Corrie Comicals week ending 22 February 2019

A language lesson.  In this part of the country you dine at midday and consume a dinner - none of this "lunch" nonsense.  So if you are like a hobbit (copyright JRR Tolkien) or a grease monkey as Mary calls Tyrone and need a couple of breakfasts plus a small snack between your earlier repasts and that dinner it is inevitable the snack will be "brinner" - well so Mary thinks.  They don't do dinner at (southern) dinner time either because that is tea time.

Note for our North American readers.  The UK has an age of consent of 16.  Europe has a range from 14 (Italy and Germany) upwards to 17.  I believe Canada has increased from 14 to 16 but would not see a relationship between Amy and Tyler as a problem.  Amy seems to know her own mind - but I still find it odd that she claims that at the time she wanted to do it.

As usual the words falling from the mouths of the babes are entertaining.  Ruby is clearly unhappy with Fiz's absence and thinks that Mary is a good substitute.  It just adds to Ty's paranoia which bubbles over and a little later we are reminded that Mary is not always a soft and cuddly person (do we all remember when she and Norris re-enacted "Misery"?).

Peter has just suggested to Abi that they kiss and make up.  Abi asks resident walking encyclopedia Roy for some synonyms of arrogant and he responds as we see above with "conceited, vain, egotistical".  Peter gets the point that Abi is not forgiving him!  Hard luck Peter.

The label should say "Sex Bomb" but as modelled by Kirk (above) there has clearly been a bit of a boob.  No-one had noticed and then entire production so far is scrapped.  It must have been a typing error on the order reckons Paul who appears to be wandering around the factory rather than packing in the packing area!

Some months ago the newspapers were full of reports that Alan Halsall had lost some weight.  Now I can only assume that the script writing team are seeking to put this right as for the second time this week Tyrone gets an extra meal.  Kev tells him he can eat the second batch of sandwiches as he and Jack are off on a digital detox with the money found on the mat in an envelope addressed to Sophie.  Neither Fiz nor Evelyn will recognise Tyrone when they return.

Extra at Work

Tea break time in the factory and is it just me or is Beth not looking at all well?  Never mind at least one regular extra not only appeared in the background but also gave an appreciative nod as Izzy actually gets a few lines this week as we see above.  The same extra was also doing some Madonna head nodding on Friday.

Writers: David Isaac (Monday); John Kerr (Wednesday); Julie Jones and Carmel Morgan (Friday)
Directors: David Moor (Monday); Audrey Cooke (Wednesday & Friday)

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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Corrie Comicals week ending 26 October 2018

There are a lot of complaints about the darker side of the Street and I started these postings to try and offset some of that negativity, but I really do wonder if someone is losing the plot when discussing the school holiday club and Cathy decides to talk about a university experiment involving cattle prods.  (I always believed the students did it to upset the observers so overplayed the roles deliberately to cause upset - if you have no idea what Cathy & I am talking about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment)

Mary is now aware that just about everything that issues from Jude 's mouth is a lie and is keen on playing down the "saving of Roy's life" for which Roy nominated Jude for the "Weatherfield Good Samaritan" awards.  A fact-investigator Camilla Seekings (odd name?) is seeking more details of Jude's actions and perhaps having no concern for his personal safety leads to Mary's petulant comment on the risks involved we see above.  Is lying Jude's only failure or is he also a conman and a violent abusive person?

David is of course referring to his beloved brother "Saint" Nick who can do nothing wrong as far as Gail is concerned.  David will inevitably make it up with Nick sooner or later.  Given it is Wednesday I don't understand why David is not at work and why is he watching a programme about our top fashionistas leaving the country for Italy?

Excellent performances this evening from these two.  First up Emma (Alexandra Mardell) is making it so obvious that she fancies Chesney and seems to light up any scene in which she is involved (so keeps appearing here).  Chesney gets a lot of bad press - but as he says compared with Henry and Spike he is normal (which does not play well in a soap) and of course his head is full of Gemma; Emma's face falls completely as Chesney keeps on and on about Gemma.  Chesney (Sam Aston) studiously does not look at Emma during this scene who is emoting all the signs of being attracted to him and obviously just wants to rip his clothes off him (and would like him to rip her clothes off too).  But then most men can't see such signs either.  There was also a lovely comment from Spike the tattooist who offered to put Emma's name on Chesney and if Chesney later went out with Gemma, the extra G could soon be added!

