I'm so so so so glad that DeRo's back. I had myself a nice marathon of all the past eps this weekend and it made me love them so much more than I already did and so excited for what's coming up.
An interesting side note about Rex's portrayer. He was in David DeCotea's homoerotic werewolf flick The Wolves of Wall Street. And by werewolf I mean he ends up in a pair of black boxer briefs on all fours, covered in oil and growling. Then I think some people die. Seriously though, is it just me, or is John Paul getting worse and worse with each episode? Either that or everyone else is getting better.
The look on his face when he heard about Gigi and Schylur kissed was so funny I had to watch it 4 times! He is getting so overwhelmingly over the top its just distracting from Farah's good acting.
The two of them have NO chemistry!! I noticed that Chance and Rafe were in some brief scenes together today, but they would make a somewhat boring couple. And where in the hell is Phillip? I thought I could hang tough unlike other viewers on here, but I now have NO hope for Rafe getting a good story.
Surprised about the sudden turn of Mason/Noah. They seemed like they would be really great af first, and now..... I can't believe they are gonna waste the hotness that is Forbes March, on this sure to be sucktastic storyline!
I really don't want to get my hopes up for Kish, no matter how good the story is so far. But props to OLTL. Looks like they may be the only American soap to finally get it right!
I think part of the reason that VerboteneLiebe's Ollie and Christian was so popular and so well-done (during its first year) was that the headwriter, Tom Chroust, is openly gay. He knew where to put the emphasis and tell it honestly and with strong emotional impact; plus, he had two terrific actors who eagerly responded to the story and were determined to tell the emotional truth of their characters. (It looks like he's doing his magic again on AWZ by re-pairing Deniz and Roman.)
The same seems to be occuring at OLTL; headwriter Ron Carlivati is gay, so he's clearly invested in this story in a much more dynamic way, and, like VL, he has two terrific actors who get it, and who have both insisted on telling the emotional honesty of the story.
I also want to say that while Brett Claywell is justly being celebrated for his terrific, charismatic portrayal of Kyle, I think Scott Evans has been his equal all along--their scenes this past week were a terrific display of two actors perfectly in tune with each other, sparking off each other brilliantly. Also, Scott was originally brought on to OLTL as comic relief, which is why his character become popular, and now it's a joy to see that he can handle the heavy stuff with equal ability--his delivery of that line "Because I could lose everything..." was quite literally heartrending.
Anthony is right. I've been watching soaps for 25 years and rarely do I get blown away anymore, so emotionally invested that I'm on the edge of my seat. Kish is doing this for me, in a way I honestly haven't experienced with a soap since the celebrated Annie Dutton story on Guiding Light back in the mid-90s. Back then, I'd be in withdrawal when Cynthia Watros' Annie wasn't on; now, I'm suffering withdrawal if Fish and Kyle aren't on OLTL (though at least I still have Téa/Todd/Blair to enjoy).
I'm kind of hoping that there'll be a more definitive statement as some point as to who on the creative AWZ team is behind the DeRo reunion. Because while Chroust is a part of the writers' team, so far the only word in articles has been that the new storyline has been developed by original DeRo writer Christoph Schlewinski and presumably the current headwriters. Chroust is neither headwriter for AWZ nor has it ever been stated that he is specifically writing for either Deniz or Roman or the pairing as such. Don't get me wrong, he deserves all the credit due him for what he did on Verbotene Liebe and I'm sure it's great to have him on board for AWZ but it kind of bugs me that he automatically gets credit for the new DeRo storyline without there being any confirmation.
If you check out the "ufafacts"of ufa, the production company of AWZ you can see that they list Tom Chroust as head writer (B für Buch with means book) since July 1st:
Hmmmkay... even so, the script isn't developed by just one person. The individual writers who worked on the scripts change by episode and are listed separately from the headwriters (who haven't changed as per their credits). I just hesitate to go handing out laurel wreaths before I'm certain who's due them ;)
Particularly the way DeRo is being advertised as the "only happy couple for a long time" though press releases and what not, just smacks of Chroust's style (actually one that he got criticized for quite a bit on VL, being so vain/sure of his success that he doesn't mind spoiling the storylines, including the ends of the storylines in interviews months ahead because he is sure that people will still stay on for the ride anyway). I think it's very possible that plenty of other writers have their hand in this (at the very least on a day to day dialog level), but I'll eat my hat if Chroust isn't the one who got the ball rolling.
..... we'll have a new interview with Dennis Grabosch coming when GOOL is back from it's break. So maybe we can answer some of the questions people are wondering about.
The people who run Y&R are very conservative and have no interest in anything that is not about propping up angry white straight guys. The only thing I'm surprised by is they recast Adam with an actor who can do little beyond pull weird faces.
As for Forbes March, he has his moments, but really needs strong writing and co-stars. The same happened at OLTL. A promising debut, dragged down by bad writing and mediocre Bree Williamson.
are Kyle and Fish and Roman and Deniz. I think I figured out why. They are not perfect couples, but they do seem like couples. In both cases, I can think someone in real life of whom they remind me.
They DO have a bloated cast, and they seem desperate to put the squeeze on their best (like Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton and Tracey Bregman and Doug Davidson) while continuing to employ wastes of time like Gloria and Jeffrey. They seem to think if they phase these characters out they will make viewers like cheaper characters, but they've ruined so many, Sharon, Nick, Phyllis, Billy, on and on. Anyone they give a story too.
