JE
I agree it would be far better to have 3 x 1 hour episodes per week rather than 6 x half hour. They had a 90 minute show on Monday so it made sense to have Corrie as 1 hour. Then on Fridays its often 1 hour when Vera or Midsomer Murders is scheduled from 8.30pm, its only when there is a 1 hour show at 9pm on Fridays that they do 2 half hours. So its very much down to whats convenient for the schedule. They probably wanted the Wednesday episode to be a proper 1 hour special as it was the actual anniversary day.
Jez
Founding member
Interesting this week they opted to run all episodes as hour long editions, rather than splitting them into half hours. I do think now it is at six half hours a week that changing it to three hour-long episodes would make sense, especially as the first episode can sometimes just basically be padded out to create the mini-cliff hanger at 8pm.
I agree it would be far better to have 3 x 1 hour episodes per week rather than 6 x half hour. They had a 90 minute show on Monday so it made sense to have Corrie as 1 hour. Then on Fridays its often 1 hour when Vera or Midsomer Murders is scheduled from 8.30pm, its only when there is a 1 hour show at 9pm on Fridays that they do 2 half hours. So its very much down to whats convenient for the schedule. They probably wanted the Wednesday episode to be a proper 1 hour special as it was the actual anniversary day.
DE
They're fine for shows like The Chase - but they're jarring on Corrie and Emmerdale, especially compared to the rooftops and the farmhouse at sunset.
Even the smoky generic credits of the early 2000s weren't so bad, because not only did they have colour but there was provision for camera shots (in Emmerdale's case, scenes from the title sequence played in reverse):
As an aside on the credits issue the ITV black credits are something that have never bothered me and I've always found it interesting that people on here really loathe them!
They're fine for shows like The Chase - but they're jarring on Corrie and Emmerdale, especially compared to the rooftops and the farmhouse at sunset.
Even the smoky generic credits of the early 2000s weren't so bad, because not only did they have colour but there was provision for camera shots (in Emmerdale's case, scenes from the title sequence played in reverse):
SW
I've said this before but I would be well against Coronation Street going to an hour permanently. It would be the biggest change in the show's entire history, with the requirement for completely different ways of telling stories, with half as many cliffhangers. Soaps didn't become half an hour by accident, that is clearly the optimum length for an episode. When Brookside only started showing the omnibus they started writing for that length and it didn't work at all, I know the show was on its last legs but it just didn't seem right. Everyday dramas like Corrie should be slices of life and half an hour is the optimum length for that.
I know you can say, they're doing an hour anyway only split into two, but I think there really is a difference to it because it starts to become a bit of a chore for the audience. I know my mum will quite frequently watch the first Emmerdale or Corrie but record the second and watch it the next morning, because it starts to get in the way a bit and she wants to watch something else. I've never liked the 8.30 Corrie, I think it's too late and inconvenient for a lot of people, by the time it's finished you've taken up most of the evening. I think you can have fixtures in the schedules very early or very late in the evening, but in the main part of the evening I think they're too constricting and ask too much of the audience.
Interesting this week they opted to run all episodes as hour long editions, rather than splitting them into half hours. I do think now it is at six half hours a week that changing it to three hour-long episodes would make sense, especially as the first episode can sometimes just basically be padded out to create the mini-cliff hanger at 8pm.
I've said this before but I would be well against Coronation Street going to an hour permanently. It would be the biggest change in the show's entire history, with the requirement for completely different ways of telling stories, with half as many cliffhangers. Soaps didn't become half an hour by accident, that is clearly the optimum length for an episode. When Brookside only started showing the omnibus they started writing for that length and it didn't work at all, I know the show was on its last legs but it just didn't seem right. Everyday dramas like Corrie should be slices of life and half an hour is the optimum length for that.
I know you can say, they're doing an hour anyway only split into two, but I think there really is a difference to it because it starts to become a bit of a chore for the audience. I know my mum will quite frequently watch the first Emmerdale or Corrie but record the second and watch it the next morning, because it starts to get in the way a bit and she wants to watch something else. I've never liked the 8.30 Corrie, I think it's too late and inconvenient for a lot of people, by the time it's finished you've taken up most of the evening. I think you can have fixtures in the schedules very early or very late in the evening, but in the main part of the evening I think they're too constricting and ask too much of the audience.
AB
I guess the reason for the 8.30 episodes is to bring viewers back to ITV and hope they stick with them for their 9pm show but does it work? I don't actually watch Corrie but I think I'd find it really irritating having to find something to watch for half an hour before the next episode, and wouldn't always fancy another half hour of it.
It'd surely be better for Corrie itself if it was on 6 nights a week instead.
It'd surely be better for Corrie itself if it was on 6 nights a week instead.
