There was a point during Monday's Corrie when I genuinely hoped that my house would fall into a hellmouth and I'd be damned to an eternity toiling in the sulphur mines of Beelzebub; at least it would have meant I wouldn't have to watch Maria and Luke trying to buy a car any more. They were painful, unfunny scenes that should really have had a laugh track layered over the top so that we knew these were COMEDY. I like Luke, but his sudden grumpiness seemed out of character; Maria continues to be a hairstyle in search of a personality; and the guest actor ramped his "funny acting" up to levels Norman Wisdom would have found over the top. Why was he carrying a pipe? Why did a diabetic coma involve him shouting non-sequiters? Why would a barely conscious man pick up his car keys? As for Luke carrying Maria because her heels hurt... I'm sure we were meant to be rolling around on the floor with mirth, but frankly, no.
And then Les Dennis turned up drunk. In just a few blissful moments, Michael was funny, charming and in character. It was a reminder that Les Dennis is a very talented, very experienced comedian, and that Corrie really hasn't been using him to his full powers. Over the past few months Michael's been full of angst, guilt and anger. He's moped around because he thinks he's dying. He's tried to break up with Gail for her own good.
Anyone could do that. There are thousands of jobbing actors out there who could play a serious, down beat man. Coronation Street cast Les Dennis though. Use him! Give him more comedy! I understand Les probably wants to prove that he's a proper actor and not just a game show host trying a change of tack - much like when Matthew Kelly gave up presenting for acting, and immediately played Lenny in Of Mice and Men and a serial killer - but it just leaves me frustrated. I'm not saying that Michael should suddenly break into long missed characters from the Les Dennis Laughter Show, but a bit of jolliness wouldn't go amiss. Craig Charles manages to be funny and heart-warming whenever he's on screen - he's so naturally charming, it's almost enough to make us like the pestilent Andrea.
Of course, in an ideal world, Michael would get a job in the Kabin alongside Rita and would say "I don't really know" every other episode. I expect La Knox would put quite a firm stamp on that idea (she still hasn't shared the screen with Les; the Kabin is only ever staffed by Norris when he pops in) but we can dream. In the real world, I'd just like Les to be allowed to make us laugh again.
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7 comments:
Last night our Canadian screens showed the uncomfortable scenes with Maria and Luke repeating (and repeating!) that they're not a couple. We get it! They're fighting their attraction! What we did NOT see was Luke carrying Maria piggy-back. Was this yet another example of the CBC cutting little bits out in order to insert more ads, or was this a case of misleading promotional photos again?!
Yes i think they did. I looked at the cbc on demand online and it's not in there either but i saw the original UK airing and it is definitely in there.
I wonder if it will be included in the Sunday omnibus, since it often contains more than the nightly episodes show. How frustrating and annoying! If I were an ITV editor or a Corrie director I'd be extremely peeved that my careful choices had been superseded by some civil servant in the colonies!
These little snippets of interaction change the dynamics of relationships, and when they're removed they make some behaviours seem more incomprehensible. In this case, Luke carrying Maria, in spite of his aggravation at her, demonstrates what a gentleman, a "nice guy" he is, more than the dialogue indicates.
I know! I tweeted to CBC and they said it's a bit of a "juggle" trying to fit it all in because of the ads. In the Uk there is one ad break in the middle of the show but we have quite a few as you know. The Sunday omni is a bit better because they don't have to fit the start and end credits in for each half hour. I further noted that at least they could upload the whole episode to the website because I checked and that scene isn't in there either. They said they'd pass on the feedback. Phhhttt. Felt like a brush off
On my TV, Maria complained about having to walk in heels. Then she took off and held in her had, a pair of high heels. Curiouser and curiouser
Yes, someone else mentioned to me that this was a papparazzi shot, not one from the final filming.
I really don't need to see another pitch for a walk-in bath, or see a seat that allows one to avoid climbing stairs, or all the other ads indicating the CBC advertisers think we're all helpless geriatrics! I know the CBC has suffered huge funding cuts and needs all the revenue it can find, but chopping up our program is aggravating, to put it mildly. They stick repetitive duplicate ads on the online version. Surely they could eliminate a couple!
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