Thursday 4 October 2012

Smoke Me A Kipper, I'll Be Back For Breakfast

How was Red Dwarf ever shown without commercial breaks? When did we go to fetch more beer?

Some of us used to kill the time in the duller lessons by compiling and comparing our lists of the very best episodes. What was that blog post yesterday by an old schoolmate of mine about geeks? Not that it was peculiar to us. The coolest boys in the school were just as enormous fans. Even some girls liked it.

Apparently, it is huge in America, or at any rate it has a cult following of American proportions. There has even been at least one reference to it on the The Big Bang Theory, complete with a very clever line for the aficionados about bubble wrap.

Much of the humour is universal, of course. But, as in all British comedy, the key is class, in this case the constant class conflict between Rimmer and Lister, plus the regional dimension added by making Rimmer Home Countries (and probably minor public school) while Lister is Scouse. How many Americans really get that?

The race thing, though, is never, ever mentioned, and has probably never even occurred either to the writers or to the actors. If that were different, then the popularity in America would be more understandable. But that would be an American show now in its tenth season, not a British programme now in its tenth series.

By way of illustration, look at how no one ever mentions the colour of Craig Charles's Lloyd on Coronation Street. Funnily enough, no one ever mentions that he is Scouse, either. But then, very oddly for a programme which has always been made from start to finish in Manchester rather than in London, Corrie has always, or at least for a very long time, assumed that any Northern accent would do. No one ever asked Liz McDonald about her broad Yorkshire accent.

If the presence of Craig Charles on Coronation Street were to be matched by that of Chris Barrie on EastEnders, then I might even start watching the latter again. And that really is saying quite something these days. Better still, have him on Corrie playing Lloyd's archenemy, frequently addressed as a "smeg head". No such term was used this evening, and there was only one "smegging". But there is time yet.

And therein, when you think about it, is something else that must presumably be difficult to comprehend in terms of the strikingly different cultural practices of the United States.

Still, I am very glad that they like it. And I am very, very, very glad that it is back.

1 comment:

  1. Ah David, I saw the very first episode of Coronation Street when I was aged 8 and have missed very few episodes.
    The programme has in fact evolved but there are certain consistencies.
    For example the earliest cast were drawn from rep theatres such as Oldham and Bolton and BBC radio casts. They were Lancastrian but if youve seen the drama "The Road to Coronation Street" (a BBc production (2010) there was some doubt about the casting of Bill Roache because he was from.....Derbyshire.
    There are other consistencies. Norris Cole is effectively Leonard Swindley (Arthur Lowe who was in Corrie in the 1960s). The Duckworths are really the Ogdens and the Battersbys and latterly the Windass family continue that trend.
    Liz McDonald is indeed a Yorkshire lass but that was explained in their arrival. Jim McDonald was in the Army "so he was" and he was stationed near Liz.
    Race has not raised its head....much. The first regular black character was a girlfriend of Curly Watts (Shirley Armitage a sticher in Mike Baldwins factory). The storyline featured Curlys parents who were racist but the Corrie regulars were supportive.
    Has there ever been a specifically black family in Corrie? I discount the Dev and the Corner Shop and occasional black "singles" including Lloyd who might well be bringing his old flame and daughter into the street.
    Lloyd does make occasional visits back to Liverpool. He likes manchesters music but doesnt like the footbal.
    Incidently there had been earlier plans to introduce a black family but the producers decided against it as the "Ogdens" would likely be racist.
    The suspension of disbelief is difficult now. Everybody works and lives in the Street. In the early days Harry Hewitt was a bus driver and Frank Barlow (Kens dad) was a postman.
    And people living in lodgings is a bit difficult. Not to mention that Emily and Ken would no longer be in the Street.
    The essence of Coronation Street is summed up in Rovers Return. The first episode featured Ken returned from Uni and Dennis Tanner from prison and would later add Billy Walker home from National Service.
    The theme is that anyone who moves away from their roots is doomed....to go off to live in Southampton where a surprising number of ex Corrie residents are sent.
    For me the great joy is the difference between character and actor. Ken who spent a week in prison for a ban the bomb protest is played by an arch Tory. So is Steve McDonald and (I think) Kevin Webster.
    On the other hand Jennie McAlpine and Sue Cleaver (Fiz and Eileen are Labour supporters).
    The interesting thing is that there are occasional references to City and United although you rarely see overt things like shirts (product placement). Some actors insist on being seen to support their real life team but with others the producers have taken diabolical liberties.
    I bet youre sorry you mentioned Corrie. LOL
    FJH

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