passion that fans have for the show.
David: "Out of the Blue is the best soap with the best storylines I have seen in YEARS! Please, please save this magnificent show!"
Sarah: "Loved the show, can't believe the BBC messed it up so badly!"
Jane: "Please save Out of the Blue, I am lost without it!!! And how the hell can it be left on such a cliffhanger!!!"
Anonymous: "What a nightmare!! I've been watching Out of the Blue since the start on BBC Two and it's just keep me hooked but didn't realise that last Thursday's episode was the last one and what a cliffhanger [...] Bring it back BBC Two!"
Jaonne: "It's the only programme I watch on TV, and now it's been axed... such a shame for a good programme."
L May: "It is simply unfair to introduce a cliffhanger [...] and leave the loyal fans hanging. There is plenty of scope left, and sticking to a schedule will ensure viewers are loyal."
Shabnum: "This is pathetic by the BBC, I switched on today 2 Feb thinking what the hell is going on!!! Why isn't the programme on!!! BBC get a grip and don't show replays of wildlife and I can't stand bloody Loose Women on ITV!"
Margaret: "I was angry but not surprised by the BBC after the way it mucked about with the viewing times of OOTB. They seem to think that all viewers want to watch is their precious DEPRESSING EastEnders which I stopped watching long ago. Good luck with the petition."
Anonymous: "There HAS to be a second series of this programme!!! It is one of the best TV shows out there! I didn't watch every single episode not to find out what happens next!!! So PLEASEEEEEEEEE give us round 2 :)"
Claire: "This drama is brilliant, couldn't believe it when it stopped last Friday especially leaving on a huge cliffhanger like that!!!!!! Don't axe it."
Susan: "I have really enjoyed watching Out of the Blue and can't believe that it is at the end of its run, why can't you see it is sooo goood and if you give it a chance and a sensible timeslot then you would soon see how popular it was."
Janet: "If I was only allowed to watch one programme on TV it would be Out of the Blue. It's brilliant [...] It should have been shown in an evening slot - wasted on daytime TV. Although we've already seen this, mum and I will be watching again on Fiver. Thank God we've got a digibox."
Samantha: "One of the best things produced by the BBC in a long time. Perhaps if BBC spent less of our licence fee on funding untalented and lewd presenters (which are not even name worthy!) then a 2nd series would already be in the bag. I guess this is indicative of today's Britain - a country which I am ashamed of."
Joanne: "I have been engrossed by this drama since it started on BBC Two, despite the ridiculous and erratic viewing schedule it was given. Thank goodness Five have taken it over, but please please please let them continue with it after episode 130. It's a real worthy TV drama with great characters, exciting plotlines and wonderful locations. Please keep it going!"
Monday, 2 February 2009
A few updates
- Out of the Blue has now aired its first episode on Fiver! The advert for it has been put on at pretty much every opportunity over the past two weeks, and anyone who was intrigued by the promotion has now had a glimpse of what the show is like. The Fiver announcer said that it was great to have another Aussie soap on the air, and declared that the first episode was "awesome". If she thought that was awesome, she'll be running out of adjectives in a couple of weeks once the murder mystery has started properly and the really good episodes have started to air!
- The show is available to watch online via Demand Five. Thanks to Alaina for the link.
- In Aussie news, the show has now aired for the final time in its 30-minute 6pm Sunday night slot. As previously discussed on here, it now starts airing double episodes from 5.30pm to 6.30pm each week, starting this Sunday. As well as airing the usual Sunday evening episode yesterday, Ten also put a new episode on after midnight. It was time for the Lucia/Kirsten/Blade storyline, and as the episode had an "M" rating for adult content, they couldn't show it in the early evening - at least not without making cuts. Hopefully this will be the last scheduling mishap and the show now gets some stability in Oz.
- The number of signatures on the Save Out of the Blue petition continues to rise as more fans realise that Thursday's BBC Two episode was the last one. Though they couldn't be bothered to tell fans this after the episode had aired, the BBC have now updated their homepage for the show for the first time in months to include the message: "Out of the Blue is no longer being shown on the BBC."
