Thursday, 10 May 2012

Planet Earth Live?

It is always nice when a major TV Company such as BBC1 devotes a substantial part of its budget to a natural history project such as 'Planet Earth Live'  (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00qj06z). I do, however, have a few reservations. Firstly, the obsession with giving the animals who are the foci of the 'wild life dramas' trendy names to try to get people to treat them anthropomorphically (as if they were 'little humans'). Secondly, it's amazing how the nature of the 'goodies' and the 'baddies' switches. An oddly-behaving lioness and her surviving cub are the heros in Kenya (in a world of uncooperative Warthog prey and thieving Hyaena who take the meat out of the babies mouth). Whereas, in California, mother Grey whales attempt to survive the attentions of the nasty Orca ('Killer whales') who want to drown and eat her calf. Obviously, all the participants in all the encounters are trying to do their best for themselves and their offspring. It could have been a little more balanced.

9 comments:

Sick of EU Waste Directives said...

I agree on the anthropomorphism. Just too much sugar in my tea! I think that most viewers like thought provoking viewing and don't need or want it reduced to the level of Braniac. I do think the BBC should be praised for funding an interesting concept in wildlife filming. Please lose the twee!

podger said...

This programme could have been very watchable until I saw you found a totally unjustifiable job for Richard Hammond! Julia Bradbury almost justifiable but why not someone from Spring Watch which I guess is well viewed.
I just cannot watch it because he has just taken a job for 'the boys'.
Therefore it needs a David attenborough type character who really cares about the animals not a 'petrol head'
I love the BBC but I am sorry you have got this totally wrong

fleabane said...

I wonder if the BBC are aware of other animals available on the earth other than Lions, Bears and Meerkats? I myself have seen at least three or four other species.

Touring Piano Tuner said...

I can understand why they do this, it's kind of like looking at life's challenges through the animal character's eyes.

What I can't understand is why we have to watch the presenters walk around talking all the time. It seems they are the focus of the whole series, with snippets of animal footage in between, much of which is from the BBC archives.

I suppose after having recently enjoyed the Planet Earth DVD series I was bound to be disappointed.

Touring Piano Tuner said...

I can understand why they do this, it's kind of like looking at life's challenges through the animal character's eyes, which I think is rather sweet.

What I can't understand is why we have to watch the presenters walk around talking all the time. It seems they are the focus of the whole series, with snippets of animal footage in between, much of which is from the BBC archives.

I suppose after having recently been stunned by Frozen Planet and awed by the Planet Earth DVD series I was bound to be disappointed. Can't complain really, they must have just run out of money.

I also think Richard Hammond should first apologize for promoting sports cars before pretending to care about the natural world.

Touring Piano Tuner said...

Sorry I thought my first comment went amiss - feel free to delete as necessary!

les acklam said...

How fanastic !

- and how accomplished Richard and Julia were.
Why was The Sun so crabbie earler in the week ?
It's not a theme park we're watching - but real unaccountable wild life.

Thanks BBC, thanks camera crews

les acklam said...

FANTASTIC !
(Why was The Sun so crabbie earlier in the week ?)
It's not a theme park !
THANKS, Richard !
THANKS, Julia
THANKS, camera crews
THANKS, BBC

Unknown said...

richard and team i think this program is great i absolutely love it do another series as the work you are doing needs to be done as people NEED to be educated about animals and the impact that humans have on them i would love to do something worthwhile like this once again keep up the good work

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