Spike stayed over the Gemma and next morning Rita was cooking some bangers but this sight put Rita right off her chipolatas and she asked if Spike could add to his clothing!

In the Bistro Emma is giving Chesney lessons on how to look after the woman in his life (and taking the benefits in the meantime).  Leanne really knows how to chat up men.  Look at this killer line - it covers being tired with a young child and the work involved.  Nick falls for it and before long they are sharing a brew in the flat.  Can it be long before these two are once again back together?

Extras at Work 

In Wednesday at Speed Daal (I think I called it Dahl last week)  the Good Samaritan Award eventually went to Margaret Wilson who had volunteered at the Ladybird Children's Hospital for 15 years and spent much of the episode clearly enjoying herself!  She only received the prize when Jude realised the game was up.

For medical reasons I will not be here next week.  Providing all goes well I should then be back the following week.

Writers: Julie Jones & Mark Wadlow (Monday), Simon Crowther (Wednesday), Cameron McAllister & Alasdair Morrison (Friday)
Directors: Michael Lacey (Monday & Wednesday), Mickey Jones (Friday)

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Corrie Comicals week ending 5 October 2018

We start off with Brian's approach to interviews - "vim, vigour and brio".  As he goes on to add "Other cleaning products are available!"

Vicky Jeffries is extolling just how much she likes cats of all descriptions and then after a moment's thought she decides there is one cat on which she has never been keen - the wonderful Cat Deeley.  Someone should get Ms Deeley to make an appearance on the Street and get the two of them together - could be a real cat fight!

Angie and Toyah have just decided on a girly night out on the pull, they slap hands and "Sister from another mister" from Angie is followed by Toyah with "Sisters before misters" and then Jenny chimes in from behind the bar with "Fries before Guys", showing just why she should be landlady of the Rovers.  And we seem to have that smile back on R'Toyota's face; such a change since she left the Rovers!

In amongst the angst of David getting the Josh gremlin off his back there was a wonderful little bit where David almost convinced Billy that Josh was on the floor of the salon bleeding to death having encountered David's ability to wield the many sharp scissors.  Knowing David as we do we could almost believe he might just do that - but perhaps he has finally grown up and if he is leaving as rumoured then I hope they find a worthy story for his departure.

In a continuing drama you should never say that things could not get worse (over Cormac's death), of course they can as the drug dealing, criminal mastermind Ronan Truman appears around the door.  (Well it made me laugh).

Ken is making progress in writing his romantic short story and incorporating a very obvious literary reference which Geoff is reading out loud and then implies it is trashy rubbish!

There is not a great deal of humour in cancer, drugs or the aftermath of sepsis so it was a little thin on the ground until Steve got drunk with Jim, so he did, and they started discussing what animals they would be in another existence.  Not sure Jim would be much else other than a wily fox as things stand at the moment.

David is exploiting Bethany's wish to make up for not telling him about Billy seeing Josh in hospital and the now completely normal David has her running errands, doing the family shopping, stocktakes, minding the children and buying them pizza (there was a pizza epidemic in progress as Jack had to eat one as well).  And of course Bethany could not find the waterproof tea bags David had asked her to get!

Sheer misplaced optimism is apparent here as Liz struggles to find something for Hannah to wear to the McDonald / Barlow wedding.  That dress is vile and I cannot imagine Liz would wear it let alone inflict it on anyone else!

Mary has trouble communicating with Abi, initially calling her adjutant then referring to their working relationship (in relation to progressing the wedding) as a collab with Mary in charge like Shaggy and Sting - with Mary as Shaggy.  No I do not have the faintest idea what goes on inside her head either.

