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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people watch soaps on Christmas Day

71 replies

alfabetty · 23/12/2010 20:17

Why? They are pretty mindless entertainment at the best of times, but why interrupt your family day together to watch TV? Let alone the diet of misery and unpleasant behaviour the Christmas specials seem to consist of.

I just don't get it.

OP posts:
LadyThumb · 23/12/2010 20:50

Because maybe some of us don't have family gatherings to interrupt - maybe some of us are on our own, and maybe soaps are the only way to see 'familiar' faces.

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 20:50

because i have to let mil watch two hours of soaps on christmas day so it does made an impression on the whole day.

they should put them on boxing day when my mil goes home Grin

IAmReallyFabNow · 23/12/2010 20:51

Thanks for the spoiler Hmm.

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 20:51

blimey how grim ladythumb, wouldn't the two ronnies make you happier?

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 20:52

oh fgs the spoiler! even i know what will happen and i never watch it

TheFallenMadonna · 23/12/2010 20:52

Why do they always have grim storylines? Why can't something lovely happen - like the Only Fools and Horses special when they finally became millionaires? Or when Tim got his girl in The Office? A happy ending to a Christmas soap episode would be lovely, wouldn't it?

Original poster
alfabetty · 23/12/2010 20:54

But no-one's explained why they watch them. Yes, amindless half an hour of entertainment - I said I can understand that.

But to depersonalise it - why do producers think there is such an appetite for soaps to be marketed as such a central part of Christmas; and why do the stories have to be so miserable and sensationalist? Is there genuinely an appetite for that?

OP posts:
LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 20:54

They also tend to show a lot of detective shows at Christmas. Do you also have a problem with those?

Or It's A Wonderful Life? A film about a sucidal man,even if there is a happy ending.

The Wizard of Oz? A few deaths in there also.

And as for The Two Ronnies? Am I the only person who never liked that show?

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 20:56

i don't like the two ronnies either but would watch them over miserable plot lines written by committees (and badly acted)

people do have an appetite for them agree you only have to look at the magazines available.

doesn't mean we all have to put up with it without moaning does it?

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:01

Well perhaps you ought to moan to the producers then,and not those who want to watch them,as is their right.

I'm sure the OP and others watch programmes that I'd have absolutely no interest in. It doesn't mean however that our difference of opinion requires that I interrogate them regarding their reasons for enjoying those programmes.

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 21:03

oh fgs this is a silly thread

are you dot cotton letthereberock?

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:05

It's silly to disagree with you?

And why Dot Cotton? You'll have to humour me here. I don't watch soaps so I'm only vaguely familiar with the character.

Original poster
alfabetty · 23/12/2010 21:07

Yes, I agree, this thread does raise issues about 'rights' and the proper recourse for anyone aggrieved by the choices of others regarding their leisure time.

I shall not question the right of BBC to peddle absolute twaddle to the masses, on Christmas Day or any other day, again. Even in the interests of trying to work out whether what's being offered is actually what people want to watch.

OP posts:
ifancyashandy · 23/12/2010 21:08

The tone was set when Den served Angie with divorce papers on EE years ago.

19 million people watched it.

Channels LIKE getting those sorts of figures so have delivered big storylines / brought storylines to a climax ever since.

And I watched them because they are FUN!

RockinRobinBird · 23/12/2010 21:09

Because they are popular the rest of the year round of course. Same reason why all the shows do Christmas specials, why all the magazines do Christmas editions etc.

And don't ask me about sensationalist, it's certainly not what I want from a soap.

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:13

There is a difference between posting that you don't get soaps,and repeatedly questioning those who say that they enjoy them,with an air that suggests that they're some sort of deviants.

Now personally I do think the baby storyline is rather sickening,and not what I'd want to watch at any time of the year,though it was also done in one of my favourite shows,Six Feet Under,and that didn't offend me,perhaps because of the manner in which it was handled.

But you seem to be more concerned with the viewers than the producers.

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:14

Are you flouncing because people dared to tell you that you are being unreasonable, when you asked for our opinions?

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:18

And I don't know how the writers and producers will handle this storyline,so I can't criticise it to any great extent when I don't watch EE and,obviously,haven't yet seen that episode.

I do think this particular storyline is rather inappropriate for a Christmas show,at least that's my initial feelings, but judging by the viewing figures people are generally quite content with the storylines.

HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 23/12/2010 21:20

No idea. No idea why people like them at all. As far as I can see, it's all trouble, betrayal, misery, death and more trouble. Nobody's just getting on with a happy life, having a laugh and doing well.

I think it's rather disturbing that a programme where people were just living a happy life wouldn't make it.

Why do people enjoy the misery of others? I don't get it, yet clearly they do, because that's what soaps are.

People living miserable, troubled lives.

What's entertaining about that?

RockinRobinBird · 23/12/2010 21:20

They've cut a scene apparently, and edited one. Like I said, I won't be watching it but they're obviously being closely watched by ofcom.

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 21:21

oh come on programmes like six feet under were originally broadcast at about 10 iirc

eastenders is on really early and for some of us that like to keep our childre away from such shite programmes we really don't have much choice if we are also trying to be good hosts to our mother in laws on christmas day!

bung it on boxing day

glastocat · 23/12/2010 21:21

Because Corrie is ace, and Xmas tele is mostly rubbish. We have the rest of the day for board games and chat, but Corrie is sacrosanct. I've watched it since I was a child, the best storylines always climax on Xmas day. I don't watch any other soaps, Eastenders is far too grim for my tastes, although Den and Angie were legendary.

southeastastra · 23/12/2010 21:22

i can put up with coronation street

LadyintheRadiator · 23/12/2010 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LetThereBeRock · 23/12/2010 21:22

That seems like a problem with your MIL,not with the soap itself,SEA. Certainly if you've no problem with it being shown the day after Christmas.