I saw Amanda Redman on The One Show, plugging the new series of New Tricks (the crime drama about a group of retired detectives). It's a huge hit for BBC1, regularly getting 8-10 million viewers, and she discussed how even students tune in...
But, do they? I mean, really? I just can't imagine an 18 year-old, even an incredibly eccentric one who "likes to be different", watching New Tricks. Doesn't he have a Lost or 24 box-set somewhere? Isn't Shipwrecked on your Sky+? A Big Brother catch-up on E4? Has the internet stopped all the porn?
Then, today I did some more people-watching at HMV (it's not as sinister as it sounds) and noticed a guy in his late-teens/early-20s, looking at the Ashes To Ashes box-set. Okay, nothing wrong with that. Then, he looked through the Doctor Who titles -- circa Jon Pertwee, and he did fit the Whovian cliché I have to admit. But still, that's fine. But then... then... he picked up Bergerac! Yes, the '80s Jersey-based police procedural starring in-his-prime John Nettles, now of Midsomer Murders fame. Bloomin' Bergerac!
I can understand mild nostalgia making you watch 10 minutes of Bergerac on UK Gold, and perhaps even a whole episode on a Sunday afternoon (rainy day only), but would you really debate whether to buy a Bergerac box-set from HMV? Surely you have to be in your forties, at the very least...?
So am I wrong to pigeon-hole people like this? Am I out of touch with kids? Do 18-24 year olds seriously sit down and watch New Tricks every week, surrounded by shelves crammed full of Heartbeat DVDs? Maybe they have regular Last Of The Summer Wine marathons in student digs?
Is anyone else willing to admit they watch and enjoy TV shows designed for older demographics? The more embarrassing, the better! Come on, there must be a few Murder, She Wrote anoraks under the age of 30 reading this... own up!
But, do they? I mean, really? I just can't imagine an 18 year-old, even an incredibly eccentric one who "likes to be different", watching New Tricks. Doesn't he have a Lost or 24 box-set somewhere? Isn't Shipwrecked on your Sky+? A Big Brother catch-up on E4? Has the internet stopped all the porn?
Then, today I did some more people-watching at HMV (it's not as sinister as it sounds) and noticed a guy in his late-teens/early-20s, looking at the Ashes To Ashes box-set. Okay, nothing wrong with that. Then, he looked through the Doctor Who titles -- circa Jon Pertwee, and he did fit the Whovian cliché I have to admit. But still, that's fine. But then... then... he picked up Bergerac! Yes, the '80s Jersey-based police procedural starring in-his-prime John Nettles, now of Midsomer Murders fame. Bloomin' Bergerac!
I can understand mild nostalgia making you watch 10 minutes of Bergerac on UK Gold, and perhaps even a whole episode on a Sunday afternoon (rainy day only), but would you really debate whether to buy a Bergerac box-set from HMV? Surely you have to be in your forties, at the very least...?
So am I wrong to pigeon-hole people like this? Am I out of touch with kids? Do 18-24 year olds seriously sit down and watch New Tricks every week, surrounded by shelves crammed full of Heartbeat DVDs? Maybe they have regular Last Of The Summer Wine marathons in student digs?
Is anyone else willing to admit they watch and enjoy TV shows designed for older demographics? The more embarrassing, the better! Come on, there must be a few Murder, She Wrote anoraks under the age of 30 reading this... own up!
