I keep hearing these Y&R rumors that another character is to be revealed as gay, and that it will be a major character. Some are saying it will be Phillip, but from what I've heard, the yummy John Driscoll doesn't start taping until the end of May, which means his first episodes won't air until late June at the earliest.
Rafe has scenes again tomorrow (Tuesday) with Adam (Chris Engen), so I wonder if that long-rumored pairing may actually be the right one...? Personally, I think it has the most potential--I'd love to see The Great Victor Newman's reaction to his blind, ne'er-do-well son having an affair with a man!
Three weeks into this show and I absolutely love it; Katherine's wedding was fabulously entertaining, especially Jill's drunken tirades.
for it to be Philip as Jon Driscoll is delicious (and he's played gay before) and he can act. But I don't think it's him. The show is busy trying him out with all young women on the show. And like you mentioned we won't be seeing him until June. Y&R's other gay is rumored to be coming out sometime this month. I still have my suspicions about who it is. And I don't think it's Adam. Though there are a lot of fans out there pushing for a Rafe/Adam pairing. But Adam is decidedly going to be a villian. Are people ready for a bad boy who just happens to be gay?
So far, the gay characters on soaps have all been pretty saintly--even Luke's more noticeable forays into "bad" territory--such as stuffing the ballot boxes--were low-rent affairs.
Pairing the honest, true-blue Rafe with the scheming Adam would be a classic soap opera device, and a daring, potentially riveting prospect.
But I'm curious, who do YOU think it will be, Anthony? The only other ones I can think of would be either J.T. or Daniel.
He snivels, he can't do anything right, he is, as they remind us frequently, nothing compared to the rest of his family. I don't think this story would be about a bad boy and a good boy, I think it might be more about a user who manipulates a naive gay man. Unless the writing changes for Adam I'd rather see Rafe go elsewhere. My guess is he will go towards JT. I think Victoria will believe JT is with Colleen, when he's actually with Rafe.
...to get story time right now includes at least one misbehaving participant (excepting, depending on how you feel about her, Murphy and Kay) and plenty of Y&R relationships have been about who's behaving worse this week (see Victor & Nikki, Phyllis, Nick and Sharon or Billy & Chloe) so I expect if Rafe is going to be in a relationship that'll get screen time, his man will have to be a bad boy (or Rafe will have to have a previously unseen dark side).
I liked how Rafe was outed to the audience, but I still think the true test will come if the show outs an established character as gay or bi. Rafe can casually reveal he's gay to people, but an Adam or Phillip is surrounded by people who've presumed him to be heterosexual for years. It won't be a tearful revelation like with Luke, but a casual revelation like Rafe's will be more of a balancing act with a character who has a long relationship with so many GC residents (especially since Y&R is currently in touch with its history that's rare on soaps nowadays). From what I've read about Phillip, tho, he doesn't have a romantic history and, being in the military, he could be outed to other characters as "He's fighting a DADT discharge" instead of "Did you hear he's gay?" which would be a way to make it more nonchalant.
Really Phillip and Adam are the only two we don't have quite a bit of heterosexual history on (and I'm ignoring Noah since I doubt they'll turn Rafe into a preditor). We've known JT since he was a teenager and he's slept with almost everyone in the 20's set. And I know, I know...people will say there are people who are married with kids that come out years later, but I think that would be so far removed from the character they've established for the last decade. I'm happy to be wrong if they sell it well, but I don't see how they get there.
I think a Rafe/Adam relationship would be quite interesting. It would be good if it was a genuine relationship, but I think I'd be okay with Adam taking advantage of Rafe as part of a larger scheme involving his "blindness." Not that I'm anxious to see the gay guy as a victim, but I think that story would show that a) he's just a normal character being put through the soap wringer because that could have just as easily been a women in that position and b) Heather will be drawn in and hurt just as much.
A Phillip DADT storyline would be interesting and topical. We haven't seen him since he was a young teen, so that would be believable. In any case, I'm happy Y&R is finally going there. I have every faith that the current group of writers will handle the story deftly.
Few soap characters are created solely to be used by a man they barely know. Those who are usually don't last very long. Rafe is the first gay man ever on Y&R, aside from a few day players, so I don't think he is a typical character. Gay men as poor lovestruck idiots are a dime a dozen -- OLTL already had one in their trashy gay serial killer story a few years ago. He would become all about being the sad stereotype, then likely fade away when the story ends. Given that Y&R sees Heather as another idiot, I would hate to see them to do their only gay character what they did to her. Adam is such a weak, poorly written character, he tends to drag other people down.
I wouldn't have a problem believing JT was bisexual. He had quite an edge for many years, there's plenty we don't know about him.
After watching for 3 weeks, I can't decide who is more annoying: Heather or Amber. Which is why I'd love to see Rafe steal Adam away from Heather or Daniel away from Amber--both men deserve better!
All of Victor's stories are about how strong he is and how worthless everyone else around him is in comparison. Heather has to be stupid to remind us Victor is right. Another reason Adam has lost most of his promise, and why I'd rather Rafe steer clear.
On a semi-tangent, am I the only one who keeps thinking of Elisabeth Hasselbeck when Heather's on screen? And Amber reminds me of Calliope Jones, except with less of that Calliope edge. Okay, all of that Calliope edge.
I could actually see a relationship between Adam and Rafe having a similar dynamic as Adam and Heather. Adam's a user but he seems to have some feelings for her. Rafe's been similarly kind to Adam, but it sure would be helpful if he had additional motivation to be a good lawyer for Adam. They'd have to really work at avoiding Adam becoming another example of the evil bisexual stereotype who uses sexuality to manipulate people of both genders, but if any show is up to the task right now, Y&R could manage it.
Anyway, I figure if Rafe ends up one of GC's "good" people, he'll be like Lily -- good-hearted and able to see the best of people but also often wronged or acting as their partner's conscience. Of course, it could turn out that Rafe's the one with the baby recordings and gala outfits, which would make an Adam/Rafe pairing rock (IMO, the Newmans are usually most interesting with someone a little bit scary, sins of the parents and all that).
I would be surprised if Rafe were somehow involved with Ashley's gaslighting--he'd have to be in cahoots with either Aunt Estella or Adam to be doing this. I think the writers are clearly trying to set up the viewer to think it's either Estella or Adam (or both), but I think they are red herrings and that it will be somebody else.
In fact, today's ep was a bit of a missed opportunity: Rafe goes up to Adam's room to discuss his case while Ashley is downstairs accusing Estella; then Rafe disappears from Adam's room, but Ashley is still reading Estella the riot act--where did he go? Might've been more dramatic had Rafe come downstairs just at that moment and consoled his aunt.
And Adam's call to Heather makes me think that Adam will not be the one with whom Rafe may become involved with. On pins and needles to find out more!
I love Amber. True she came on the show as the no good, wild trouble maker with the annoying voice. But her character has really changed and I love anything Amber is in! Her voice is just her: silly, fun, happy, loud, girlie-girl. She NEVER gave up on Mrs. C and was truly devastated when everyone thought Mrs. C was dead. She is there for her friends 100%.
JT's been on the show for nearly 10 years and is a well-established hetero. Also, I don't think Y&R would go there with a guy who's married AND a father. Just not that kind of soap, imho.
My first guesses would be a new character like Phillip IV who would be pretty much a bank slate, or Daniel, a single guy with an artisitic sensibility who's only supposed to be about 22 and could be bicurious. Maybe he'll ask Rafe to pose nude for him .. lol!
BTW - the actor who plays Daniel (Michael Grazaidei) just re-upped his contract for a single year. He'd been on the fance about re-signing for awhile now. He says they wanted him to sign a contract for four years, but he finally agreed to one, due to the storyline they presented. So they obviously have something better in mind for his character than him having listen to Amber whine all the time.
I had no idea that John Driscoll had been cast as Phillip IV. Nice pick-up for Y&R! He is such a hottie and a good actor to boot. The show has been really, really good these past few weeks. I'm so excited that my show is back! I look forward to watching everyday again. The show would be near perfect if they get rid of that annoying Tyra and her always singing daugther Ana...
