Still waiting on an installment that doesn't spend most of its content on the drivel that comprises Y&R, and ATWT.
There are perfectly good series out there (Fisica o Quimica comes to mind) that include way more gay content, and with actual entertainment and acting.
I would be more than glad to present this series to my readers. In fact, I would love it as I enjoyed it last season. However, it is not being translated into English this season as no one is able to subtitle the series for non-Spanish speakers (and that includes myself, unfortunately), which is why it hasn't recieved a lot of coverage. I know of many tv shows airing all over the world that feature gay characters that I would love to showcase here in GOOL. But many of them are in their native language only and don't have subtitles available. If you are aware of other soaps and dramas that feature gay characters that are not being covered here that I can present to my readers please let me know. I'm always anxious to find new series to feature in the column.
I'm sorry to have lashed at you that way ;p.It was nasty and petty of me.
It's just that these past episodes have been DELIGHTFUL, with Fer's mancandy of a love interest.
In the TGoDTfora, in the FoQ subforum, there are translations on the general discussion thread. Unfortunately, if what requires coverage is actual subtitled videos, we might have to wait for dmoushe to come back. I can offer translations, but I'm too technologically disinclined to even attempt subtitling videos.
No no nononononono.....The interviews, too long. Its becoming boring...Really?There are several subtitling tools available on the net and there is a translating tool (Yahoo babelfish) that will translate webpages so that you could at least give a paragraph of where they are going...
Wasn't it a little time ago that everyone was commenting how Foreign TV progamming was better than American TV in their treatment of gay characters, how did we go from there to good writers like you covering exclusively, (dangerously!) american soaps?!
Thom Bierdz is awesome. He seems like just a genuinely sweet guy who is happy and grateful for what he has in life.
That Roman and Axel scene... Wow. I doubt we'll be seeing anything like in North America for a long time.
Speaking of said scene, anybody have any idea what the song might be or is it just a show score?
I can't watch the clip right now, but during the episode they were mostly using a remixed version of 'Je t'aime' by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin for the scenes between Axel and Roman.
Thank for sharing that great interview with Thom Bierdz! He's an inspiration for enduring a tragic personal life and career disappointment, and still maintaining a postive outlook!
I've seen Thom mention elsewhere that he'd love for his work as an artist to be part of a Y&R plot, perhaps this will involve the just-beginning art forgery plot for Daniel...who is also a rumored potential love interest for Rafe! Yeah, John Driscoll is hot (oh, and thank you for naming the gorgeous [and talented] Billy Miller as Soap Stud of the Week), but so is Michael Graziadei, and this would keep the brooding Daniel away from the annoying Amber!
Was the actor told at all in advance that he would be doing anything same sex related?
I'm not going to call him homophobic....but not everyone is going to be comfortable with kissing someone of the same sex.
i'm not sure why the show wouldn't talk about this in advance with him and if he had been angry over it, why they couldn't of come up with something else.
.... whether the actor was told anything in advance is irrelevant, nor do I think the show is under any obligation to discuss story plans in advance. Most actors are professionals and they play what's on the page, their personal feelings aside. And it seems that Engen was advised as such by co-stars with much more experience than he. Nor should the writers have to 'come up with something else' because an actor doesn't want to do a scene. They can complain and gripe if they like, but in the end, they should do the job they are paid quite well to do. Actors do not and should not be allowed to dictate story. On a show that is willing to let their biggest stars walk rather than give in to tough salary negotiations, I doubt if they'd let an actor who has been with the show little more than a year tell them how to write their show. And that is as it should be.
with what you said, I understand that he may have been uncomfortablewith kissing some one of the same sex. I know I'd be uncomfortable if I had tokiss a girl. That's not the real issues, the real issues here, as you say, ishis professionalism. The soap world, more than any other genre, belongs to thewriters. If he was really this upset, than there are ways he could have expressthat in a professional manor. Another thing about the soap world is that it'sall about rep and Evans just created a very poor rep of himself and I'm surethis is going to be the last time we see him on a soap for a very long time, ifever again.
In addition to the reasons so eloquently laid out by Anthony, consider this: gay actors HAVE to be willing to kiss someone of the opposite sex in order to act! Let's face it, love stories are in 99% of TV and film. And as gay storylines become finally more integrated, they are part of that. Love is love in all its varieties. Any actor should be able to play that.
FInally, Liz, to suggest that because someone is "uncomfortable" is reason to remove a gay plot is, in itself, homophobic.
FInally, Liz, to suggest that because someone is "uncomfortable" is reason to remove a gay plot is, in itself, homophobic
^ you're right about this. i actually had an argument set out, but realized it wasn't making sense and therefore looked up the word for word definition of 'homophobia' (since the one in my mind was much different) just to make sure i could make such an argument, but realized i couldn't, so....you're right. i was wrong. sorry. my bad.
great job! love the interview with thom.come on Germany! Bring back a great storyline with Olli and Christian . Even better, couldn't we bring them as exchange students to television here?