SW
The fewer words you need to describe when the soaps are on, the better. Actually at the moment, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30 and 8.30 is not that bad, compared to some of the other convoluted scheduling patterns we've had in recent years, but it's still a bit clunky. But I really think double headers or hour-long episodes should be reserved for special occasions only. It used to be you knew when it was a big episode of Corrie or Emmerdale, even if you didn't watch them, because there would be two in one night, or it would be an hour long. I think that's still the case with 'stEnders. But now, with Corrie and Emmerdale, that happens every week, so if you're not a regular viewer, how do you know it's anything special?
As you say, presumably the idea is that the 8.30 episode is useful as a lead-in for the 9pm shows, but it doesn't seem to make much difference to what follows. BBC1 are certainly competitive most Mondays at 9pm despite one having a lead-in from Panorama and another a lead-in from Corrie. The Wednesday 8.30 episode is beaten every week by The Repair Shop now, and BBC1 happily schedule around it. It's a bit like the stuff that's mentioned here about how being shown opposite Corrie is a death slot. It used to be, but not these days. There are so many episodes of Corrie in the schedules that they have to schedule big shows against it, so whereas it just used to face any old rubbish BBC1 used to bury, it now often goes up against MasterChef, WILTY and all kinds of popular shows.
I still 8.30 is too late for Corrie, I think for shows like that which are part of your routine, you like them on either early or late in the evening, otherwise they start to get in the way. I think by 8.30 you're thinking the regular shows are over, the washing-up's done and you're ready for something a bit more substantial. Not just more of the same shows.
I guess the reason for the 8.30 episodes is to bring viewers back to ITV and hope they stick with them for their 9pm show but does it work? I don't actually watch Corrie but I think I'd find it really irritating having to find something to watch for half an hour before the next episode, and wouldn't always fancy another half hour of it.
It'd surely be better for Corrie itself if it was on 6 nights a week instead.
It'd surely be better for Corrie itself if it was on 6 nights a week instead.
The fewer words you need to describe when the soaps are on, the better. Actually at the moment, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30 and 8.30 is not that bad, compared to some of the other convoluted scheduling patterns we've had in recent years, but it's still a bit clunky. But I really think double headers or hour-long episodes should be reserved for special occasions only. It used to be you knew when it was a big episode of Corrie or Emmerdale, even if you didn't watch them, because there would be two in one night, or it would be an hour long. I think that's still the case with 'stEnders. But now, with Corrie and Emmerdale, that happens every week, so if you're not a regular viewer, how do you know it's anything special?
As you say, presumably the idea is that the 8.30 episode is useful as a lead-in for the 9pm shows, but it doesn't seem to make much difference to what follows. BBC1 are certainly competitive most Mondays at 9pm despite one having a lead-in from Panorama and another a lead-in from Corrie. The Wednesday 8.30 episode is beaten every week by The Repair Shop now, and BBC1 happily schedule around it. It's a bit like the stuff that's mentioned here about how being shown opposite Corrie is a death slot. It used to be, but not these days. There are so many episodes of Corrie in the schedules that they have to schedule big shows against it, so whereas it just used to face any old rubbish BBC1 used to bury, it now often goes up against MasterChef, WILTY and all kinds of popular shows.
I still 8.30 is too late for Corrie, I think for shows like that which are part of your routine, you like them on either early or late in the evening, otherwise they start to get in the way. I think by 8.30 you're thinking the regular shows are over, the washing-up's done and you're ready for something a bit more substantial. Not just more of the same shows.
BR
Ideally Emmerdale and Corrie would just air Mon to Fri from 7-8pm with a proper mix of programming then from 8-10pm. That isn't going to happen though and part of the reason Corrie airs in two half hours rather than an hour is effectively each extra half hour of Corrie fills an hour of primetime, and the days of ITV looking to fill three hours of primetime every night with premium content in every slot are long gone.
Personally I disagree with Steve's assessment that Corrie works better as two half hours than one full hour and would rather see it airing 8-9pm on Mon, Wed and Fri, with the filler moved to 7.30pm (as I'm sure EastEnders would move to as well), and I think the style of Corrie has long been adjusted from the half hour traditional soap format to tell a story across an hour - and now soaps seem to be as happy to bring audiences in for specific episodes rather than expect them to follow it day in, day out. I've probably followed the Yasmeen story by watching about three episodes this year.
Emmerdale is in a different place IMO and still written very much to the half hour format, which is not surprising considering that is how it predominantly airs.
Personally I disagree with Steve's assessment that Corrie works better as two half hours than one full hour and would rather see it airing 8-9pm on Mon, Wed and Fri, with the filler moved to 7.30pm (as I'm sure EastEnders would move to as well), and I think the style of Corrie has long been adjusted from the half hour traditional soap format to tell a story across an hour - and now soaps seem to be as happy to bring audiences in for specific episodes rather than expect them to follow it day in, day out. I've probably followed the Yasmeen story by watching about three episodes this year.
Emmerdale is in a different place IMO and still written very much to the half hour format, which is not surprising considering that is how it predominantly airs.
