# Cornation Street is a soap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 5, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387 "2000-03-05T21:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/1 "2000-03-05T21:29:00Z")
While chatting it up at work on Friday, the topic hit upon “soap operas”. (Y & R and others of that ilk. I remarked that the closet I ever came to a soap opera was “Leave It To Beaver” re-runs. And that’s when one of my co-workers said: “Wait a minute! You watch Cornation Street!” And I said yes. In fact, I can remember my parents watching it when I was young. I guess that how I got hooked on it. So, the word around work is Cornation Street IS a soap opera! I call to the TM, is it? or am I just kidding myself? So, in a nutshell: Cornation Street: Soap Opera (& why) or serial drama. (as if there’s a difference?) * * * My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/2 "2000-03-05T21:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > So, in a nutshell: Cornation Street: Soap Opera (& why) or serial drama. (as if there’s a difference?) IMO Coronation Street’s a serial drama. The difference between a soap and a serial is that an episode of a serial can stand on its own and still be appreciated. You don’t need to know every character’s background and motivation and what went before to get something out of it (although that does add enjoyment). A one-episode viewing of a soap is like swallowing air. All you get out of it is an unsatisfying burp. ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/3 "2000-03-06T00:20:00Z")
Are you talking about the British programme, _Coronation Street_? If so, I’d say it’s certainly a soap. If not, what are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/4 "2000-03-06T01:43:00Z")
Of course it’s a soap! Even _The Bill_ is a soap, and they’re almost exclusively stand-alone episodes! * * * [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/5 "2000-03-06T03:57:00Z")
Okay, what makes one show a soap and another a serial drama? Plot? Acting quality? Schedule slot? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/6 "2000-03-06T05:32:00Z")
Soaps show multiple episodes a week, have ongoing storylines, and play all year round. That’s my definition, anyhoo. * * * [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Shadow of the Pigeon** - Weirdo of the Night ---
**Author:** ![drollman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@drollman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drollman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cornation-street-is-a-soap/14387/7 "2000-03-06T17:09:00Z")
Mea culpa, mea culpa. Of course I mean the long-running British-based program: “Coronation Street” Just a stupid spelling mistake on my part. However Auntie Pam has point. If My Mrs. misses two or three episodes of her “soap” (Y & R) she’s could be lost in plot and story line. (However anyone is a coma will remain in a coma until the contract negotiations work out) Yet, she can watch Corry St. with me once in a blue moon and enjoy the show as a stand alone. * * * My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny.