j swift

There's something odd about the "wink and a nod" production choices at DAYS, because it feels like the objective was to say to the audience, "we know you are smart enough to play along with this decision", but the consensus seems to be that it is alienating the fans. I'm referencing the dual casting, camp humor, and self-referential story telling in this category. It is like they thought we wanted to be insiders, but actually we wanted escapism (not a perfect analogy, but the best I can do on daylight savings time day). When reading the replies, it seems independent of the quality of acting or writing (given that we've seen worse), and more about how the fans feels disrespected. Which is ironic because we can assume that was not the intent. That's also not my experience. I thought the Theresa stunt was exciting, and I am intrigued daily to see what she'll do next. I thought the Body and Soul stuff was fun, although it is always a bit illogical to think of soaps existing in their universe, when their lives are so much more dramatic. And a shirtless hunk will always hold my interest, regardless of the character they portray or whether the actor gets preferential treatment.

I just thinking that due to the housing market in Salem, DAYS isn't using the traditional custody issue on soaps where one parent goes through tons of exposition about needing to establish a consistent home to show the courts that they are worthy of full custody. I mean Sarah doesn't have a home, a job, or a good hairdresser. And once she is hired at the hospital, where is the baby going for day care (Doug and Julie are busy raising Chad's kids, and Maggie's going to go back to Titan someday)? It seems reasonable for a single doctor to share custody under those circumstances.

Agreed, I wasn't calling anyone out who is a regular contributor to this thread. However, elsewhere I read commentary about how Talia didn't seem to possess the intellect of a doctor, or that she didn't dress like a doctor, and that rubbed me the wrong way because it felt coded in bias, even though it may have been unintentional.

Just goes to show you, we cannot assume consensus based on the loudest voices in the room. Of course, there's a lot to like about the first season. Including, but limited to, the fact that Steven's sexuality is dealt with more maturely than we'll see on TV for decades to come (I still think about Steven's takedown of the florist at Krystal's wedding). Blake's a much more interesting character. For example, we would've never gotten that iconic scene in the kitchen where he rips apart the household staff in defense of Krystal in later seasons when characters like Mrs. Gunderson just become NPC's. Fallon's dislike of Krystal is not just an Electra complex, there is some ambiguity about her motives in season one which would give an heir some pause. The tone completely changes with season three, and it is understandable why those fans would dismiss the pace of season one, but that doesn't make it any less worthy. Finally, I thought you might like this blog, which is doing an excellent and amusing ranking of the Dynasty seasons. Their valid distaste for Lindsay Blaisdel was enough to make me a regular reader. https://youmiserablebitch.com/blog

While I agree that representation matters, DAYS often feels as if it is trying to have it both ways. They cast a diverse set of actors, but never discuss race, culture, or ethnicity. Salem has had two Black mayors in a row, with no mention of the fact. Jada is a cop, but never talks about the Black Lives Matters movement. Wendy is Asian, and never discusses the lack of eligible Asian bachelors in town. Is it because they were all educated in Europe, so they don't identify with the racial minorities in the US? (I realize that is giving way too much grace). But using Hamilton-like casting doesn't feel very satisfying when looking for multi-cultural story telling. Although I am mildly sensitive to the conversation online that Talia didn't "look like a doctor". The bias may be unintentional, but the criticism seems rooted in negative assumptions about gender and race. I feel like a doctor can look like anyone in 2023, and that was the least of the problems with that character.

It falls under the equal-opportunity offender clause (of which there are many).

@carolineg What did you think about them naming his ex-girlfriend Xiao Xing?

Now I'm wondering if we're supposed to think that Willow is so dumb that she can't interpret her own dreams about Harmony? It's one of those soapy things when a character's obliviousness just makes them seem stupid. Also, what was Charlotte's plan that required a change of costume? And did I miss how they've convinced Laura not to tell Anna that Charlotte burned down her house? I like the nod to history that Laura keeps referencing her own childhood when discussing Charlotte. I'm also glad that there's been no references to Rick and the attic.

Or a Red Swan (IJBOL - a little Bay City humor)...

