Skylover

Haven't half the cast tried to murder someone at one point or another though? Honestly, I wish somewhere would just put up all the episodes from 1965-1995 as it was so much better then. I would love to watch the 1960s episodes. I think the lack of realism that affected the US soaps decades ago will kill off all the soaps eventually. I can already see it happening in Neighbours in the last 5 years with silly plots that would never happen in real life and the writers there are obviously influenced by US soaps.

29 minutes ago, Antoyne said:

Ben is a serial killer that they want you to believe is a hero. Ciara badgered the Mother of one his victims and made her out to be a villain for wanting justice for her daughter. Ciara also brow beat her entire family into accepting a serial killer. Ben strangled Will and they made him best friends with the man. Ben is the most propped character since Daniel Jonas. Just to name a few things.

Is this any worse than anything Days has done since the 90s though? I mean I was just watching all the stuff with Susan Banks from the 90s. Anything goes on this show it seems. It would have been better if they'd stuck to realism decades ago, but then I do like the possession storyline so there is that.

What's wrong with Ben and Ciara? Admittedly, I've only seen bits of them, I'm not watching the show religiously.

1 hour ago, Soapsuds said:

You're joking right?

About which bit?  

I'm so glad they made Ben contract cast. I love Ben and Ciara together. I'm also really glad they brought back Marci as Abi.

I'm loving Marlena's story!!

18 hours ago, Vee said:

This has been Days for years. And most other soaps on network television have gone the same way. Don't hold your breath expecting some new renaissance of quality, because until these soaps move to streaming if they ever do there's no chance IMO.

I hope they do move over to streaming. Seeing Days looking this way just makes you wonder if it's best if they put it out of its misery. They just can't do it justice anymore and that's a real shame. I wish I was around to see the height of American soaps from the 60s to 80s.

4 minutes ago, KMan101 said:

I used to really love the background music on DAYS. I don't know what happened. Honestly I barely even notice it half the time. I get not wanting it at all but background music is a big part of our soaps.

The audiences are very different between US and UK. I don't think Americans mind the artificial look of US soaps that much? The incidental music is just awful though. I get it's a big part of the US soaps but if they can't afford to it properly I think they'd definitely be better cutting their losses. I have noticed the lighting is better in some sets than it used to be - the hospital set looks more naturally lit than when I was last watching around 2018.

7 minutes ago, KMan101 said:

They really need a stronger producer.

Would it make much of a difference? They clearly don't have the money. I don't know if a change in producer would help unless they literally want to gut out the show from top to bottom. I really miss the real conversations characters had. I remember watching a scene between Alice and Jennifer and it just felt so real and honest. Jennifer said she always makes mistakes and Alice replied that it's not making mistakes that's the problem, it's how you choose to respond to those mistakes. This is a kind of conversation I just couldn't imagine current Days being able to do.

5 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

This episode was on Friday September 17th

Thank you  

Seriously, when is Days going to get rid of this cheap incidental music? They should just scrap it altogether, have no background music and let the scenes/actors speak for themselves. I want to like the show but it looks more cheap than a high school production. There are so many ways they could modernise the show and make it feel less cheap. It's sad watching old episodes and seeing how good it used to be until the 90s. I wish it could be that good again.

Just now, AlexElizabeth said:

9/17. I need more EJ/Johnny scenes. 

Thank you!  

22 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

 

Hot!! What episode was this please?  

Marlena possessed again  The new Jonny DiMera is so fit.

Unfortunately there have been further allegations, this time written a lot more coherently and reliably. I think we all know who the main perpetrator is (if you're a Neighbours fan). I expect they'll be fired shortly.

Quote

Statement

Made by Sharon Johal, 13 April 2021.

I’ve been heartbroken to learn that that not one, but two of our First Nations actors from Wongatha/Yamatji and Noongar/Gita Country have shared their experience of racism at my former workplace, Neighbours (of which I am expected to return as a guest performer in the coming weeks). The past week for me has been a traumatising, triggering and painful experience, with the re-surfacing of compounded trauma I have tried to deny, bury and ultimately, survive.

To these esteemed actors, I support and applaud you for your courage in coming forward in an industry - and a country - that is uncomfortable in being “called out” on racist attitudes, further evidenced by the backlash they have received.

Having worked on Neighbours for the last four years and being one of the few people of colour to be employed as a series regular in it’s 36 year history, I have been asked by many, and feel an obligation to, to share my experiences. I feel morally compelled to support the actors who have come forward with their experiences of racism, at a huge cost to themselves, just as this statement is to me.