The boys are looking hot as ever in those beach scene pics. Hubba hubba :-p But it looks like there is trouble in paradise. It may be too much to hope that this will end up being an actual story arc for our favorite German gay couple.
Thom Bierdz is a cool guy. And a total dreamboat. Love him! Looking forward to this storyline and how it plays out. I am really curious at how Y&R hardly got any Emmy nods this year too. I though most of Maria Arena Bell's stuff was airing this past year. The show should definitely get some nods next year because so far things have been pretty top-notch.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
I think what is coming for C/O can be best described as a mini-arc. We'll have more details in next week's GOOL, but I don't think it is anything that passes for an acutal storyline, unfortunately.
I really enjoyed talking to TB and without giving away anything, I think this summer is going to be a revolutionary time on Y&R and in daytime. So if you haven't been watching Y&R before, I think now would be a good time to tune in.
I've heard the reason why Y&R didn't get as many nods as expected because they made a poor Emmy submission. Sometimes it's not how good your show was, but the reels that you pick to submit.
Great edition of GOOL--the interview with Thom Bierdz was particularly interesting. He's such an amazing man...most people wouldn't be standing after all the things he's been through, but he's managed to deal with all the trials and, though it was a process, get to this really amazing place.
I've been watching soaps for a long time and I'm probably as excited about this storyline as I have been for any storyline in years--not just because of Bierdz's involvement, but because of the level of secrecy behind the storyline. I haven't read a single spoiler about the storyline which is virtually unprecedented in daytime. It's heightening my excitement.
(Added Bonus: Maybe this storyline will end the daily boredom induced by Cane and Lily's scenes on Y&R.)
Quote:
For example, he was dating his brother Cane’s ex-girlfriend when he wound up having to help with the birth of her child – a child that turned out to be his, oddly enough. Upset by that news, he got drunk and slept with his other brother’s wife. Nothing like keeping it in the family, eh?
That's almost right, but not quite--the baby mama and Cane's ex-girlfriend are two different people (Chloe and Lily). Great pick for Soap Stud of the week, though. Billy Miller's a tremendous talent--honestly, I can't recall the last actor on daytime who had chemistry with virtually every character he/she's placed with--and he's gorgeous to boot.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught inan inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment ofdestiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - MLK
Excellent interview with Thom Bierdz. You asked all the right questions and unlike MANY other soap journalists, you didn't make it about you!
I don't want to get into the homophobia discussion, but I can see why Chris Engen was unhappy with his story. They are ruining what should have been a legacy character for yet another Victor-is-awesome plot, with Ashley wandering around like some dazed ingenue she last was 25 years ago. The nadir was probably when he stabbed himself in the eye with a Botox needle.
Ryan Murphy only writes gays in very negative and/or stereotypical ways, so I'm not surprised he is doing the same on his latest overrated work. I'll be surprised if he doesn't become a serial killer by next season (if this were a young lesbian then she'd become straight for a man, because in Murphy's work I don't remember a lesbian ever not turning straight).
That's disappointing about Waterloo Road. How lazy of them to not even give Matt an exit. I guess the whopping one season they gave him of stories was too much for them.
For the first time ever I may be interested in a Ravi story. Is this going to be a story about an STI (I think that's what they call them over there)? I still wish they'd have us find out that Ash is also bisexual. I think that would be a compelling story (a family with 2 gay/bi siblings), AND the stud who plays Ash would be good in that type of story. He had good sexual chemistry w/Justin.
I guess the beach was at the Unterbacher See which is in the east of Düsseldorf even though it looked a lot like the Bever Talsperre where Summerstorm was filmed. But you can't see that much on the pics to tell for sure.
That's the key. And this topic was discussed by soap columnist, Daniel R. Coleridge, along with (out) daytime, talent agent, Michael Bruno, in a chapter entitled The Daytime Closet, which was part of Coleridge's 2006 book, The Q Guide to Soap Operas. Bruno opines that the daytime biz is actually very gay friendly and hires gay actors, with everyone knowing about them, but nothing is to be said ''officially.'' And it was just three years ago in this same chapter that Bruno believed there to be about 30 gay and lesbian actors in daytime, but none of them ''officially'' out. Coleridge himself defined ''offically'' as something akin to: ''consenting to be profiled in the respected queer magazine The Advocate, a basic rite of passage for most openly gay celebs in America'' - giving Thom Bierdz as the only example - but done after he left daytime.
And just as a point of trivia, some may recall that Reichen Lehmkuhl had a three-day gig on Y&R in 2003 ... lol!
make Y&R status as a show with two out actors pretty amazing. While I think we're still at a "wait and see" stage, I think there's a good opportunity (at least for Clementine Ford) to disprove the idea that being out makes it impossible for the audience to accept an actor as a heterosexual character with an active romantic life. As it is, the fangirls on Y&R boards reminiscing about how Thom used to make them swoon (and still has that power) are doing a good job contradicting the old common wisdom that women couldn't fantasize about an out gay actor because they realized they couldn't dream of being his wife someday. (I think that idea should have died when pop stars stopped worrying about losing their female fans when they married.)
