Well, I've been perusing through various message boards and the sense that I'm getting in the aftermath of Renee Jones' firing is that Hogan Sheffer's credibility is now on the line. Sheffer's detractors cite the fact that in interviews he said that he LOVED Abe and Lexie and had a 6 month storyline planned for Abe (and presumably Lexie). Some people on various message boards including here at SON are now saying that Hogan Sheffer is a LIAR and that his credibility is shot!!! How could he love Lexie and have a storyline planned for her with Renee Jones' exit? Hogie's critics say that he was just leading fans on with what they wanted to hear and that he really didn't mean what he said in earlier interviews.

Even before Renee Jones' exits, I came across SEVERAL posts from members of divergent fanbases including J&M, S&K and Bo and Hope who are disappointed in the execution of storylines and no longer trust what Hogan Sheffer says in interviews about upcoming storylines. For instance, when Steve and Kayla fans heard that there was a big romantic story for them during November sweeps, they had no idea that it would include Billie as a third wheel. John and Marlena fans are upset that their scenes have been limited and that the length of their scenes together have been short. They do not think that Sheffer has delivered on his promise that John and Marlena would be in a big storyline....

IMHO, it's important to explore this topic as so many people are now questioning Hogan Sheffer's credibility. If people don't believe a word that HS says, then what's the point of him even giving interviews to the press?

I think it would help to shore up Hogan Sheffer's credibility for those who don't believe a word that he or Ken Corday says, if Days' press relations people would get the word out in the media why there seems to be these inconsistencies at least in terms of what he seemed to promise about Lexie/Abe's future storyline and RJ's recent firing. Just a friendly suggestion to the Days' PTB about damage control.

Also, if the soap media happens to come across this post, I think a lot of people would appreciate a follow-up interview with Sheffer or TPTB about the Abe/Lexie inconsistency. Especially if Days PTB choose not to seek the press to limit the damage control....

Back to the main topic of this post. I have a few questions for current Days' viewers as well as ATWT fans, who are familiar with Hogan Sheffer's work.

1.) Do you think that Hogan Sheffer was lying when he said that he LOVED Abe and Lexie and planned a big storyline for them (along with J&M etc)?

2.) Do you think that in interviews/previews that he gives, Hogie just tells fans what they want to hear, rather than what he intends to write? Is he just a salesman or is he sincere in what he says in his interviews?

3.) For people familiar with HS' work at ATWT, if you can, do you recall whether Hogan Sheffer overhyped his stories in the spoilers he gave in soap mag interviews? Do you recall an occasion where HS gave a spoiler in one of his interviews that did not come true?

4.) Did he lie to soap magazines about the direction of ATWT stories? Did he have a habit of lying to soap magazines, which lead ATWT fans to not trust what he had to say in his interviews?

What I'm getting at with these questions to ATWT fans is I'm trying to determine whether these seemingly inconsistencies b/w what Hogan says in interviews and what we get on our screens/RJ's firing is a pattern with which Days' fans should be concerned? Does he have a history of lying to fans in soap magazines? Or is this inconsistency out of the norm for Hogan Sheffer?

I hope that we can get a frank discussion going in this thread.....

Also for those interested, I posted an old New Yorker profile of Hogan Sheffer from 2 years after he started writing for ATWT on another board. It's not only a HS bio but the article describes his writing style as well. Most importantly, it's a worthy article to read IMHO for people interested in the backstage challenges of writing for a soap. Here's the link:

http://www.w3pg.com/w3-cgi/getmsg.pl/150/4636.html

Seriously, why does everyone assume it was Hogan who wrote her out? His job is to write for the characters he's presented with. Corday's the one who's trying to save money. And Corday's not exactly got an even track record.

And I saw Lexie going byebye about a mile away. Reilly wrote her into a corner for good after TL started it in 2000. Even if she stays, there's nothing credible to do besides to make her a DiMera. And that would just be boring.

What I'm seeing is a show that's improving with a writer who's been there for two months. It's not like he's been there a year and not done anything. He's done wonders for the show as a whole in just two months. It's defiently not perfect, but considering the condition it was in... wonders.

I think people are being way to hard on Hogan. I don't watch Days so I can't comment on the actual content of the show but as for this RJ situation I doubt he lied when he said what he said. Like any HW he's getting stepped on. Just like when he promised a Lucinda/John adventure on ATWT which never transpired. I'm sure he didn't make that up, he just was not familiar with how little power he would have in daytime.

