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This week, we ask the question "Is This A Golden Era For Corrie?". Personally, I figure that the previous Golden Eras (Corrie at its best) for Corrie was 1962-1968, 1976-1982 and 2001-2004, with the ultimate era 62-68, when Corrie drama was at its grittiest. So what we are asking you is this era (2010-2011) a Golden Corrie Era?
I think so. Corrie these days remind me much of the 76-82 period, where there was a distinctive sense of community in the air, particulary at Roy and Hayley's wedding, which is, personally, my favourite ever Corrie episode. It reminded me so much of the 70's episodes I have watched on my box set. Of course, the Tram Crash episodes may not remind people of Corrie they remember from their younger days, but it reminds people how Corrie is still the best Soap Opera on TV, even after 50 years.
So that is why I think Corrie is currently in the midst of a Golden Era, every Corrie I watch is enjoyable. Sure, it may not equal the glory days of 62-68. but this period of 2010-2011 (and maybe 2012) is certainly Corrie's freshest and best episodes for ten years. Lets just hope it carries on that way.
So it's a Yay from me, what about you?
Are you having a laugh?! NAY!
ReplyDeleteYay and Nay.
ReplyDeleteIt's just Corrie. It has its ups and downs... it lurches then recovers.
Only complete idiots would assume that a all-year-round series could maintain the highest standards thought the year (and then moan about it continuously)
However, the recent News of the World-led anti-Corrie campaign does no-one any favours. Suggesting "crisis" when none exists is counter-productive and childish.
If you don't like a storyline, say so, but to wholesale slate the series is beyond moronic.
Yay from me, it has been better recently although there was a bit of a slump during January-April.
ReplyDeleteNot even close. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your other three 'golden eras', though.
Would also like to nominate 1989/90 - although this may just be because it was the first era of Corrie I watched, so I remember it very fondly.
As the OP pointed out, it will never be as good as the 70s, but I'm saying Yay. Its the best its been since 2005 I think.
ReplyDeleteHere Here Annie. I really enjoy Corrie and have for awhile. It's got clunker storylines and a handful of actors that i could do without but i also think how the show has evolved since the early days is great. I personally love the long storyline arcs like the recent Stape madness and prefer it to now you see it, now you don't quick storylines. Which, i might add, do have their place but interwoven around the longer arcs.
ReplyDeleteYay! It's the funniest its ever been!
ReplyDeleteI don't know that it's a "Golden Era", but it's been quite good. There probably would be more support for the show right now had it not been for the previously mentioned "crisis" at Coronation Street. That's the "crisis" that never was, mind you.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, Nay, although every now and then a storyline comes close to those of the Golden Eras. I just wish they would use some of the older characters for more than window dressing...I am really tired of Becky, Kylie, and Sian and whatsit.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Hilda Ogden when you need her???
Nay Im afraid. I see 1976-1984 as the golden era. Corrie under Bill Podmore was its best. I also loved 1989-1995. Todays corrie is up on the last couple of years but still needs a bit of a kick. Would help if the scenes in the rovers were more focused on the bar converstaions with a witty likeable barmaid. Tina aint no Bet and her contribution to what made corrie cannot be underestimated- Micky
ReplyDeleteA Golden Era is something you look back on and it's hard to make a statement about a period you're living through. Pedantics aside, I think the present series stands up quite well. The stories compare well but we don't have the characters like we did in the old days. Corrie, being a very British soap, was full of class war in the early days. Annie Walker was the snooty social climber and Ken was/is a cultural snob. Sally shows signs of being a brilliant Hyacinth Bucket and Julie could struggle with living with middle class Brian. At the moment, the characters are all a bit the same - working class and resigned to their lot. It may be real life but it's not much good as drama.
ReplyDeleteYay, I think in future generation would look back to this time and say the same thing you guys are saying about the old characters. I've never seen Annie Walker, but from what I've read and seen, I think we are better off without her. But that's because I am younger and think she is just a grumpy old beggar who is lonely so continue to be a snob. Sally is more likeable even tho she mirrors Annie. It's the generation thing, I think?
