Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi gyd! (Happy New Year to you all!)Today marks a year since I joined the Coronation Street Blog team, and my, how quickly that year went by!
To mark my first anniversary and to get a discussion going at the beginning of 2013, I'd like to ask you this question: When was Corrie's golden age?
When you watch Corrie now, do you say to yourself: 'it's not like it used to be' and do you hark back to the bygone days?
When were those for you?
The black and white 1960s when Ena, Minnie and Martha reigned supreme in the snug and when Emily was simply Miss Nugent? Or the 1970s that were bookended with strikes? Maybe you're partial to the 1980s with the Ken/Mike/Deirdre triangle and Alan Bradley's reign of terror? Perhaps the 1990s with Raquel, Reg Holdsworth and the Wiltons? Or the 2000s with Hillmania? Or is it a golden age now?
Or perhaps it's not a whole decade - maybe it's just only a couple of years?
Personally, I got into Corrie in 2002 and enjoyed the period between 2002 and 2006. And looking at old episodes I'd say the period between 1977 and 1989 was very strong: iconic characters, strong storylines and that wonderful mix of drama and comedy that makes Corrie so different to other soaps. Although it was a time of great change for the programme behind the scenes, it was also a time of stability on the cobbles: Alf was at the Corner Shop, Rita and Mavis at the Kabin, Mike at the factory and Annie Walker and then Bet Lynch at the Rovers.
So, when was Corrie's golden age for you?
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11 comments:
I think the true golden age for the Street was between 1976-1984. Although this is before my time I have seen a lot of episodes from this period and the vast majority are wonderful. I think things improved when they brought Elsie Tanner back in '76 and the quality slid a bit in the mid-80s when so many classic characters left.
It's hard to choose between the 80's and the 90's because both were such fun with drama, comedy and many lovely scenes with the characters chatting and doing what folks do in real life (unlike the constant drama-for-ratings which is now the Corrie norm).
I agree that the Podmore era was best but am also keen on the early 90s, especially when David liddement gave the show a bit of a kick pace wise. - Micky
I started watching it in 1975 and loved it. It's a cliche, but it really did make you laugh and cry. It was a highlight of the week.
I'm not sure exactly when it started going downhill, but I was losing interest in the late 90s. In hindsight, I think the Hillman saga ruined it. The programme was never meant to be about serial killers, but now every major storyline has to be sensational. There is nothing done small any more.
Now, I rarely watch it, as I just get sad seeing the demise of a once great show.
I started watching when Karen and Steve were together. Fred Elliot was still around..still around and Blanche was always hilarious.
I think the producers lost the plot..constantly trying to out-do EE with ridiculous plot lines and murderous bad guys popping up at every turn.
It went sour for me when Tracy B killed her boyfriend...pre-meditated murder by a character that had grown up on the street and was never held accountable. That plus the on-going personality switches, and the rape of Carla Connor.
I really miss Betty and Blance..the street isn't the same without them. Re-hashing old storylines with different characters leaves me cold..it's insulting too.
I can't specify which was the golden era as I only started watching in the 70's. Probably there were some dips even at the height of its glory. I didn't care for Reg and Maureen but I loved Maude.
At one time, I would kill anyone who talked while Corrie was on but technology has dampened the suspense in that you can record episodes and then there's the omnibus. Plots weren't routinely leaked and I remember going beserk when someone told me what was going to happen to Alan Bradley! I stopped feeling excited about the show after Alma died - 2000 ish. It seemed to drift towards relentless sensationalism after that. I believe the publicity machine has killed the show just as much as the writers. Because I know what's going to happen, I look for other things like character development etc, and that's when I probably get too analytical.
In a nutshell - The Annie Walker Years! If only one of the many ITV channels would show the series from the very beginning, millions of younger viewers would be able to see Corrie at it's finest.
The two periods I keep going back to are the late 70s and very late 80s/early 90s, but in truth I don't think there were any serious lows in the first 35 years. I think it's only since then as Corrie has shed its identity a piece at a time that the golden age has ended.
I personally think 1974-1984 were really strong years and probably the golden years of the soap. 62-66 are second.
Must admit I thought this topic would get way more replies!
The 60's was brilliant. Nothing happened in any episode but the writing was like poetry. They struggled in the early 70's with different producers coming in and trying to change things. But
1976-1984 the Bill Podmore years was truly the golden years. Corrie always had humour but Bill's philoshophy was humour and entertainment are no1. That made corrie a unique tv series that stood out from other soaps. I think it went a bit dull in the 80's and 90's and had another good run around 2003 Richard Hillman year then 2004 Mad Maya, Tracy announcing she is pregnant at Steve & Karens wedding, Todd's coming out and Gail & Eileens first street fight.
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