My decision for speaking publicly now is that I believe this can be a transformative moment in the show’s history, creating a culture where there is deep listening, where cultural awareness and education is at the forefront of our minds, where cast and crew are encouraged to speak up and stand up for others, where unity is cultivated over division, and where people of diverse backgrounds can work in an inclusive and safe environment. 

I have thought long and hard about how I might make a valuable contribution to the discussion to help bring about transformative change in the culture of not just Neighbours, but the screen industry more broadly. As a qualified lawyer, I see this very clearly as a human rights issue - an issue that is not exclusive to this specific workplace, but rather endemic to our society as a whole.  My intention is to help generate a wider discussion that we, as a country, must engage in actively, without being defensive or critical but rather with empathy and deep listening. 

I have previously spoken publicly about the lack of diversity on Australian screens, always with a view of to create awareness and provide insight. I have also publicly applauded Neighbours for the great strides it has taken in this regard and am acutely aware of, and grateful for, the rare opportunity I have had to work on this show as a woman of colour. This iconic show which has been a wonderful training ground for cast and crew alike and there are many people at Neighbours who are genuinely working behind the scenes to support minorities as much as they can in their respective positions. 

In saying this, my experience on Neighbours has also been painful and problematic. 

Like my colleagues who have spoken out over the past week, I too have experienced direct, indirect and casual racism in this workplace. 

On more than one occasion a current cast member (non-POC) directly referred to me as “you people” when speaking in derogatory terms about an altercation they were involved in with an Indian person. The same person repeatedly referred to me as “the black one” and/or “blackie” behind my back in the presence of other crew members. I have been told that the same cast member also repeatedly claims that the show only employs “Indian actors” and diverse actors of colour to “fill their diversity quotas” and “not because they are any good”. From what I understand and what has been communicated to me by other cast and crew, these incidents of racism and problematic behaviour, while directed at me, are not unique to me. 

I communicated these racist comments to management and while they were sympathetic and the actor being questioned on one occasion to my knowledge (causing me to be targeted again), no further action was taken. Management’s position was that I needed to speak to management directly at the time each of these incidents occurred. This practice does not take into consideration the reticence of a victim to come forward in a workplace culture where perpetrators are not seen to be held accountable (so why report?), and where the person reporting is afraid of being further targeted by the perpetrator and in fear of losing their job. For example, it has been reported to me that a cast and crew member each called me a “c*nt” to another cast member after I confronted them over offensive comments. Having felt isolated, marginalised and not supported for speaking up on issues before by some cast members (with whom I spent the vast majority of my time at work, and who witnessed some of this behaviour), I did not have faith that I would be adequately supported should I have taken the action to instigate a formal investigation into the allegations. In addition to this, the culture has created an environment where the ‘bystander’ phenomenon is rife, resulting in ‘he said/she said’ situations where no real outcome is achievable. Also, I did not want to be perceived as the ‘trouble-maker’.

Another example of direct racism I endured which due to the above reasons I did not report, was from a former cast member (non-POC) is being compared to a bobble-head toy accompanied by the comment “oh it’s like you guys” (referring to Indians). The same cast member repeatedly mimicked the Indian character Apu from the Simpsons with accompanying Indian accent and movement of head in my presence, despite me requesting they desist. I was not supported by other cast members in these distressing moments. 

I have been trolled by racist abuse consistently on the show’s social media platforms and at a time when it became unbearable, I requested the comments be moderated. I was again sympathised with, but was advised, “we leave the comments as they are for people to discuss”. I believe production has a duty of care to moderate such comments and protect its employees, especially as we were instructed and expected to promote the show on our own social media platforms.

In my time with the show, there were also instances of culturally insensitive scripts and storylines which would have been better handled had a qualified consultant be hired for this purpose instead of me having to raise the issues, which I was compelled to, often. 

To add context, I believe a workplace operating at such a fast pace as Neighbours, has enabled a cultural ‘bubble’ where the highest priority is not to disrupt the production of the show and that we should just “work things out”. I believe mishandling of these disputes has occurred, with management attempting to mediate situations they are not necessarily qualified to handle, due to the lack of training/non-practical application of resource/systems in place. This has also been my experience with management in relation to another non race related, extremely serious matter that only upon my insistence was elevated to the production company’s HR department. I was left powerless, isolated and marginalised. I had to seek external counselling to deal with the trauma I experienced.