Great scenarios Anthony. I most liked your ATWT scenario. I would be so curious to know who the mystery man was and who it was he was married to. The name of the island in the Baltic for Ollian's scenario was hilarious! LOL.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
at Nuke's wedding could believably be a former Oakdale U. foreign-exchange student from Spain who was among the group of classmates that accompanied Noah on his trip to Italy last fall, who we learn was able to talk Mayer into having some fun on their last weekend abroad by whisking him off on a side-trip over to Ibiza where they got a little drunk, got a little dance crazy, and a got a little hitched. Our mystery man, of course, is a Spanish national, so turns out this marriage is kinda sorta legal someplace. Of course, Noah thought he was participating in a documentary film.. lol!
Thanks, Anthony for a great column as always. Anybody else read Jo Weil's debut column in Refresh magazine? In it he laments the fact that his relationship may be breaking up. I felt so awful reading it because Jo is such a sweetie and is so clearly devastated by the situation. I assume this is the same partner he mentioned in an earlier interview, saying they had been together 4 or 5 years. Hope things work out so Jo can remain his usual happy and charming self.
Great stuff, Anthony. You should be writing for these shows instead of these so-called "writers." Your ideas are far better than the recycled dreck we've seen on the soaps.
I too hate the new mofugly No Limits set on VL. And I hate even more that Olli was made to look like a gay Hugh Heffner for the opening of NL. What's up with that?
Thanks for also running the item on Noelle Beck. She's just amazing, and I love her take on Lily. Nice to know too that she and Van Hansis get along really well and that the Nuke story has a personal resonance for Noelle.
...... I'm not getting the Lars/Stella thing either. Not only is there no chemistry, his 'sudden' desire for her makes no sense because it comes out of nowhere. I'm quickly realizing that AWZ is not a soap you can take seriously (not that you take any of them seriously) because characters do and say things on a whim whether it makes sense or not. Everybody seems to play their characters so broadly as if they have no idea what the word subtlely means. It's not a bad thing. I don't have a problem with camp.... I did watch all 9 seasons of Dynasty.
So Christian's big story is trying to figure out who his BFF is? Really? I knew the show was petrified to actually give him a love interest or major stories, but this is something. I'm surprised they aren't having him get involved with either of these women, as that would at least take away the gay aspect they like to avoid. Of course then they wouldn't have their sop to diversity.
I love your story ideas for the various soaps. You're a great writer.
It's actually NOT his story, thankfullly. I'll have some info on what's coming up for Christian in the next GOOL, but it seems the show is or have already cast a love interest for him. Oh, and it'll be a guy.
Thanks about liking the ideas. Like a lot of soap fans, I'd love to write for the soaps. Or write about the soaps. I was lucky enough to get one of those jobs!
I hope they will do better this time. It's a shame because Christian is a much more appealing character than some of their previous gay characters who had far more story, even in less gay-friendly times. Of course my favorite gay was always Colin. Then I liked Simon.
This weeks episode had Liam's little bro get Mickey to try to "seduce" Liam into staying! It was typically awkward (poor Mickey - still lusting after Cal). But at the end Liam did show up at Mickey's.
I happened to run into Jo Weil at a gay club night in Cologne January 2009 (the party is called "sexy cgn", see the flyer at http://www.egotour.eu/images/assetlib/3185/SEXY-WhiteWinter-Exess-Jan09-Front.jpg) -
And concerning Andreas Jancke, he has been spottet at the 2007 Gay Pride in Düsseldorf - at least, this blog tells so: http://piclog.de/pictures/5105 .
What I want to say with this post? Just that, even apart interviews and PR, both guys are appearently gay friendly - which is ga good thing, right?
Well i know he will be back from death (deaths in soaps are so no definitive), but i don't know what storyline could fit. I always thought they'll made a kidnapping one for his return, but after ZZ (not) twins, it's not probable (but not imposible, there are characters in american soaps who are kidnapped twice a month), so it will be another attempt to kill Luke, and at this time he'd must know that Luke is like wolverine, you can harm him, but in no time he is ok again.