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's holding it's own right now, so Yay. I do agree with Humpty that we would need some hindsight to judge it properly. I watched some of the 80s when Bet and Raquel made the Rovers the real heart and hub of the show. It still is, but not from behind the bar, especially since Liz left.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that some class climbing wouldn't hurt, though these days the divide between the rich and the rest of us is so wide I don't think it would hold water. We need some good protest marches! Emily, put on your boots!
You must be stark raving barmy even to ask that, its at its lowest period for a LONG time. I dont think I have ever seen so many complaints on the web boards, granted 20 years ago we didnt have them. But in a nutshell it is lacking in humour unless you found the ridiculous Tommy eats two dinners funny. Too much emphasis on certain characters, Becky is back yet again and no Dennis again, this is becoming ad nauseum. If you watch the Corrie from the old days when it was character driven and the diagloge was sparkling and you really cared about the characters. NAY NAY NAY NAY and for evermore NAY.
ReplyDeleteIt has much improved in the last two months however it was very dire for months before that. If the good episodes keep coming it will be a Yay from me.
ReplyDeleteGolden Age!!!??? NAY, NAY AND NAY. Coronation Street is on five times a week for a start with all the consequent continuity errors, personality changes and milking of stories to death.
ReplyDeleteThe Golden Age was between 1976 and 1984. The episodes were funny, entertaining, sometimes profound, brilliantly written, well acted and something to look forward to. The characters were iconic and memorable. I like Becky, but she's not Elsie Tanner or even close,
Coronation Street is not in the middle of a Golden Age now and it will never be until it cuts the number of episodes and begins producing shows of consistent high quality, as it did in the past.
RE: Frosty The Snowman, why do you even watch the show when all you do is complain about it?
ReplyDeletea Yay from me, it has been the best its ever been for a few years now and looks like it will get better now that Xin is gone etc.
As you pointed out, "era" seems to cover 4- 6 years. Corrie's been good lately but i would hardly describe it as an era yet. And yes, as others have said, there are a lot of inconsistencies and continuity flubs. Churning out 5 a week has made the show suffer in some respects. Right now, overall, it's good.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear Anonymous ^
ReplyDeleteThe ratings are good, Frosty.
Yay from me.
1976-1984 is the golden era imo. Classic characters (Ogdens, Elsie, Ena, Albert, Eddie Yeats, Len, the Rovers team - Annie, Betty, Bet and Fred) as well as the currebt stalwarts, iconic moments (Ken/Deirdre/Mike, Elsie leaving, Ken/Deirdre wedding, Ernie's murder, Hilda weeping over Stan, Bet walking into the Rovers in Annie's dress, Rover in the lake). Small cast - you felt you knew them! Now? Doesn't come close, sorry to say, even if I tune in.
ReplyDeleteNAY - I don't think it's a Golden Era but at least it is picking up now. As I have said ad nauseum it's the character saturation and overplaying that kills it for me, as well as the complete disregard for history and continuity just to get another roller-coaster post-watershed harrowing storyline in. But I loved the Stapewick saga, and Julie, Sally, Steve, Rosie (and others)are great characters. Just a shame some characters are asked to do things beyond their obvious capabilities - stop it, right now you lot - you know who you are!
ReplyDeleteBut then Fat Brenda AND Ozzy got name checks on Friday so perhaps things are improving on the Corrie Cobbles!
It's not a Golden Age, but perhaps working towards a sort of Brassy-Tinted Age instead?
A question was asked YAY or NAY, so why are people who answered NAY then told they are being negative?
ReplyDeleteThe definition of "Golden Age" is when something was as its best and I dont think anybody can possibly say that Corrie is that at this present time.
It is a generation thing. Public polls for the 100 Best Comedies, Films etc are always weighted to more recent stuff. How can someone under 30 judge the Coronation Street of the 60s, 70s and 80s, let alone have any affection for it?
