Contessa Donatella

Oh, sad, May 1st, Doug died. Oh, sad, it's February & Carmen died in February. In other February news, should you laugh or should you cry? Jake & Donna had their night of sex.

Well, I'm just glad that we reached some conclusion because once I cast my mind back to when Nicole lived there I couldn't see any way it didn't have 3 bedrooms! And, speaking of Nicole, I again wish they would write her back into Allie's life. She's just so isolated & the idea that she has no one to turn to but Alex is just so sad. Of course, even though Chanel has her mother, in terms of someone to talk to, she is also isolated. Paulina's not in tune enough with Chanel's life to be a good sounding board. Not her fault. She certainly loves Chanel to the sky & back again. She is just too heterosexual to think in Chanel's landscape.

Speaking of Doug Marland, excuse me, this is not AW, but I'll get back to it. Do you, or any Marland fan follow Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons "Marland Monday" essays? She told me in December that she was moving to a new site. I have messaged her asking where. The last one I see where she was, is Jan. 24. https://jenniferkate.medium.com/marland-monday-where-he-goes-they-follow-they-follow-they-follow-dc130ed2fe9a So, talking about writers & stories, and what ifs, and even who we might have wished to have writing, the real kicker is we never know, usually, if someone at NBC or someone at P&G dictated a given story. NBC dictated that Jake rape Marley. NBC told AW that violence against women increased the ratings. Shawn Reeves gave me pictures of costumes for AW & GL to post. On my Instagram acct I have some AW fantasies between Jake & Vicky, an AW Halloween, the Jake & Vicky wedding at the Brooklyn Botannical Gardens & the Lumina Ball, which as far as I am concerned was the only part of Lumina that was good! When I posted them I messaged Jean Passanante & told her where they were if she had any interest in seeing them since she wrote the story & she replied that she & Laiman, I guess she said Leah, had written it together ... and then she said that it was a really weird story. It made me wonder whose idea it had been! When Passanante was hired, Victoria told me they were hiring someone to write romance for them. I did not know if that meant historical romance or what! I don't know if you recall that wedding or not, but it was one of daytime's better weddings. The BBG is an incredible venue. If you're ever in Brooklyn, see it! But, wouldn't you know it, it was completely overlooked by daytime, the mags, etc.

What is it all of a sudden with the mention of an office in Allie's apartment? Alex slept naked in the office. So, is that where Wendy usually sleeps? Must not be because Alex was there last night. So, reaching back in time, it was Nicole's apartment & she had a room that she shared with Eric sometimes & Holly had a room & then Allie had a room she presumably shared with Henry. So, there is an extra room that they could call the office! Why, then, does Wendy sleep on the sofa? And, sets cost money. Yes, we know. And, the Kiriakis "mansion" is a room, a single room. I think money could be spent on sets everywhere!

I think some people get tripped up (oh, pardon the pun) because of Ava. Tripp's a good boy & he feels certain responsibilities because she is his mother, good (which she's not), bad (which she is) or indifferent, he is stuck with her. Of course, I'm mad at the writing, too. Today we should have seen scenes with Patch, Tripp & Joey altogether.

Beginning in 1946 & continuing on until today, the US daytime drama business created & produced 84 televised soaps. Now there are 4. In 1969-70 there were 19 soaps on the air. By 1990-91 it was down to a dozen. And, between 2009 & 2015 with two double whammies, took it down to the 4 we have today. But, it should be noted that all of broadcast scripted drama was experiencing the same decline. Going by 2009 when P&G took steps to get out of the soap business & going to now, 2023, that's 14 years we've been in this state. So, I would say that soaps are in danger of extinction, of dying off, sure, but they have been for some time. Why is now scarier than before? Or is it? And, if something dramatic did happen, like a writers' strike, then I can see how it would be much scarier, fast.