And don't you think this upcoming story with the Winters is sick trash?
I'm looking forward to the Maguires being gigolos. They're all so damn hot. The show never wastes a chance to get them naked! I wonder if poor Mickey will have to be with women or only with men.
The Tyra and Devon plot twist? It is sick. I don't get it either. It's so out of left field and makes no sense. I don't get why the show is even going there.
I'm glad we agree. The whole thing disgusts me and seems so badly paced and like a desperate stunt. What they have done to Devon over the past few years is extremely distasteful. I think you have a lot of soap insight, if you ever write anything about soaps beyond the Gays in Daytime entries I hope you'll let us know.
Are we sure they're "desperate to put the squeeze on their best?" Or is it that they're squeezing everyone, but the big name vets are the ones who are complaining the most? I would imagine the lesser lights are feeling lucky to have a job, especially with what's likely to be the first domino falling with GL, and are less likely to publicly fight belt tightening. It may not be coincidence that the actors who have (or feel they have) stronger negotiating power are the ones we hear about having tense negotiations.
It's hard to imagine any of the younger set, many of whom are (relatively) recent recasts themselves, trying to face down the producers and say "give me a paycut and I walk," unless they actually intend to do that.
All I've heard about is their attempts to shake down Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton (both of whom ended up being painted as some type of divas for even daring to question the big cut in pay as well as airtime -- never mind that both have been made irrelevant to the show over the past year, even with Jill having the Phillip story, she is just a reactor, nothing else). I haven't heard of them doing the same to the other actors. Eric Braeden didn't even bother to show up to the big meeting about the cuts that would have to be made.
Have a great vacation - if you were in Europe you would be in the middle of six weeks. Totally agree with you on your calls ... OLTL - absolutely great, Y&R only if they hook up Adam and Chance, ATWT I had so much invested in this soap - the very first one I watched when Luke came out and now I can hardly stand it any more.OMFG - Shameless is getting the MacGuire boys into hooking? Love Mickey - hoped he would still be hooked up with Ian. But the other two bros are also quite cute. This is the most off the wall soap I have ever seen!VL has certainly gotten al lot duller but I like where Deniz and Roman are going.In general the Eurosoaps I like about 1 -2 years ago are all gone - so sad!Secret Life ...Teenager turned into 7th heaven smarmy. The only thing that would possibly save it would be if Griffin and Ricky hooked up. Fat chance.
I've thought of her as an underrated actress for a long time now. I'm glad you singled her out for praise! I wish OLTL did more with her. I was surprised they didn't do what most soaps do and fire her as soon as new black characters came to town. I hope they will do more with her in future.
I actually find her and Cris really 1 dimensional actors. Its not just the writing its the wallpaper presence they have. Cris at least got some compassion with Lyle last week instaed of being upset all the time. But Layla was just boring. Are they going to send her out along the yellow brick road for some brains? We know Oliver needs to find the nerve.
Anthony, I must admit, you've painted the rosiest picture of the behind-the-scenes changes in daytime that I think I've read to date. I hate to come in like Bad Luck Schleprock, but I see it a little differently
The changes at One Life to Live have done very little to change its position at ABC Daytime--if the powers that be decide that the network is going to cut down to two soaps, OLTL will be the first to go. Brian Frons, the head of ABC Daytime, has his minions leading AMC and GH and he'll do whatever he can to protect those shows. Sadly, the only thing that might spare OLTL is to have AMC crash like the Titantic after its LA move (which isn't entirely out of the question given the show losses it might sustain)--at that point, I think ABC execs would have to step in and ensure AMC was the soap we cancelled.
Also, the move to HD isn't so much an effort to improve things at the respective soaps, as it is a capital improvement to those ABC studios. Whatever show moves into those studios next will be HD ready.
I posted a note about it last week on the Daytime Drive-by, but just in case anyone missed it, I highly recommend checking out Kristoff St. John's (Neil) recent interview with Buzzworthy Radio. He definitely does some truth-telling (of the "this is going to get me in trouble at work" variety), including rifting on the Adam and Rafe storyline:
If you look at the storyline on our show with Adam and Rafe, that whole thing petered out and turned out to be such a crock. And forgive me for going there with it, but if you’re going to do a gay storyline on the show, then do something topical and current. And what could be more topical than Proposition 8 in California and doing a same-sex marriage thing? You don’t have to go there with that character whose going through so many things — being blind, screwing over Victor, doing the thing with Mary Jane, the baby with Ashley — man, come on. Don’t cheat the audience out of a really hot, good storyline that would reflect what is actually happening out there in our world and in our nation. That’s the kind of stuff that bugs me. Maybe Hogan Sheffer wants to write comical stuff with chipmunks and all that. If I get my head handed to me on a platter for saying this, then so be it. We need to get more family-oriented, get back to the old-school stuff, what originally made this show what it is before I got there.
No..... only reporting what I've heard and have been told. But I've also heard the other reports as well, which I'll take up in a future edition of GOOL because I think all sides should be shown. The situation at OLTL, like all soaps, isn't exactly sunny. But, maybe (or maybe I'm just hoping) it's not as grim as some are making it out to be. I must say though that more and more I get the feeling that people who paint the grimmest picture possible seem to relish the thought of soaps falling just so they can be right. I don't get that.
