It’s been just over a year since I stopped watching Coronation Street. I still record it, and read the on-screen synopses as I delete episodes.
Have I been tempted to watch? Yes. Some days when I just feel like flopping on the couch and not checking on the Donald Trump Comedy/Horror Hour. Or when the two line synopsis makes me curious. What’s happening with Carla, I wonder. But I have not watched even one episode.
I do think about the show and why it’s now okay with me to let it go. After all, Coronation Street has been an important part of my life. Having no profound thoughts of my own, I thought google it. See if there’s any new critical or analytic insights into the show and/or viewership.
Ask Google: “Why watch Coronation Street”
Below is the best of what came up on the first page.
This delightful print is by Cara Kansala of Grumpy Goat Gallery in Newfoundland. Go to carakansala.com to see more of her work.
Why watch in Canada, British guy asks
The poster on Reddit is surprised that Coronation Street is on prime-time in Canada. In short, the answer says that Canada is part of the British diaspora and therefore reminders of “home” are popular. I have no stats on it, but I’d be surprised if it was the reason most Canadian fans watch, even long-time ones.
Well, you could watch from the beginning if you wanted to. Box sets are available. I don’t think they include every episode. But you could get a good sense of the show. Even in condensed form, though, it would be a very big project. And it probably has been done.
These Yahoo answers made me laugh out loud. Especially “the kind of people who have lost the remote.”
“A half hour I can’t get back”
“Hard to give it up after 45-50 years!” Maybe that’s still the best insight of all. You know the people. So no matter how silly they’re being, or boring, you stick with them.
Milo the Singing Dog
At the top of the search results page was Milo the dog on YouTube. For good reason. He could quickly and easily answer that thorny question of why we watch. So he can sing along with the theme music.