I remember AE did an interview with him a while back.(For Desperate Housewives I believe) Michael(or someone else,not sure) assumed he was OK to talk about being gay and dating,etc. ,but he (kind of rudely IMO) rufused turn it down.
Física o química continues to do well on ratings and yesterday's episode has the higher rating of the season. Now we know that David is gay, but he is a closet case and start dating Ruth, so we don't know how his story with Fer will end. If someone is interested, the oficial web page of antena 3 has all episodes, and in the gays of daytime usually there are translations for Fer related scenes.
I'll be glad if the Col Mayer storyline will be something different than the "i want to kill Luke" storyline. Noah's solving his daddy issues will be great. And i hope they contined to improve Noah, they need to give him the same status as Luke, to work then in their relationship. I don't believe so much people think that Noah will cheat on Luke. Only if they bring back Kevin, and Noah's get mad at Luke, becuase he is extremely loyal.
Ollian is truly dissapointing. They have great storylines last year but it's been months since something interesting happend. Even in the worst time of Nuke, they always get a storyline. Ollian don't have a proper one since november
Chris Engen is an idiot. I don't know how acting schools work in the USA, but in spain every student has to do love dialogues and kisses with their colleagues, sometimes with a female sometimes with a male, so nobody have this time of issues when they get professional. On the other hand this guy must be the first actor i heard complaint about playing a villain, most actors like to play the bad guy, who is usually more funny than the good ones. He will probably get sued, and there are a lot more probabilities than his next job was as waiter than as actor..
On the other hand this is really good for Y&R, the storyline gets a lot of publicity (i watch the clips and don't grab my attention, but right now i'm totally interested), and old Adam had zero chemistry with Rafe, so the new only can be better in that department
. . .but I'm holding my breath and praying that these new gay storylines aren't more of the same-old-same-old gay villians/hysteria that we've certainly come to know in previous television series and seasons.
According to Soap Opera DigestForbes March (ex-Scott Chandler, AMC; ex-Nash Brennan, OLTL) has joined the cast of As the World Turns. He's going to play the role of Mason, Noah's college professor. Mason is gay, but won't come between Luke and Noah says March. His first airdate is July 14th.
So, if Forbes is correct about Mason not coming between Nuke, perhaps they're doing something I suggested awhile back and that is that the boys will try to play matchmakers for Mason and Brian ??? (Forbes is 36.)
If we don't get to see Professor Mason shirtless after class, well that'll be a failing grade for ATWT's Summer Session.
.... very well written, I'll give him that. Though when you weed through that long, long statement, what it boils down to is that he didn't want to kiss a dude.
I waded through that enormous monologue, which ultimately says absolutely nothing about why he left. Nothing. I think he's been reading soap scripts too long!
I mean, you read through the whole thing and he really says...nothing. I think it does come down to him not wanting to kiss another man (or, as has been suggested, perhaps it was a more explicit love scene), yet he uses the old "some of best friends are"...but note that he uses the word "homosexual" throughout rather than the more conventional "gay"...methinks the vagueness was under the advice of a lawyer, perhaps?
I think Engen went off on his own and wrote this without the advice of a publicist or a lawyer. He made certain admissions in the DC statement that could prove fatal to his defense should his former employers commence a breach of contract action against him, as he basically admitted that he did in fact breach his contract with SONY/Bell Productions. He should have just stayed quiet on the potential issues that could arise in the litigation.
There's several parts of Engen's statement that disturb me.
First he trots out the tired "some of my best friends" line, which I cannot believe ANYONE would actually use anymore without TRYING to make themselves look bad. Then, he refers to us as "homosexuals" throughout the post, which is a clinical and distancing term from someone who claims to have so many gay friends. Finally, he posts a rather longwinded and nonsensical rant on the nature of intolerance which could be boiled down to "hate the sin, not the sinner" (which is often the cry of defense used by smiling hate-spewing christian extremists.)
Not saying Engen is quite there, just saying he's got his verbiage down pat.
Regardless, he's the new Miss California, a martyr for the daytime audience that doesn't want to see any of that nasty man on man smoochin' on their stories. For that, I'm grateful he's gone from Y&R.
Here's what I posted in the comments on Daytime Confidential:
Certainly everyone's at liberty to interpret Engen's missive in whatever way they want, but I don't think this answers anything. It's eloquently worded, no doubt, but in the end he doesn't really say anything. I guess we'll find out what really happened when/if Y&R takes Engen to court for breach of contract.
He responds to charges of homophobia...not by vehemently saying kissing another man is not a problem for him, but by saying that he's got "homosexual" friends (I'm sure they appreciate the vernacular) and that people should learn to be more tolerant of other people with different opinions (read: you're the intolerant one because you don't tolerate bigotry!). I wonder if someone's told Miss California that Chris Engen is stealing her schtick.
