10 replies to this topic

[Scotty]

ABC Soaps Tackle the Ecoomy

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) -- As a recession continues to grip cities and towns across the United States, not even Pine Valley, Llanview, and Port Charles are immune to its effects.

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[Ann_SS]

Because real life isn't depressing enough.

[CarlD2]

Why would some of the most unrealistic soaps around suddenly care about realism? Is this just about wanting to save money on sets and wardrobe?

If they care about the economy, fire some of the overpaid show ponies in the casts and fire hacks like Guza.

[Ann_SS]

Good point. There has to be more to these recession stories. Everything with Frons is a money making scheme. Taking down sets would save money. Maybe they plan to integrate use GL's production model to save money. Something is going on.

[CarlD2]

They can use this as an excuse to have less sets and wardrobe, to fire actors they don't want around anymore, and to excuse more bad behavior from their favorites.

Adam: Why did you smash JR's head in with a can of corned beef hash?

Ryan: I'M JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY!!!

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Tad: I heard you sold Krystal and Amanda into white slavery.

David: The price of test tubes is going through the roof. Who needs those slut/whores anyway.

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Jason: What gave you the right to loot the Quartermaine mansion and murder Monica, Tracy, and Edward in their sleep?

Sonny: Morgan needs bridgework.

<Jason allows himself a millisecond of sorrow>

Edited by CarlD2, 14 March 2009 - 12:01 AM.

[Ann_SS]

On AMC, Opal and Palmer's house burnt down and they have lost their fortune. I can see this happening to the Qs on GH and the Buchanans on OLTL. This would give GH the perfect pretext to take down the Qs' mansion set and use the remaining Qs even less. Now that Luke has his boytoy, he doesn't need Tracy.

[Cheap21]

HATE IT! I was going to post it a few days ago bc Ive noticed it. Everyday we hear about companies closing down, houses going into foreclosure and people losing their jobs. Soaps are supposed to fantasy, an escape but Im fiunding all this recession talk way too depressing. Once was okay but its mentioned all the time

[ReddFoxx]

I'm in the minority here, but I think it's a good idea, it could make for some good stories. Soaps revolve around business and money so much, so it was almost a given that the writers were going to incorporate the recession.l

[nell17]

According to Craig Tomashoff, executive editor of TV Guide, “Soaps are the most immediate scripted programming and they attract more of a mass audience. They want to reflect that audience. So, as they continue to play out dramas about class, we’ll see the layoffs, the foreclosures, people living paycheck to paycheck. These are natural story lines for them.” Tomashoff went on to suggest that the daytime soap operas were one of the first places on television that fans wanted to see recession-type issues interwoven into upcoming plots and story lines.

Was that from focus groups? I wonder where they got that idea from?

I go back and forth about this. I think it could be incorporated into some stories, but it shouldn't be the overall theme of the whole show or the whole town. I'm for a little more escapism these days. There's nothing wrong with a few "Gossip Girl fantasy type" story lines to balance the other ones out.

Edited by nell17, 14 March 2009 - 05:51 PM.

[Cheap21]

This isnt just ABC either. I dont know about the other soaps, but B&B has used the current economical situation in its stories. A few weeks ago, it was revealed that Jackie M and Maroni industries was hit hard financially bc of the recession. Katie disovered this when she saw the numbers on Nick's computer.

[jfung79]

I think this is great. Soaps to me are the best form of drama because they reflect life as it happens. The recession is too big not to incorporate into storylines.

You just need to find the right mix between reflecting life and offering hope. GL's story of Company needing to be sold in order to save it, in January, found that balance.