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When will the soaps get back down to Earth?


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Old 18-04-2005, 22:19
BCJ
 
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At first I thought that the killer Katy storyline was great. But after weeks of it, I've grown tired. I'm sick of the sensationalism and I now want realism. We never see soap characters sitting down and having just a regular chit chat very often. It's always something serious they're talking about rather than stuff like what's for tea. Or arguments about who should do the household chores.

I'd find it quite refreshing if soaps reverted back to this approach.
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Old 18-04-2005, 22:23
Bobthechicken
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It's a sign of the times, unfortunately. Viewers nowadays have the attention span of
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Old 18-04-2005, 22:27
Pete Callan
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Never. Deal with it. I wouldn't mind them taking a few tips from Neighbours every now and again though.
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Old 18-04-2005, 22:34
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Im enjoying the story with Scooter and Sarah. Its ordinary but funny and may lead onto bigger things later on
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Old 19-04-2005, 02:07
RJ1979
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When I sit down to watch TV I don't want real life I get enough of that just by living. I want some escape from real life and unfortunatly british soaps don't allow me to do this.

This is the reason I love US soap Days of our Lives, pure escapism.
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Old 19-04-2005, 02:35
megeve
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It's always something serious they're talking about rather than stuff like what's for tea. Or arguments about who should do the household chores.
That might be real life but it would be as boring as hell to watch and ratings would nosedive.

People watch TV to escape that very humdrum existence, they don't want to watch a replica of their own life.

It might have worked in the early days of Coronation Street when TV was in its infancy, but times have changed.

"Another milk stout Ena?"... "Oh lovely Minnie, thank you. What did you have for your tea today?"..."Liver and bacon with a bit of cabbage and turnip, how about you?"..."Oooh, I had a lovely bit of tripe and onions and a nice cup of tea"

"How was it in the Mission today?"..."Well, that Leonard Swindley was trying to boss everyone around as usual, but I soon put him right. I told him if he didn't shut up I would take his rich tea fingers away from him"..............................................................snore
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Old 19-04-2005, 07:47
John8418
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To reflect real life, you'd need big chunks of dialogue where they talk about BB/FA/IACGMOOH and so on.

And a few chats about how dull EE and Corrie have become lately
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Old 20-04-2005, 19:57
i love telly
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Originally Posted by RJ1979
When I sit down to watch TV I don't want real life I get enough of that just by living. I want some escape from real life and unfortunatly british soaps don't allow me to do this.

This is the reason I love US soap Days of our Lives, pure escapism.
Hmm, was the 'I love US soap' a hint to your true identity? And I think that more realism would be completely boring. Like others have already said we watch soaps for escapism, not to just watch somebody else do what we would doing if we weren't watching TV!!!
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:03
BCJ
 
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In this country, soaps were never supposed to be about escapism but to reflect real life so that people could easily relate to the characters. That's someting that is difficult to do these days because of some of the ridiculous storylines. As a result, people watch the soaps less and less because they have lost all touch with reality and the general public in general. A little like the Tories.
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:04
HellBoy
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Originally Posted by BCJ
At first I thought that the killer Katy storyline was great. But after weeks of it, I've grown tired. I'm sick of the sensationalism and I now want realism. We never see soap characters sitting down and having just a regular chit chat very often. It's always something serious they're talking about rather than stuff like what's for tea. Or arguments about who should do the household chores.

I'd find it quite refreshing if soaps reverted back to this approach.
corrie still have the chit-chat! the book club for instance. Gail was discussing what everyone was having for tea only last week! listen out for it, it is there
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:08
BCJ
 
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Originally Posted by HellBoy
corrie still have the chit-chat! the book club for instance. Gail was discussing what everyone was having for tea only last week! listen out for it, it is there
It's there but not in great enough quantities.
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:16
HellBoy
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Originally Posted by BCJ
It's there but not in great enough quantities.
but if it was there in huge quantities, then people will get bored, you need some sensational stories every 4-5 months to get viewers gripped.
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:26
BCJ
 
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Originally Posted by HellBoy
but if it was there in huge quantities, then people will get bored, you need some sensational stories every 4-5 months to get viewers gripped.
Sensational storylines have stopped gripping viewers nowadays. The characters themselves should be used to grip viewers not overblown storylines.
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Old 20-04-2005, 20:40
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BCJ criticising Corrie! Alert the press!
Lol, I have to agree it is a little unrealistic, but I like that
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Old 20-04-2005, 21:50
BCJ
 
