The Public TV/BBC America Timewarp


By Esta Asteroff


If it’s Wednesday, it must be EastEnders on PBS. No!

If it’s Friday, it must be EastEnders on BBCA. No, no, no!!! If it’s Sunday, it must be the rerun of EastEnders on BBC America. No, no!! (Ed. note: pre-Aug. 4.)

If it’s Monday (circa early 2001), it must be EastEnders: The Early Years on BBCA. No, no, no, no!!!!

Like a lot of people, I’ve been fortunate enough not only to see EastEnders on PBS, but also to now see current U.K. episodes on BBCA. Little did I realize that there would be a downside to this: total confusion as to who is in, who is out, who is back, who is dead, and who is alive—to say nothing of whose child is whose, who shot whom, is that a new actress in that role, and just who is that bloke?

When I moved from New York City to Florida, I quickly learned that neither of my PBS stations carried EastEnders. (Many of you would have packed up again and left!) But I did get current U.K. episodes every Sunday, with a repeat on Fridays.

To fill in the three-year gap between where I left off watching in New York and where I am now on BBCA, I’m getting tapes from a trusty friend. In a few years, I’ll be about back to where I started. Sort of like that old song, “I’m my own grandpa.”

Meanwhile, although I was never averse to spoilers, there was a lot I didn’t know. For example, since the storyline involving the Slaters was so complicated, I never paid attention to those spoilers. Similarly, the whole contretemps of Saskia/Steve/Mel/Lisa et al, was too daunting to read about without knowing any of the characters involved.

At the same time, I was forced to wait for weeks to get caught up on the PBS episodes. My belongings with my VCR hadn’t arrived, so I couldn’t play any tapes. I became more behind to the point where I am now: totally, hopelessly mired in confusion.

At long last, the VCR arrived and I popped in a tape with PBS episodes. What is happening? Well, Grant had begun his affair with his mother-in-law Louise; Tiff was on her massage course; Bianca learns she is pregnant again; Gianni learns George may be his real father; Mark and Ruth are having big problems; Melanie Healey and Lisa first appear. Terry and Irene have not yet tied the knot; Sonia is living with Bianca and Ricky; Peggy and Frank are an item.

Oh, I’ve finally met Jamie Mitchell. And all this has happened in the few short months since I’ve been out of the PBS loop. Whew!

But there is no sign of Samantha’s or Sharon’s return; there is no Jim (Carol’s father); there is no Laura, Nathan, Janine. Steve has not yet appeared (although I hear it’s soon).

Cut to BBCA. While waiting for my VCR to arrive, I still had access to a TV and BBCA. So I tune in, and that’s when all hell broke loose.

All of a sudden there is the malevolent Nathan, trying to break up Natalie and Barry. (By the way, when did Natalie return? And with a nose job!) The whole Steve/Melanie/Saskia storyline is over, and it’s not even begun on PBS, so I have no idea what went on there. Where is Michael Rose and family? I know Matthew Rose has a long sad storyline, but that hasn’t started on PBS either. So there are huge gaps in my knowledge. Stories and characters have come and already gone and I am in the dark.

On top of that, I’m now immersed in the sad spectacle of the Slaters. Little Mo (a more appropriate name might be Little Mind) is in jail. I’ve met the awful Trevor, but I’ve yet to see the episodes where he abuses her and she attacks him.

Suddenly Sharon and Samantha are back. The new Sam, and the new Janine, take some getting used to, but I was shocked to hear Sharon returned because the wonderful Angie died. I was not prepared for that. Mostly, though, I never can remember who is still in or out on either PBS or BBCA.

Why is Lisa hot for Michael when she’s with Mark? Oh, that’s because it’s PBS not BBCA. And whose baby is it anyway?

What happened to Sarah Hills? Robbie is back on BBCA, but still gone from PBS. Yikes. You really need a scorecard here.

