ajsp35801

19 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

From the Y&R YouTube channel.

 

I recall Neil and Dru's first date. He and Brad were roommates then. He came home and as he was preparing for bed, he looked in the mirror and said "that's one fine little lady.". Small things like that have stuck with me over almost 30 years. 

18 hours ago, Darn said:

 

[KC]Dear God in Heaven [/KC]...what in the world is Katherine wearing?

 

Brad is Neil's best man here but when I started watching his best friend was Ryan, when did they become friends?

Ryan and Neil became friends working together at Newman. At least that's how I recall it. But early on, Brad and Neil were roommates. 

27 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

Thanks for posting, I love how everyone was at a loss when it was asked if soaps had ever tackled racism in any storyline head-on, lol.

 

Kudos to Rodrigo (I think?) for recalling the David Grant story on GL from 1993 - it's the only time in my soap viewing experience where I remember racism and systemic prejudice ever being discussed, and done in a thoughtful way. 

 

Yeah, Rodrigo is very knowledgeable. I loved his story about his mother learning to speak English by watching soaps. Warmed my heart! 

I couldn't recall one story and ibed watched many soaps. Many!!!

@mikelyons I was hoping the tale would end with you landing the role of your dreams in soaps.  But it's even better because you're happy and blessed without it. 

Hey guys, episode 2 of Soap Boxing Pod is up. The title is Black Soap Joy. 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ASYBmtl2yQet3PohRADV4?si=-8PLeFrUSseu9THNy2lrMA&nd=1&nd=1

Not shocked by Missy Reeves and her daughter. Racism and homophobia is not an opinion. I'm not sure when conservatism became the "let's hate equality and freedom for all" crew but it has. 

17 hours ago, LondonScribe said:

At this stage, if American soap operas were a Scorpion and had the chance to do any story that fully served it’s black characters, actors as well as it’s audience (much less a BLM type story), I feel it would rather sting itself and sink

Agreed! 

11 hours ago, Faulkner said:

I was just watching Geoffrey Ewing in a 1995 episode of Loving, which was around the time he played Griffin, Gilly’s father she nearly banged, on GL. What a gorgeous man daytime utterly wasted.

 

Stumbled on this, a tour de force from Debbi Morgan in AMC’s later years:

 

 

 

 

 

@ajsp35801

I had not read this. I'll check it out. 

11 hours ago, Faulkner said:

I was just watching Geoffrey Ewing in a 1995 episode of Loving, which was around the time he played Griffin, Gilly’s father she nearly banged, on GL. What a gorgeous man daytime utterly wasted.

 

Stumbled on this, a tour de force from Debbi Morgan in AMC’s later years:

 

 

 

 

 

@ajsp35801

"I have never felt on the set of Days I was treated less than anyone else because I was black. I do feel the black characters on the show should be more on the forefront and equal to some of the white counterparts. It should be equal or close to it. I don’t keep track of how many episodes I have in relation to other actors. That’s not my job. My job is to take my lines, go to work, and do the best I can with it. I just hope that there is some change for the stories that are being told for the black counterparts on the show. What I can say with certainty is that I have always believed that we need more than three.” 

If Lamon knows that Black characters aren't equal to white counterparts then what does he contribute it to if it isn't race?  Lack of talent? Lack of looks? Lack of fan interest? None of that applies to him and Sal Stowers! He had an opportunity here and he continued to toe the line. 

I don't want voices, I want action. 

39 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

With a number of the most featured actors being close to or in the highest risk group (MTS, EB, PB etc.), I had previously wondered whether Y&R might be forced to rely more on its younger cast members but the poor writing would still be an issue...a big one.

I understand not being totally over it.  I still imagine better ending stories for my favorite cancelled show, which ended so poorly.

MS, EB, and PB weren't being used much prior to the shutdown. So that's in line with what the show wanted to do anyway. 

5 hours ago, Faulkner said:

I agree with her, and they probably have a less than 5% chance of ever doing it again, which is an incredible indictment of both Y&R and the other shows. (As much as GH has showcased its black cast recently, it feels like a blip. B&B did better with the Avants, and we know what happened to them.)

 

The BLM soap podcast had so much righteous anger, but it depressed me. Soaps never made a space for us, and they went to their graves ignoring and demeaning us.

This made me sadder. It's just disheartening to support and love something that doesnt love you back. 

5 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

 
I finally got a chance to listen to the whole thing and really enjoyed the discussion, even laughed along while shaking my head in disgust at the same time, especially with the Victoria Rowell situation. Hope to hear more discussions like this soon. 

Thanks for listening. 