- Over the next few months we'll try to pass on any information we can find about what the cast are up to. Here's our first nugget of news: Zoe Carides, who played Pia Jones on the show, has been taking part in the Short & Sweet Festival in Sydney. The theatre event sees audiences turning out not just to watch one play, but to watch 10 or 11 - with each being just 10 minutes long.
Zoe's play is called Duals. According to the Australian Stage website, the short production explores "fame, fidelity and family". It seems that the site's reviewer was impressed by Zoe, too: "Brilliantly cast, this piece is clearly theatrically sophisticated: and brilliantly acted. Zoe Carides as the genuine and forgiving makeup artist Susan, is well matched to the diva actor Tessa (Alice Ansara)."
- The show is available to watch online via Demand Five. Thanks to Alaina for the link.
- In Aussie news, the show has now aired for the final time in its 30-minute 6pm Sunday night slot. As previously discussed on here, it now starts airing double episodes from 5.30pm to 6.30pm each week, starting this Sunday. As well as airing the usual Sunday evening episode yesterday, Ten also put a new episode on after midnight. It was time for the Lucia/Kirsten/Blade storyline, and as the episode had an "M" rating for adult content, they couldn't show it in the early evening - at least not without making cuts. Hopefully this will be the last scheduling mishap and the show now gets some stability in Oz.
- The number of signatures on the Save Out of the Blue petition continues to rise as more fans realise that Thursday's BBC Two episode was the last one. Though they couldn't be bothered to tell fans this after the episode had aired, the BBC have now updated their homepage for the show for the first time in months to include the message: "Out of the Blue is no longer being shown on the BBC."
- Over the next few months we'll try to pass on any information we can find about what the cast are up to. Here's our first nugget of news: Zoe Carides, who played Pia Jones on the show, has been taking part in the Short & Sweet Festival in Sydney. The theatre event sees audiences turning out not just to watch one play, but to watch 10 or 11 - with each being just 10 minutes long.
Zoe's play is called Duals. According to the Australian Stage website, the short production explores "fame, fidelity and family". It seems that the site's reviewer was impressed by Zoe, too: "Brilliantly cast, this piece is clearly theatrically sophisticated: and brilliantly acted. Zoe Carides as the genuine and forgiving makeup artist Susan, is well matched to the diva actor Tessa (Alice Ansara)."
A new era for Out of the Blue
Today's the day! After completing its run on BBC Two, Out of the Blue's repeat airings make their debut on Fiver at 7.30pm tonight. It'll seem a little bit weird to go back to the beginning - lots of us are still reeling following the shock cliffhanger ending in the last BBC episode - but it shouldn't take too long for us to start enjoying the early episodes again.
Who knows what these repeats airings will mean for the show. After all the TV promotion, it will at least pull in a few new fans who can experience for themselves just how great the show is, if they decide to stick with it. If it does turn out to be even a moderate success, it would add weight to fans' belief that there is still life in the show and it deserves a chance.
The best we can hope for is that Fiver realises what the BBC didn't - a soap needs time to build up a dedicated fanbase who tune in every day. It's impossible to gauge anything about an audience's reaction to a show like this after just a week. People will tune in out of curiosity for the first episode, the audience may start to drop afterwards, then the dedicated fans who are left will help to maintain interest through word of mouth. Ideally, after that the ratings will build back up again over time.
Out of the Blue wasn't given the chance to do this on the BBC - after a week it got shunted to a rubbish timeslot and all promotion for the show was stopped. Hardly a great way to convince people to watch and build up those viewing numbers. With 130 episodes of the show, there's plenty of time for it to establish itself on its new channel if it is given the chance - let's hope Fiver are prepared to give our favourite soap some stability!
Here's a reminder/first-look (depending on if you're an old or new viewer) of the first episode, courtesy of Alaina who was kind enough to upload the video:
And so the rollercoaster ride begins again...
Who knows what these repeats airings will mean for the show. After all the TV promotion, it will at least pull in a few new fans who can experience for themselves just how great the show is, if they decide to stick with it. If it does turn out to be even a moderate success, it would add weight to fans' belief that there is still life in the show and it deserves a chance.
