.... has been great to watch. Some wonderful person has been uploading the gay storyline to You Tube and I'm really digging the Craig/Jean Paul plot, especially the most recent developments. The reason why it works for me is because the show is treating it like any other romantic plot, full of romance, heartache and passion. The actors are very good, nailing each and every beat of the storyline and there is not an awkward or uncomfortable moment. It'll great once the BBC America reaches that part of the story.

Anthony

Apparently one of the people with ATWT made a comment to Soap Opera Digest that the "standards and practices" department probably won't let them do that much in terms of affection between Luke and Noah. So I guess that means we can assume Luke and Noah will have hugs at the absolute most. If even that. I have a feeling this storyline will be over very, very soon.

As for Passions, the story from the start has been nothing but ugly anti-gay stereotypes, right from the time the block of wood who plays Chad (Charles Divins) went on about his character not being gay, just having sexual addiction, or whatever it was he said. This story is a cheap attempt to cash in on the "down low" phenomenon, and has probably increased homophobia in the public eye.

Best bit from the James Sutton interview:

"It's like a sausage factory." "Bang, Bang, Bang."

LMAO. I bet it is James with the amount of gay snogging that goes on on that set :P.

Talking of the intimacy between Luke and Noah, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was only relegated to hugs and things. In the UK they wouldn't be allowed to get away with that, as shown by Hollyoaks. But it isn't impossible that they could do a little peck on the lips between them...I mean it is 2007 you know.

that we would see some intimate moments between Luke and Noah.  The actors have said that they have no problem with having to kiss their male co-star and consider it a natural part of the plot.  And network tv (though it has only been nighttime tv) has proven that we can have a little man on man action and the world won't stop turning.   I don't think we'll see those romantic moments, but it would be nice if we did.

And you're right... you could not get way with not showing the physical action in the U.K..  They expect to see it.  Fortunately they aren't shy about showing it.

Anthony

Well I personally haven't been offended by the "DL" storyline directly. It made me really uncomfortable (as it should make anyone uncomfortable I think - especially their violent "sex scenes"), but I think it was handled...well enough. Even though Whitney did make a few homophobic remarks and Chad has gone on and on about not being gay or bisexual, you have to keep in mind that this is an NBC soap (the only kind I watch) and things take a long time to get from Point A to Point B. The general "moral of the story" could quickly change.

As for the Blackmailer...I'm pretty confident that it isn't Vincent. I thought that for awhile, but last week it revealed that it is disfigured in some way and has been since birth. So I think that rules Vincent out.

As an aside, all of this talk about ATWT makes me wish I watched that show. I'm an NBC Soap watcher since birth and could never get into a new soap that I haven't been following for the past almost-20 years.

...the gay kissing and storyline.