4 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

Except for the Cancelled Soaps thread, I've pretty much been posting about non-soap topics.  Only since coronavirus became a pandemic have I been even posting in the classic Y&R thread.  Topics like these are interesting to me, so I tend to engage when it comes to issues of representation. But I agree that without major structural changes to these soap production companies (which we know they won't do), the days of the daytime network soaps being watchable are in the rearview mirror. I gave up on the current set a long time ago.

I thought I was over it but I'm not. I wish this would end differently. But even seeing the particular climate, I bet this shows will come back centering the same folks in the same stories. 

13 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

MVJ definitely. Someone who is controversial round these parts but would have lots of great insights (and connections): Jamey Giddens.

Okay. I just spoke with Coryon. He says that it's focused on soaps for now and he's open to topics. I'll be sure to pass on all ideas. 

3 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

I figured soaps, but wondered if you’d delve into history at all. Or maybe include interviews, like with Susan Dansby, MVJ, or Michelle Patrick. Guess I’ll have to stay tuned.

Do you think any of those folks would be willing to speak out? MVJ seems like she would just from her Twitter. 

1 hour ago, Dylan said:

Trish, do you guys plan to do more of these

I'm sure that more are planned but none of it has been discussed with me.

I was only invited because everyone else on the short list were otherwise engaged. 

I'll let you guys know of I hear something. 

49 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Just finished. Wonderful discussion, @ajsp35801. My question: will this podcast just be about soaps in 2020? 

I am not sure so don't quote me but I think so. The title is Soap Boxing so it's gotta be about soaps, right? 

17 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

At this point, I think these soaps would be surprised that people care that much. That’s just how half-heartedly I think they regard these shows. (I watched a bit of Y&R pre-COVID, and it’s like one giant shrug emoji, with the exception of a handful of committed actors.) They’re placeholders that do generate some income. Most people under 50 are surprised they still exist. 
 

I appreciate the love for Hollyoaks’ diversity, but man, that show is a ROUGH watch.

I promised I'd watch Hollyoaks. I'll reserve judgement until then. 

14 minutes ago, victoria foxton said:

 

  

You'll have to listen to understand the context. 

39 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Heyyyy @ajsp35801 Long time no posts!  It's good to see you posting again. I look forward to listening to this podcast when I get more time.

Awe....thanks. I haven't been paying soaps much attention since the quarantine other than what I've seen come across my timeline Twitter. I'm just so tired of fighting them for the smallest presence for Black characters. I have let soaps go. 

I would like to think that daytime would see this change happening in the world and decide it's time to move forward. But I don't have any hope that it happen. 

15 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

I guess it's all systematic. None of these shows were created with black or minority characters in mind (except maybe OLTL) - their innate purpose was to market household products to middle-class white women. That thinking still permeates this medium to its detriment. 

 

Whatever representation there was for black characters has always been under the guide of white writer, whether that be Agnes Nixon or Bill Bell. Black creatives have never been in a position in daytime soaps to create characters that reflect their own diverse backgrounds. Production studios and advertisers don't place the same value on the Black dollar as they do on the White dollar and that doesn't seem to be changing. 

I agree with everything except Black Dollars. Companies are more in tuned with the Black people and how that can effect the bottom line more than ever. Otherwise, we would see companies attempting to speak to "Black Lives Matters." Don't get me wrong, it helps that the cause is more mainstream and amplified by white voices too. 

Everyone knows that Black women are trendsetters and at the forefront of popular culture. Daytime just refuses to budge. It's also why the soaps continue to die. Where is the 18-49 demo? I'll answer. Watching shows more diverse than these. 

6 minutes ago, Darn said:

 

You're great! You're all great! I really enjoyed that entire podcast. I've wanted to do a soap podcast but my one friend who watches soaps won't do it with me (he knows who he is). I hope y'all make more episodes. Try to recruit some daytime actors/crew willing to speak on their experiences.

 

 

Thanks.

Thanks for the feedback. I will pass that on to coryon. 

35 minutes ago, Darn said:

 

I have no idea who any of these people are (which is good for me lol) but I like what they're saying.

 

One of these guys says he worked for SON.

I'm Trish on the podcast. 

16 minutes ago, Darn said:

I'm 15 minutes in and this is so good. Thanks for sharing!

You're very welcome! 

On 3/12/2020 at 4:20 PM, edgeofnik said:

Wasn’t CK around 28 when they aged the kids? I never understood why they made Lily a matron at 21. The show has desperately needed strong characters in their 20s. They should’ve made Lily/Mariah galpals/cohorts, especially since Sharon/Dru were friends. Oh well. I hope this potential s/l clicks. 

They wanted a black female lead character to replace Dru. So they chose Lily and proceeded to give her stories more fitted for her mother. 

On 3/13/2020 at 2:18 PM, Darn said:

Who the hell is Sam?