The counselor storyline could be interesting, but if they going to put a third in the relationship (and i think they'll do) i would prefer that the third will be interested in Luke and not in Noah.
I think the change in the headwritter of VL could be good, there's no Ollian storyline for months so it could get worse than now.
Making gay a regular in Y&R could be interesting, at least it means that they invest in a gay storyline for Rafe
And Fisica o química continues to do well on ratings, and it seems next week starts the new Fer's love storyline
I don't know where you think you found ratings for the May 3 broadcast of Desperate Housewives, but according to every other source, they have still not been released as of today, Wednesday morning, May 6:
Nielsen ratings delayed
May 5, 2009
Problems at Nielsen over the weekend have caused the delay of overnight ratings for both Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5. The delays are also affecting weekly ratings for the week of April 27 to May 3.Currently there is no word on when the numbers will become available, but we will post stories for both nights as soon as they do.
Are you sure you're not just looking at the previous week? It would certainly explain why they're unchanged from the previous week.
by 
The Y&R Whispers
I keep hearing these Y&R rumors that another character is to be revealed as gay, and that it will be a major character. Some are saying it will be Phillip, but from what I've heard, the yummy John Driscoll doesn't start taping until the end of May, which means his first episodes won't air until late June at the earliest.
Rafe has scenes again tomorrow (Tuesday) with Adam (Chris Engen), so I wonder if that long-rumored pairing may actually be the right one...? Personally, I think it has the most potential--I'd love to see The Great Victor Newman's reaction to his blind, ne'er-do-well son having an affair with a man!
Three weeks into this show and I absolutely love it; Katherine's wedding was fabulously entertaining, especially Jill's drunken tirades.
I'd Love....
Double Post
I'm ready for a "bad boy" gay character
So far, the gay characters on soaps have all been pretty saintly--even Luke's more noticeable forays into "bad" territory--such as stuffing the ballot boxes--were low-rent affairs.
Pairing the honest, true-blue Rafe with the scheming Adam would be a classic soap opera device, and a daring, potentially riveting prospect.
But I'm curious, who do YOU think it will be, Anthony? The only other ones I can think of would be either J.T. or Daniel.
I think Adam's more of a wimp than a bad boy
THE OTHER GAY on Y&R
I have no spoiler info and I've only just started watching this show but I think it's the JT character.
There was just something very mysterious about the way he reacted to learning that Rafe was gay.
That's all I'm going on.
It would be messy and drama filled but I think they'd look really good together.
"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." (Dorothy Parker)
IMO, every Y&R couple...
...to get story time right now includes at least one misbehaving participant (excepting, depending on how you feel about her, Murphy and Kay) and plenty of Y&R relationships have been about who's behaving worse this week (see Victor & Nikki, Phyllis, Nick and Sharon or Billy & Chloe) so I expect if Rafe is going to be in a relationship that'll get screen time, his man will have to be a bad boy (or Rafe will have to have a previously unseen dark side).
I liked how Rafe was outed to the audience, but I still think the true test will come if the show outs an established character as gay or bi. Rafe can casually reveal he's gay to people, but an Adam or Phillip is surrounded by people who've presumed him to be heterosexual for years. It won't be a tearful revelation like with Luke, but a casual revelation like Rafe's will be more of a balancing act with a character who has a long relationship with so many GC residents (especially since Y&R is currently in touch with its history that's rare on soaps nowadays). From what I've read about Phillip, tho, he doesn't have a romantic history and, being in the military, he could be outed to other characters as "He's fighting a DADT discharge" instead of "Did you hear he's gay?" which would be a way to make it more nonchalant.
Not buying JT as the gay on Y&R
Really Phillip and Adam are the only two we don't have quite a bit of heterosexual history on (and I'm ignoring Noah since I doubt they'll turn Rafe into a preditor). We've known JT since he was a teenager and he's slept with almost everyone in the 20's set. And I know, I know...people will say there are people who are married with kids that come out years later, but I think that would be so far removed from the character they've established for the last decade. I'm happy to be wrong if they sell it well, but I don't see how they get there.
