Well... We now know why there won't be any TW for a while...

[emzbuckley.livejournal.com]

RTD has just done an interview with Pink News and it doesn't look like there will be any TW for a while and it also explains why the head of Starz said they were willing to wait for RTD and for him to take as long as he wanted. His partner has been diagnosed with brain cancer and so they have come home and RTD, depending on how his partner reacts to the chemo and radiation, might be taking up to a year off. His other projects, his other tv shows he was plugging to the the states have also been shelved as well. He hasn't worked since August... so it now makes sense why John, Julie and co don't know anything about a new series. He also does admit that MD wasn't as well received and the reviews on the series are mixed. You can read the interview here. I have to say, as much as i don't like RTD, i feel so sorry for him and his partner, its terrible.

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/12/05/interview-russell-t-davies-on-shelving-us-projects-his-partners-cancer-diagnosis-and-coming-home/

Comments

[tlen2.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for the poor guy who has cancer (and the misfortune to love RTD) but this can't be the reason why Starz does not continue. A lot of shows have continued without the person who created it in the first place. And TW is arat of a fandom which existed long before RTD. So it is even more logical to continue without him. If Starz really wish to continue, if they would be satiesfied with the outcome of MD, they would find a way to produce the next season without him. They continue Spartacus without Andy Whitfield, they even ordered season 3 before season 2 has aired, so not knowing if the new lead actor will be excepted by the audience. RTD accidentely has given Starz a nice excuse not to continue with TW without having to name the real reason that MD completely sucked.

[ella-caramella.livejournal.com]

I agree with tlen2, very hard to believe a successful(?) show gets halted because of the health problems of one of the producers' significant other.

No matter how serious said health problems are, I can't see a tv network, or in this case two tv networks, as willing to delay to indefinite time something that would bring them money. Not to mention the putting on hold the whole production, cast and crew, with possible penalties to cover for unfulfilled contracts, to wait for RTD's partner to get better.

Sorry, I don't buy it.

[wanda1969.livejournal.com]

Another thing is that Starz and the BBC CAN'T wait so long between series- the march of time carries on, 'and fans' will only wait so long between those series. And even more importantly, the main character (although I'm aware that RTD may not see it this way) is an immortal, slow-aging time traveller. John Barrowman may wear his age well, but there's only so long between shows where the audience won't notice that he's aging at an entirely normal rate for humans!

[kassy2.livejournal.com]

What a load of self grandiose rubbish! As if he were the only person who could possibly, ever, run TW!!
It managed very well without him (in all but executive- name) in series one and two, it suffered enormously when he took over the reins in CoE and it sank, almost without trace, when he took it to the states in his new version.
Ditching RTD would be the only way to save TW right now, but he is not willing to admit that, is he??
And, I thought he split up with the guy some time ago?
I feel for anyone in the other guys position, especially as he now appears to be having to be nursed by Toad of Toad Hall, but I feel NO sympathy, whatsoever, for RTD. He is clutching at straws- no-one has picked up on his god awful "cucumber" thing so he needs an excuse to get back over here and mess with our TV again. I just hope to god that the BBC has the sense to barricade the doors and pretend they aren't home when he calls.....

[junealready.livejournal.com]

So OK you don't like RTD, I don't like some of the things he's done either,
But to say he is just using his long term partners brain cancer as an excuse to shelve the US shows and return to the UK, is... well, words fail me.

I can find no evidence that he had been separated from his partner (who went to the US with him). I actually applaud him for staying in the UK to look after his partner. He got his priorities right.

[ccoralacid.livejournal.com]

i remember references to a split around the time of COE --i think it was common knowledge for a while--but i guess they got back together

[kamiandcat.livejournal.com]

And once again somebody else gets blamed for RTDs fail. No fans to blame left Crusty? The terrible boyfriend needs to step in as the goat? That's low.

Anyway, I hope that his partner make a full recovery soon. My heart goes out to him. But RTD? He's the gu who though it would be delicious to have a likable peadophile in his show...to say it in Torchwoods own words: I wouldn't piss on him if he would be on fire.

[kamiandcat.livejournal.com]

Jesus...that should say the terrible ILL boyfriend up there. Hell of a messed up writing...

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think the show isn't continuing because of RTD's personal situation. He was pretty well off to Cucumber land anyway.

That aside, I will give him some credit for being a decent human being. Lot's of partners wouldn't put their whole lives/careers on hold for a sick spouse. Assuming this isn't some bit of nonsense, then he is making a real sacrifice for someone other than himself. Color me surprised.

Being a caregiver is not an easy job. I hope RTD is able to continue to be help his partner and that his partner makes a full recovery.

No, this doesn't mean that I'm revising my opinion of RTD's writing ability or his treatment of his fans, but I wouldn't wish cancer on anyone or their partner. It doesn't matter whether he or his supporters would extend the same courtesy to me and mine, as the OP said, its terrible.

[kassy2.livejournal.com]

Being the cynic that I am I do have to wonder what would be happening right now if MD had been a worldwide success.....

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

I find your remarks disturbing. I don't know what anyone would be doing if MD has been a success, but you fail to consider that RTD has walked away from another project to take care of his partner. Do you think he's just making this up? To what end?