That's the spin in the insider articles about why OLTL may go before AMC or GH. I find it ludicrous. Outside of Susan Lucci, no one on AMC or GH is that well known by the public. Luke and Laura are a distant memory, and even GH now acts like Tracy is the true love of Luke's life. Neither AMC nor GH are more popular than OLTL now. They're about the same, with the same demos, and they are both more expensive. Yet because Frons has a hardon for AMC and GH, OLTL gets the shaft (sorry for the tacky wording).
In the end, the decision about what stays and what goes will be entirely about which soaps are making the most money on advertising and overseas licensing. Head of programming won't get to overrule the balance sheet at Disney - it just doesn't happen at a company that ruthless.
ABC/Disney has a cable network specifically oriented towards their soaps; recently, they reported their best ratings ever, citing the prime-time airings of AMC and OLTL especially.
I don't know if OLTL airs in foreign countries (other than Canada), but considering how well it's doing right now, and how well it may even improve as the Kish story continues to unfold, I'd say it at least has another 3 or 4 years of safety--by which time, I expect Brett and Scott to have graduated to bigger things in film and/or TV.
And, just to reiterate what I said on DDB-I don't think the gay storylines have to be topic-driven PSAs. Too often, gay stories ARE driven by whatever topic is in the media. I want to see gay characters get away from that. I want a gay Todd/Tea/Blair or crazy Mary Jane. Lesson-driven good intention stories lead to bland portrayals like Melrose Matt, existing to show the world how good (and tragic) gay people are.
Speaking of, Melrose DID a gays in the miltary storyline, back in the day. And AIDS, with the same character, IIRC! Not. Compelling. Television.
I remember all the hoopla and fawning because Y&R wasn't going to do the "typical" gay soap story, they were going to be different. And what do we get but one-dimensional, pointless Rafe and Phillip, who exist only to take up space or reinforce stereotypes. Then there's the dreary Adam, who is about the most forgettable and fidgety villain I can recall.
I disagree about Adam, but that's really a side-issue.
I'm not sure how your post relates to my point. Are you suggesting that because Y&R fell down on the job with Rafe and Phillip, that we need to stick with the traditional, safe, message-driven storytelling associated with gay characters?
I think it means we need to see non-traditional, story-based storytelling that works. The flaw of Rafe and Phillip isn't the failure to include a PSA message, it's the fact that they failed to tell compelling stories with the characters.
(Actually, I think Rafe is part of a compelling story, they just failed to make his part of it compelling.)
There was endless fawning over Y&R because of the idea that these would not be "coming out" stories. That alone seemed to fire up the voices telling us how amazing these stories would be, long before they ever made the air. And what we got was basically stories that didn't even ask us to care, that treated homosexuality as shock value, as a plot point, and the characters who happen to be gay are meaningless to the story once the shock value ends. We saw little to nothing through their eyes and were never given a reason to care. So is it better to have one of the dreaded "PSA" "safe" coming out stories that makes us care, or is it better to do backflips because of a story that doesn't focus on coming out or messages, but also tells us we could not care less about the gay characters?
If those were really our only choices, it would be better not to have gay characters on TV at all. Fortunately, those aren't the only possibility, even though you're trying to paint it that way.
I agree with most of your opinions on the various shows. And this week and last you are spot-on with your assessments. But I have to disagree with your constant complaints about Jake Silbermann's acting. No offense intended, I'm just stating my opinion. I like Jake's Noah and I don't want an energetic performance. To me that would seem out of character for Noah. Energetic actors 'force' us to watch them with their loud voices and exaggerated body movements. Restrained actors (like Silbermann) pull us into the story qently with subtle gestures and quiet-speak. At least they do me, but I may not be the norm. What would be really cool is for someone in the entertainment industry to hire both Hansis and Sibermann for completely different roles in say a two-hour movie, so that we have a better basis on which to judge their acting talents. Here that SyFy channel?
I realize that Noah is a 'restrained' character. That doesn't mean that the performance shouldn't bring the character to life and give him feeling and emotion. Too many times it seems folks chalk up Noah's lack of emotion on screen to character traits when it's simply the actors inability to deliver it. The problem is Noah is portrayed with the same dull and shallow veneer that the makes up the character. Part of the reason why Noah is so boring is because there is no depth, shading or nuance to the characters portrayal. The acting is much like the character himself: monotone, deviod of passion and painfully stiff. That's not a subtle performance. It's just a bad one.
Roman Wild, those topless shots with his giant nipples weird me out! They are freakishly large.
If you do a interview with him please ask him if he has noticed this too, I would hate to be the only one that has noticed this...!
Especially when they get hard (like the episode last year where he and Deniz, post-breakup, were in the hot tub with other people and wearing their tight trunks). It was the same reason I liked the old Casey on ATWT.
Wow, this thread is so big this comment was physically pretty far from the OP it was responding to, so I wound up reading it out of context. And it freaked me out a little.
What bothers me is that for 2 whole years now we fans have been complaining about the writing and leadership of ATWT and they didn't listen and did not care! So now they've screwed the show into the ground. It makes me so angry, expecially the attitude of the ATWT producer, what's his name?, and all the crap he's said about how he never listens to the fans. Good for him. Reminds you of RTD, blechhhhhh!
