[Melas]

a couple”, while it may contain two or even three of some element members in acceptable everyday usage, IS singular, as indicated by the ‘a’ article. Therefore we ought to write “There is a couple”, no? But this is such a common error nowadays that I expect to hear arguments that such usage is correct. Is it? Double GRRRRRH!

It's correct. English is full of exceptions, and collective nouns are often the source of these exceptions. My MLA style guide devotes no less than a page and a half to the word "couple" alone.

[uptoolate]

This is hugh and series people. What has happened to da English language? I’m gonna go make a couple two or tree sammiches and you guys better have dis all figered out.