The best we can hope for is that Fiver realises what the BBC didn't - a soap needs time to build up a dedicated fanbase who tune in every day. It's impossible to gauge anything about an audience's reaction to a show like this after just a week. People will tune in out of curiosity for the first episode, the audience may start to drop afterwards, then the dedicated fans who are left will help to maintain interest through word of mouth. Ideally, after that the ratings will build back up again over time.
Out of the Blue wasn't given the chance to do this on the BBC - after a week it got shunted to a rubbish timeslot and all promotion for the show was stopped. Hardly a great way to convince people to watch and build up those viewing numbers. With 130 episodes of the show, there's plenty of time for it to establish itself on its new channel if it is given the chance - let's hope Fiver are prepared to give our favourite soap some stability!
Here's a reminder/first-look (depending on if you're an old or new viewer) of the first episode, courtesy of Alaina who was kind enough to upload the video:
And so the rollercoaster ride begins again...
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Out of the Blue finale: What the fans are saying
Yesterday we wrote about how fans of Out of the Blue have been creating a buzz online after the final episode of the Australian soap's run aired on BBC Two. It seems that there's a lot of excitement about how the show ended, but still a lot of frustration and disappointment over the way that the show has been treated, especially as we may never discover what happens next.
Rather than boring you with our views again, we now present a selection of comments that have been made by viewers on the internet. Don't worry if you haven't watched the finale - there are no spoilers in this post, but bear in mind that some of the links to other sites do mention the ending.
Heather, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "I have only just realised that Out Of The Blue isn't on the BBC anymore, I'm gutted. I'm a big fan of anything Australian including all of the soaps. It was such a cliff hanger the other day. I've been so impressed with the story lines throughout the show, the story lines aren't predictable like other soaps I can never guess what's going to happen next, it's brilliant. I work during the day but record it every time. Please, please continue to show Out of the Blue it's the best soap around."
Rhiannon, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "It's like going through a divorce. I'm so upset!! pleeeeeaaasssseee bring back Out of the Blue!!!!"
Jan, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue is a great soap but it just isn't given any support. If it was advertised in the soap mags I'm sure it would have gone alot higher in the ratings."
Claire, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Brilliant drama and will really miss it. Haven't missed an episode - thanks to sky plus! Didn't even realise it had been axed by the BBC until it wasn't on today and I decided to find out why!"
Carly-Hannah, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "I hope there's a chance that you give Out of the Blue a second go. It really is pretty awesome! I don't think the BBC realise how much fan base it has behind it."
Linda, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue did not stand a chance as it was scheduled at the same time as Loose Women. It is a brilliant soap and could have been shown at a better time, perhaps after Doctors it is much better than Doctors."
Diane, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Please, please do not axe Out of the Blue, it is so good, far better than Neighbours and Home and Away!!! I think that the poor ratings are down to no advertisement that it's on!"
Hannah, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue is one of my favourite programmes of recent years. The storylines are involving, you care about the characters and I've never missed an episode. Please can we keep this fabulous soap!"
DE4DJ, Back to the Bay: "That was the best episode of Out of the Blue ever! I’ve never shouted at the TV so much it was brilliant. Even my dad who’s never watched OOTB before loved it."
Casperfan, Back to the Bay: "A brilliant end to a brilliant series! God this show deserves more recognition! I loved everything about it!!!"
Miranda, Back to the Bay: "These poor actors deserve better. Hopefully they will all go on to bigger and better things and forget the bad treatment they got."
Madamebronchus, Out of the Blue Online: "I just want to be angry and sad at the same time. Angry for the fact that the BBC didn't even bother saying that it is the very last episode! And sad as it might very well have been the last Out of the Blue ever!!"
Sally, Out of the Blue Online: "It was so shabby not even having the courtesy to announce that it was the season finale. It was like some shameful secret being swept under the carpet!"
Clydefrog, Digital Spy: "The BBC are so bitter they didn't mention it was the last episode today. "
Rivercity_rules, Digital Spy: "That is how you end a soap! What a spectacular episode! Seriously just lost for the right words just now, fabulous, amazing, brilliant."
We could go on adding quotes all day, but it is great to see so much support for the show. If any fans have stumbled across our blog as they look for information on their favourite Aussie soap, please do check out our Saving Out of the Blue page for information on how you can contact the relevant broadcasters directly.
We'll continue adding comments from the petition and other sites as they come in.
