Corrie

Indeed I think comfort tv is the order of the day! I think one of the programmes that really hit home was one about a busy train station in London. The episode was filmed during the build up to Christmas 2019. Watching the crowds was mind boggling ?.
Daddima your comments about Lady Gaga and co did make me giggle?.

I’m usually an ipad viewer, but put the telly on the other day to watch Biden’s inauguration. I thought Lady Gaga’s murdering of the national anthem was up there with the worst things I’ve ever heard, and I couldn’t believe the number of people on social media posting how fabulous it was. Jennifer Lopez was not much better.
Anyway, I find I’m noticing on old programmes or Netflix when people are not social distancing, then I remember that it wasn’t always necessary!

Galaxy- exactly. Me too. Even though I've seen them all before. It's lovely to lose yourself in a story set in different times. I'm even enjoying books written in the 1930s-50s these days. Great stories.

That's interesting dorsetcupcake,I am watching things that I never watched or pandemic, detective series mostly, Vera, Lewis even Poirot. I suppose its comfort TV.

I agree Corrie is being a bit strange with the masks etc.
But I still enjoy it, it's just a bit of much needed escapism.
It's harmless in my opinion. Anything which gets us through the day without going loopy.

Thankyou Bluebelle.
I do find it quite interesting what we watch and why since the pandemic. Initially during the first wave I felt a great need for information and boy were there unlimited sources. Now I actively avoid it,just checking a reputable source so know main points.
I vividly remember last year how live programmes with zoom and social distancing seemed surreal. Perversely pre pandemic programmes seemed just as strange with no social distancing etc as well as having an element of sadness as to how much we took for granted.
It's amazing how you adapt and what becomes normal.!
Interestingly pre pandemic I supported an absolutely lovely gentleman who suffered from extreme anxiety and depression due to some traumatic life events.
He loved TV but was extremely selective. He watched the news but his favourites were the quiz shows during the afternoons,bargain hunt,escape to the country etc. In retrospect it made perfect sense as he was avoiding programmes that might trigger his anxiety. The ones he chose to watch were safe and followed a known format.
Recently I've really appreciated that point of view! I was never a massive fan but I now actively avoid programmes such as Lorraine and This Morning which may have some useful information but on whole just seem to be full of endless speculation and pointless debate from the same old talking heads!
I instead love programmes such as Junior bake off,Bradley Walsh and Son. Pre Christmas I really enjoyed American holiday baking shows. I think it felt better to watch something from a completely different culture rather than memories associated with our familiar chefs!
As I say,strange times and no doubt in the future a source for research.
I must admit that every now and then I do wonder whether opting for bland/generic programmes is a vital tool to get through the current situation or in itself potentially unhealthy!

Good post dorsetcup I agree entirely
I still look forward to Corrie even if it’s is crxx ?
I found casualty a bit too real with their covid episode and Holby is as random as Corrie, masks on and masks off like yo yo s some on some off in the same screenshot
So you’re right they re damned if they do and dammed if they don’t

I must admit Bluebelle its something I have been pondering whilst in the shower!
I think twenty or so years ago the soaps were quite believable and influential. Internet access and cable tv hadnt quite taken hold and they had a pretty captive audience!
I think their strength lay in strong characters with story lines that highlighted everyday issues but in a realistic way,death,divorce,illness,teenage pregnancy. Now it seems to be fit the character to the topic,sometimes it's done better than others.
Story lines appear more sensational maybe to tempt back viewers who have endless other options.
Historically some viewers have really engaged with soaps,occasionally having difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction .
I think now many viewers suspend belief. For me a good example was the sink hole in the Platts garden which I still puzzle about how that was done without them knowing.!
On a more serious note,if viewers are still very engaged in soaps the rather strange way they have covered the pandemic could be quite damaging.
Do viewers look to soaps for guidance or are they now more likely to be influenced by social media?
I know historically soaps take great care when covering medical story lines. I think they are almost in an impossible position. We are in the eye of the storm with this pandemic with guidelines etc changing rapidly. To film in advance would be exceptionally difficult.
To me it feels that Corrie is caught in last summer's vibe of a more relaxed approach to guidance.
It will be interesting to see how they film the new episodes.
There could be an opportunity to perform a useful public service. I do wonder how much people can cope with at the moment.
Real life is traumatic for many at the moment and I'm not sure whether to see it replicated in a soap would be beneficial. I did watch the episode of Casualty a few weeks ago set in the first wave. No doubt when it was filmed it was felt when it was aired the worst would be over,instead reality was probably worse?.
Strange times we live in and sometimes the reflection of those times on tv feels even stranger!

Completely agree with the inconsistency shown over the pandemic in Corrie. The characters whip off their masks when they go inside The Rovers/Dev’s shop/Speed Dahl like they re taking off their coats! I would like to see more handwashng going on as well. I do think though that there wouldn’t be a much of a storyline if everyone had to “stay home”. We’re all being asked to suspense belief. It is entertainment after all, but I think a little more of a nod to the pandemic would be welcome. Roy (him of the Cropper bag as we always call it) removes his mask and then starts preparing food for goodness sake!!