Let's hope no one else ever hires him in soaps again, because this will be at least the 2nd, maybe 3rd show he's produced into the ground, Chris ???, can't remember, shucks!
Anthony, great, great, job again. OLTL has become the first show I watch on my tivo at the end of the day. Kish has become America's Forbidden Love couple that we have been waiting for. So far, I have loved the way OLTL writers have handled the story line.Which I am not going to say for the writers at Y&R. When I started watching the PHilip storyline I was so excited! But then, it became so repetitive in it's storyline ways. Either they were yelling at Phillip or they weren't. It is so boring and has gone no where. I am not liking where this is going, but I haven't yet given up hope.ATWT has been awful from the beginning and still is awful. I only tivo it waiting for GOOL to tell me to watch something if it is good. But Noah is an awful character and the actor who plays him should never have been cast. I know he was put in for something ATWT never thought would be a super couple, but his character should have gone missing long ago.
Brett Claywell has been the true revelation in daytime. I would bet anything that he's happier now that he's not playing Schuyler Joplin and that Ron Carlivati has turned the bumbling lab tech Kyle Lewis into a very multifaceted character. When Kyle asks Oliver, "Why are you doing this?" one can see the heartbreak and desperation in Kyle, thanks to Claywell's sensitive performance.
Scott Evans too has matured in the role that was for all intents and purposes an attractive version of GENERAL HOSPITAL's resident tech geek Damian Spinelli. I hope Oliver Fish never loses his quirky qualities and goofiness as he navigates this road to self-acceptance. When Oliver responded to Kyle that he was afraid he would "lose everything," Evans's delivery of that line was pitch perfect.
I just want Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini to keep these characters grounded and keep them authentic without the need for the introduction of psychotic fathers or green card brides to their storyline. I just hope Messrs. Carlivati and Valentini continue the great launch of the Kyle and Oliver storyline complete with character-based angst, jealousy, scheming, romance, passion and all that other good stuff that make for good soap opera.
I just want Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini to keep these characters grounded and keep them authentic without the need for the introduction of psychotic fathers or green card brides to their storyline. I just hope Messrs. Carlivati and Valentini continue the great launch of the Kyle and Oliver storyline complete with character-based angst, jealousy, scheming, romance, passion and all that other good stuff that make for good soap opera.
OOOOOOOOOOH! I couldn't agree more!! That is the main reason I can't stand ATWT anymore, because some of the stories are - pardon my French - rather idiotic. It's just too far-fetched in some cases. It's probably boring, but I prefer stories that are more based in reality. I won't find much of that in soaps, I realise that, but that's why I don't watch any soap in its entirety. GOOD THING that YouTube exists!
I used to watch VL back in the 90s early 00s, but ever since Christian and Olli I think I have never seen an VL episode in full. Taping each episode religiously, but fastforwarding every non-Ollian scene and deleting those episodes unseen (only fastforwarded), where they don't appear.. So sad, I hear Kyle say.. Or not.
in the past whenever the show was having trouble, they resurrected, literally, one particular character -
James Stenbeck is back - again and again and again and again...
i think he has the Guinness record.
in the same light, i strongly believe that the Nuke story line is literally on the way out! the signs are all there; some of which are noted in this post. i would bet that the next announcement will be that Luke and Noah will be downgraded to "recurring" status.
AND the same thing is happening on Y&R. all the old characters are resurfacing and the female lead - Nikki - is gone.
maybe what we are looking at is the beginning of the end of the genre of the soap opera. today's viewers want fast, thoughtless action not character development and ongoing developments.
let's face it - the American span of attention as been destroyed by sound bytes and talking points. no one thinks anymore...
I read that Y&R is a very conservative show, well they have two of the three openly gay actors, so at least the casting department is not that conservative. But yes, their audience seems pretty conservative (at leas far more conservative than ATWT or OLTL). I think that they need to redo all their scheme about the gay characters, and as Maria Arena Bell said, tell a current gay storyline.
They didn't start bad, Rafe come out was simply and well done (well, Rafe is not Luke, so a come out storyline would be out of question). The truth is that both gay storylines were a trainwreck, but Rafe works well when he is with his female friend, so maybe they can start again a let him grow as a character being in the sideways of other storylines before give him a love interest. The problem with both gay characters, is that right now, both could dissapear and nobody cares, but the glaciar pace could be in their favour if they decide to give them another chance.
About ATWT i think they missed a very good opportunity with this characters. Right now they only need to get scenes in their apartment, show bits of his life together, some funny storylines having fun with other youngsters in Oakdale, and the fans will be happy. But no, they bring Mason. Maybe is because i don't find Forbes March attactive, but this seems to me a whole mistake from the begining.
Love triangles are difficuld to do well, and this screams disaster. First of all, the chemistry between Van and Jake is light years better than between Forbes and Jake and this is a big problem. Second, what kind of cheating will be when Nuke has such asexual relationship. The truth is that even most Nuke fans stand for the couple, there are Noah fans that want him with Mason because can't stand whiny Luke, and some Luke fans that want Noah and Mason together and kicked out of Oakdale, because think that Luke will be the old Luke without Noah.