Engen had a storyline that actors spends their careers dreaming about and it's a shame that he couldn't recognize that. He spent nearly everyday learning the craft at the feet of a legend of the genre and now his behavior ensures that he'll never work in the genre again.
I don't get the part about him being asked to do something unprecented. There have been same sex kisses on american soaps recently. Unless, they were going to show Rafe and Adam in the sack. Despite all of his "gay friends" and homosexuality is a part of beingness. He still left because he didn't want to kiss a man. Of course there are people on other forums using this statement to defend him and saying how wrong we were to attack him. Whatever to those people.
He didn't want to kiss a guy. He didn't like where the character was going. That's his perogative. If he asked to be let out of his contract has he hints at in his missive then I am not overly bothered. I thought he did a good job with the part in the beginning. Too bad he couldn't get past this hangup for what looks to be a very big storyline for the character.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
If he didn't like the role as it was written and wanted to be released from the contract that he SIGNED, he could have asked the show to release him (and maybe he did.) It's actually the SHOW's preogative to release him (or not.)
Quitting in the midst of a contract is a huge, career-ending no-no, especially when you combine it with the lovely combo of homophobia.
on daytime, because Passions showed Chad & Vincent in the sack more than once; and while Vincent was later revealed to also be Valerie (as an intersexual), the scenes that the viewers saw were played by two male actors who were presumably on the down low.
AWESOME EDITION OF GOOL, ANTHONY!!!I remember seeing Thom Bierdz's pictures in the late 80s but I unfortunately never followed Y&R. Thanks for putting so much thought into the questions you posed to Mr. Bierdz. He's had a pretty interesting life, to say the least. Now with his return and Michael Muhney's casting, I may just have to watch this show!
ATWT is sounding lamer and lamer. If this Mason character won't be a third point in a gay triangle for Luke and Noah, then why bother bringing this character at all on the canvas? Why can't Luke and Noah have a love triangle just like every other couple on a soap???
AWZ also looks promising right now with this Axel character. It's about time this show recovered from the painful plots it's given the Roman character.
As for HO, I don't know if I can go back to watching this show. I tried viewing the Kris/Ravi/Nancy triangle and it was such a hot mess. This was the show that had JP and Kieron on last year? Could've fooled me :-)
While Ollian look like they'll have a 3-5 (max I'm guessing) episode storyline arc, I believe it'll be better than what we've seen thus far for my favorite gay soap couple.
I too loved GLEE. It's great to see Broadway babies like Matt Morrison and Lea Michele strut their stuff on the boob tube. And Jane Lynch alone is worth watching the show. I hope it comes back and lasts the season. Maybe with its doing well on iTunes, that would be enough of an alternative revenue stream for FOX to keep this show on the air. It's so refreshing to see Ryan Murphy not doing his shock TV shenanigans he's been doing especially in the last 3 seasons of NIP/TUCK. I'm crossing my fingers for GLEE big time.
Finally, going back to Y&R's Chris Engen, I saw his response on DC as well and it wasn't much of a response at all. It sounded like a more coherent Sarah Palin statement, which isn't saying much really. As for his leaving Y&R having nothing to do with homophobia, well, all I can say is without even having to read between the lines of Engen's statement, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then well...
Again, thanks for the biggest and best edition of GOOL thus far!
Don't make any sense right now. Luke and Noah spend all their relationship being kidnapped, run away from a psycho daddy, or marrying a iraki lady. They need to work on their realitonship first.
If the writers want to make the love triangle, it would be a good idea introduce the character without that intention, make him likeable and then introduce the triangle storyline.
Right now what nuke needs is some funny strorylines, they are in their 20's and need friends and have some fun. And i think it would be good if they want to introduce a third, don't make it on an obvious way. What i want to say is that it could be great if they make the new character knew both boys, and that not be obvious who will be the object of the new character's afection
Anyone who's interested in following Fisica o Quimica
A fabulous show that's like "Skins" meets "DegrassiTNG" but with a lovely Spanish flair and much more relatable characters and storylines. The show has a lot of heart and deals with both teen and adult issues with humor and candor and style.
For continuing coverage of the story check it out on The Gays of Daytime blog (we always need more folks who speak both Spanish and English to help with translations, subtitling, etc)
"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." (Dorothy Parker)
...and a lot of other stuff, including Chris Engen's departure from the show, pay cuts for major stars, the use of veterans, the return of Thom Bierdz and using the history of the show:
The gist on the gay stuff: expect more gay characters, not the usual coming-out storyline ("it's been done to death"), the gay stories will be like other stories on the show ("about relationships"), that it will portray being gay "as it really is: a part of life."
I LOVE what she has to say about her coming gay stories, especially that we won't get betting the same old coming out stories and that it'll be about relationships. Much too look forward to!
did pretty well consider it was up against both Dancing with the Stars and The Mentalist`s season finale.Those two shows had always pulled big numbers in ratings.
