Coronation Street - Suspension of Reality - Soaps

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 10:55

I know there are many threads regarding Coronation Street - including detailed analysis of the episodes and characters - but I REALLY need to start and maintain this thread!

I'm a long-time fan - 49 years and counting! - and, although its recent quality has left me disappointed, can't see me ever abandoning Corry.

So, I must use this thread to record the increasing instances of poor production, lazy writing and lack of continuity - just to calm myself down

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 11:00

Monday, 2nd Nov '09 ...

The builder manages to remove half of Dev's roof while the shop is open - with no-one mentioning it to Dev, he not hearing anything or seeing a ladder propped against the front of the shop.

Gail borrows some gear from Bill who must be a 10/12 - because they were a perfect fit for her - and she also appears to have an instant command over a power sander!

ftv · 03-11-2009, 11:05

Calm down, dear, it's only television.They're not real people (although it's true viewers used to ring Granada and try and book rooms for private functions at the Rovers

)

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 11:09

The "it's only TV" response came quicker than I expected!

We're not among those who think the soaps are real - just see no reason for a lack of reality in their production.

(I can remember a baddie from Brookside being beaten up for treating a favourite character badly!!!)

Gabriel_R · 03-11-2009, 11:24

Meldrewman has a point. I had exactly the same thought when I watched corry last night. We must expect some sort of realism in our soaps.

jrmswfc · 03-11-2009, 11:26

Two things which I always annoyingly notice :

The toilets in the Rovers appear to lead directly into the Barlow's house, there just isn't room between the pub and the house to accommodate the toilets.

Most annoying/distracting for me, the Coronation Street valet parking service. There's never a car parked on the street, even at night, yet if the script calls for a character to get into their car they always walk out of their house and the car's parked right outside their house. Almost every family seem to have a car when needed, but where do they disappear to the rest of the time?! Rosie Webster doesn't seem to have even noticed that her pride and joy sports car has been missing for weeks, whereas it was always parked outside when it was part of her storyline. And where does Maria's sports car go, or the Webster's car, the Barlow's, the Peacock's (they have a car and van - sometimes).

bazellis · 03-11-2009, 11:33

...and how quickly has Joe managed to do that boat up!!

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrmswfc

Two things which I always annoyingly notice :

The toilets in the Rovers appear to lead directly into the Barlow's house, there just isn't room between the pub and the house to accommodate the toilets.

Most annoying/distracting for me, the Coronation Street valet parking service.

Oldies but goodies!!!

I thought I'd start from the current week - or I'd be writing for hours

The car issue is a cracker! My only theory is that, just once (when the script dictated) there was a view through the Websters' garage to an ENORMOUS plot of land behind it - perhaps that's where the valet service is operated?

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazellis

...and how quickly has Joe managed to do that boat up!!

You read my mind - I just said to Mrs Meldrewman that we can expect a showroom standard craft any day now.

Cal2008 · 03-11-2009, 12:18

They park in the car park behind the rovers i mean granada tv car park lol, they need a bigger set.

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meldrewman

You read my mind - I just said to Mrs Meldrewman that we can expect a showroom standard craft any day now.

and now, watching last night's 2nd prog - why is Joe fitting kitchens when he can do work like that - sanded, multiple coats, showroom shine - all in a few hours on a busy, dusty street!

Agent F · 03-11-2009, 12:58

The point about the cars is a good one. I never realised that before.

I think the reason they never park cars on the set regularly is because it'd make the set look tiny (as it's meant to be quite small in real life).

Maidenfan666 · 03-11-2009, 13:03

Michelle apparently no longer having a biological son?

John Dough · 03-11-2009, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazellis

...and how quickly has Joe managed to do that boat up!!

He's been making full use of the extra daylight at this time of year!

I agree though, it was a disintegrating wreck a fortnight ago and now it's ready for Cowes Boat week.

ftv · 03-11-2009, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meldrewman

The "it's only TV" response came quicker than I expected!