I don't think he lied. At the time I believe that Hogan still thought he was going to be able to write for Lexie. Anyways it's Corday whose making the firings due to the fact the show is losing money.

I really wish DAYS fans would cut Hogan some slack. Sheesh, he's only been writing for almost 2 months now and you'd think he's some sort of sadist already. Hogan may be HW but ultimately, he doesn't have the power to fire anyone in the cast.

Right HoganStays. Corday's the only one who can fire I believe, or at least Hogan can't.

I can't believe some Days fans are acting like this, because they should be thankful for Hogan, if he wasn't here the show would probably not have been renewed and would be canceled in 2007. He's also way better than JER.

I think Corday's the one behind this.

I don't think he is a habitual liar, but not really the best writer in the world either, I think you DAYS fans will be quite sick of him after a while Hogan is another one of those that writes for only his favorite character type writers. Basically ATWT turned into the Craig Montgomery show by the end of his time on the show. Sure he will write for other characters, but I am sure he will find a certain character that he just loves and most of the hour will be spent on them. This is why I can not figure out why all DAYS fans were so excited to get him, he is not that good, and ATWT is proof of that we are now stuck with his protoche Jean P. who also only seems to know how to write for the character of Craig. Trust me this is not a fan that is mad because he left I am glad he left I am just sad he did not take Jean with him when he left. I just hope for all the days fans out there that Hogan does not turn your show into a one character show

I gave the example of Renee Jones' firing, but there have been a lot of different posters who didn't trust Hogan even before this incident. So, it's not just about getting rid of Lexie. The Lexie firing just confirmed their long-held criticism of Hogan Scheffer's failure to deliver on his promises (in their view).....

And b/c of their disappointment in Hogan Scheffer's writing up to this point, they question why Corday/NBC got rid of JER. They think that HS is just as much of a hack as JER although they concede that he writes better dialogue and has faster pacing than his predecessor.....

I think that's a fair representation of what has been said by Hogie's detractors.

There's a larger issue of credibility even beyond the RJ firing. Although IMHO, HS had nothing to do with RJ's firing, for his critics, the announcement of Lexie exiting from the show was perhaps the last straw for them....

I don't think he is a habitual liar, but not really the best writer in the world either, I think you DAYS fans will be quite sick of him after a while Hogan is another one of those, writes for only his favorite character type writers. Basically ATWT turned into the Craig Montgomery show by the end of his time on the show. Sure he will write for other characters, but I am sure he will find a certain character that he just loves and most of the hour will be spent on them. This is why I can not figure out why all DAYS fans were so excited to get him, he is not that good, and ATWT is proof of that we are now stuck with his protoche Jean P. who also only seems to know how to write for the character of Craig. Trust me this is not a fan that is mad because he left I am glad he left I am just sad he did not take Jean with him when he left. I just hope for all the days fans out there that Hogan does not turn your show into a one character.

Did you read spoilers while he was on the show? If so, did the spoilers he provide in interviews match up with what he said was going to happen on the show?

What people need to realize is that Hogan is SAVING the show. Like daysfan said, if we didn't have him now, there very might not even be a show anymore. I'm thankful enough for that. And, I might be in the minority, but I really did not see ATWT as being Craig-centric during Hogan's reign.

Did you read spoilers while he was on the show? If so, did the spoilers he provide in interviews match up with what he said was going to happen on the show?

I never really read that many spoilers from when he was writer, but anything he ever said seemed to happen or was close anyway, sure there might be white lies but every writer does that, the only writer that I would say is a habitual liar would be Brad Bell of B&B there pretty much is nothing that he says in an article that happens.

I did not ever read spoilers when Hogan was at ATWT. I try to stay spoiler free and Hogan's type of stories are better when you are. He does not do great finishes to stories. His are better in the beginning and in the middle and not at the end. Knowing what is coming up and how they are going to end spoils them completely. That said I cannot say whether he is a liar or not.

I will say again that Days fans need to give him more time.

I will also say again and agree with winterguy Hogan has a reputation for writing for the characters he loves. He loved Barbara Ryan and especially Craig Montgomery. And the show was theirs during Hogan's reign. He latches on to actors he loves and characters he loves and runs with them. At one time he was in love with Carly as long as she was in Craig's world. When the fans liked her better with Jack and they moved her in that direction, she did not get the good stories that Craig got, and she still doesn't to this day.