Rather than boring you with our views again, we now present a selection of comments that have been made by viewers on the internet. Don't worry if you haven't watched the finale - there are no spoilers in this post, but bear in mind that some of the links to other sites do mention the ending.
Heather, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "I have only just realised that Out Of The Blue isn't on the BBC anymore, I'm gutted. I'm a big fan of anything Australian including all of the soaps. It was such a cliff hanger the other day. I've been so impressed with the story lines throughout the show, the story lines aren't predictable like other soaps I can never guess what's going to happen next, it's brilliant. I work during the day but record it every time. Please, please continue to show Out of the Blue it's the best soap around."
Rhiannon, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "It's like going through a divorce. I'm so upset!! pleeeeeaaasssseee bring back Out of the Blue!!!!"
Jan, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue is a great soap but it just isn't given any support. If it was advertised in the soap mags I'm sure it would have gone alot higher in the ratings."
Claire, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Brilliant drama and will really miss it. Haven't missed an episode - thanks to sky plus! Didn't even realise it had been axed by the BBC until it wasn't on today and I decided to find out why!"
Carly-Hannah, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "I hope there's a chance that you give Out of the Blue a second go. It really is pretty awesome! I don't think the BBC realise how much fan base it has behind it."
Linda, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue did not stand a chance as it was scheduled at the same time as Loose Women. It is a brilliant soap and could have been shown at a better time, perhaps after Doctors it is much better than Doctors."
Diane, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Please, please do not axe Out of the Blue, it is so good, far better than Neighbours and Home and Away!!! I think that the poor ratings are down to no advertisement that it's on!"
Hannah, Save Out of the Blue Petition: "Out of the Blue is one of my favourite programmes of recent years. The storylines are involving, you care about the characters and I've never missed an episode. Please can we keep this fabulous soap!"
DE4DJ, Back to the Bay: "That was the best episode of Out of the Blue ever! I’ve never shouted at the TV so much it was brilliant. Even my dad who’s never watched OOTB before loved it."
Casperfan, Back to the Bay: "A brilliant end to a brilliant series! God this show deserves more recognition! I loved everything about it!!!"
Miranda, Back to the Bay: "These poor actors deserve better. Hopefully they will all go on to bigger and better things and forget the bad treatment they got."
Madamebronchus, Out of the Blue Online: "I just want to be angry and sad at the same time. Angry for the fact that the BBC didn't even bother saying that it is the very last episode! And sad as it might very well have been the last Out of the Blue ever!!"
Sally, Out of the Blue Online: "It was so shabby not even having the courtesy to announce that it was the season finale. It was like some shameful secret being swept under the carpet!"
Clydefrog, Digital Spy: "The BBC are so bitter they didn't mention it was the last episode today. "
Rivercity_rules, Digital Spy: "That is how you end a soap! What a spectacular episode! Seriously just lost for the right words just now, fabulous, amazing, brilliant."
We could go on adding quotes all day, but it is great to see so much support for the show. If any fans have stumbled across our blog as they look for information on their favourite Aussie soap, please do check out our Saving Out of the Blue page for information on how you can contact the relevant broadcasters directly.
We'll continue adding comments from the petition and other sites as they come in.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Out of the Blue finale creates online buzz
Out of the Blue's fans have been passionate about the show from the beginning - and this shows no sign of abating following its conclusion on BBC Two on Thursday.
As predicted on this blog, the BBC's decision not to bother telling viewers that they had just aired the last episode has led to a great deal of confusion among fans, many of whom have sought answers online after finding their favourite show replaced by a repeat of Open Gardens in the schedule on Friday.
The Facebook group for the show has been extremely active over the past two days, with existing members posting for the first time to share their thoughts on the finale and find out what is next for Out of the Blue. Other Facebook users have joined the group for the first time for similar reasons.
The Save Out of the Blue Petition has also seen an increase in activity following the finale, with many more signatures being added from fans who are desperate to find out what happens next after Thursday's shocking cliffhanger ending. Let's hope more are added over the coming days.
Many fans have contacted Five to find out if they have any plans to commission a second series. Unfortunately, the official word from them is that Fiver will not be showing any episodes beyond the run of 130 that we have seen on the BBC. Fans have not given up hope yet, though - and it's still worth contacting Five to (politely) express your interest in the show.
