Coronation Street

If I were rating the Coronation Street classic shows from the 60s to the early 90s, I would give it 10 stars. For the last 30 years, however, it would garner more like 5 or 6 stars. This drama started out being fairly realistic, with humor and drama in equal measure, and a cast you pretty much like from top to bottom, and which tried to represent the people of northern England, (Manchester and thereabouts). There were low expectations for the show, but it took off and made rock stars ut of the performers.

Now Coronation Street has become more like U.S. soap operas. Some people say it is the influence of the newer soap operas like East Enders, with its screamfests. So now there is less humor, fewer long-term characters, and murder, murder, murder.

So if you try the current iteration of Coronation Street and find you don't like it plots or pacing, track down some of the older shows and give them a whirl. You just might get hooked on them.