 

Oh wait, is that Cane's kid with...Juliette? Speaking of young characters, what happened to that girl that was Hillary's ward (?) and Charlie's girlfriend?

Sent to live with her parents somewhere. 

On 3/6/2020 at 7:17 PM, DramatistDreamer said:

I think it was @ajsp35801 who said to beware of how TPTB take fan suggestions, that they will take a suggestion and twist it in a way that's not very good.  

The whole thing with Amanda and Billy (whew that preview for Y&R was lousy!) reminds me of how people suggested that Hilary be paired with Nick. Well, it seems like a weird "take" on that suggestion. Instead of Nick (who I seriously doubt will ever be paired with a BW anyway), they're giving you all Billy.

Kind of a weird flex but whatever. (*shrugs*)

 

Also, those who watch the show, do Amanda and Billy have better chemistry than what's being shown in the above clip?

 

 

Actually B&B looks pretty bad too. And they're still rolling out Carter to perform the ceremonies for these 2 minute marriages? 

The show never gives fans what they ask for with certain characters. It's always some twisted version or they give them entire story to another character. 

They could use Paul when they need police work done. But instead they'd rather use useless Rey.  

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

One of the key reasons why I asked how long Ripley had been on the canvas before committing this stabbing was because it's clear that the longer he was on before he committed the crime would be equivalent to the amount of interest and investment to his character and the character closest to him in connection-the shorter the amount of time, the less amount of interest and investment. Based on Ripley's all of two weeks before committing a crime, it's obvious which one of the two this one falls under.

Compare it to Abby's pimp/procurer boyfriend who was in GC for months meeting, courting, dating Abby before everyone in town discovered his crimes. He wasn't just a garden variety villain, he had a past (which tied into Tessa's past) and a personality.  I remember lots of people even claim that they found him charming.  Did Ripley get any of that complexity in the writing about him?

 

Had TPTB really cared about Amanda, they would have had Ripley in town under the guise of seeking redemption and forgiveness from Amanda but his true motive would be to insert himself back into her life by attempting to win back her trust.  He proceeds to make all the moves indicative of a person who has turned his life back around. He: gets a job in CG, gets to know more about Amanda's circle of associates and friends, maybe tries to form a friendship with Nate or Phyllis, etc. Amanda is uneasy but does not want to block Ripley's chance to rebuild his life and make a living yet hopes that Ripley does not intend to try to reconcile as that 'ship has sailed'. Ripley seems to have successfully 'rehabbed' his reputation, he is now know as a nice guy, charming, he even seems to have gotten a hold of his hair-trigger temper... until he sees signs of an intimate relationship between Billy and Amanda.  At first, Ripley convinces himself not to jump to conclusions and goes about a 'fact-finding' expedition to verify the nature of Amanda's ties to Billy. This can lead him to irrefutable proof that there is an intimate relationship between the two and Ripley tries to contact Amanda, who is busy and cannot answer her phone.  The night of the gala, Amanda eventually gets a message from Ripley that they need to talk but puts it off, saying that he'll have to wait until tomorrow. 

Very good. 

He was onscreen 3 or 4 episodes, I think. Most of the arc was Amanda talking to Billy about it. They gave Amanda one day to "regain get power" with Ripley. But no effort was put into their connection. The writers has ignored developing any relationship between Amanda and anyone else to keep Billy onscreen. Very unfortunate because the story could have been good. 

11 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

From everyone's descriptions, it appears that Victoria's stabbing will be angst for Billy and will ultimately be about him and his ties to both women. Nothing in the description makes me believe that TPTB care one whit about Amanda. Victoria's stabbing is in service to Billy's angst.

YES! THIS! 

The show turned what could have been interesting story for Amanda to give viewers glimpse into her life prior to the show into a story about more of Billy's main pain! This entire Amanda and Billy relationship is all about more story for Billy. Both Victoria and Amanda are plot points. 

3 hours ago, LondonScribe said:

That’s right. Mal Young set the wheels in motion (and subsequently tampered with the breaks) on Kyle and Lola- I think largely influenced by Angelica McDaniel. At the point Griffith took over, maybe they were so far along, anything else would have seemed even more jarring than we’ve had recently?

 

Perhaps it was always the plan, but I (and others before me have) noted the about face turn and blitzing of the relationship occurred after McDaniel left her position.

I think that about facing has more to do with new stories being played. That always happens around the new year it seems. Besides, Lola is probably pregnant, i.e starting a new story for all four players.  The show will milk this quad for years to come due to fan response. They won't care that their is a severe lack of chemistry amongst the entire group. Nor do they care that none of them look very good together onscreen. Fans are rules up and screaming and that's good enough.