About Jake Silbermann, i think some comments are unfair. I remember a Van's interview when he said that he was rooting for other guy to take Noah's role because he was his friend, probably right now his answer will be different, because if Nuke was a success it was for Van and Jake commitment in and out of the characters. Even i'm not a fan of Jake's acting skills, the truth is that the ones to be blamed on this are the writers, and to be honest i find some other actors linked to gay storylines far worse than Jake (the guy is so charmed that i can't be harsh on him). I think Jake is soap material, and after ATWT cancellation (or when he leaves the show, maybe it happen a miracle and ATWT can be saved) he will land a role in another soap. I think Van is a different case, he is far more talented (even sometimes he seems extremely boring, i can't blame him), he is very popular but he is very linked to his character, i only hope that this won't damage his options to break in bigger stages (or at least in another soap)
And about VL, well, this soap was the most interesting one last year, but right now is a good example of what not to do with a soap. I started watched youtube clips of soaps (and being an afterelton visitor first and member after) when i improve the speed of my internet conection, and one of the first clips i watch was a comparision between Hollyoaks and ATWT, so i started watched both soaps. I can't say that i was really interesting in all the storylines (well i started ATWT when the infamous Ameera Ali Aziz started her role, so i was less than thrilled with that), but in both cases i continue to watch both shows, becuase with more or less airtime, better or worse storylines, JP and Nuke had their own storylines. And that's exactly the problem with Ollian, last year they were great, but since Ollie went to Ibiza they don't have a proper storyline, they are always on the sideways. And having a great sex scene from time to time it's not the solution. I hope they get Ollian a proper storyline to reconect with this show, because both actors (and their fans) deserve much better than that
I thought that kiss was a lot of things - beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking, intimate. I just didn't see it as hot. It was one of the best guy-guy kisses to ever air on TV, but that doesn't make it hot.
Oh, I see your point! I have seen similar comments like yours and I agree. But apart from beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking, intimate, I found it hot, desperate, necessary and .. too short!
I watched a little of Roman and Deniz at the begining of their relationship on YouTube, but just wasn't feeling it. Call me shallow...but the fact I find neither one of these actors attractive does play a part in the way I feel about them. If I'm going to invest in a love story, I like to watch two beautiful people fall in love, and is part of the reason I love Olli and Christian of VL so much. Two gorgeous men in a beautiful love story.
Anthony...even though right now your flavor of past two months is OLTL's Kyle and Fish, my flavor of the year still remains Ollian. They may not have much going on at the moment regarding screen time and storyline, but they still have the love and passion going strong, something i'm still waiting to see on an American SOAP. And the amazing chemistry and fine acting from Jo and Thore is still way above anything i've seen on any SOAP...full stop!!
Ollian still have a massive and devoted fan base who stick around without jumping ship just because their favorite characters haven't had the desired screen time or storyline. I surely hope for your sake that Kyle and Fish remain fresh since their storyline is at the new born stage. And we've seen what can happen at warp speed on American SOAPS with gay storylines...Nuke crashed and burned fairly quickly, and The Young And The Restless seems to have fizzled before even going into first gear.
ATM is lucky to have Chroust piloted the brilliant Olli and Christian storyline. I think Chroust is one of the few headwriters who can pan a convincing gay love story. And since DeRo are nowing being shopped around as the future 'happiest gay couple in the world' Chroust and Co have their work cut out for them, especially with regards with turning Deniz back from women to men and away from the drugs.
A question to the fans of DeRo...has Deniz hit 20 years old yet? since he was 18 when Roman was first dating him. Because personally, I think Roman should have moved on and hooked up with someone a little more mature.
Anthony...thanks once again for a great blog. I'll miss it for the next couple of weeks. But enjoy your vacation.
by 
DeRo...
John Paul
Check out my blog soap at:
soapsudzbybobo.blogspot.com
JP
The look on his face when he heard about Gigi and Schylur kissed was so funny I had to watch it 4 times! He is getting so overwhelmingly over the top its just distracting from Farah's good acting.
How singularly innocent I look this morning.
No more Adam/Rafe!!
The two of them have NO chemistry!! I noticed that Chance and Rafe were in some brief scenes together today, but they would make a somewhat boring couple. And where in the hell is Phillip? I thought I could hang tough unlike other viewers on here, but I now have NO hope for Rafe getting a good story.
Surprised about the sudden turn of Mason/Noah. They seemed like they would be really great af first, and now..... I can't believe they are gonna waste the hotness that is Forbes March, on this sure to be sucktastic storyline!
I really don't want to get my hopes up for Kish, no matter how good the story is so far. But props to OLTL. Looks like they may be the only American soap to finally get it right!
The reason OLTL may be getting it right
I think part of the reason that Verbotene Liebe's Ollie and Christian was so popular and so well-done (during its first year) was that the headwriter, Tom Chroust, is openly gay. He knew where to put the emphasis and tell it honestly and with strong emotional impact; plus, he had two terrific actors who eagerly responded to the story and were determined to tell the emotional truth of their characters. (It looks like he's doing his magic again on AWZ by re-pairing Deniz and Roman.)
The same seems to be occuring at OLTL; headwriter Ron Carlivati is gay, so he's clearly invested in this story in a much more dynamic way, and, like VL, he has two terrific actors who get it, and who have both insisted on telling the emotional honesty of the story.
