Here's my email to him..
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Mr. Jackson,
Today is the first time I have heard of your columns. After reading through this latest one about the BBC show Last of the Summer Wine being canceled, I am getting a hint of cynicism. At least I hope that's what it is. If this is not cynicism and it is your true feelings about Last of the Summer Wine. I sincerely feel bad for you.
It's okay to not like the show. Living in the United States there are plenty of shows here that I do not care for. I especially don't care for what some say are the trendy, which I remember you using this word reality shows that have spread between both countries like a deadly virus. I believe that is the case with the BBC lately. The 20 to 30 year olds in charge are trying to be more trendy to attract their audience. It's not working. There hasn't been a decent light-hearted, family comedy in the UK. Aside from Last of the Summer Wine and some adult-themed shows like Only Fools and Horses and The IT Crowd, I don't see a worthy comedy. A person I know even went down the schedule of BBC 1 and went by the guidelines that the BBC have issued and found that there is rarely any comedy on that channel. So enjoy paying your license fee for stuff you don't get.
As for how the characters in Last of the Summer Wine acting like they're school age children and this not being the reality. That is obvious. It is also why we have television shows, books and movies. They're FICTIONAL! They take us to a world or place where we wish to escape. So of course after getting chased from Sid's Cafe, Foggy, Clegg and Compo would wander up the hill and ponder what is holding the sky up and if it's glue or tape that keeps those puffy clouds from falling. It's FICTIONAL! It's a way of escape from everyday life. The things that Del Boy and Rodders do in "Only Fools and Horses, how come they weren't locked up in jail for the rest of the show for bootlegs or carousing with women the way they do? It's fictional. In the real world, if people did what Roy and Morris did in the IT department of a business on The IT Crowd they would be fired day one. It's FICTIONAL. That being said, fiction doesn't need coaxing into the 21st century. It messes up the original idea and theme.
As for your comments on Kathy Staff and the other cast from the who are no longer with us. First, a correction. It wasn't "years" when Kathy Staff died, it's been almost two years. As for saying that death is a way of getting out of the show, that was said in very bad taste. It was in bad taste to the families of these that have passed on. The families of Brian Wilde, Kathy Staff, Bill Owen, Gordon Wharmby and Thora Hird. I don't know if an apology would be accepted after that.
So when you watch the final episode, cheering on the ending credits I hope you enjoy the flood of reality shows that come from the lazy producers and directors along with the lack of comedy that you are supposed to be paying for with your license fee.
This is just the opinions of a 36 year old from the United States who surprisingly enough does enjoy the quality comedy the show provides instead of the reality shows that flood the networks.
