WEEK OF NOVEMBER 12, 2007 EDITION

WRITER'S CORNER


THIS WEEK MARKS THE NINTH EDITION OF THE WEEKLY SL INSIDER FEATURE, "THE WRITER'S CORNER." EACH WEEK I, TIM LOWERY (BETTER KNOWN AS PHOENIXRISING05), AND MY FELLOW SALEM LIVES HEAD WRITER, PATRICK L. EWING (BETTER KNOWN AS ROMAN), WILL TAKE TIME OUT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM READERS AND ANYONE ELSE THAT DECIDES TO CHECK OUR FAN FICTION BLOG OUT. WE WILL TAKE TURNS ANSWERING QUESTIONS EACH WEEK. THESE QUESTIONS CAN BE QUESTIONS ABOUT CASTING, WRITING, PAST STORIES, CURRENT STORIES, OR WHATEVER COMES TO MIND REALLY PERTAINING TO SALEM LIVES. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PM US QUESTIONS DURING THE WEEK FOR US TO ANSWER AND ALSO REMEMBER YOU CAN POST QUESTIONS VIA COMMENTING HERE IN THE BLOG. IF WE RECEIVE NO QUESTIONS, ROMAN AND I WILL JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS BASED ON REACTIONS TO EPISODES AND DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH OTHERS. SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, HERE WE GO:

THIS WEEK'S WRITER IN THE HOT SHEET: TIM LOWERY (PHOENIXRISING05)

SLI: What was the reasoning behind mentioning a twin sister for Elizabeth if she ended up dead anyway?

A: Simple. We needed Jack to admit that Billie's accusations that Elizabeth was scheming and plotting to break them up were right. We needed him to acknowledge that so the fans didn't think he was dumb. It proves that Jack always knew that Elizabeth had changed and was using Alex to get to him but he didn't want to admit it to himself. He was hoping she would stop or would see the error of her ways. He gave her the benefit of the doubt, to an extent. That was our reasoning. The implications Elizabeth's death will have on Alex, Billie, and Jack are HUGE!!

SLI: Where are the October episode counts and where is Anna? Why do some characters seem to put pushed to the sidelines via coma, presumed death, etc?

A: The episode counts are late and will be posted this week. The balance will continue to get better. We just don't make people presumed dead and put them in comas to backburner them. It's done with the intention of setting up story for that character or to shift focus to the characters we feel need to be focused on at that particular time. It's backburnering in a sense but it's not our purpose behind it. As for Anna, she has some stuff coming up this week and beyond.

SLI: In what direction are you taking Belle? She hasn't appeared in awhile and she has been doing nothing but supporting story all year. What gives?

A: We have alot of stories and we're lucky we can fit her in as much as she is. She has been supporting but she is in the top 20 in episode counts, which is pretty good. We are starting to build some stuff for her. She has her family's issues to deal with, as she should, but there are hints of something coming up for her, individually as a character, this week.

SLI: With all this talk about Lawrence Alamain, is he on the way back?

A: We want him back and he will be back, at some point. I think the fans can figure that out with the Forrest story going on. I can't tell you when. Fans will have to stick with us to see what happens with that.

SLI: What is going on with next Sunday's primetime episode? What is it about?

A: See below and that should help (laughs).


REMINDER: DON'T MISS THE SPECIAL SUNDAY NIGHT EPISODE OF SALEM LIVES!! SALEM LIVES: "AFFAIRS OF THE HEART" WILL BE POSTED THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, AROUND 7PM EST. THIS SPECIAL EPISODE EVENT WILL FOCUS ON A CHARITY BALL THROWN BY VICTOR KIRIAKIS (JOHN ANISTON) AND MAGGIE HORTON (SUZANNE ROGERS) TO KICK OFF THE OPENING OF THE NEW UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WING IN SAMI (ALISON SWEENEY) AND ERIC'S (JENSEN ACKLES) HONOR. NEARLY ALL OF SALEM TURNS OUT FOR THE EVENT AS A MAJOR STORM HITS, CAUSING A BLACKOUT THAT TRAPS TWO CHARACTERS TOGETHER. PASSIONS WILL IGNITE, A FAMILY WILL GET LIFE-ALTERING NEWS, AND THERE WILL BE A SHOCKING REVELATION THAT WILL ROCK SALEM!!! ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT SUNDAY IN AN EPISODE FANS CAN'T MISS THAT KICKS OFF ONE OF OUR MOST INTENSE, GRIPPING WEEKS OF DRAMA EVER!!!