I also want to say that while Brett Claywell is justly being celebrated for his terrific, charismatic portrayal of Kyle, I think Scott Evans has been his equal all along--their scenes this past week were a terrific display of two actors perfectly in tune with each other, sparking off each other brilliantly. Also, Scott was originally brought on to OLTL as comic relief, which is why his character become popular, and now it's a joy to see that he can handle the heavy stuff with equal ability--his delivery of that line "Because I could lose everything..." was quite literally heartrending.
Anthony is right. I've been watching soaps for 25 years and rarely do I get blown away anymore, so emotionally invested that I'm on the edge of my seat. Kish is doing this for me, in a way I honestly haven't experienced with a soap since the celebrated Annie Dutton story on Guiding Light back in the mid-90s. Back then, I'd be in withdrawal when Cynthia Watros' Annie wasn't on; now, I'm suffering withdrawal if Fish and Kyle aren't on OLTL (though at least I still have Téa/Todd/Blair to enjoy).
Re: Chroust
Tom Chroust is the headwriter
If you check out the "ufafacts"of ufa, the production company of AWZ you can see that they list Tom Chroust as head writer (B für Buch with means book) since July 1st:
http://www.ufa.de/index.php/Presse/Ufacts
Hmmmkay... even so, the
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...
Also....
Not that surprised
The people who run Y&R are very conservative and have no interest in anything that is not about propping up angry white straight guys. The only thing I'm surprised by is they recast Adam with an actor who can do little beyond pull weird faces.
As for Forbes March, he has his moments, but really needs strong writing and co-stars. The same happened at OLTL. A promising debut, dragged down by bad writing and mediocre Bree Williamson.
Two couples I care about
Y&R will fire the wrong people
They DO have a bloated cast, and they seem desperate to put the squeeze on their best (like Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton and Tracey Bregman and Doug Davidson) while continuing to employ wastes of time like Gloria and Jeffrey. They seem to think if they phase these characters out they will make viewers like cheaper characters, but they've ruined so many, Sharon, Nick, Phyllis, Billy, on and on. Anyone they give a story too. And don't you think this upcoming story with the Winters is sick trash?
I'm looking forward to the Maguires being gigolos. They're all so damn hot. The show never wastes a chance to get them naked! I wonder if poor Mickey will have to be with women or only with men.
Do You Mean?
Yes
Squeezing the Best
Are we sure they're "desperate to put the squeeze on their best?" Or is it that they're squeezing everyone, but the big name vets are the ones who are complaining the most? I would imagine the lesser lights are feeling lucky to have a job, especially with what's likely to be the first domino falling with GL, and are less likely to publicly fight belt tightening. It may not be coincidence that the actors who have (or feel they have) stronger negotiating power are the ones we hear about having tense negotiations.
It's hard to imagine any of the younger set, many of whom are (relatively) recent recasts themselves, trying to face down the producers and say "give me a paycut and I walk," unless they actually intend to do that.
If I learn otherwise, I'll change my opinion
Go Anthony!
Tika Sumpter
Disagree.
I actually find her and Cris really 1 dimensional actors. Its not just the writing its the wallpaper presence they have. Cris at least got some compassion with Lyle last week instaed of being upset all the time. But Layla was just boring. Are they going to send her out along the yellow brick road for some brains? We know Oliver needs to find the nerve.
How singularly innocent I look this morning.
Hoping for the Titanic?
Anthony, I must admit, you've painted the rosiest picture of the behind-the-scenes changes in daytime that I think I've read to date. I hate to come in like Bad Luck Schleprock, but I see it a little differently
The changes at One Life to Live have done very little to change its position at ABC Daytime--if the powers that be decide that the network is going to cut down to two soaps, OLTL will be the first to go. Brian Frons, the head of ABC Daytime, has his minions leading AMC and GH and he'll do whatever he can to protect those shows. Sadly, the only thing that might spare OLTL is to have AMC crash like the Titantic after its LA move (which isn't entirely out of the question given the show losses it might sustain)--at that point, I think ABC execs would have to step in and ensure AMC was the soap we cancelled.
Also, the move to HD isn't so much an effort to improve things at the respective soaps, as it is a capital improvement to those ABC studios. Whatever show moves into those studios next will be HD ready.
I posted a note about it last week on the Daytime Drive-by, but just in case anyone missed it, I highly recommend checking out Kristoff St. John's (Neil) recent interview with Buzzworthy Radio. He definitely does some truth-telling (of the "this is going to get me in trouble at work" variety), including rifting on the Adam and Rafe storyline:
He definitely hits the nail on the head.Rosy?
No..... only reporting what I've heard and have been told. But I've also heard the other reports as well, which I'll take up in a future edition of GOOL because I think all sides should be shown. The situation at OLTL, like all soaps, isn't exactly sunny. But, maybe (or maybe I'm just hoping) it's not as grim as some are making it out to be. I must say though that more and more I get the feeling that people who paint the grimmest picture possible seem to relish the thought of soaps falling just so they can be right. I don't get that.
But I guess we'll see.
It's all about "brand value"
Money
Don't forget SOAPnet
ABC/Disney has a cable network specifically oriented towards their soaps; recently, they reported their best ratings ever, citing the prime-time airings of AMC and OLTL especially.
I don't know if OLTL airs in foreign countries (other than Canada), but considering how well it's doing right now, and how well it may even improve as the Kish story continues to unfold, I'd say it at least has another 3 or 4 years of safety--by which time, I expect Brett and Scott to have graduated to bigger things in film and/or TV.