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Originally Posted by ITV Fan
BCJ criticising Corrie! Alert the press!
Lol, I have to agree it is a little unrealistic, but I like that
I'd like to see Corrie back to how it was in the early 90's. Not the mid nineties, though as it was then it experienced a bad slump.
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Old 20-04-2005, 22:01
Anda_panda345
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emmerdale is good at the moment for lots of "little stories" with bigger ones taking place in between
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Old 20-04-2005, 22:20
gr8 gal
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next tuesday i think they get back unless there flight is delayed
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:37
*Sarah*
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Originally Posted by BCJ
At first I thought that the killer Katy storyline was great. But after weeks of it, I've grown tired. I'm sick of the sensationalism and I now want realism. We never see soap characters sitting down and having just a regular chit chat very often. It's always something serious they're talking about rather than stuff like what's for tea. Or arguments about who should do the household chores.

I'd find it quite refreshing if soaps reverted back to this approach.
What I find strange is how they never talk about world politics.
I mean take the election for example. How funny would it be if say Norris, Blanche and co were to row about who to vote for.
Or if Pauline was to ask Sonia who she is voting for and Sonia saying she's not going to bother. That would be funny to watch rows escalate.
Most (real life)serious rows start from something petty. So why can't they in soap. Why does it always have to be somthing serious like a death or something.
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:40
BCJ
 
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Originally Posted by *Sarah*
What I find strange is how they never talk about world politics.
I mean take the election for example. How funny would it be if say Norris, Blanche and co were to row about who to vote for.
Or if Pauline was to ask Sonia who she is voting for and Sonia saying she's not going to bother. That would be funny to watch rows escalate.
Most (real life)serious rows start from something petty. So why can't they in soap. Why does it always have to be somthing serious like a death or something.
Here, here.

Not so long ago, I witnessed a massive row between my flatmates over politics.

One them has a Lib Dem MP for a Dad and the other was basically saying she was talking out of her backside because she kept slating Tony Blair.

The Lib Dem girl got hysterically upset. But I agreed with the other, who was saying she was talking out of her backside.
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:45
*Sarah*
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I bet you sat there with your popcorn enjoying it lol
I love watching my mum and brother row over it. I often wind my brother up by telling him is party is sh*T Its amasing how upset he gets
Who you voting for?
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:45
DC10
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Originally Posted by megeve
That might be real life but it would be as boring as hell to watch and ratings would nosedive.

People watch TV to escape that very humdrum existence, they don't want to watch a replica of their own life.

It might have worked in the early days of Coronation Street when TV was in its infancy, but times have changed.

"Another milk stout Ena?"... "Oh lovely Minnie, thank you. What did you have for your tea today?"..."Liver and bacon with a bit of cabbage and turnip, how about you?"..."Oooh, I had a lovely bit of tripe and onions and a nice cup of tea"

"How was it in the Mission today?"..."Well, that Leonard Swindley was trying to boss everyone around as usual, but I soon put him right. I told him if he didn't shut up I would take his rich tea fingers away from him"..............................................................snore
LMAO
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:48
lala
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Soaps, and I do mean EE as well, have been relying too much on sensationlism at the moment.

The biggest culprit is Corrie I have to say.
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:51
*Sarah*
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I wonder if soaps would be allowed to discuss politics. It could be said they were trying to promote one or somthing
And I suppose the royal wedding was out of the picture too. The queen may have complained.
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:56
BCJ
 
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Originally Posted by *Sarah*
I bet you sat there with your popcorn enjoying it lol
I love watching my mum and brother row over it. I often wind my brother up by telling him is party is sh*T Its amasing how upset he gets
Who you voting for?
I'm voting Labour. Since they came into power, being from a single parent family, we benefited very much from the new deal for single parents, which enticed my mum back into work after years on income support under the Tories.

And compare Labour's track record on the economy compared with the Tories, Labour are gleaming.
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Old 21-04-2005, 20:56
lala
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Originally Posted by *Sarah*
I wonder if soaps would be allowed to discuss politics. It could be said they were trying to promote one or somthing
And I suppose the royal wedding was out of the picture too. The queen may have complained.
Well it's funny isn't it, not ONE of our soaps have ever mentioned 9/11......And that was the day that changed the world of politics (and life) forever.

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