We're not among those who think the soaps are real - just see no reason for a lack of reality in their production.

(I can remember a baddie from Brookside being beaten up for treating a favourite character badly!!!)

Drama is ''an exciting series of events'' according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Meldrewman · 03-11-2009, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ftv

Drama is ''an exciting series of events'' according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

... so, interesting that "Soaps" are now repackaged as "Continuing Dramas" at a time when their distance from the OED definition of drama is further than it's ever been!

dee-rec · 03-11-2009, 13:45

One of the more recent inconsistencies that come to mind is Ashley and his vasectomy. Claire is in hospital and tells him to go get a vasectomy, next thing we know he is at the clinic waiting to get it done! Dont the writers realise that there are such things as waiting lists? Also, couples are required to go for conselling first to make sure they realise they should consider this to be permanent and that they are both sure they want to go through with it.
I know he didnt go through with it at first but when he decided he would go, after Claires sex ban ultimatum, there he was getting done the next day!

Agent Krycek · 03-11-2009, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meldrewman

Monday, 2nd Nov '09 ...

The builder manages to remove half of Dev's roof while the shop is open - with no-one mentioning it to Dev, he not hearing anything or seeing a ladder propped against the front of the shop.

Gail borrows some gear from Bill who must be a 10/12 - because they were a perfect fit for her - and she also appears to have an instant command over a power sander!

First time I've watched Corrie in ages, and exactly the same two things occured to me

shrek · 03-11-2009, 14:10

My thoughts on the rovers return and where the toilets are.

The answer is simply, its a tardis

The pub is muhc bigger on the inside that it appears

It did occur to me last night whilst watching Corrie how Dev wasnt alerted sooner to the disappearing roof tiles, surely you make aright racket go up and down a ladder removing them

Also whilst we are on subject the shop years ago the door from the camera viewpoint was on the right and customers were served near the front window but this has since changed when they had a fire

chookiehen · 03-11-2009, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by dee-rec

One of the more recent inconsistencies that come to mind is Ashley and his vasectomy. Claire is in hospital and tells him to go get a vasectomy, next thing we know he is at the clinic waiting to get it done! Dont the writers realise that there are such things as waiting lists? Also, couples are required to go for conselling first to make sure they realise they should consider this to be permanent and that they are both sure they want to go through with it.
I know he didnt go through with it at first but when he decided he would go, after Claires sex ban ultimatum, there he was getting done the next day!

That's not true! My hubbie had the snip earlier this year, we didn't have to have any counselling, and the wait was only 3 weeks. It would have been shorter, had my incredibly nosy husband not wanted to be awake during the procedure, passing up a date 10 days from the day he first approached our gp for the procedure under general anesthetic.

amysmum · 03-11-2009, 14:41

It's amazing that Joe has any kitchen work at all.

The phone number (not a mobile) on his van has not changed since the day he first appeared on the street. IIRC he was thrown out of his house, has lived like a squatter and then moved in with Gail. Are the new people at his old address forwarding on his calls?????

amysmum · 03-11-2009, 14:47

Liz to Simon's grandad. Something like - "a lovely boy, he goes to school with our Amy".

In real life she would more likely have said - "a lovely boy, he is our Amy's cousin." Or have the script writers forgotten that as well.

Ok they are not blood cousins, but Tracy is Ken's adopted daughter so legally they are cousins!.

GhyllenStillwheel · 03-11-2009, 14:48

ive almost stopped watching ..the roy and tony stuff is the limit ..im giving it a rest

Martacus · 03-11-2009, 14:53

What always gets me the demand for realism in soaps. IMO a pure contradiction & the day they reflect it, should be the day they give up. I like far fetched stories to a point & as long as they don't make up say diseases, like they did in Dallas once or Abducted by Aliens in Dynasty/Colby's, who am I to complain. OK I do complain LOL.

Hi Di Hi · 03-11-2009, 14:53

One of the most baffling things for me over all these years is why the factory girls go drinking pints down the pub in their lunch hour before returning to operate machinery that needs dexterity and careful handling and i'm sure would not be allowed!.