I think a Rafe/Adam relationship would be quite interesting. It would be good if it was a genuine relationship, but I think I'd be okay with Adam taking advantage of Rafe as part of a larger scheme involving his "blindness." Not that I'm anxious to see the gay guy as a victim, but I think that story would show that a) he's just a normal character being put through the soap wringer because that could have just as easily been a women in that position and b) Heather will be drawn in and hurt just as much.
A Phillip DADT storyline would be interesting and topical. We haven't seen him since he was a young teen, so that would be believable. In any case, I'm happy Y&R is finally going there. I have every faith that the current group of writers will handle the story deftly.
I don't know how Rafe would be normal
Few soap characters are created solely to be used by a man they barely know. Those who are usually don't last very long. Rafe is the first gay man ever on Y&R, aside from a few day players, so I don't think he is a typical character. Gay men as poor lovestruck idiots are a dime a dozen -- OLTL already had one in their trashy gay serial killer story a few years ago. He would become all about being the sad stereotype, then likely fade away when the story ends. Given that Y&R sees Heather as another idiot, I would hate to see them to do their only gay character what they did to her. Adam is such a weak, poorly written character, he tends to drag other people down.
I wouldn't have a problem believing JT was bisexual. He had quite an edge for many years, there's plenty we don't know about him.
But Heather IS an idiot!
Anyone in a story w/Victor is an idiot
GC idiots...
On a semi-tangent, am I the only one who keeps thinking of Elisabeth Hasselbeck when Heather's on screen? And Amber reminds me of Calliope Jones, except with less of that Calliope edge. Okay, all of that Calliope edge.
I could actually see a relationship between Adam and Rafe having a similar dynamic as Adam and Heather. Adam's a user but he seems to have some feelings for her. Rafe's been similarly kind to Adam, but it sure would be helpful if he had additional motivation to be a good lawyer for Adam. They'd have to really work at avoiding Adam becoming another example of the evil bisexual stereotype who uses sexuality to manipulate people of both genders, but if any show is up to the task right now, Y&R could manage it.
Anyway, I figure if Rafe ends up one of GC's "good" people, he'll be like Lily -- good-hearted and able to see the best of people but also often wronged or acting as their partner's conscience. Of course, it could turn out that Rafe's the one with the baby recordings and gala outfits, which would make an Adam/Rafe pairing rock (IMO, the Newmans are usually most interesting with someone a little bit scary, sins of the parents and all that).
Ashley's gaslighting
I would be surprised if Rafe were somehow involved with Ashley's gaslighting--he'd have to be in cahoots with either Aunt Estella or Adam to be doing this. I think the writers are clearly trying to set up the viewer to think it's either Estella or Adam (or both), but I think they are red herrings and that it will be somebody else.
In fact, today's ep was a bit of a missed opportunity: Rafe goes up to Adam's room to discuss his case while Ashley is downstairs accusing Estella; then Rafe disappears from Adam's room, but Ashley is still reading Estella the riot act--where did he go? Might've been more dramatic had Rafe come downstairs just at that moment and consoled his aunt.
And Adam's call to Heather makes me think that Adam will not be the one with whom Rafe may become involved with. On pins and needles to find out more!
TEAM AMBER!
I love Amber. True she came on the show as the no good, wild trouble maker with the annoying voice. But her character has really changed and I love anything Amber is in! Her voice is just her: silly, fun, happy, loud, girlie-girl. She NEVER gave up on Mrs. C and was truly devastated when everyone thought Mrs. C was dead. She is there for her friends 100%.
Seriously doubt it would be JT as well ...
JT's been on the show for nearly 10 years and is a well-established hetero. Also, I don't think Y&R would go there with a guy who's married AND a father. Just not that kind of soap, imho.
My first guesses would be a new character like Phillip IV who would be pretty much a bank slate, or Daniel, a single guy with an artisitic sensibility who's only supposed to be about 22 and could be bicurious. Maybe he'll ask Rafe to pose nude for him .. lol!
BTW - the actor who plays Daniel (Michael Grazaidei) just re-upped his contract for a single year. He'd been on the fance about re-signing for awhile now. He says they wanted him to sign a contract for four years, but he finally agreed to one, due to the storyline they presented. So they obviously have something better in mind for his character than him having listen to Amber whine all the time.