ReplyDeleteThe comments about Annie Walker above illustrate the point. Annie Walker was a snob, like Ena Sharples was a battleaxe. On paper they weren't attractive characters, but they had their good sides and were acted brilliantly, so they became loved and people really cared about them.
It's not the same today. Becky had a real emotional kicking last week, but few seemed to notice. She, like others, is over exposed, too inconsistent and involved in too many far fetched stories like being arrested on her Wedding Day and buying her nephew.
Corrie is not having a Golden Week, never mind a Golden Age. Frankly, the idea is ridiculous. Nay.
Perhaps someone who thinks Coronation Street is having a Golden Age would like to put forward a decent argument about why the past year/couple of years have been better than most of the preceding years. “I think it’s good at the moment” is not very convincing.
ReplyDeleteBet, Betty and Fred with Annie + Rita and Mavis + Alf in the shop = the triue golden age. Put Julie behind the bar and show more of Norris and Rita and we would be getting there.
ReplyDeleteGolden Age? LOL.
ReplyDeleteMemorable stories like errr Jim’s bank robbery, Graeme and Xin, Becky’s baby buying, Maria’s attempted “rap”, Lianne’s real mother turning up after 30 years…
Iconic characters like errr Dev, Cheryl, Maria, Chris, Faye, Katy, Sian, Tommy, Amber, Marc and Frank.
In 10 years time, if people are talking about anything in 2011, apart from the 50th, it will be in terms of how it contributed to the axing of the show.
Definitely NAY! I thought things would pick up a bit when Dennis Tanner came back. But since they got him back they've done virtually nothing with him.
ReplyDeleteBosses should look at the profile of who actually lioves in the street. No 1- Fine, long live the barlows, No 3- Fine but bring back Spider!, No 5- Your time is up, No 7- In desperate need of help,No 9- Tyrone is great but Tina and Tommy bring nothing to the show, No 11- Sean and Marcus should have got their own place, No 13- Already sorted, No 2- Websters rock, No 4- Give them time and No 6- Give Gail a decent storyline. Leanne and peter are great but all the 'extras' need looking at. Julie is great but what aboiut others like Sylvia, Marc, Sian, Carla, Frank? Cant we just concentrate on the interaction between the people who actually live on the street itself? Cant Carla lose all her money and end up a bit of a desperate cougar? Please let Kirk go? and most of all let stories take a natural amount of time. The street in its real 'golden era' did not rely on everyone being at it with everyone else and then forgetting they have within seconds. I am fed up with new characters being brought in all the time. Dont get me wrong I love the street but its not what it was!
ReplyDeleteIts got to be Yay and Nay as it has got its ups and downs, but i think the way it was filmed was better years ago. These days, there are too many swinging shots and too much fancy photography and it spoils watching Coronation Street.
ReplyDeleteNay from me too...it was far from 'golden'. More like $hit brown. Crappy storylines, more evil bitches on one street that you could count and the "invasion of the personality snatchers". Yep..no one was the same after the tram crash and nobody liked it much either. All Becky or Becky and Steve or Becky and Tracy or Becky and ..insert name here...
ReplyDeleteGive us back our Corrie!!! Tina can leave anytime..acting like the hurt little virgin when she's been in more blokes bed than I can remember..and she used to live with David Platt! (They'd better give us back our old David..this new changed man of the house routine is doing my head in)
Errm I am wondering if I'm watching the same show. It's a sincere NAY from me! Watching "The Corrie Years" depressed me even further remembering the strong characters, acting and breakthroughs of the past. The golden age, I'm afraid this is not. I continue to watch in the hope that it will return to be consistent and of high standard again. But golden years I'm afraid seems a long way away!
ReplyDeleteI don't like it, luv. Too many serial killers (one was MORE than enough), too much trauma, too much drama, too much bitching, horrid 50s/60s/70s/80s decor... I can't compare it to my favourite eras - 1960-1968 or 1976-1989. I think it's TV for vampires who feed on tragedy and sensationalism. Sorry, don't mean to offend cos I know there's a lovely bunch of folk around this blog!
ReplyDelete