Five times a week? Too much for this Corrie fan
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted. Not from physical activity, oh no! I'm worn out trying to keep up to date with my favourite television programme, the one and only Coronation Street. I sometimes can't quite believe that I give over two and half hours of my week to the Street. But I do because I can't do without it. And if I'm jiggered from watching it, imagine how the cast and crew feel from cramming all that action in to five half hours a week. As has often been highlighted, that's like making a very long feature film every week. And I for one think it's all just too much!
Remember the good old days when Corrie went out twice a week? It seems almost leisurely now, an easy walk in the park compared to today's Corrie treadmill. The show was originally broadcast every Monday and Wednesday evening and this suited just fine until an extra Friday episode was added in 1989. Sundays were added in 1996 and finally a fifth episode came along in 2002. I can remember when an extra episode or an hour long special signified a special event, like a death, a wedding or someone else being plunged into the canal. However the more episodes that appeared, the more diluted the classic Street formula became. The jury is out for me as to whether the overall standards of Corrie plots, writing and acting have declined (I'm sure there are strong opinions on this out there!) however for me it is all about how competitive television has become.
If the new Coronation Street producer was to make any changes at all, I personally would love him to reduce the number of episodes aired every week from five down to three - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. That would also allow the massive cast of actors to be significantly reduced so everyone present could have their chance to shine. At the moment the number of babies and child actors probably totals more than the overall Corrie principal cast of 40 years ago! I know this isn't at all likely to happen. It is easy enough for the powers that be to add extra episodes, but to reduce them would immediately be pounced on by the media as a negative move, showing that the Street was losing popularity. However, I live in hope!
So what do you think? Do you agree that too many episodes of Corrie are broadcast every week? Do you think this has damaged the quality of drama Coronation Street has always been justly proud of? And what other suggestions might you have for the new producer?
I want to hear your thoughts, opinions and suggestions! As you can see, Hilda's on tenterhooks!
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It's debits vs. credits.
ReplyDeleteThe Meerkats have a certain target viewer, and so long as Corrie provides the desired demographic, someone in the ITV accounting department will point out to the bosses that they are happy to be able to buy more black ink than red ink.
The producers must balance the demand for more "product" against the public's supposed desire for, like, art, but you can guess who is usually going to win such a dispute.
"I personally would love him to reduce the number of episodes aired every week from five down to three - Monday, Wednesday and Friday."
ReplyDelete- Perfectundo!!!
And even then, due to other demands I'll still end up missing episodes.
I'd like the Monday-Wednesday-Friday formula. And just one episode on the Monday and Friday.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the comparison to one feature film a week. In the old days of Hollywood they churned out movies at a greater rate than that. We are not talking about one Gone With The Wind per week here but the B formula movie. Naturally, quality is the first casualty. However profits are the second casualty and this is the one that counts. Make no mistake, they do not make Corrie for our benefit, it is an excuse to sell ad space. Hence it will get worse before getting better, if ever. One day the quality will be so bad that people will stop watching. Only then will it be cut back, or cancelled.
ReplyDeleteWith so many episodes in the week, we're almost watching in real time. That's why when story lines fly along, you think:"When did that happen? I was only watching two days ago." For example, Paul and Eileen's descent into madness would have seemed less abrupt if there had been fewer episodes as it would have suggested more of a time lapse.
ReplyDeleteBah hum bug, can't get enough, but if they did have it on three nights a week make it an hour long, here in Canada we're behind. Also send Carla and Peter back to Florida in the swamp, enjoyed them not being there and Mam, so glad Tracey's part's over for a while. 38, and not able to take care of herself and she has the brains, ( writers do better and not the factory ).
ReplyDeleteok let me get this right people compain when it was not enough episode just 2 aweek then they increased it to 3 times but now it on 5 episode a week people still complain my thinking is if you love the programme then it does not matter how many times it on you just enjoy it personally i think keep it to 5 episode but 1 programme each night
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ReplyDeleteI loved it at two and three episodes a week :) I still love it now but if it was on every night I'd never go out and my partner would divorce me before we were even married! ;)
The jury is not out on whether standards have declined with the increasing number of episodes. They obviously have. Look at all the recycled plots and mistakes in continuity. In the days of two episodes a week, Coronation Street was high quality television. Now its pap.
ReplyDeleteMonday, Wednesday and Friday but an hour each night. Graeme, in this age of recorders and YouTube you can go out - no need to be tied to the TV.
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ReplyDeleteGood point! Although three hours of Coronation Street a week?! Far too much!! Rita would need to go away for another cruise!
I personally ascribe to the idea that exclusivity drives up demand. Rather than pumping out Corrie episodes to attach as many adverts as they can, Corrie should cut back, devote serious effort to quality writing and actors, and driving up viewership means advertising space can cost more (a la Super Bowl, Grey Cup or other "limited" sporting events - advertisers pay HUGE for those opportunities). While television exists to sell advertising, the reality is that shows are produced to drive up viewership, to sell advertising at higher prices. Quality over quantity, that's the only way to revivie Corrie and bring in new viewers, never mind the ability to record episodes. Anticipation creates excitment.
ReplyDeleteWell, he can get rid of the Tracy Barlow character once and for all...I love Corrie but watching it Wed night I was subject to orange Tina and airhead Tommy for almost the whole time. The same lines, over and over from the preceeding episode they were in. What is the point? Filling in time yeah..I got it but there has to be more to this show than sending characters away, just to bring them back and start the same storylines over again. (Peter/Carla/Leanna/Nick AGAIN)
ReplyDeleteSomebody better do some housecleaning.
I also would prefer less episodes per week. Anonymous 20:16 has a very good point that it's become too advert driven. I usually only watch two or three times per week, sometimes once or none, and like Anonymous 21:48 says, sometimes it feels like the same episode I've already watched. The problem I see with such a huge cast is that there isn't nearly the community feel to it like it was up to the 90s -- almost all characters had some kind of interaction with each character, but it seems now there are cliques of characters that hash over, and over, and over, and over the same kinds of stories.
ReplyDeleteNo question that it would be a better programme with fewer eps per week.
ReplyDeleteBut we all know that TV is not about delivering programmes to viewers, it's about delivering eyes to advertisers. As long as they can rake in the dosh from selling two nights more advertising than is wise, they will do so. Viewers can go to hell and realise their low place in the pecking order.
I like having lots of episodes, or I get bored with nothing to watch!
ReplyDeleteThree episodes would be ideal - and maybe then they could reinstate rehearsals, which would greatly improve the standard of acting. But it ain't gonna happen, ITV would far rather put out more, lower quality episodes and make more money from the adverts.
ReplyDeleteThey can make as many episodes as they want. Love Corrie and will watch them all.
ReplyDeleteGood point, John McE -- the lack of rehearsals may be contributing to the poor reaction to characters such as Sophie, Rob, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe whole Street needs to go on birth control for a year -- way, wayyyy too many babies/small kids and too many oh-so-dramatic (not) pregnancy stories. It's a cheap way out. What do we do with this female character under fifty years of age? A baby!
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