I agree that there does no seem to have been a really consistent approach in Corrie to Pandamec rules. Even six weeks ago they must have been aware that with the onset of winter there would be a tightening of rules. I have felt that the reason so many of the characters keep taking off their masks to speak is because they are just able to be clearly heard if wearing them. So, they wear them out side in the street, but remove them in shops, etc to say their lines. If comes over feeling very wrong.

Obviously the editorial team agree -which is why they have now decided to have re-writes and have cancelled current filming for a fortnight for this.

All soaps editors need to make up their minds as to whether they are going along with current news stories in their episodes or not/

I particularly love Neighbours, at present. They have made the decision just to totally ignore Corona Virus, and have blithely continued in Erinsborough without this having any effect. As this soap is always very fantasy -this works well (for me) and gives me a happy twenty minute break each weekday.

All the soaps seem to copy each other’s storylines and if I had a tenner for every time Plod ‘reads someone their rights’ I’d be a millionaire!??‍♀️

I think east Enders are choosing to ignore the lockdown thing or indeed now the pandemic. Makes more sense really, I mean it doesn’t need to be realistic anyway ...as if one square could have so many murders scandals etc !

They still have enough episodes to continue Emmerdale & Corrie Jane10
I agree that the producers could have handled things better in both soaps especially with hand washing and sanitizing as Calendargirl said.
Having said that I continue to watch and enjoy my links with the north of England even if I have to suspend disbelief.

Maybe it's nice to have a brief respite from the reality of the pandemic dorsetcupcake I think that’s my point exactly surely preferable to have filmed it without the pandemic cues than this half baked completely wrong take on it
It’s the halfway house that is the problem either take the storyline completely seriously and work as they would in real life or forget it and carry on as normal in the fantasy world that it represents
By the way how can a jail have housed so many occupants of one street ??? and ditto with THE one hospital bed

PollyDolly you just beat me to it! The mask being removed and placed on the bar was disgusting.

Emmerdale.....Thursday evening........ Dan entered The Woolpack, removed his mask and placed it ON THE BAR!!!! ?????

Dorsetcupcake: I am a regular viewer of Classic Corrie on ITV3 each afternoon, too! I find it much more compelling and believable than the current episodes. Highly recommended!

I agree with what everyone has said about masks, wearing them outside, but whipping them off when inside with others.But if filmed weeks ago, must be hard keeping up.

The storylines are pretty dreary.

One thing I think they could do is show more hand washing going on. Nurse Aggie seemed to come in from a busy 12 hour shift, no doubt dealing with Covid, and unless I didn’t notice, she just flopped down on the sofa, no sign of washing.
Tim’s mother seemed to randomly start serving in Speed Dahl, no proper uniform or obvious hand washing either. Having said that, I was always amazed how random customers could suddenly dash behind the counter in Roy’s Cafe and start buttering bread if they were short staffed, never having washed their hands or even removing their coat sometimes.
(This was pre Covid).

I am glad it's not just me that thought it's a bit random!
Coronation Street is the only soap I have consistently watched over the years.
It does feel odd when you watch it whether it's the use of masks or positioning of cast. That said real lifes pretty odd to!
I know they film about 6 weeks in advance so keeping current with the situation difficult. I'm not sure how I would want them to cover it. Would I really want to see Rita shielding and Fizz home schooling? I have a feeling Corrie have rarely referred to current affairs directly.
Maybe it's nice to have a brief respite from the reality of the pandemic?
I'm glad the Ray storyline is being dealt with swiftly and not dragging on endlessly.
The dog story line was a bit clumsy but a lesson in not making assumptions about people.
I think the Gemma storyline is interesting and probably very close to many people's current situation although they dont refer to covid as such. I think it would be useful if they involved loan sharks as no doubt a lot of desperate people will fall into their clutches.
I do enjoy the showings of Corrie on ITV3. Currently the Battersbys have just arrived and Kevin has left Sally for Natalie!

I don't think the producers do their research properly. Evelyn's boyfriend Arthur is emigrating to Canada. Like you can get into the country that easily.
Eastenders is worse. Max was intending to go the New Zealand for a month. First of all they are not allowing anyone in other than New Zealand citizens, and secondly, even if he could get in he would spend 2 weeks of the four in quarantine. Incidentally, he said he might stay if Linda liked the lifestyle. Like you don't need a visa! Australia is the same, so I don't see how Frankie would be able to go and work in a bar there. Again she would need a visa, hard to get at the moment. That's assuming she can get a flight, almost impossible at the moment. I know there is a bit of poetic licence allowed, but this is a bit beyond belief. They need to base their script on fact.

The mask thing on Coronation Street annoys me. They put it on when it’s not needed and take it off as soon as they enter a shop! Plus all the food and drink outlets are apparently open.

It was a typically Corrie lighter moment to offset the Ray/Abbie story? Nice to see older female characters. Also remarkably few pets on the Street. Cerberus and Peanut. No cats either.

That was a strange bit about the dogs tonight. I can't see where that fits with anything, seems very random.

I think Emmerdale has had a covid outbreak hasnt it?

Looks like it's only a two week stop on Corrie filming to allow them to alter storylines re Covid etc. Seems fine.