KSJ
And, just to reiterate what I said on DDB-I don't think the gay storylines have to be topic-driven PSAs. Too often, gay stories ARE driven by whatever topic is in the media. I want to see gay characters get away from that. I want a gay Todd/Tea/Blair or crazy Mary Jane. Lesson-driven good intention stories lead to bland portrayals like Melrose Matt, existing to show the world how good (and tragic) gay people are.
Speaking of, Melrose DID a gays in the miltary storyline, back in the day. And AIDS, with the same character, IIRC! Not. Compelling. Television.
Y&R made them boring anyway
Y&R and non-traditional stories
I disagree about Adam, but that's really a side-issue.
I'm not sure how your post relates to my point. Are you suggesting that because Y&R fell down on the job with Rafe and Phillip, that we need to stick with the traditional, safe, message-driven storytelling associated with gay characters?
I think it means we need to see non-traditional, story-based storytelling that works. The flaw of Rafe and Phillip isn't the failure to include a PSA message, it's the fact that they failed to tell compelling stories with the characters.
(Actually, I think Rafe is part of a compelling story, they just failed to make his part of it compelling.)
I think we must question what is "safe"
If those were really our only choices...
If those were really our only choices, it would be better not to have gay characters on TV at all. Fortunately, those aren't the only possibility, even though you're trying to paint it that way.
John-Paul Lavoisier
I'd hit that harder than Krystle hit Alexis.
Apropos of nothing, but there it is. ;Þ
Give Jake a Break
Restrained?
As much as I love
I have a feeling...
Ehm..
But then so does Andreas Jancke as Gregor on Verbotene Liebe. But I don't mind his nipples.
I'm not too keen on Roman Wild in any case, so I don't care about much about parts of his body either.
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H LEDGER R.I.P.
J WRIGHT for MLK Jr biopic
I love those
...
Anthony
How singularly innocent I look this morning.
Anthony
Second that, third and fourth that. Hurry back. I cant gool at all and my life is dependent on it....
Imitation is the best form of flattery.
ATWT
What bothers me is that for 2 whole years now we fans have been complaining about the writing and leadership of ATWT and they didn't listen and did not care! So now they've screwed the show into the ground. It makes me so angry, expecially the attitude of the ATWT producer, what's his name?, and all the crap he's said about how he never listens to the fans. Good for him. Reminds you of RTD, blechhhhhh!
Let's hope no one else ever hires him in soaps again, because this will be at least the 2nd, maybe 3rd show he's produced into the ground, Chris ???, can't remember, shucks!
"You bit the hand, Marty, You bit the hand!"
hello!
Brett Claywell and Scott Evans
Brett Claywell has been the true revelation in daytime. I would bet anything that he's happier now that he's not playing Schuyler Joplin and that Ron Carlivati has turned the bumbling lab tech Kyle Lewis into a very multifaceted character. When Kyle asks Oliver, "Why are you doing this?" one can see the heartbreak and desperation in Kyle, thanks to Claywell's sensitive performance.
Scott Evans too has matured in the role that was for all intents and purposes an attractive version of GENERAL HOSPITAL's resident tech geek Damian Spinelli. I hope Oliver Fish never loses his quirky qualities and goofiness as he navigates this road to self-acceptance. When Oliver responded to Kyle that he was afraid he would "lose everything," Evans's delivery of that line was pitch perfect.
I just want Ron Carlivati and Frank Valentini to keep these characters grounded and keep them authentic without the need for the introduction of psychotic fathers or green card brides to their storyline. I just hope Messrs. Carlivati and Valentini continue the great launch of the Kyle and Oliver storyline complete with character-based angst, jealousy, scheming, romance, passion and all that other good stuff that make for good soap opera.
Psychotic fathers and green brides.. or so..
OOOOOOOOOOH! I couldn't agree more!! That is the main reason I can't stand ATWT anymore, because some of the stories are - pardon my French - rather idiotic. It's just too far-fetched in some cases. It's probably boring, but I prefer stories that are more based in reality. I won't find much of that in soaps, I realise that, but that's why I don't watch any soap in its entirety. GOOD THING that YouTube exists!
I used to watch VL back in the 90s early 00s, but ever since Christian and Olli I think I have never seen an VL episode in full. Taping each episode religiously, but fastforwarding every non-Ollian scene and deleting those episodes unseen (only fastforwarded), where they don't appear.. So sad, I hear Kyle say.. Or not.
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H LEDGER R.I.P.
J WRIGHT for MLK Jr biopic
ATWT has already changed direction...
in the past whenever the show was having trouble, they resurrected, literally, one particular character -
James Stenbeck is back - again and again and again and again...
i think he has the Guinness record.
in the same light, i strongly believe that the Nuke story line is literally on the way out! the signs are all there; some of which are noted in this post. i would bet that the next announcement will be that Luke and Noah will be downgraded to "recurring" status.
AND the same thing is happening on Y&R. all the old characters are resurfacing and the female lead - Nikki - is gone.
maybe what we are looking at is the beginning of the end of the genre of the soap opera. today's viewers want fast, thoughtless action not character development and ongoing developments.
let's face it - the American span of attention as been destroyed by sound bytes and talking points. no one thinks anymore...
IMO...