Almost all of my friends in real life & online liked Glee a lot,or at least thought it was pretty decent.As long as they do the promotion right I think the show will be a success when it comes back.I think a crossover promotion on So You Think You Can Dance will be a good idea.They can invite some of the actors do a live performance on SYTYCD results night,which will make a lot of the viewers curious or impressed enough to stay for Glee.Also some of Glee`s fans will tune in to watch Dance for the performance.It`s a win-win.
I know this whole scandal has kicked up a lot of dust, but I think some things have been overlooked. First of all, Nelson Branco (of "The Suds Report", the one who broke the story) loves to toss bombs, and everything he writes has to be read in the same way you read Perez Hilton. Branco claims Engen read the script with the kiss and then walked off the set in a huff. Engen claims (and no lawyer from Y&R/Sony has disputed) that he'd been unhappy for some time, asked to be let out of his contract, GOT what he asked for, and only stayed until Y&R had found a suitable recast. If he'd really just walked out on the spur of the moment, we'd be hearing about lawsuits, and the Sony suits would be refuting his characterization of his departure as a mutual decision. It sounds to me like he and Y&R had already decided to part ways, kiss or no kiss. But an actor just leaving early by mutual agreement doesn't have to marquee value of "homophobia on set" as a blasting headline, I guess. Also, it bothers me that so many people seem so adamant that his alleged homophobia was why Engen left the show. As if they were there, or knew the guy! Obviously I was not there either, but I'm not ready to hang the guy in effigy until I hear the whole story--in his words, as well as those who were part of it the whole mess. It's almost laughable how everyone is so "sure" about something reported by (of all people) *Nelson Branco*! It's like Archie Bunker said: "I read it in the _Enquirer_, so it has to be true.". Before I decide to get whipped up into a frenzy, I check the by-line...and this guy doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good headline.
by 
Still waiting on an
Fiscia o Quimica
I'm sorry to have lashed at
I'm sorry to have lashed at you that way ;p.It was nasty and petty of me.
It's just that these past episodes have been DELIGHTFUL, with Fer's mancandy of a love interest.
In the TGoDTfora, in the FoQ subforum, there are translations on the general discussion thread. Unfortunately, if what requires coverage is actual subtitled videos, we might have to wait for dmoushe to come back. I can offer translations, but I'm too technologically disinclined to even attempt subtitling videos.
Anthony
No no nononononono.....The interviews, too long. Its becoming boring...Really?There are several subtitling tools available on the net and there is a translating tool (Yahoo babelfish) that will translate webpages so that you could at least give a paragraph of where they are going...
Wasn't it a little time ago that everyone was commenting how Foreign TV progamming was better than American TV in their treatment of gay characters, how did we go from there to good writers like you covering exclusively, (dangerously!) american soaps?!
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Wow
Thom Bierdz is awesome. He seems like just a genuinely sweet guy who is happy and grateful for what he has in life.
That Roman and Axel scene... Wow. I doubt we'll be seeing anything like in North America for a long time. Speaking of said scene, anybody have any idea what the song might be or is it just a show score?
That scene aired yesterday on German telly
Wonderful. Thank you.
Wonderful. Thank you. :)
Now all I need is to find the remix...
Wonderful interview with Thom!
Thank for sharing that great interview with Thom Bierdz! He's an inspiration for enduring a tragic personal life and career disappointment, and still maintaining a postive outlook!
I've seen Thom mention elsewhere that he'd love for his work as an artist to be part of a Y&R plot, perhaps this will involve the just-beginning art forgery plot for Daniel...who is also a rumored potential love interest for Rafe! Yeah, John Driscoll is hot (oh, and thank you for naming the gorgeous [and talented] Billy Miller as Soap Stud of the Week), but so is Michael Graziadei, and this would keep the brooding Daniel away from the annoying Amber!
The Young and the Restless....
Was the actor told at all in advance that he would be doing anything same sex related?
I'm not going to call him homophobic....but not everyone is going to be comfortable with kissing someone of the same sex.
i'm not sure why the show wouldn't talk about this in advance with him and if he had been angry over it, why they couldn't of come up with something else.
I Feel...
I completly agree...
with what you said, I understand that he may have been uncomfortablewith kissing some one of the same sex. I know I'd be uncomfortable if I had tokiss a girl. That's not the real issues, the real issues here, as you say, ishis professionalism. The soap world, more than any other genre, belongs to thewriters. If he was really this upset, than there are ways he could have expressthat in a professional manor. Another thing about the soap world is that it'sall about rep and Evans just created a very poor rep of himself and I'm surethis is going to be the last time we see him on a soap for a very long time, ifever again.
Liz are you kidding?
In addition to the reasons so eloquently laid out by Anthony, consider this: gay actors HAVE to be willing to kiss someone of the opposite sex in order to act! Let's face it, love stories are in 99% of TV and film. And as gay storylines become finally more integrated, they are part of that. Love is love in all its varieties. Any actor should be able to play that.