The Soap Show, which has been a long-time supporter of the programme, has praised the quality of the last week of episodes and, like many of us, expressed disappointment over the way it was treated by the BBC. You can read their words for yourself in the linked article, however the following quote from the site sums up the situation extremely well: "A new soap takes months to bed in and find its audience, but sadly these days, if a programme isn't an instant hit, actions taken from the fear that it doesn't have appeal lead to a self fulfilling prophecy." Wise words, and let's hope another great show doesn't suffer the same fate as Out of the Blue.
Forums on Out of the Blue Online, Digital Spy, Back to the Bay and Neighboursfans have also seen discussions on the finale. The reaction has been mixed - viewers seem to have been blown away by the dramatic conclusion to the show, but there's obvious frustration that we may never find out what happens next due to the hasty decision made by the BBC after the first week of the show had aired.
Keep up your passion for Out of the Blue and don't forget to tell your friends about the repeats on Fiver!
As predicted on this blog, the BBC's decision not to bother telling viewers that they had just aired the last episode has led to a great deal of confusion among fans, many of whom have sought answers online after finding their favourite show replaced by a repeat of Open Gardens in the schedule on Friday.
The Facebook group for the show has been extremely active over the past two days, with existing members posting for the first time to share their thoughts on the finale and find out what is next for Out of the Blue. Other Facebook users have joined the group for the first time for similar reasons.
The Save Out of the Blue Petition has also seen an increase in activity following the finale, with many more signatures being added from fans who are desperate to find out what happens next after Thursday's shocking cliffhanger ending. Let's hope more are added over the coming days.
Many fans have contacted Five to find out if they have any plans to commission a second series. Unfortunately, the official word from them is that Fiver will not be showing any episodes beyond the run of 130 that we have seen on the BBC. Fans have not given up hope yet, though - and it's still worth contacting Five to (politely) express your interest in the show.
The Soap Show, which has been a long-time supporter of the programme, has praised the quality of the last week of episodes and, like many of us, expressed disappointment over the way it was treated by the BBC. You can read their words for yourself in the linked article, however the following quote from the site sums up the situation extremely well: "A new soap takes months to bed in and find its audience, but sadly these days, if a programme isn't an instant hit, actions taken from the fear that it doesn't have appeal lead to a self fulfilling prophecy." Wise words, and let's hope another great show doesn't suffer the same fate as Out of the Blue.
Forums on Out of the Blue Online, Digital Spy, Back to the Bay and Neighboursfans have also seen discussions on the finale. The reaction has been mixed - viewers seem to have been blown away by the dramatic conclusion to the show, but there's obvious frustration that we may never find out what happens next due to the hasty decision made by the BBC after the first week of the show had aired.
Keep up your passion for Out of the Blue and don't forget to tell your friends about the repeats on Fiver!
Thursday, 29 January 2009
It's all over...
The final episode of Out of the Blue's first series aired this afternoon on BBC Two. The show kept up the high quality right until the end - we had heartbreak, a wedding, a shock twist, and a massive cliffhanger ending!
Sadly, the BBC did not acknowledge the fact that they had just aired the final episode - meaning that a lot of viewers who don't follow the show online are going to be surprised when it disappears from the schedules next week.
Out of the Blue is now being replaced in the 1pm slot by Coast and Meerkat Manor.
Don't forget to check out our 'How you can help' posting below if you want to continue the fight for a second series.
Finally, don't forget to use the 'Older Posts' link at the bottom of the page to view entries which have been bumped off the front page.
Stay tuned to the blog over the coming weeks for all of the latest news surrounding the show's move to Fiver and its progress Down Under on Ten.
Sadly, the BBC did not acknowledge the fact that they had just aired the final episode - meaning that a lot of viewers who don't follow the show online are going to be surprised when it disappears from the schedules next week.
Out of the Blue is now being replaced in the 1pm slot by Coast and Meerkat Manor.
Don't forget to check out our 'How you can help' posting below if you want to continue the fight for a second series.
Finally, don't forget to use the 'Older Posts' link at the bottom of the page to view entries which have been bumped off the front page.