Okay, you make good points. I wanted to post this. It speaks to Lemay's frame of mind when he quit. This is a partial transcript of an interview by someone from WOST at an awards event in 2006. It's on YouTube, the whole thing, audio only. I made it for a friend who has hearing problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2nSuMXfgmtnowHV732TXQX5F_Pgxo7tv87ZIlC5vLk_GM04kIlmOnMoD4&v=ZmBjPDSeRR4&feature=youtu.be No, I thought it was a ridiculous idea. ... I fought it & I lost. ... Producer from NBC Freddy Silverman came up with the idea. ...I quit after about 18 weeks of it... There's nothing as bad as writing for something you don't believe in.... I think you get fairly burned out as a writer for a soap. ... To turn out a script every day ... 8 yrs of it ... script every day (He had already mentioned having to write a script & then take all the network notes & write it again) ... I think I lasted longer than I should have. Spoke highly of Aggie. Social issue stories ... she's telling very relevant stories. I'd like to be doing more of that. P&G puts the ?someword? on most of that & then you have to fight for what you want & soon you're having to fight for everything & it gets too too tiring to have to fight that much over what is your life. Spoke highly of Beverlee McKinsey ... revealed she had a photographic memory. She memorized every colon & semi-colon. She memorized her lines & everyone else's too. Her character's husband just would not learn his lines, just would paraphrase & it drove her mad! Talked about Iris's maid, Vivian & that they first saw her in a Chekhov play! Talked about Louise Goddard. Talked about Doug Watson & they & Pete & wife would go out together all the time. Close, warm friendship. He misses Connie & Doug. End Connie Ford was like his writer's conscience. He went by her to gauge how he was doing. Doug Watson & his wife were often dinner partners with Lemay & Dorothy. Of course, they had each died.

Well, I know a great many people who cannot stand Tripp - and wouldn't you know it? I really like Tripp. And, I also like Victoria Grace and her character Wendy. I don't think she's slated to be a talk-to. I think RonC is looking at a quadrangle with Johnny & Tripp the guys & Wendy & Chanel the gals. Could be wrong but that's my take.

Okay, I love Doug Marland & he was the closest thing to a protege Pete had but he died Mar. 1993, so that's problematic even for a "what if".

i don't think they would have tried to create SB in Bay City. Although I do know that they did repeat themselves at times. They did marital rape on GL and then again on ATWT, as one example. I don't think they would have done a lot of character creation. I guess I just think the show could've used some really inspired writing at the time & it didn't get it from Malone, who did try to write another show onto the Bay City landscape. Passanante certainly wrote the show very different. If the Dobsons don't appeal to you as a "what if" who does? I'm just curious.

Well, here I've been saying nice things & today's show just annoys the hell out of me. Just figures.

He was an incredibly cocky 11 year old! Still, I find that I miss both Lucky & Lulu. Which makes NO SENSE considering how crowded the canvas is. Probably it is just sentimentality, nostalgia.

That was what put me off him when he first came on.

I hear ya, brother! I get it. Sometimes that is the way it is. I have certainly taken breaks myself. Right now I am just not on one.

Did you happen to see the tribute that Tony Geary made of Sonya Eddy? I was so taken with it. He is quite removed from the show & from soaps in general, yet he took the time & the effort to sit down & write out his thoughts about her & got it to a soap mag. He was very effusive in his compliments. Among other things he said she always made him smile. I doubt very seriously that there are many people who could always make him smile. She must have been so special. May light perpetual shine upon her.

Yes, I agree with your dates. I was speaking of a time period when all 3 were at work for ABC, not that they were the exact same years. And, it took Monty/Marland 3 years to accomplish the total "saving of GH". Although they accomplished enough right off the bat to move the axe from over the show's head, it's true. And, quixotically Babbin made her cat famous! For some unknown reason she'd take him to work with her & plop him down anywhere on the set & he would get into scenes of the show. Crazy. Can you imagine taking your cat to work with you? I admit I cannot.

Yes, Jan. 1993, did I make a typo with the date? Sorry, if so. I often relate that numbers & dates seem to hate me. Thank you for correcting that. The other day I posted about P&G playing musical chairs with their EPs in 1955. Of course that was in 1995. ARGH. Hmm, in this case I see that I had not fouled the number, I had said 1993. Anyway, thnx for stepping up.

I'm sure you're correct. My first thought was well SOAPDISH ... movie. Next thought TOOTSIE ... movie. Heheh I just found it hilarious.