FInally, Liz, to suggest that because someone is "uncomfortable" is reason to remove a gay plot is, in itself, homophobic.
you're right...
FInally, Liz, to suggest that because someone is "uncomfortable" is reason to remove a gay plot is, in itself, homophobic
^ you're right about this. i actually had an argument set out, but realized it wasn't making sense and therefore looked up the word for word definition of 'homophobia' (since the one in my mind was much different) just to make sure i could make such an argument, but realized i couldn't, so....you're right. i was wrong. sorry. my bad.
wow just finished reading
Ollian Pics and Y&R
The boys are looking hot as ever in those beach scene pics. Hubba hubba :-p But it looks like there is trouble in paradise. It may be too much to hope that this will end up being an actual story arc for our favorite German gay couple.
Thom Bierdz is a cool guy. And a total dreamboat. Love him! Looking forward to this storyline and how it plays out. I am really curious at how Y&R hardly got any Emmy nods this year too. I though most of Maria Arena Bell's stuff was airing this past year. The show should definitely get some nods next year because so far things have been pretty top-notch.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
C/O
I think what is coming for C/O can be best described as a mini-arc. We'll have more details in next week's GOOL, but I don't think it is anything that passes for an acutal storyline, unfortunately.
I really enjoyed talking to TB and without giving away anything, I think this summer is going to be a revolutionary time on Y&R and in daytime. So if you haven't been watching Y&R before, I think now would be a good time to tune in.
I've heard the reason why Y&R didn't get as many nods as expected because they made a poor Emmy submission. Sometimes it's not how good your show was, but the reels that you pick to submit.
O...M...G!!!
Visit my blog: http://darkesaint.wordpress.com/
Take a break and explore the world of hedonism and pleasure-seeking!
Chuckles!
Y&R
Great edition of GOOL--the interview with Thom Bierdz was particularly interesting. He's such an amazing man...most people wouldn't be standing after all the things he's been through, but he's managed to deal with all the trials and, though it was a process, get to this really amazing place.
I've been watching soaps for a long time and I'm probably as excited about this storyline as I have been for any storyline in years--not just because of Bierdz's involvement, but because of the level of secrecy behind the storyline. I haven't read a single spoiler about the storyline which is virtually unprecedented in daytime. It's heightening my excitement.
(Added Bonus: Maybe this storyline will end the daily boredom induced by Cane and Lily's scenes on Y&R.)
That's almost right, but not quite--the baby mama and Cane's ex-girlfriend are two different people (Chloe and Lily). Great pick for Soap Stud of the week, though. Billy Miller's a tremendous talent--honestly, I can't recall the last actor on daytime who had chemistry with virtually every character he/she's placed with--and he's gorgeous to boot.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught inan inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment ofdestiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - MLK
Peter Bergman
Great work as always
Excellent interview with Thom Bierdz. You asked all the right questions and unlike MANY other soap journalists, you didn't make it about you!
I don't want to get into the homophobia discussion, but I can see why Chris Engen was unhappy with his story. They are ruining what should have been a legacy character for yet another Victor-is-awesome plot, with Ashley wandering around like some dazed ingenue she last was 25 years ago. The nadir was probably when he stabbed himself in the eye with a Botox needle.
Ryan Murphy only writes gays in very negative and/or stereotypical ways, so I'm not surprised he is doing the same on his latest overrated work. I'll be surprised if he doesn't become a serial killer by next season (if this were a young lesbian then she'd become straight for a man, because in Murphy's work I don't remember a lesbian ever not turning straight).
That's disappointing about Waterloo Road. How lazy of them to not even give Matt an exit. I guess the whopping one season they gave him of stories was too much for them.
For the first time ever I may be interested in a Ravi story. Is this going to be a story about an STI (I think that's what they call them over there)? I still wish they'd have us find out that Ash is also bisexual. I think that would be a compelling story (a family with 2 gay/bi siblings), AND the stud who plays Ash would be good in that type of story. He had good sexual chemistry w/Justin.
Ollian at the beach
How is Thom the first openly gay
Please help my friend keep her child by going here. :)
http://helpwithlawyerfees.webs.com/
Tuc
Regarding Tuc Watkins, I think he has never officially come out.. though everyone seems to know that he is gay. I got no clue.
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R.I.P. - Heath - R.I.P. - Heath - R.I.P. - Heath - R.I.P. - Heath - R.I.P.
''Officially''
That's the key. And this topic was discussed by soap columnist, Daniel R. Coleridge, along with (out) daytime, talent agent, Michael Bruno, in a chapter entitled The Daytime Closet, which was part of Coleridge's 2006 book, The Q Guide to Soap Operas. Bruno opines that the daytime biz is actually very gay friendly and hires gay actors, with everyone knowing about them, but nothing is to be said ''officially.'' And it was just three years ago in this same chapter that Bruno believed there to be about 30 gay and lesbian actors in daytime, but none of them ''officially'' out. Coleridge himself defined ''offically'' as something akin to: ''consenting to be profiled in the respected queer magazine The Advocate, a basic rite of passage for most openly gay celebs in America'' - giving Thom Bierdz as the only example - but done after he left daytime.