JE
I agree. Every episode of Corrie is now written as 1 hour which gets cut in half to make two half hour episodes with a 'cliffhanger' at the end of the first episode. Generally both of episodes is set on the same day. Personally I almost always watch the 2 episodes back to back whilst cutting out the adverts and half hour in the middle. i very rarely watch 'live'. Sometimes I dont even watch on the same night and binge watch a week of episodes at the weekend. I think if they must have 6 a week they should do the same as Emmerdale and limit the double episode to once a week. Then have a single episode on the other 4 nights. Or maybe reintroduce the Sunday episode which worked well at the time. Its worth noting that ITV3 are now about 6 months past the point where the Sunday episode started airing and often in the script they make a point of mentioning its Sunday!
Jez
Founding member
Ideally Emmerdale and Corrie would just air Mon to Fri from 7-8pm with a proper mix of programming then from 8-10pm. That isn't going to happen though and part of the reason Corrie airs in two half hours rather than an hour is effectively each extra half hour of Corrie fills an hour of primetime, and the days of ITV looking to fill three hours of primetime every night with premium content in every slot are long gone.
Personally I disagree with Steve's assessment that Corrie works better as two half hours than one full hour and would rather see it airing 8-9pm on Mon, Wed and Fri, with the filler moved to 7.30pm (as I'm sure EastEnders would move to as well), and I think the style of Corrie has long been adjusted from the half hour traditional soap format to tell a story across an hour - and now soaps seem to be as happy to bring audiences in for specific episodes rather than expect them to follow it day in, day out. I've probably followed the Yasmeen story by watching about three episodes this year.
Emmerdale is in a different place IMO and still written very much to the half hour format, which is not surprising considering that is how it predominantly airs.
Personally I disagree with Steve's assessment that Corrie works better as two half hours than one full hour and would rather see it airing 8-9pm on Mon, Wed and Fri, with the filler moved to 7.30pm (as I'm sure EastEnders would move to as well), and I think the style of Corrie has long been adjusted from the half hour traditional soap format to tell a story across an hour - and now soaps seem to be as happy to bring audiences in for specific episodes rather than expect them to follow it day in, day out. I've probably followed the Yasmeen story by watching about three episodes this year.
Emmerdale is in a different place IMO and still written very much to the half hour format, which is not surprising considering that is how it predominantly airs.
I agree. Every episode of Corrie is now written as 1 hour which gets cut in half to make two half hour episodes with a 'cliffhanger' at the end of the first episode. Generally both of episodes is set on the same day. Personally I almost always watch the 2 episodes back to back whilst cutting out the adverts and half hour in the middle. i very rarely watch 'live'. Sometimes I dont even watch on the same night and binge watch a week of episodes at the weekend. I think if they must have 6 a week they should do the same as Emmerdale and limit the double episode to once a week. Then have a single episode on the other 4 nights. Or maybe reintroduce the Sunday episode which worked well at the time. Its worth noting that ITV3 are now about 6 months past the point where the Sunday episode started airing and often in the script they make a point of mentioning its Sunday!
SE
Square Eyes
Founding member
Certainly if there has to be an hour of Corrie then narratively it would be much better to air it as a single hour than 2 half hours. Then you could get rid of those contrived mini-cliffhangers between episodes that are instantly resolved at the start of the next episode. It would be better for the writers and for the flow of the show.
But alternatively, as Jez's suggestion, Mon - Fri at 7.30pm for 30 mins with 1 hour on a Weds (or Fri) would be even better. No more split double episodes, the show spread out a bit more thinly across the schedule, and open up new slots. Of course ITV don't really want to commission a load of new 8 - 9 shows but it would be better for the schedule.
But alternatively, as Jez's suggestion, Mon - Fri at 7.30pm for 30 mins with 1 hour on a Weds (or Fri) would be even better. No more split double episodes, the show spread out a bit more thinly across the schedule, and open up new slots. Of course ITV don't really want to commission a load of new 8 - 9 shows but it would be better for the schedule.
WH
For me the only bit that I didn’t like was when the rear carriage lifts up before smashing into the Kabin. The rest of it, including the crash into the corner shop and indeed the footage within the shop and kabin was well done.
Yes that was the most bizarre bit for me. It seemed to defy all physics and it sounded like a dinosaur smashing into the roof.
Whataday
Founding member
Watching the 2010 episode now, a shame they didn't show the tram crash itself, I find the footage of the driver so cheesy it takes away from much of the drama.
For me the only bit that I didn’t like was when the rear carriage lifts up before smashing into the Kabin. The rest of it, including the crash into the corner shop and indeed the footage within the shop and kabin was well done.
Yes that was the most bizarre bit for me. It seemed to defy all physics and it sounded like a dinosaur smashing into the roof.
JA
We're at the point where the VHS spin-off Viva Las Vegas is supposed to be taking place, but on the video Fiona and Maxine are there in Vegas with Jack and Vera, but they're still in Wetherfield here. Fiona in particular has been in every episode since we saw Jack & Vera depart. They got continuity sorted well there it seems!