End of an era... in two years time.

[elisi]

From the Radio Times:

Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat quits to be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall

Only a Doctor Who Christmas special will air in 2016. Moffat's final series to be broadcast next year in order to create a “huge event” for fans. Chibnall will begin his tenure in 2018

And this seems quite fitting.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Same thing happened with Joss Whedon - by S5 Buffy, he had three television series he was heavily involved with: Firefly, Buffy, and Angel.
Rod Sterling was even worse - he wrote almost all of Twilight Zone (22 episodes a year) plus Night Gallery. Talk about writer burnout.

Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder) is better at delegating and spacing stuff out. So each lasted longer.

Julian Fellows - Downton Abbey also wrote all the episodes of the series and has burned out around S6.

So yep, it's all about spacing ...

[elisi]

by S5 Buffy, he had three television series he was heavily involved with: Firefly, Buffy, and Angel.
I remember. :(

So yep, it's all about spacing ...
Interestingly, then I think the fact that Moffat is married with children means that he has to pace himself more than f.ex. RTD. Not that RTD doesn't have a partner, but RTD would spend large chunks of the year alone in Cardiff.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Not necessarily...it's actually easier sometimes for people with families to do a lot of work - because your spouse can pick up the heavy lifting, make the meals, etc, while you just focus on the work. (I just saw the film Trumbo - he owes 90% of that to having a family, he'd never have managed without having one.)

Being without a family is hard work -- you have to do EVERYTHING yourself.

[elisi]

Well, Sue Vertue (Moffat's wife) is a producer (on f.ex. Sherlock) and has not exactly devoted herself to looking after her husband... But yes, having that structure probably helps a lot.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Very weird - I responded and it ended up on my liverjounal as a post not a response to yours.

Anyhow, if she's producing Sherlock - it sounds like she's supporting him, right? I mean they work together? That's my brother and his wife's relationship, they work together, and each take turns taking care of the kids. They aren't doing it alone.

Whedon was horrid at pacing and had a family and support just like Moffat.

But Shondra Rhimes? Single Mom and she's running three television series - all at the top of the ratings in the US, and one in it's 12th season.

I don't think we can generalize. Some individuals are just better at juggling or multi-tasking than others. Also it may have a lot to do with the subject matter - Doctor Who unlike other television series is incredibly limiting from a writer's perspective - you have two characters, the Doctor and the companion, a set mythology, and a rabid fandom? It's easier I think, for a writer, to sustain if you have a large ensemble and not one lead. I remember Whedon stating that at one point in an interview. And I've noticed the US shows that have lasted a long time have ensemble casts. Although there are the procedurals with a similar set-up to Doctor Who that go on forever. I tend to lose interest in them after about two or three years -- because I'm more character than plot oriented, and they tend to not change much in regards to character. But they are very popular, so mileage varies.

[elisi]

Very weird - I responded and it ended up on my liverjounal as a post not a response to yours.
How odd! The lateness of my reply is only due to life, and not to any fault on LJs part though. :)

But Shondra Rhimes? Single Mom and she's running three television series - all at the top of the ratings in the US, and one in it's 12th season.
Ah, but she's a woman! *g*

Doctor Who unlike other television series is incredibly limiting from a writer's perspective - you have two characters, the Doctor and the companion, a set mythology, and a rabid fandom?
I'm slightly puzzled by this comment. I'd say it's the *least* limited. You can go anywhere, anywhen, do anything. Add any extras you want, tell any story that's interesting enough? Western, bank heist, murder mystery, the list is endless. Plus, Doctor Who doesn't have a canon. Oh, rabid fans SAY it has, but the show runners don't take a blind bit of notice. ;) And of course, the cast changes regularly.

ETA: Darn, accidentally pressed 'post':

But they are very popular, so mileage varies.
Well, it's like soaps, I suppose. People like serialised story telling. And with stuff like NCIS you can keep it going forever...