And just as a point of trivia, some may recall that Reichen Lehmkuhl had a three-day gig on Y&R in 2003 ... lol!
Which does...
make Y&R status as a show with two out actors pretty amazing. While I think we're still at a "wait and see" stage, I think there's a good opportunity (at least for Clementine Ford) to disprove the idea that being out makes it impossible for the audience to accept an actor as a heterosexual character with an active romantic life. As it is, the fangirls on Y&R boards reminiscing about how Thom used to make them swoon (and still has that power) are doing a good job contradicting the old common wisdom that women couldn't fantasize about an out gay actor because they realized they couldn't dream of being his wife someday. (I think that idea should have died when pop stars stopped worrying about losing their female fans when they married.)
He is not openly gay to the media
Física o química and more
Física o química continues to do well on ratings and yesterday's episode has the higher rating of the season. Now we know that David is gay, but he is a closet case and start dating Ruth, so we don't know how his story with Fer will end. If someone is interested, the oficial web page of antena 3 has all episodes, and in the gays of daytime usually there are translations for Fer related scenes.
I'll be glad if the Col Mayer storyline will be something different than the "i want to kill Luke" storyline. Noah's solving his daddy issues will be great. And i hope they contined to improve Noah, they need to give him the same status as Luke, to work then in their relationship. I don't believe so much people think that Noah will cheat on Luke. Only if they bring back Kevin, and Noah's get mad at Luke, becuase he is extremely loyal.
Ollian is truly dissapointing. They have great storylines last year but it's been months since something interesting happend. Even in the worst time of Nuke, they always get a storyline. Ollian don't have a proper one since november
Chris Engen is an idiot. I don't know how acting schools work in the USA, but in spain every student has to do love dialogues and kisses with their colleagues, sometimes with a female sometimes with a male, so nobody have this time of issues when they get professional. On the other hand this guy must be the first actor i heard complaint about playing a villain, most actors like to play the bad guy, who is usually more funny than the good ones. He will probably get sued, and there are a lot more probabilities than his next job was as waiter than as actor..
On the other hand this is really good for Y&R, the storyline gets a lot of publicity (i watch the clips and don't grab my attention, but right now i'm totally interested), and old Adam had zero chemistry with Rafe, so the new only can be better in that department
Delighted to See Thom Bierdz Back On TY&R. . .
ATWT - Noah
Could someone please tell me a bit more about this Noah & his professor storyline? Is it planned for the summer or is it ongoing?
Thanks. :]
Noah's Professor
SPOILER ALERT .... .This is what I've read:
So, if Forbes is correct about Mason not coming between Nuke, perhaps they're doing something I suggested awhile back and that is that the boys will try to play matchmakers for Mason and Brian ??? (Forbes is 36.)
If we don't get to see Professor Mason shirtless after class, well that'll be a failing grade for ATWT's Summer Session.
Thanks
Thanks for the info, Channing.
I like where you are going with the idea of matching Brian and Mason. =]
Chris Engen just issued a statement on the Y&R fracas
Chris Engen just issued a long and rambling statement on his MySpace page:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=85598263&blogId=491217751
I Saw That....
Seriously!
Is it deliberately vague?
I think Engen went off on
There's several parts of
There's several parts of Engen's statement that disturb me.
First he trots out the tired "some of my best friends" line, which I cannot believe ANYONE would actually use anymore without TRYING to make themselves look bad. Then, he refers to us as "homosexuals" throughout the post, which is a clinical and distancing term from someone who claims to have so many gay friends. Finally, he posts a rather longwinded and nonsensical rant on the nature of intolerance which could be boiled down to "hate the sin, not the sinner" (which is often the cry of defense used by smiling hate-spewing christian extremists.)
Not saying Engen is quite there, just saying he's got his verbiage down pat.
Regardless, he's the new Miss California, a martyr for the daytime audience that doesn't want to see any of that nasty man on man smoochin' on their stories. For that, I'm grateful he's gone from Y&R.
Here's what I posted in the
Here's what I posted in the comments on Daytime Confidential:
unprecented
So True...
He didn't want to kiss a guy. He didn't like where the character was going. That's his perogative. If he asked to be let out of his contract has he hints at in his missive then I am not overly bothered. I thought he did a good job with the part in the beginning. Too bad he couldn't get past this hangup for what looks to be a very big storyline for the character.
Once upon a time I died. And like my namesake I got better.
It's actually NOT his
It's actually NOT his prerogative.
If he didn't like the role as it was written and wanted to be released from the contract that he SIGNED, he could have asked the show to release him (and maybe he did.) It's actually the SHOW's preogative to release him (or not.)