PLUS, NEXT SUNDAY'S EPISODE WILL CONTAIN AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF THE WEEK THAT FOLLOWS AND OTHER EVENTS THAT OUR TO COME ON SALEM LIVES!!! DON'T MISS THIS SPECIAL EVENT...THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SALEM LIVES HISTORY!!!

CASTING UPDATE!!

Fans may have been shocked when they checked out Wednesday's episode and saw that Fay Walker (Valerie Wildman) had returned to Salem. What gives? "Just another one of our typical surprises," says EP/HW Tim Lowery. "We always do pop-up casting like this. We don't always promote every cast decision ahead. There was a need for the character to return to help Nicole so we brought her back. It was only a one day stint but it could turn into more. We only wish we brought her back sooner as Nicole has been through alot this year but Valerie is available now so we will use her when need be."

Wildman played Fay Walker from 1999-2003 and hasn't been seen since early 2003. No word yet on if and when she will make another appearance.

PREVIEWS AND PEEKS INTO WK OF 11/12/07

-Jack and Billie are torn apart.

-Forrest worries about Lawrence.

-Belle and Philip reconnect.

-Alyson and Alex hit it off.

-Salem prepares to have a ball!!

-Kate confronts Orpheus.

-Anna comes across a shocking scene.

-Steve and Hope try to resist each other.

-A blackout rocks Salem!!

-Billie gets a disturbing phone call.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16

SALEM HAS A BALL RIGHT BEFORE A BLACKOUT ROCKS SALEM!!

PLUS, DON'T MISS "AFFAIRS OF THE HEART," A SALEM LIVES EVENT-NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT AT 7PM EST!!!

NEXT WEEK: Two people are caught in the act. Nicole catches a break. A shocking revelation sends one person reeling. Tony may send his own daughter to jail. A cataclysmic event rocks Salem in one of the most intense, gripping weeks of the year!!!

CATCHING UP WITH: MELISSA REEVES (EX-JENNIFER, DAYS AND SL)

SLI sits down with the actress who played Salem's beloved Jennifer Rose Horton Deveraux and asks her if she would like to come back to SL, how she felt about her characters death, and what she thinks of SL right now.

SLI: Thanks for sitting down with us. Would you return to SL if asked?

MR: Thanks for having me! Yes, I would return. I heard they regretted killing me off too! I wanted to leave at the time because my family and I were moving but I have been in contact with SL about returning. I want to. I don't know how we could pull it off. The show isn't in the business anymore of faux deaths and over the top stuff. I mean, a boulder fell on Jen and she had long goodbyes to all her loved ones. It was a fitting farewell. Never say never but alot of thinking would be involved in my return (laughs).

SLI: How did you feel about your exit and your character's demise?

MR: It was fitting. The long goodbyes were beautiful. It was all done right and true to history and character. I didn't like how we kept Jen's indecisiveness in regards to Frankie and Jack going until the end where it was all resolved while I was dying but, it actually added even more emotional weight to the scenes so I guess it was fine. I thought it was all handled well and it was great to be a part of such a great story and to be part of the dramatic stamp we put on the island story in 2006.

SLI: What are your feelings on SL right now?

MR: It's wonderful because it's character-driven. It's good drama and everything has a direction and a throughline. The realism is great. The adventure stories are still there and so are the umbrella stories. They are just grounded now, which they needed to be along time ago. They are doing a real good job and that is why I want back so bad (laughs).

SLI: Thanks, Melissa!!

MR: Sure. Anytime. Thanks!