Y&R, ATWT and VL
I read that Y&R is a very conservative show, well they have two of the three openly gay actors, so at least the casting department is not that conservative. But yes, their audience seems pretty conservative (at leas far more conservative than ATWT or OLTL). I think that they need to redo all their scheme about the gay characters, and as Maria Arena Bell said, tell a current gay storyline.
They didn't start bad, Rafe come out was simply and well done (well, Rafe is not Luke, so a come out storyline would be out of question). The truth is that both gay storylines were a trainwreck, but Rafe works well when he is with his female friend, so maybe they can start again a let him grow as a character being in the sideways of other storylines before give him a love interest. The problem with both gay characters, is that right now, both could dissapear and nobody cares, but the glaciar pace could be in their favour if they decide to give them another chance.
About ATWT i think they missed a very good opportunity with this characters. Right now they only need to get scenes in their apartment, show bits of his life together, some funny storylines having fun with other youngsters in Oakdale, and the fans will be happy. But no, they bring Mason. Maybe is because i don't find Forbes March attactive, but this seems to me a whole mistake from the begining.
Love triangles are difficuld to do well, and this screams disaster. First of all, the chemistry between Van and Jake is light years better than between Forbes and Jake and this is a big problem. Second, what kind of cheating will be when Nuke has such asexual relationship. The truth is that even most Nuke fans stand for the couple, there are Noah fans that want him with Mason because can't stand whiny Luke, and some Luke fans that want Noah and Mason together and kicked out of Oakdale, because think that Luke will be the old Luke without Noah.
About Jake Silbermann, i think some comments are unfair. I remember a Van's interview when he said that he was rooting for other guy to take Noah's role because he was his friend, probably right now his answer will be different, because if Nuke was a success it was for Van and Jake commitment in and out of the characters. Even i'm not a fan of Jake's acting skills, the truth is that the ones to be blamed on this are the writers, and to be honest i find some other actors linked to gay storylines far worse than Jake (the guy is so charmed that i can't be harsh on him). I think Jake is soap material, and after ATWT cancellation (or when he leaves the show, maybe it happen a miracle and ATWT can be saved) he will land a role in another soap. I think Van is a different case, he is far more talented (even sometimes he seems extremely boring, i can't blame him), he is very popular but he is very linked to his character, i only hope that this won't damage his options to break in bigger stages (or at least in another soap)
And about VL, well, this soap was the most interesting one last year, but right now is a good example of what not to do with a soap. I started watched youtube clips of soaps (and being an afterelton visitor first and member after) when i improve the speed of my internet conection, and one of the first clips i watch was a comparision between Hollyoaks and ATWT, so i started watched both soaps. I can't say that i was really interesting in all the storylines (well i started ATWT when the infamous Ameera Ali Aziz started her role, so i was less than thrilled with that), but in both cases i continue to watch both shows, becuase with more or less airtime, better or worse storylines, JP and Nuke had their own storylines. And that's exactly the problem with Ollian, last year they were great, but since Ollie went to Ibiza they don't have a proper storyline, they are always on the sideways. And having a great sex scene from time to time it's not the solution. I hope they get Ollian a proper storyline to reconect with this show, because both actors (and their fans) deserve much better than that
Kish kiss not hot!
Hey! who are the 60 voters in this week's poll that voted KISH's kiss NOT hot?! How is this possible? Why?!
*stunned*
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H LEDGER R.I.P.
J WRIGHT for MLK Jr biopic
I'm one of them
Kish kiss..
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H LEDGER R.I.P.
J WRIGHT for MLK Jr biopic
I watched a little of Roman
I watched a little of Roman and Deniz at the begining of their relationship on YouTube, but just wasn't feeling it. Call me shallow...but the fact I find neither one of these actors attractive does play a part in the way I feel about them. If I'm going to invest in a love story, I like to watch two beautiful people fall in love, and is part of the reason I love Olli and Christian of VL so much. Two gorgeous men in a beautiful love story.
Anthony...even though right now your flavor of past two months is OLTL's Kyle and Fish, my flavor of the year still remains Ollian. They may not have much going on at the moment regarding screen time and storyline, but they still have the love and passion going strong, something i'm still waiting to see on an American SOAP. And the amazing chemistry and fine acting from Jo and Thore is still way above anything i've seen on any SOAP...full stop!!
Ollian still have a massive and devoted fan base who stick around without jumping ship just because their favorite characters haven't had the desired screen time or storyline. I surely hope for your sake that Kyle and Fish remain fresh since their storyline is at the new born stage. And we've seen what can happen at warp speed on American SOAPS with gay storylines...Nuke crashed and burned fairly quickly, and The Young And The Restless seems to have fizzled before even going into first gear.
ATM is lucky to have Chroust piloted the brilliant Olli and Christian storyline. I think Chroust is one of the few headwriters who can pan a convincing gay love story. And since DeRo are nowing being shopped around as the future 'happiest gay couple in the world' Chroust and Co have their work cut out for them, especially with regards with turning Deniz back from women to men and away from the drugs.
A question to the fans of DeRo...has Deniz hit 20 years old yet? since he was 18 when Roman was first dating him. Because personally, I think Roman should have moved on and hooked up with someone a little more mature.
Anthony...thanks once again for a great blog. I'll miss it for the next couple of weeks. But enjoy your vacation.