No, Pete left when he did because he was exhausted & because he hated the 90 minute show. If Fred Silverman hadn't come up with the idea & if Paul Rauch hadn't helped tp push it through, they wouldn't have done it & the affiliates wouldn't have turned on them, and, really there's just no telling what good might have come. And, of course, Pete was very disappointed in the hour show. He did not get out of it what he had dreamed. I personally believe that the affiliates turning on AW was the first nail in the coffin. I know that many other people happen to agree. Of course, there are other opinions. Listening to Pete write about the HW job & talking to Wendy Riche about Claire Labine's exhaustion after the years they were EP/HW at GH, I've come to have an appreciation about how hard that job is. Of course, back in the day everyone watched for the characters. I never thought of AW as sleepy. The same is true of NBC preventing the Dobsons from HWing starting in Jan. 1993. AW could have had a Renaissance with Bridget & Jerome at the helm. P&G was set for it. The Dobsons were prepared to begin the next day after they were finished at SB. And, NBC stepped in & blocked it. Personally I cannot tease apart how much came from Pete leaving & the show having to make that transition & how much came from the copycatting of changed GH. I have no opinion about the ratings without running the numbers. ABC had been better in soaps for a long time & then got into some trouble. But they brought in 3 "Soap Savers" & turned their whos around pretty darn quickly. Jacqueline Babbin at AMC, Jean Arley at OLTL & Monty/Marland at GH. ABC was smart, savvy, formidable. NBC lagged for so long then had success all at once with the Doctors, AW & DOOL but they didn't know how to keep it.

Yeah, I would be Sami/Lucas if they were on the canvas. I miss ED something fierce. Stacy does not cut it for me. Chloe, I love as Nicole's friend & whoever she's with based on the shockingly shallow gagaga that she is one of the most beautiful women in the whole world! She was tweeting from a plane this afternoon where her seat mate was pulling out nose hairs ... and boogers. I see Nadia in venicetheseries, too. And, I'm pretty sure she's a nice person who is not affected by her own beauty.

Well, I am completely all in for the ride at this point. And, I will take what we get. Although my personal druthers would be never to hear about that damned phone ever again. Personally I am hoping that at peacock they curse more & I want to see Julie tell Gwen off with some nice blankety-blanks! After all, she did say "bastard" last year! Remind me, who are your couples? Mine are Doug & Julie, John & Marlena, Patch & Kayla, Eric & Nicole and even though it's hopeless Challie. Chad & Abby were one, but, that went away. I full expect Stephanie to be walking down the aisle toward Chad when Abby walks in with a toddler. I am even sporting Jarlena emojis: 🤨👑🍓🤝the raised eyebrow, the crown, the strawberry & a handshake.

Larry Lau is a funny character, although I admire him. He had one of those soap actor's hideous reputations on attitude & selfishness & egocentric perspective so much so that people said no one would hire him again. And, for a time he couldn't get work. But, he did something with & to himself & turned himself around & came out, like a butterfly, a nice guy & a hard worker & not sporting any kind of 'tude. Robert Kelker Kelly's done the same thing, even going so far as to go to people he felt he had harmed & make amends. I am a little in awe of people who can dig themselves into such deep holes - and find a way out. Kale somehow went in reverse where he started out a nice guy & then screwed the pooch.

Taking a ride on the roller coaster, or what used to be just said suspending your disbelief, is a decision that you make to do or don't make to do. When you don't make it, you take a break or you quit. When you do make it, it's just a bond between you & your show that you'll keep trying. Might whine. Might celebrate. But what the heck it just goes along with being a soap fan. Or a fan of a losing football team. Or a fan of a certain movie franchise. It's like the Golden Rule of fandom. But, you really think all of this Chad & Steph heavy-handed writing is a smoke screen & their real goal is Alex & Steph? How will she ever get past phonegate?!

Yes, exactly, and how rare these days to see it show up not just once but twice in one show!! Now if the writing team could just figure out how to decide on a storyline & stick with it, NOT change their minds 2 or 3 times along the way, GH might approximate its past glory!

I don't think so. They've got Thomas, Charlotte, Jack, Julie & Doug all pushing Chad to go be with Steph. It's the hardest sell I've ever seen from soap writers to promote a new couple.