Gays of our Lives (May 5, 2009)

It’s another jam packed edition of GOOL, starting with a feature article that gives soap writers and producers plenty of juicy story ideas for their long neglected or underused gay characters. I’ve got spoilers on the season finale of Brothers & Sisters and some hot plot twists on All That Matters. I’ve also got the latest behind-the-scenes news on As The World Turns and Ugly Betty, and some hot pics of the boys from Forbidden Love in SNAPSHOTS. Plus, GOOL Theatre and our SOAP STUD OF THE WEEK. Enjoy!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURE: SIX SUGGESTIONS FOR SUDSY STORIES
GOOL THEATRE: FORBIDDEN LOVE, ALL THAT MATTERS
IN MY HUMBLE OPINION (IMHO)
SCOOPS & SPOILERS
GOOL NEWSBEAT
BITS & PIECES
RATINGS & RANKINGS
SNAPSHOTS
SOAP STUD OF THE WEEK
QUESTION OF THE WEEK

SIX SUGGESTIONS FOR SUDSY STORIES

As a longtime soap fan, one thing that continues to frustrate and baffle me is that far too many shows have trouble coming up with decent storylines for their gay characters. While straight characters deal with standard soap fare such as amnesia, false accusations of murder and sudden terminal illness (usually followed by miraculous cures), gay characters rarely ever get such tried and true soap stories to contend with.

In the not too distant past, they usually came out, faced rejection by their family, perhaps a little gay-bashing, taught folks to be more tolerant and then … kind of stood around waiting for something to do.

These days, with gay folks being so much more accepted, homophobic storylines aren’t nearly as common, but still fearful of too much gay romance, soaps tend to have their gay characters doling out advice and providing shoulders to cry on.

As a result, their plot arcs tend to not be nearly as meaty, sudsy or – dare I say it – as romantic as they could be. I’ve decided that perhaps TPTB need some help in coming up with story ideas for gay characters such as Brothers & Sisters’ Scotty and Kevin, As The World Turns Luke and Noah, and Forbidden Love’s Christian and Olli. We’ve even got some thoughts for characters that have left their series but could return with juicy storylines.

AS THE WORLD TURNS — THEY ARE THE MARRYING KIND (A LITTLE TOO MUCH, IN FACT)

As the World Turns has actually been quite good lately in giving Luke and Noah plenty to do. But we still think ATWT provides the perfect place for our first suggestion since soap operas and their fans love nothing quite so much as when a supercouple finally marches down the aisle together to be joined in holy matrimony.

So come 2013, after five years of drama, heartache, makeups and breakups (and more states legalizing same-sex marriage!), Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer have finally decided to tie the knot in a big, old fashioned wedding.

Yeah, this is from Noah’s marriage to Ameera,
but the show will likely be too cheap to spring for new suits.

Naturally, all of Oakdale would turn out to watch their favorite gay couple exchange vows and, naturally, all sorts of complications would arise. Highlights would include Daddy Holden and Papa Grimaldi fighting over, well, just about everything.

Noah would also overhear Luke on the phone and misconstrue what Luke was saying so as to think he was getting cold feet. Or sleeping with that hot caterer. In turn, new barista when he collapses by giving him mouth to mouth, only to have Noah think they were making out.

Eventually, however, the boys are standing in front of the entire town, reciting their vows. But when they are to recite the all too familiar words, "If anyone knows why this couple may not be joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace,” a murmur races through the crowd as a male voice says, ”I do.”

Luke and Noah turn in unison to the mysterious man, a shocked look on their faces as the stranger says to one of them, “You can’t get married, because you’re already married – to me.”

Gasp!

Next page! A kiss before dying!