Since when is Ron MacLean in the cast of Corrie?

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the September 26 episode on CBC

Yes, you could say I'm a little steamed. I don't recall seeing any screen crawl last week telling me that Coronation Street would be broadcast at 1pm (Eastern) yesterday.  I can understand being pre-empted for a playoff game, but for an exhibition game?

Yes Corrie lovers, you know what I'm talking about. It's a sacred routine. You get all your provisions, comestibles and libations (two custard creams, three chocolate digestives and a mug of Tetley - ed) lined up on the coffee table (so that you don't have to move for the next hour). You press play on the DVR (newly purchased for the express purpose of recording Corrie, I might add) and bam!  What's this? Ron MacLean is skating around with Kurt Browning and spewing arcane trivia about the last time the Leafs sneezed in unison on the Stanley Cup. (1967? - ed).

Now, unless they're planning on having a tram crash onto the ice surface and Norris gets trapped under a Zamboni, this is poor substitute for the mayhem and drama currently taking place on the street.

Anyway, I finally managed to track down the episode on line (www.youtube.com/watch?v=RniyClVlqjU&feature=related). If you can't wait till Sunday to watch the episode, I'm happy to report three major developments:

1. Kevin is not attempting to nurse baby Jack (thank God - ed)

2. Peter Barlow is doing his Ironside routine

and...

3. The Barlow household just got a little more crowded (I'll give you a hint: she killed a builder & tried to stitch up Gail). That's right, she's back. It's the most exciting Christmas since.. well. the start of Christmas and Tracy Barlow hasn't missed a beat. It's not that Tracy's innocent or anything. It's just that they have to retry her (to make sure she's guilty? - ed). We started the official 'mix it up stopwatch' just to see how long it would take The Tracemeister to get into a fight with someone and it didn't take more than a few minutes. Before you could say 'soap in the shower' Gail and Tracy were rolling around on the floor of the Rovers having their festive pre-Christmas catfight.

O tidings of comfort and joy!