Interesting
David Paisley playing an insatiable manwhore, laying pipe all over River City?
Anthony, I love your mind. Pretty thoughts come from there. ;Þ
Whoa...
I had no idea that John Driscoll had been cast as Phillip IV. Nice pick-up for Y&R! He is such a hottie and a good actor to boot. The show has been really, really good these past few weeks. I'm so excited that my show is back! I look forward to watching everyday again. The show would be near perfect if they get rid of that annoying Tyra and her always singing daugther Ana...
Great scenarios Anthony. I most liked your ATWT scenario. I would be so curious to know who the mystery man was and who it was he was married to. The name of the island in the Baltic for Ollian's scenario was hilarious! LOL.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
I think the mystery man ...
at Nuke's wedding could believably be a former Oakdale U. foreign-exchange student from Spain who was among the group of classmates that accompanied Noah on his trip to Italy last fall, who we learn was able to talk Mayer into having some fun on their last weekend abroad by whisking him off on a side-trip over to Ibiza where they got a little drunk, got a little dance crazy, and a got a little hitched. Our mystery man, of course, is a Spanish national, so turns out this marriage is kinda sorta legal someplace. Of course, Noah thought he was participating in a documentary film.. lol!
Jo's Column in Refresh
Great stuff, Anthony. You
Great stuff, Anthony. You should be writing for these shows instead of these so-called "writers." Your ideas are far better than the recycled dreck we've seen on the soaps.
I too hate the new mofugly No Limits set on VL. And I hate even more that Olli was made to look like a gay Hugh Heffner for the opening of NL. What's up with that?
Thanks for also running the item on Noelle Beck. She's just amazing, and I love her take on Lily. Nice to know too that she and Van Hansis get along really well and that the Nuke story has a personal resonance for Noelle.
Oh, and I still miss Rory in RIVER CITY...
AWZ
Yeah.....
Eastenders -- wow
So Christian's big story is trying to figure out who his BFF is? Really? I knew the show was petrified to actually give him a love interest or major stories, but this is something. I'm surprised they aren't having him get involved with either of these women, as that would at least take away the gay aspect they like to avoid. Of course then they wouldn't have their sop to diversity.
I love your story ideas for the various soaps. You're a great writer.
Thankfully...
It's actually NOT his story, thankfullly. I'll have some info on what's coming up for Christian in the next GOOL, but it seems the show is or have already cast a love interest for him. Oh, and it'll be a guy.
Thanks about liking the ideas. Like a lot of soap fans, I'd love to write for the soaps. Or write about the soaps. I was lucky enough to get one of those jobs!
That's good to know
Shameless
I think you mean Ian... Liam
I can't believe Fair City
Jo Weil and Andreas Jancke on the gay scene
Hey guys,
as far as this is of any interest to you:
I happened to run into Jo Weil at a gay club night in Cologne January 2009 (the party is called "sexy cgn", see the flyer at http://www.egotour.eu/images/assetlib/3185/SEXY-WhiteWinter-Exess-Jan09-Front.jpg) -
And concerning Andreas Jancke, he has been spottet at the 2007 Gay Pride in Düsseldorf - at least, this blog tells so: http://piclog.de/pictures/5105 .
What I want to say with this post? Just that, even apart interviews and PR, both guys are appearently gay friendly - which is ga good thing, right?
Greetings from Germany,
jo.
Col Mayer
Nielsens? Uh, I don't think so
I don't know where you think you found ratings for the May 3 broadcast of Desperate Housewives, but according to every other source, they have still not been released as of today, Wednesday morning, May 6:
Nielsen ratings delayed
May 5, 2009
Problems at Nielsen over the weekend have caused the delay of overnight ratings for both Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5. The delays are also affecting weekly ratings for the week of April 27 to May 3.Currently there is no word on when the numbers will become available, but we will post stories for both nights as soon as they do.
Are you sure you're not just looking at the previous week? It would certainly explain why they're unchanged from the previous week.