I knew I wasn’t alone in this great confusion, so I asked some other fans to share their experiences. I’d hoped to learn something about how to handle this, and also to help others. Here’s what they have to say:

Jane Pond, of Philadelphia, reports: “It’s interesting to talk about the cognitive dissonance between the U.S. episodes and the BBC ones. I found it most discon-certing when, arriving in the U.K., I would watch the ‘Omnibus.’ Sometimes I would see part of a storyline in which I knew very few of the characters. I think that one I saw several years ago will be coming up soon, involving a new doctor to the Square.

“In November 2000, I caught the Peggy/Frank/Pat/Roy episodes. I couldn’t believe my luck! I don’t usually read ahead, so don’t know what’s going on. Sometimes, when the episodes would show up on PBS, I would be reminded of my trips to London. Those are nice memories.

“Here in Philly, I think every-one who is currently on (or has just left) from the current story-lines has showed up. Interesting that some are more glamorous later on than in the beginning.”

Chimes in Tim Wilson of New York City: “Watching EE on both PBS and BBCA can be a fascinating experience because, unbeknownst to both, obviously, there can be a synchronicity between their EE broadcasts. An example which resonated most to me occurred back in September 2000. On BBCA in EastEnders: The Early Years (reruns of the show which harkened back to 1986, and discontinued last year), Ethel and Dot were seen in their famous, brilliant two-hander episode.”

Reports Doris Evans, also of New York City: “Well, I have been watching BBCA since about Halloween time 2001 and I felt giddy for a time shifting back and forth.

“ The WLIW episodes (with Tiffany’s attempting to leave Grant) are currently more interesting than the BBCA current episodes of the extremely dysfunctional family of the Slaters and the constant berating of Zoe and Anthony’s relationship; Mark’s trying to have a family and relationship with talkative Lisa who is a passive trouble maker; Ian’s descent into debauchery.

I’m adjusting, so when WLIW is about to come on, I watch the last 20 minutes of the week before, which helps centre me to what’s coming, and I travel back in time and know everything. I just feel lucky to be an EE fan and enjoy every minute of it.”

Reports Dana Gordon, also of New York City: “I tape both the PBS and the BBCA episodes (on the same tape) and then watch them when I have the time. I use the same tape over and over so not only do I end up with different time periods, I get storyline shifts from the same period back to back as well. If I’m not paying close attention, I can really get confused.

“In any event, I certainly experience that disconnect you are talking about. I’ve often watched an episode not really knowing what time it’s from and being quite startled by a particular character showing up. Good thing it’s all on tape so I can rewind and follow the story again, this time with the “right” time on my EastEnders watch!

“The most interesting disconnect moments are happening now. The WLIW New York PBS storylines are about three years behind BBCA, and the gap can be tricky to fill, especially where the same characters show up in both times.

“I know that many viewers don’t like spoilers, but I’m not one of them. I’ve read Tiffany’s Diary (available for sale through the Walford Gazette) and Bianca’s Diary books as well as others which include current U.K. storylines. “The current PBS stories are just what I read about a couple of years ago in the diaries. I have found that it doesn’t matter what I read about a future storyline—when it actually happens, I’m riveted.

“Of course, like many viewers, there’s that other source of the disconnect: I make up storylines in my head for my favourite characters, so there’s been a bit of surprise when something I think “should” happen happens sort of the way I imagine it. Either that proves the magic of EastEnders, or it proves that I am watching far too much television!”

Finally, someone who wasn’t too confused, fellow New Yorker Donna Peet: “I was so thrilled to finally get BBC America, that I happily overlooked any confusion from watching storylines separated by more than three-and-one-half years—although it is slightly disconcerting when new characters pop up on the PBS series that have either been on BBCA for some time or already left. It throws me a little, and then I get used to it.

“I just realized one thing that keeps me focused as to which EE era I’m watching: Peggy’s hairdos. There are two, but when I see the shorter one, I know we’re in the new millennium.”




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