Janice was going to be the next Florence Nightingale especially after that Josh bee sting incident, now she's suddenly returned to be a screaming Harpie that would happily dance on Tony's grave and showed no compassion at all! and is still gobby even after being caught out as being the lottery thief!

Where on Earth did that upstairs flat appear at The Rovers??
Because when Charlie Stubbs was keeping Shelley a prisoner, I could have sworn there were just bedrooms up there!

Why does every customer at Devs always have the correct money even without asking the price, and I haven't seen anyone use his cash machine in the shop. Joe asked Jason to lend him money until he could pop into town to a cashpoint!

Talking of which, it's a real enigma why Jimmy Harkishan still has a job acting as Dev...sorry did I say 'acting'.

03-11-2009, 10:55	#1
Meldrewman Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Services: Panasonic 58" HD Plasma, Sky HD, Freeview, BT Wireless Broadband Posts: 833	Coronation Street - Suspension of Reality I know there are many threads regarding Coronation Street - including detailed analysis of the episodes and characters - but I REALLY need to start and maintain this thread! I'm a long-time fan - 49 years and counting! - and, although its recent quality has left me disappointed, can't see me ever abandoning Corry. So, I must use this thread to record the increasing instances of poor production, lazy writing and lack of continuity - just to calm myself down

03-11-2009, 11:05	#3
ftv Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,757	Calm down, dear, it's only television.They're not real people (although it's true viewers used to ring Granada and try and book rooms for private functions at the Rovers)

03-11-2009, 11:00	#2
Meldrewman Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Services: Panasonic 58" HD Plasma, Sky HD, Freeview, BT Wireless Broadband Posts: 833	Monday, 2nd Nov '09 ... The builder manages to remove half of Dev's roof while the shop is open - with no-one mentioning it to Dev, he not hearing anything or seeing a ladder propped against the front of the shop. Gail borrows some gear from Bill who must be a 10/12 - because they were a perfect fit for her - and she also appears to have an instant command over a power sander!

03-11-2009, 11:09	#4
Meldrewman Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Services: Panasonic 58" HD Plasma, Sky HD, Freeview, BT Wireless Broadband Posts: 833	The "it's only TV" response came quicker than I expected! We're not among those who think the soaps are real - just see no reason for a lack of reality in their production. (I can remember a baddie from Brookside being beaten up for treating a favourite character badly!!!)

03-11-2009, 11:24	#5
Gabriel_R Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 29	Meldrewman has a point. I had exactly the same thought when I watched corry last night. We must expect some sort of realism in our soaps.

03-11-2009, 11:26	#6
jrmswfc Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sheffield Posts: 217	Two things which I always annoyingly notice : The toilets in the Rovers appear to lead directly into the Barlow's house, there just isn't room between the pub and the house to accommodate the toilets. Most annoying/distracting for me, the Coronation Street valet parking service. There's never a car parked on the street, even at night, yet if the script calls for a character to get into their car they always walk out of their house and the car's parked right outside their house. Almost every family seem to have a car when needed, but where do they disappear to the rest of the time?! Rosie Webster doesn't seem to have even noticed that her pride and joy sports car has been missing for weeks, whereas it was always parked outside when it was part of her storyline. And where does Maria's sports car go, or the Webster's car, the Barlow's, the Peacock's (they have a car and van - sometimes).

03-11-2009, 11:33	#7
bazellis Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Services: Sky+, Sky broadband, PS2, PS3, Wi-fi PSN: bazellis Posts: 1,165	...and how quickly has Joe managed to do that boat up!!

03-11-2009, 12:18	#10
Cal2008 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: notts Uk Services: Dab radio, V+ hd, virgin media, t-mob, Posts: 1,002 Blog Entries: 96	They park in the car park behind the rovers i mean granada tv car park lol, they need a bigger set.

