The
Psychology of "You Can't Do That On Television":
Why We Watch By: M.L. Ebert
Sent in on March 9, 2003
This
may be the last year of production for the Ottawa-based North
American TV phenomenon You Can't Do That on Television, says
producer Roger Price.
The
show, which has made international cult stars out of two generations
of Ottawa schoolkids since it first went on the air as a CJOH
production in 1979, is losing the interest of its U.S. audience,
says Price.
Nickelodeon,
the U.S. cable network that has been airing the irreverent
juvenile skit show twice a day since the early '80s, is talking
with Price about a new dramatic series that could be produced
at the cable network's
new Orlando, Fla., studios.
"It's
not 100 per cent sure that (YCDTOTV) won't continue, but it
looks that way," says Price.
Price
has mixed feeling about the series' end. After more than a
decade on the show, he feels it's time to move on. But he
says the relationship he has built up with his cast and crew
makes it tough to say goodbye.
There
is the possibility that the show could be saved with more
vigorous backing from CJOH and YTV, the Canadian kids network
that began airing the series daily in 1988. But Price says
it's probably not worth the effort.
"We've
been doing this for 11 years. At some time every show has
to end, and you have to wonder whether it's worthwhile making
Herculean efforts to save it."
If
the show does stop production, it will likely continue in
repeats for years on YTV. Before YTV, the series was seen
only sporadically by in Canada.
Price
says he's negotiating with Nickelodeon about producing a comedy-drama
series that weds the kid-oriented sentiments of YCDTOTV with
the more serious themes in such shows as The Wonder Years
and Degrassi High School.
Perfect
We Were is a look back at kids growing up in the turbulent
'60s. Price says that unlike YCDTOTV, which parents hated,
he hopes the new show would watched by kids and parents together.
Meanwhile,
Price is talking to YTV about another series that could be
produced in Ottawa. Family Tree, like YCDTOTV, is a kiddy-humor
show. The twist is the skits would be be based on the various
generations in a family, and could take place at any time
in history.