Reading @Kane 's excellent take on the Loving Murders, I didn't recall how they failed to capitalize on the momentum. First, they do two weeks of recap shows prior to the reveal. Then, post-revel, everyone spends a week hanging around Corinth tying up loose ends (although Tess is the only one who actually packs and hires a moving company). I get that they wanted to time the premiere of The City to coincide with November sweeps, but this feels like they were playing out the clock in the final quarter, rather than building up steam. The being said, I appreciate that they virtually tore the town apart prior to the ending. Some soaps finales include a cliffhanger or a happy ending. This one ends by leaving nothing behind. The pillars of the community, the department store, the university, the police, most of the iconic sets, and the long time families are all abandoned. There is no room for nostalgia, because everything that defined Loving was gone at the end. I admire the audacity to say to the audience, 'well, since you didn't like this version of the story, we're going to blow it all up, and start something new.' Obviously, we know in hindsight that it was also not popular, but you have to applaud their boldness.

It's funny you should say that because casting according to ethnic features may be both more expected and valued currently, but that was not always the norm. Those were different times when soap fans didn't bat an eye that the same year Kristina Wagner was cast as Aztec princess Felicia, we got Finn Carter playing South American Sierra Esteban, and five years later Cali Timmons was hired as the daughter of Maria Hernandez DeSilva. To be fair, Felicia was also explained to be of Austrian descent. And, obviously, some people living in South America may have pale skin and blue eyes, but you probably get my point that being blond and conventionally pretty outweighed any concerns about ethnicity at that period in daytime TV.

I thought the way they played with time was clever today. It starts with Eric and Sloan getting ready for their wedding, then they get dressed. We don't really see their wedding. But, in the time it took for Sloan and Eric to get home, undress, and have sex, Li was killed. So, there was a small time jump which allowed Gabi to be in the apartment, and we'll see why Stefan needed to barge in. Also, I like Everett. I was hoping that there would be more of a Spectator crew, because that's the only place that I find Leo tolerable. Remington noted on his Instagram that he was pleased to be back behind the camera, which may be for the best. He's just too inconsistent, and it is not only due to the writing. He was sympathetic in Marlena's office earlier in the week, then he was super cringy when holding the knife today. He needs to either get better at managing his reactions, or just go back to working behind the scenes.

Also, aren't they over complicating things? Because doesn't Harris already know that Li was involved in his brainwashing, and would be willing to testify? Why did they need Rolf to come by sub? And, I know DAYS taped this episode some time in the last decade (exaggerated for humor), but why was Rolf wearing a wire, when they could've just taped the confession on their phone? In fact, once Stefon knew that Li hired Rolf, why did they need the tape at all? Given that they weren't going to the police, just blackmail him for his vote.

@Melroser This is the SOD tidbit that I referenced about AW pursuing Judi Evans. It doesn't make reference to whether they had wanted her earlier when she re-upped at DAYS. But, this implies that she wasn't initially being offered the re-cast of Paulina once she left DAYS in October 1990 (although the language is vague). I assume her script and Spelling pilot went nowhere. Obviously they are referencing Jake's shooting, and here's Cali Timmons reaction to being told that she was the attempted murderer. Which was prophetic because two months later she was leaving the show, after being fired.

Where did Rolf come from? Did he drive his submarine? Could Stefon or EJ have gotten in touch with him at any time? Can he just take the sub for a day trip to Salem? Is the Salem PD so bad that they don't even notice when a sub docks in the port? Good to hear the updates from Belle, Shawn-D, and Megan (I forget that Megan is still alive). Meanwhile, are Dimitri and Leo still wearing their ghost costumes? Not that I am eager for the end of the story, but the block storytelling is too hurky-jerky. We get a story one week and then (like Ava and Harris), we don't see them for days (pardon the pun). I get @carolineg's sympathy for LI, because the acting was better than usual in his session with Marlena earlier this week. The tale about his lost love was an interesting backstory, that I assume we'll never get to hear anything more about (even though it felt a little plagiarized from Jin and Sun's story on Lost). But, it was a good explanation for why he is/was so desperate for Gabi's love and attention. I agree EJ stands for Elvis John, because it would make no sense for him to named Elvis Dimera Junior, since there is no Elvis Sr. Maybe Chad forgot, and EJ didn't want to embarrass him by contradicting him after their warm exchange about being brothers? (Or, I am reading way too much into the error and giving too much grace to the writers that annoyed me last week with the fake abuse plot). Oh, no! Holly's got talking-out-loud-when-you're-scheming disease! It must be hereditary. Finally, I guess nobody in Salem has social media, because wouldn't Stephanie and Jada recognize each other from Everett's Instagram? And wouldn't his family have updated his status during his coma? Now that soaps have accommodated cell phones, they really need to utilize the ubiquitous nature of social media in their storytelling. Because, I think Jada's the type to still follow an ex on Insta (or at least Threads).