Quitting in the midst of a contract is a huge, career-ending no-no, especially when you combine it with the lovely combo of homophobia.
Even ''in the sack'' would not be unprecedented
on daytime, because Passions showed Chad & Vincent in the sack more than once; and while Vincent was later revealed to also be Valerie (as an intersexual), the scenes that the viewers saw were played by two male actors who were presumably on the down low.
AWESOME EDITION OF GOOL,
AWESOME EDITION OF GOOL, ANTHONY!!!I remember seeing Thom Bierdz's pictures in the late 80s but I unfortunately never followed Y&R. Thanks for putting so much thought into the questions you posed to Mr. Bierdz. He's had a pretty interesting life, to say the least. Now with his return and Michael Muhney's casting, I may just have to watch this show!
ATWT is sounding lamer and lamer. If this Mason character won't be a third point in a gay triangle for Luke and Noah, then why bother bringing this character at all on the canvas? Why can't Luke and Noah have a love triangle just like every other couple on a soap???
AWZ also looks promising right now with this Axel character. It's about time this show recovered from the painful plots it's given the Roman character.
As for HO, I don't know if I can go back to watching this show. I tried viewing the Kris/Ravi/Nancy triangle and it was such a hot mess. This was the show that had JP and Kieron on last year? Could've fooled me :-)
While Ollian look like they'll have a 3-5 (max I'm guessing) episode storyline arc, I believe it'll be better than what we've seen thus far for my favorite gay soap couple.
I too loved GLEE. It's great to see Broadway babies like Matt Morrison and Lea Michele strut their stuff on the boob tube. And Jane Lynch alone is worth watching the show. I hope it comes back and lasts the season. Maybe with its doing well on iTunes, that would be enough of an alternative revenue stream for FOX to keep this show on the air. It's so refreshing to see Ryan Murphy not doing his shock TV shenanigans he's been doing especially in the last 3 seasons of NIP/TUCK. I'm crossing my fingers for GLEE big time.
Finally, going back to Y&R's Chris Engen, I saw his response on DC as well and it wasn't much of a response at all. It sounded like a more coherent Sarah Palin statement, which isn't saying much really. As for his leaving Y&R having nothing to do with homophobia, well, all I can say is without even having to read between the lines of Engen's statement, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then well...
Again, thanks for the biggest and best edition of GOOL thus far!
The love triangle
Don't make any sense right now. Luke and Noah spend all their relationship being kidnapped, run away from a psycho daddy, or marrying a iraki lady. They need to work on their realitonship first.
If the writers want to make the love triangle, it would be a good idea introduce the character without that intention, make him likeable and then introduce the triangle storyline.
Right now what nuke needs is some funny strorylines, they are in their 20's and need friends and have some fun. And i think it would be good if they want to introduce a third, don't make it on an obvious way. What i want to say is that it could be great if they make the new character knew both boys, and that not be obvious who will be the object of the new character's afection
Fisica o Quimica - How To Follow The Story of Fer and Friends
Anyone who's interested in following Fisica o Quimica
A fabulous show that's like "Skins" meets "DegrassiTNG" but with a lovely Spanish flair and much more relatable characters and storylines. The show has a lot of heart and deals with both teen and adult issues with humor and candor and style.
Check out the clips for Season 1 and Season 2 DMousheVids - http://www.dailymotion.com/DMousheVids?hmz=6f776e6572696e666f73
Continuing Coverage of Season 3
http://gaydaytime.blogspot.com/search/label/fisica%20o%20quimica
Check out each weeks episode in Spanish online
http://www.antena3videos.com/
For continuing coverage of the story check it out on The Gays of Daytime blog (we always need more folks who speak both Spanish and English to help with translations, subtitling, etc)
"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." (Dorothy Parker)
Y&R headwriter Maria Arena Bell discusses gay characters...
...and a lot of other stuff, including Chris Engen's departure from the show, pay cuts for major stars, the use of veterans, the return of Thom Bierdz and using the history of the show:
http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.ca/Soaps/Features/Articles/090526_maria_arena_bell_NB
The gist on the gay stuff: expect more gay characters, not the usual coming-out storyline ("it's been done to death"), the gay stories will be like other stories on the show ("about relationships"), that it will portray being gay "as it really is: a part of life."
Wonderful Interview!
Glee
did pretty well consider it was up against both Dancing with the Stars and The Mentalist`s season finale.Those two shows had always pulled big numbers in ratings.
Almost all of my friends in real life & online liked Glee a lot,or at least thought it was pretty decent.As long as they do the promotion right I think the show will be a success when it comes back.I think a crossover promotion on So You Think You Can Dance will be a good idea.They can invite some of the actors do a live performance on SYTYCD results night,which will make a lot of the viewers curious or impressed enough to stay for Glee.Also some of Glee`s fans will tune in to watch Dance for the performance.It`s a win-win.
Engen's statement