Stay tuned to the blog over the coming weeks for all of the latest news surrounding the show's move to Fiver and its progress Down Under on Ten.
Out of the Blue's future & how you can help
Out of the Blue is currently facing an uncertain future. The BBC has stated that it will not commission any further episodes beyond the first series, which consists of 130 episodes. However, fans still believe that there could be a future for the show and have been campaigning with this aim.
A petition - backed by some cast members - has been set up in order for fans to express their interest in seeing the show on another broadcaster. Please sign the petition if you have not already.
Success in Australia could also prove to be beneficial to the show's future. Network TEN is a channel with few Australian dramas and a high-quality show like Out of the Blue could turn out to be a great long-term investment for its schedule. Ten has a Contact Us forum on its website which allows viewers to share their thoughts with the Powers That Be. Alternatively, there are also postal addresses for this purpose. If you're an Aussie who believes that Out of the Blue deserves a better slot, write to Ten online or by letter and let them know. (Note: If you use Ten's Contact Us forum, try to look through the pages for existing threads about the show rather than adding your own - we want to be heard, but equally don't want to be a nuisance for the people who run the site.)
It's unclear if Five have any plans for the show beyond showing the repeats on Fiver. If you wish to show your appreciation for the soap, Five also has a Contact Us page. Bear in mind that Five have already been quite good to Out of the Blue, with heavy advertising on-screen and giving it some decent slots.
The BBC has given up on the show. However, if you wish to share your thoughts on the way the show has been treated, perhaps they will reconsider their 'axed within a week' approach when it comes to other projects. Check out the webform link from this page if you wish to get in touch with the BBC.
A petition - backed by some cast members - has been set up in order for fans to express their interest in seeing the show on another broadcaster. Please sign the petition if you have not already.
Success in Australia could also prove to be beneficial to the show's future. Network TEN is a channel with few Australian dramas and a high-quality show like Out of the Blue could turn out to be a great long-term investment for its schedule. Ten has a Contact Us forum on its website which allows viewers to share their thoughts with the Powers That Be. Alternatively, there are also postal addresses for this purpose. If you're an Aussie who believes that Out of the Blue deserves a better slot, write to Ten online or by letter and let them know. (Note: If you use Ten's Contact Us forum, try to look through the pages for existing threads about the show rather than adding your own - we want to be heard, but equally don't want to be a nuisance for the people who run the site.)
It's unclear if Five have any plans for the show beyond showing the repeats on Fiver. If you wish to show your appreciation for the soap, Five also has a Contact Us page. Bear in mind that Five have already been quite good to Out of the Blue, with heavy advertising on-screen and giving it some decent slots.
The BBC has given up on the show. However, if you wish to share your thoughts on the way the show has been treated, perhaps they will reconsider their 'axed within a week' approach when it comes to other projects. Check out the webform link from this page if you wish to get in touch with the BBC.
Out of the Blue on the BBC
Out of the Blue was first commissioned by the BBC at the end of 2007 as a replacement for Neighbours following news of its move to Five in the UK. The first episode premiered on April 28, 2008 at 2.15pm (airing after Doctors) and attracted 1.2 million viewers. Reports stated that the soap would have to stay above the 1 million viewers mark if it was to have a long-term future.
Just days later, on May 7, the BBC announced that the show would be moving to BBC Two at the earlier time of 1.00pm, putting it in competition with the BBC News at One. The decision occurred after viewing figures had dropped to 700,000. The BBC stated that it hoped the new slot would prove to be a "stronger home" for the show - a strange statement given the competition from one of its own channels.
Following the move, the BBC stopped sending out promotional material for the show, meaning that it received no coverage in the press. In the disappointing new slot and now with no backing from the BBC just one month into the show, viewing figures dropped to 100,000, prompting the BBC to confirm that it would end after the first series.
Viewing figures have increased from that level over the show's run - with the last information we have heard showing that Out of the Blue is now attracting around 142,000 viewers daily. Sadly, we will never know whether this increase could have been on a larger scale in its original slot and with backing from the BBC.
With no new episodes set to be commissioned by the BBC and the show now set to air on Fiver, the BBC is pretty much done with Out of the Blue. However, many fans remain disappointed that the show was never given a proper chance to build its audience - an opportunity that all soaps need in their early days. Who knows what long-running shows would be off our screens now if faith had been lost in them after just one week.