IIRC SOD reported that Judi Evans was being courted by AW with the promise of a new character. She had moved to the East Coast after leaving DAYS, and was a big draw for NBC, so AW actively sought her out. However, once the deal was actually presented, she was told that she would be a re-cast for Paulina. This may be why two such disparate types were cast in the same role.

@Errol What do you predict this will mean for the networks when leaking casting or plot information? Currently, it still seems like SOD or Deadline has a lock on casting news/ But, do you anticipate a time when the PR departments at the various productions will be more equitable in announcing breaking news on other websites?

When people in Salem randomly decide to get married that day, in their living room (where someone was shot a few weeks ago) - are we to assume that they all just have a closet filled with wedding dresses (including maternity options)? And just for consistency’s sake, now that Gabi & Stefon are going to torture Li for his vote, when is this board meeting, and what are they trying to achieve?

Like counting sands through the hourglass, trying to apply reason to the production of DAYS is a futile task Which is why I don't question why Li is seeking outpatient therapy from Marlena at her office in the hospital, while referencing her other client Harris, which is clearly a conflict of interest.

I wonder if we'll get the standard Instagram/Notes app post saying goodbye to the fans? That seems de rigeur these days, but I don't follow her or even know if she has a social media account. EDIT: I checked and not only was she able to score the mononym Camila on Instagram, but at 156,000 followers she has more than three times the audience of SOD, which is all the more reason not to give them an exit interview. She'd literally be giving it away for free, when she could monetize that exit like a boss. Also, her reels on the lack of craft services backstage at DAYS are amusing.

I thought this was interesting. In 2022, SOD had a weekly circulation of 43,734, compared to Us Weekly which still has a weekly circulation of 2 Million per week. Obviously, with AARP, print media tends to skew toward an older crowd (I mean, I'm no spring chicken, but even I have never heard of American Mainstreet Magazine).

I bet Camila could give a juicy exit interview, (if there's anywhere to publish that sort of thing anymore). However, I tend to think that other variables, like the budget restrictions on raises, seeking outside opportunities while she is still marketable, and the draconian work schedule were also are at play. After all, it is unlikely that she read a bad script and quit, because as mentioned by @AbcNbc247 the character has done many unsavory things that I'm sure were humiliating to play on screen. And, given other actors who have spoken out without consequences, it seems silly to attribute this offensive story idea to any issues regarding her status. Personally, I don't want to give the writers the grace to assume that they wrote it for any other reason than a lack of taste and sensibility.

My only counterargument is that a lot of the "hot takes" that we read on this very board comes from the influence of the magazine. Now, were those ideas published more than 25 years ago? That's debatable. But, I can trace so much of the "insider knowledge" espoused about producers and "expert critiques" of writers directly to opinions from the magazine. Including, but limited to, the discussion of the riggery of the SOD awards. I recall stories of ballot stuffing and backstage voting strategy sessions in the magazine itself. So, that's a direct example of the influence of the magazine on how fans discuss soaps. Because, it is not an original idea that the awards were rigged, it came from the source.

Rather than kick a horse when it's down, I want to recall when it was fun. Like when they actually had in-house photographers, and art directors, who gave us iconic images I remember going to the grocery every Tuesday and picking up a copy, a bag of jellybeans, and that was an amazing evening of entertainment. I'm sad for those too young to remember when it went from bi-monthly to weekly, or when the comings and goings section went from the middle of the magazine to front. The ridiculous questions in the back. Their relentless dragging of the daytime emmys. The way that the black and white photos were sometimes printed slightly off center. And the detailed descriptions of the dialogue and costumes when actual people wrote the synopses. There's time enough for Monday morning quarterbacking about what went wrong, I want to celebrate the memory of what it meant to us as a community.

So many great memories attached to that magazine. I am slightly sad to see it go. You have to hand it to them, they survived as a digest of the weekly plots even after the advent of VCRs, DVRs, and streaming. You certainly couldn't pitch it as a viable venture today. But, who will answer those age-old questions like was Phyllis Diller the mother of Susan Lucci?