I am bit worried about Sophie's mental health as she accuses a customer of Speed Dahl of taking toilet roll from the toilets.  Or at least she assumed that.  Yasmeen points out that when you assume you make an "ass" out of "you" and "me".  The jokes don't work so well when written down do they?  Yasmeen's delivery was all important.

As the drugs and blackmail plot lines drove onwards humour was a little lacking in part 2 on Friday but I am not sure just how prophetic Steve was being as he explained to Abi that Tracy can be a pretty fearsome enemy.  What will Tracy do when one of the many people who know tell her about the bunk-up with Leanne?

Extras at work came early this week:

The Dirkster rushed back and forth a couple of times in this particular scene whilst Vicky Jeffries pontificates on cats - leading to the punch line we saw earlier!

Writers: Carmel Morgan and Jonathan Harvey (Monday), Ellen Taylor and Ella Greenhill (Wednesday) Julie Jones and Martin Allen (Friday)
Directors: Ian Bevitt (Monday), Alan Grint (Wednesday & Friday)

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Corrie Comicals, week ending 28 September 2018

This post and my report of Friday events in the Street have been delayed because I finally got around to my trip to Weatherfield as we spent part of Saturday morning walking just where the above was filmed.  Tracy and Beth have just been discussing the Battersby slapper sisters - straight out of a Carry On film according to R'Adam which leads Beth to do the Kenneth Williams line!

Jenny has reappeared and was given a great line, delivered fondly, when talking about Jim and Liz who were one of those couples that just made sense - like Burton and Taylor in a mad way; in a terrace she says.  (But was she talking about them as themselves or in the film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"). 

Early in the first episode on Monday (you might have missed it - Steve did) Tracy has free passes for the spa at the new wedding venue and she will not be giving the second one to Mary who is going with her for the menu tasting [if they both go who is running the florist?].  And earlier there was banter about Imran and the Battersby sisters with Steve making reference to two women being many men's fantasy.  Above we see the free pass.  Steve reads the other side "Mr Priority number one.  Have a free pass on me.  No arguments you deserve it.  Enjoy or Else!"  See below.

I think we can all guess how Steve might just get the wrong idea as he folds it without looking at the other side!  Tim cleverly points out that this is Tracy's test of his devotion.

We should mention Eileen reporting on Abi and Steve attempting to learn the secret first dance for the reception "I have seen better coordination in a washing machine full of hamsters"!

For men of a certain age you have to hand it to Ken Barlow.  Over the years he has romanced Purdey of the New Avengers, Jean from dinnerladies, Connie from Connie and now Lintilla of the HHGTTG.  Not many leading men have achieved that collection of partners.

Clearly omitting Evelyn from these reports is going to be difficult as she is deliberately being given the best lines at present.  So this week we see her telling Brian that his talking to plants can only be good for them "nothing like manure to make things grow".  Later on we see her bringing back two french sticks no doubt bought at half price!

A warning.  This is where a single malt whisky leads.  Although I rather think they had probably had more than one each.  Anyway they tell Peter and Tim that Steve says his thermostat is broken, hence the lack of cothing and whilst it appears that Leanne is still wearing tights, evidence later is that they had slept together.  Odd as those two reportedly have no chemistry (although the biology seems to work).

Having earlier been counselled by Roy about the difference between literally and figuratively, Ryan used literally and then realised he meant figuratively or perhaps he meant literally - he is confused.  Michelle has absolutely no idea what he is talking about!

I think this was almost predictable.  Jude went along to the community centre and Yasmeen had suffered a minor cut whilst washing up.  She shows Jude the blood and the budding paramedic passed out immediately!  Another career dead end.

Extras at Work is here again this week:

This week the extra even had a name - it was "Vicky" - she was celebrating her birthday and the delivery of her birthday cake brought this wide smile!

Writers:  Alasdair Morrison & Mark Burt (Monday), Chris Fewtrell (Wednesday), Owen Lloyd-Fox (Friday)
Directors: Ian Barber (Monday & Wednesday), Ian Bevitt (Friday)

And the trip along the Street was awesome!

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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