03-11-2009, 12:58	#12
Agent F Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Twin Peaks ♂ Posts: 19,882 Blog Entries: 18	The point about the cars is a good one. I never realised that before. I think the reason they never park cars on the set regularly is because it'd make the set look tiny (as it's meant to be quite small in real life).

03-11-2009, 13:03	#13
Maidenfan666 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St Andrews, Scotland Posts: 5,319	Michelle apparently no longer having a biological son?

03-11-2009, 13:45	#17
dee-rec Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: glasgow Services: telewest Posts: 289	One of the more recent inconsistencies that come to mind is Ashley and his vasectomy. Claire is in hospital and tells him to go get a vasectomy, next thing we know he is at the clinic waiting to get it done! Dont the writers realise that there are such things as waiting lists? Also, couples are required to go for conselling first to make sure they realise they should consider this to be permanent and that they are both sure they want to go through with it. I know he didnt go through with it at first but when he decided he would go, after Claires sex ban ultimatum, there he was getting done the next day!

03-11-2009, 14:10	#19
shrek Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Here, at my desk Services: 8000T PVR (40GB), 2x9200. 2MB Zen ASDL (legacy product) Posts: 575	My thoughts on the rovers return and where the toilets are. The answer is simply, its a tardis The pub is muhc bigger on the inside that it appears It did occur to me last night whilst watching Corrie how Dev wasnt alerted sooner to the disappearing roof tiles, surely you make aright racket go up and down a ladder removing them Also whilst we are on subject the shop years ago the door from the camera viewpoint was on the right and customers were served near the front window but this has since changed when they had a fire

03-11-2009, 14:41	#21
amysmum Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wherever I lay my hat....... Services: Providing finance to Amy, Amysdad and Amyssister! Posts: 8,162	It's amazing that Joe has any kitchen work at all. The phone number (not a mobile) on his van has not changed since the day he first appeared on the street. IIRC he was thrown out of his house, has lived like a squatter and then moved in with Gail. Are the new people at his old address forwarding on his calls?????

03-11-2009, 14:47	#22
amysmum Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wherever I lay my hat....... Services: Providing finance to Amy, Amysdad and Amyssister! Posts: 8,162	Liz to Simon's grandad. Something like - "a lovely boy, he goes to school with our Amy". In real life she would more likely have said - "a lovely boy, he is our Amy's cousin." Or have the script writers forgotten that as well. Ok they are not blood cousins, but Tracy is Ken's adopted daughter so legally they are cousins!.

03-11-2009, 14:48	#23
GhyllenStillwheel Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Resident Evil Services: X- TERMINATION Posts: 5,912	ive almost stopped watching ..the roy and tony stuff is the limit ..im giving it a rest

03-11-2009, 14:53	#24
Martacus Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 727	What always gets me the demand for realism in soaps. IMO a pure contradiction & the day they reflect it, should be the day they give up. I like far fetched stories to a point & as long as they don't make up say diseases, like they did in Dallas once or Abducted by Aliens in Dynasty/Colby's, who am I to complain. OK I do complain LOL.

03-11-2009, 14:53	#25
Hi Di Hi Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 143	One of the most baffling things for me over all these years is why the factory girls go drinking pints down the pub in their lunch hour before returning to operate machinery that needs dexterity and careful handling and i'm sure would not be allowed!. Janice was going to be the next Florence Nightingale especially after that Josh bee sting incident, now she's suddenly returned to be a screaming Harpie that would happily dance on Tony's grave and showed no compassion at all! and is still gobby even after being caught out as being the lottery thief! Where on Earth did that upstairs flat appear at The Rovers?? Because when Charlie Stubbs was keeping Shelley a prisoner, I could have sworn there were just bedrooms up there! Why does every customer at Devs always have the correct money even without asking the price, and I haven't seen anyone use his cash machine in the shop. Joe asked Jason to lend him money until he could pop into town to a cashpoint! Talking of which, it's a real enigma why Jimmy Harkishan still has a job acting as Dev...sorry did I say 'acting'.