I think he has made no small sacrifice here. I can dislike a person's work and their interaction with fans and still have sympathy for him as a human being. I can even admire the choice he has made. He has a partner with a brain tumor. This is serious stuff and a lot more important than whether TW will continue. RTD seems to have his priorities in good order, you might want to do the same.

[dr-doomsduck.livejournal.com]

That aside, I will give him some credit for being a decent human being. Lot's of partners wouldn't put their whole lives/careers on hold for a sick spouse.

Look, I agree, he's being decent here, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people would like to stay with their SO's when they're sick, but for a lot of people that just isn't possible, there are bills that need to be paid, especially with a sick partner.

No-one deserves something like this, I hope his partner gets well soon. That's on a personal level.

Speaking about his work. The idea for Cucumber sounds ridiculous, and very much like a step backwards. Weren't we supposed to get to the point where it wouldn't matter if you were gay or not...you know, that they'd just be normal people? and now this guy wants to write about gay men and their gayness...Isn't that like saying you want to write about black men and their blackness. But then again,I don't think that any series should start with the script:

'There was a genuine scientific survey done somewhere in Switzerland about erectile dysfunction, which categorised hard-ons into four categories: tofu, peeled banana, banana and cucumber. '

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

Its not the 'can' that's important here. Lot's of people who could take off time from work to be with a sick loved one don't. There are lots of reasons for this, but the bottom line is that he is making an unselfish choice.

I'm going to decline to discuss his work in this post. For me its a matter of time and place.

[dr-doomsduck.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I'll concede to not discuss the man's work here.

[jo02]

I'm always among the first to bag RTD, but I also want to be right up there with my sympathy and very best wishes on hearing this. This is something completely separate from TW and I am hoping on their behalf for the very best outcome from this for both of them.

[slns7552.livejournal.com]

I sympathize with him and his partner but now I'm more confused then ever. If he is in a loving, supportive gay relationship where he would put his career on hold, why do all the gay characters/couples that he writes nasty people, die, and/or never have a happy ending? Why does he seem to hate them so much?

because he wants a cheap Oscar?

[hohaiyee.livejournal.com]

His tragedies are wangst, but damn it, the state of the union of arts is that angst = art = award.

[hydrojen90.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to point out what a bad idea it is posting this sort of thing here. It'll make us all sound like heartless dick heads.

Thing is, the terrible writing and personal life are two very separate things. My deepest sympathies go out to them at this time because that sort of thing is horrible for anyone. On the other hand, I still think he's a twat.

It's like... People in the UK will remember when Jade Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Yes, it's a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but it doesn't make her any less of a twat. The media here had written about her probably 12 months perviously stating she was a racist, and what a horrible person she was. Then suddenly, she's a national hero because she's gotten cancer? Yeah... don't think it works like that.

[dr-doomsduck.livejournal.com]

Why doesn't livejournal have a like-button again?

Either way, I do think that news like that is allowed to end up even on a site like this. I mean, we've put up basically every other scrap of news here as well. Ratings from MD, news from conventions. heck, when Elizabeth Sladen died, we had a topic about her too, I believe. How people react to it is what makes them dickheads or not. That measure is different for everyone I suppose.

[kamiandcat.livejournal.com]

I totally agree that some people might point their fingers and call me/us a dickhead, and maybe posts like this will make some people say this comm is a bad place. Personally I don't care, because I know it isn't. I have given up on trying to make things right with everyone and everybody in this fandom, because it has become a bit of a minefield ever since CoE, no matter what you say, somebody will probably always blame you. I'm glad that there are places like the AGA, because here I'll find people who might not agree with me but accept my pov.

Anyway, my dislike for RTD goes far deep then Gwen, Ianto, Torchwood, it's lines like the "delicious peadophile" which made me, it's a strong word but fits, hate the guy. As long as he not only doesn't seem to have sympathy for the victims of child abuse, but also mocks them... sorry but tell me again why I should feel sympathy for that guy? I hope his boyfriend recovers, I hope everybody around him his healthy and will live to celebrate their 100s birthday, but he, sorry couldn't care less. If that makes me a dickhead, well I can live with that.

[kamiandcat.livejournal.com]

BTW one of the, lets call them very fanatical, JB fans, posted about a LJ comm on Twitter complaining how nasty people reacted there to this news. I guess she means us here because the only other comm I saw a post on is SCB and that one is locked. (And what does it say that news like this don't make it onto Torch_wood these days??? O.o). Anyway, congrats everyone, you're all now official "crazy (and very nasty) Ianto people". *headdesk-headdesk-headdesk*.

[kassy2.livejournal.com]

Agree 100% Kami- I have the greatest sympathy for the SO- having lost half my family to cancer I know what he is going through. I hope he comes through it, I really do, he has done nothing to deserve it, no-one ever does.
Does that alter my opinion of RTD? No, why on earth would it?
He is a heartless, talentless git. Looking after your other half is what you should do, it earns no brownie points form me and does nothing to change my opinion of his ability.
Time alone will tell if it can possibly change my opinion of him as a person, and whether or not the experience will change him as a person.

Okay, NOW I feel bad for him

[hohaiyee.livejournal.com]

The idea of anything going on with my brain terrify me. I could probably rationalize away the lost of a limb or a chimpanzee destroyed face with "They'll science it back eventually", but the brain is where who you are, are.