Jean Pasanante is just like him in many ways, and I love some things she does, but she is not the writer that Hogan was.

Hogan is a good writer, but his first 2 years were lots better. His last year in my opinion and many other ATWT fans opinions were terrible. Most give him an A his first 2 years and at least a D or F the last. And most that I know rank him as a bad finisher on stories.

What people need to realize is that Hogan is SAVING the show. Like daysfan said, if we didn't have him now, there very might not even be a show anymore. I'm thankful enough for that. And, I might be in the minority, but I really did not see ATWT as being Craig-centric during Hogan's reign.

I will reserve my opinion on that for later. Just like I said that people need to give him a chance, I would ask that the same be said of others who think he is the "second coming" and the Savior. It is yet to be seen. Who knows at this point if Days is only treading water. The show is lots better than it has been in a long time, but so far even the ghost writer, Beth Milstein, and Hogan have not done anything to save the show yet. I sure hope he does. I don't want to see Days or any soap fail. But we don't know yet whether Hogan is going to save Days yet or not.

I see a lot of mistakes that he has made, and I see alot of mistakes that Corday is making. Hogan's biggest is all the new characters in the midst of losing so many familiar faces. The way he is using Willow, the way he is having Stephanie written, and the use of Billee are not things that are going to save Days. So yes it might be better but so far no he is not saving Days. It is sad, but he is going to have to do a lot better to do that.

What I meant to say was that Hogan is actually TRYING to save the show. The same couldn't exactly have been said for JER.

I'm not blind to Hogan's faults as a writer, but given the chance, I think he could do a lot of great things for DAYS.

3.) For people familiar with HS' work at ATWT, if you can, do you recall whether Hogan Sheffer overhyped his stories in the spoilers he gave in soap mag interviews? Do you recall an occasion where HS gave a spoiler in one of his interviews that did not come true?

Well, as a ATWT viewer, I have no clue about Days' situation financially, and if that contributed to the firing. BUT, as for overhyping, and underselling? Yep...that sounds like Hogan to a 't'. If he says "great love story", batten down the hatches, because the sh*t is hitting the fan. Just as an example....his idea of the "greatest Carly/Jack love story" he wrote was having Jack develop amnesia, meeting a woman with the same name as his first psycho ex-wife, and having them screw as his current wife is on tv with their child on her lap, pleading for information on his whereabouts. With only a conveinent power outtage keeping him from seeing the plea.

Oh, and then, when Jack was finally found, he returned to Oakdale, and everyone called the "other" woman his wife. EVERY. ONE. Yes, I'm still bitter. And in some ways, the stench of that story still lingers, since Jack's raising that "stepson" still. But, I digress...

Seriously, when Hogan said in some interview (after his Days' hiring) that he'd learned lessons on ATWT about what not to do...I laughed my a*s*s off...he kept making the same mistakes on ATWT for five years as headwriter. What part of the learning process kicked in after he stepped down? Why didn't it occur to him when he thought he was delivering "good" stuff, but viewers weren't impressed?

In retrospect, he has his moments, but it's a wildly uneven ride. Love stories, family interaction, and business stories are not his strong suit. I'm not sure what that leaves... malicious shenanigans? He did do well at surprising me with how low some characters would go to accomplish their goals.

As for credibility...I think he just gives great quotes that the mags lap up. My guess is he believes what he says when he says it.

You also have to take into account that DAYS and ATWT are by no means the same show. For all we know, Hogan's style might fit better on DAYS than it did at ATWT.

You also have to take into account that DAYS and ATWT are by no means the same show. For all we know, Hogan's style might fit better on DAYS than it did at ATWT.

I don't think anyone will disagree with you there, but still a writer is not going to completely change from one show to the next. Their style is going to stay with them. He is not going to copy stories, but there is going to be a style. And there are going to be some things about Hogan's style that will fit at Days but some things are not.

I think P.J. summed a lot of it up very very very very very well.

I never read a lot of his interviews because of the spoilers because as I said I tried to stay spoiler free. P.J. did and answered the question very well.

As I said too I know that a lot of the stories were very disappointing when they played out. I remember the murder/serial killer mystery was very disappointing and a let down after being so good for months. And the story that P.J. referred to for Jack was one of Hogan's worst.