Re: Time Team Reservoir Rituals | Forum

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Time Team Reservoir Rituals

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Sanctuary Feb 7, 2011 16:56:32

Replying to mascot

mascot wrote:

I don't think it's fair to go after TT on what they say day 1. Every scientist normally works from a "hypothesis" and then tests this - TT just expose some of their thinking during the programme so there are bound to be times when initial assumptions get shown to be wrong. The alternative would lose the "your watching it live, warts and all" approach of the programme and make it probably less popular?

I remember the roman bridge timbers show (peircebridge?) where the tree-ring guy refused to show a potential date mid programme (haven't seen him back since :-) ).

I've watched lots of TV programs dumb down science over the time TT has been going - I think they've managed to keep the quality up all things considered.

I think TT bridges archeology and TV reality program rather well and TV would be a sadder place without it for me.

Mac

I totally agree Mac. Before they came along archaeology was dead in the water for most sit-at-home tele-watchers. Chronicle was superb in its time as well but I thought for the more high-brow. Like him, or loathe him, it was a stroke of genius getting Tony Robinson to front the programme. His portrayal of Baldrick in Blackadder told you what you were in for...a guy who would be on the side of the ordinary folk who had always seen archaeos as being aloof and stand-offish but could bring the two together. He has accomplished that brilliantly. Arise Sir Anthony.

tiompan Feb 7, 2011 17:14:54

Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:

mascot wrote:

I remember the roman bridge timbers show (peircebridge?) where the tree-ring guy refused to show a potential date mid programme (haven't seen him back since :-) ).

I've watched lots of TV programs dumb down science over the time TT has been going - I think they've managed to keep the quality up all things considered.

I think TT bridges archeology and TV reality program rather well and TV would be a sadder place without it for me.

Mac

I never could understand the animosity aimed at Tony Robinson , he was merely doing his job , acting a part ,and doing a good job of it . I do wonder though if Francis Pryor has been bitten by the bug or told to act as the "bloke who sees the R word everywhere " no doubt that is his comfort zone but does he play the pantomime dreamer to Mick Aston's aloof rationalist ? The women diggers seem very sensible .

Monganaut Feb 8, 2011 00:46:42

Replying to Sanctuary

Fair points all well made, but i still stick by what i said. I feel they set their stalls out a little early on. I was taught to let the evidence speak first, then you can form an opinion, not form a hypothesis, then make (hopefully) the facts fit (or not). The last few series have fallen flat a lot of the time because of that approach.
Anyhoo, just my opinion. I'm glad it's on tele, and i can think of no other current programme that does anything similar without fudging it massively.

I quite like the characters involved too. Somebody further down the thread said that he couldn't understand why Tony Robinson came in for so much stick and I'm with him. I think he does a sterling job pulling all the disparate parts together. Plus, imagine that job, bloody wet dream trawling round the country digging ancient and historical sites AND getting paid a decent wage to do it, not like real archaeology at all, one of the most underfunded yet important areas of modern culture i can think of.