I have always tried to do the ‘right thing’ and follow protocols and procedures, believing in due process. I have tried to speak up, whilst uncomfortable (and scary), when I was employed full-time on the show through the appropriate channels.  In coming forward with this statement,  it is with an understanding that when a person of minority ‘goes public’, it is often as a last resort and a cry for help, after all avenues of reporting and educating the perpetrator have failed. History has shown us there is no benefit to people of colour or from a minority to speak up/’whistleblow’ and they/we often do it at a great cost, at the risk of our livelihoods and at the risk of opening ourselves up for further vilification, bullying and victim shaming/blaming.

It is clear the system has failed. My view is that a systematic overhaul is required in order to make this workplace safe for all people of diverse backgrounds. Racism is part of a wider issue and conversation. It’s both heartbreaking and telling of our industry that a show considered diverse on screen, still struggles with protecting people these behind the scenes.

I commend Fremantle for taking action and conducting an independent investigation, and humbly request that the scope of the investigation be widened to include all forms of discrimination, not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation and identity. I welcome the findings and hope they include recommendations to be implemented including, but not limited to:

• facilitating a systemic overhaul to combat/eliminate discrimination and making an ongoing commitment to eliminate toxicity within the workplace;
• implementing cultural awareness training for all employees on all levels to create systemic change;
• ensuring that people of diverse background are hired and supported in all departments;
• providing adequate HR resources to deal with the sensitivities of making the workplace diverse;
• continued learning and scheduled reviews of policies, practices and procedures in place pertaining to diversity and inclusivity;
• exercising a duty of care for actors experiencing online bullying and trolling, including moderating comments and beyond;
• creating a workplace culture where employees are encouraged to report discriminatory behaviour;
• committing to zero tolerance of racism and discriminatory behavior with a workable complaints/dispute resolution process put in place with individuals to be held accountable.

I think (and hope) we are unified in standing against racism. I think (and hope) we are unified in wanting to feel safe at work. These statements should not be mutually exclusive.

This video is also interesting and explains in more detail.

That Indigenous actress didn't report the facts accurately. She said the N word was used on set, indicating that the show was very racist. What she failed to mention was the very important context that the actor who used the N word was a person of colour (many speculating it was more specifically a black actor) reciting rap lyrics which makes the use of the word considerably less problematic. It's still highly unprofessional, but not racist. I don't trust the actress. That, however, doesn't negate the other actors who have come forward with their own experiences. I'm more inclined to believe them. However, I don't believe racism is a rampant issue on Neighbours as that actress seems to want everyone to believe. They absolutely do need to address whatever issues there may be behind the scenes though to make sure people are comfortable and things like this don't happen again.

Aw Jane looks so young!

8 hours ago, LondonScribe said:

And no, I can’t assist with numbers, I’m afraid.

I can. It gets about 100,000 viewers daily in Australia. In the UK, last week it had a boost and was getting close to 1.7m daily.

Quote

Consolidated figures for w/c 8th March 2021

 

Monday - 1.63m

Tuesday - 1.53m

Wednesday - 1.69m

Thursday - 1.62m

Friday - 1.68m

Uusally it gets about 1.4-1.6m daily in the UK.

21 hours ago, NothinButAttitude said:

How are they in Australia? 

They're always bad there but it's on a digital channel there, I don't often check the Australian ratings.

2 minutes ago, NothinButAttitude said:

Interesting. Didn't know that. Has it affected their ratings? 

The ratings are up in the UK at the moment.

On 3/20/2021 at 12:33 AM, NothinButAttitude said:

along with a hiatus around Xmas like Aussie soaps.

Neighbours is an all-year round soap now.

The sad thing is they have a pretty good cast in place. But as has been said, not even one single good storyline. No good couples, no good friendships. It really is awful.

On 2/20/2021 at 9:52 PM, Huntress said:

I guess they originally had different plans for Moritz including a "real" relationship with another guy, but had to change storylines due to Covid-19. When he joined the show, he was supposed to "turn a straight guy's head". So now he's kind of floating around with no strong ties to any of the other younger characters.

I'm not that bothered about him not having a proper love interest yet. I think Moritz is a great character regardless, although it will be nice when they do get to that stage. I wonder if Nihat was the straight character they were going to explore that with?

Thanks Huntress, I might watch that.

I had to laugh when Moritz was sick from smoking a cigar. Up to this point we've been led to believe he's this quite street-wise lad, so that storyline felt a bit at odds with his character.

On 2/18/2021 at 9:19 AM, Huntress said:

She'll be gone for another 3 months soon because the actress takes part in "Let's Dance" (German version of "Strictly Come Dancing") 

That's good  I used to really dislike Jonas but he's grown on me quite a lot. He can be quite comical. Stupid Erik for faking the break in at W&L.