Just days later, on May 7, the BBC announced that the show would be moving to BBC Two at the earlier time of 1.00pm, putting it in competition with the BBC News at One. The decision occurred after viewing figures had dropped to 700,000. The BBC stated that it hoped the new slot would prove to be a "stronger home" for the show - a strange statement given the competition from one of its own channels.
Following the move, the BBC stopped sending out promotional material for the show, meaning that it received no coverage in the press. In the disappointing new slot and now with no backing from the BBC just one month into the show, viewing figures dropped to 100,000, prompting the BBC to confirm that it would end after the first series.
Viewing figures have increased from that level over the show's run - with the last information we have heard showing that Out of the Blue is now attracting around 142,000 viewers daily. Sadly, we will never know whether this increase could have been on a larger scale in its original slot and with backing from the BBC.
With no new episodes set to be commissioned by the BBC and the show now set to air on Fiver, the BBC is pretty much done with Out of the Blue. However, many fans remain disappointed that the show was never given a proper chance to build its audience - an opportunity that all soaps need in their early days. Who knows what long-running shows would be off our screens now if faith had been lost in them after just one week.
What The Critics Said
Out of the Blue has attracted a loyal cult following with its BBC Two airings, but don't just take our word for it that the show is great. Here's what the critics have said about the show over its run.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph following Out of the Blue's launch in April, the critic James Walton admitted that he was intrigued by the show's murder mystery plot - describing the hook as "quite neat" and the programme itself as "promising".
The Daily Mirror was also enthusiastic about the show, writing: "Oo-er. Forget Neighbours - this is more like a warmer Big Chill, Desperate Housewives Down Under or a better acted Echo Beach - with all kinds of dark secrets buried in the sand waiting to be washed up by the tide."
The Guardian was impressed by Out of the Blue's mature tone in comparison to its rivals Neighbours and Home and Away. The paper commented: "Au-ssies! Everybody needs good Au-ssies! But wait a minute ... stepping into Neighbours' slot is something a little more grown up - with drink, gangs and even a murder."
The Times was yet another British newspaper which was won over by Out of the Blue's compelling plotlines, describing the show as "compulsive, classy, fast and slick".
British website The Soap Show has also been supportive of the show. As the killer was about to revealed, the site described Out of the Blue as "much underrated", adding that it had done well to build up a cult following after its change of channel, slots and often being taken off-air for summer sport.
Australia's The Daily Telegraph newspaper has also been enthusiastic following the show's premiere on Network TEN. Its writer Andrew Mercado described the show as "an adult soap" which was "more grown-up than Neighbours".
Let's hope there's more praise to come for Out of the Blue as it settles in on Fiver and continues to air on Ten.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph following Out of the Blue's launch in April, the critic James Walton admitted that he was intrigued by the show's murder mystery plot - describing the hook as "quite neat" and the programme itself as "promising".
The Daily Mirror was also enthusiastic about the show, writing: "Oo-er. Forget Neighbours - this is more like a warmer Big Chill, Desperate Housewives Down Under or a better acted Echo Beach - with all kinds of dark secrets buried in the sand waiting to be washed up by the tide."
The Guardian was impressed by Out of the Blue's mature tone in comparison to its rivals Neighbours and Home and Away. The paper commented: "Au-ssies! Everybody needs good Au-ssies! But wait a minute ... stepping into Neighbours' slot is something a little more grown up - with drink, gangs and even a murder."
The Times was yet another British newspaper which was won over by Out of the Blue's compelling plotlines, describing the show as "compulsive, classy, fast and slick".
British website The Soap Show has also been supportive of the show. As the killer was about to revealed, the site described Out of the Blue as "much underrated", adding that it had done well to build up a cult following after its change of channel, slots and often being taken off-air for summer sport.
Australia's The Daily Telegraph newspaper has also been enthusiastic following the show's premiere on Network TEN. Its writer Andrew Mercado described the show as "an adult soap" which was "more grown-up than Neighbours".
Let's hope there's more praise to come for Out of the Blue as it settles in on Fiver and continues to air on Ten.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
