Radio Times Posted Wed May 10 20:26:21 BST 2000 by Justin

Very interested and entertained reading your Radio Times comment strand.

I actually went for a board at BBC Worldwide about a month ago to work as a sub at Radio Times. I didn't get it (to my relief, I must admit..., as it was such a cold, cynical environment). But during the interview, when asked what I thought set RT apart from its rivals, I did not say anything about Alison Graham* at all, but mentioned that Radio Times was the only TV guide that even TRIED to namecheck writers, producers and directors of TV and radio programmes. The head of Human Resources (horrible term, sounds like Human Remains)interrupted me by saying "Well, do you really believe that the RT readers care about such things - most people who work in this building are dying to see the back of the credit lines - it'd give more room for programme information."

I was a little surprised by this, and argued that the people behind the scenes (especially writers) get a pretty raw deal as it is these days (faster credit sequences, star-led not talent-led industry, etc.). Anyway, she couldn't see the point of it at all. So if you see the credit lines disappear from RT in the future, you'll know why...because no-one there gives a shit about television or radio, and they want to give more space to those curious preview paragraphs where they quite often slag off show 2 of a new show before show 1 has even aired.

I really am not bitter, I promise, but I am never applying for another magazine job. Ever. (I am not a journalist, just someone who knows far too much about TV.)

(*Although the woman is the worst writer in Britain, with the possible exception of Zoe Williams** in the Evening Standard and, obviously, Garry Bushell.)

(**A woman who wrote a whole column about the somewhat spurious notion that track 7 is always the best track on any album. She then illustrated her argument with The Verve. The ****ing Verve. Anyway, now she's being trusted to write about things that aren't pop music (a weekly column about her tiresome life. Duh.))

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By zaber on Wed May 10 20:34:53 BST 2000:

>(**A woman who wrote a whole column about the somewhat spurious notion that track 7 is always the best track on any album. She then illustrated her argument with The Verve. The ****ing Verve. Anyway, now she's being trusted to write about things that aren't pop music (a weekly column about her tiresome life. Duh.))
>

I always thought that was track 2.

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By John! on Wed May 10 21:01:05 BST 2000:

Alison Graham really annoyed me the other week.

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Anonymous on Thu May 11 08:41:41 BST 2000:

>The Verve. The ****ing Verve.



No, they're just called The Verve

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Justin on Thu May 11 16:27:05 BST 2000:

>>The Verve. The ****ing Verve.
>
>
>
That's what I call them, though. The most over-rated band of our age.

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Blake Connolly on Thu May 11 18:08:05 BST 2000:

Second album wasn't too bad... the third one was mostly chronic, though.

And isn't Zoe whatshername the one who bases her column on being a "slut"? Weak..

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Mike J on Fri May 12 10:21:17 BST 2000:

>>>The Verve. The ****ing Verve.
>>
>>
>>
>That's what I call them, though. The most over-rated band of our age.

Oh, "Gravity Grave" was ok. Really, I find if you ignore them they eventually go away. I'm currently trying this approach with Travis and Stereophonics.

Subject: Re: Radio Times [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Richard Bell on Fri May 12 13:27:36 BST 2000:

>Very interested and entertained reading your Radio Times comment strand.

Did anyone ever see a program on UK Style called 'Radio Times'? It started when the station launched, but it had been axed by the time I got OnDigital in December 1998.

Anyone know if it was any good?

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