I definitely agree that the Julia Larrabee story sucked, as did most of Hogan's last two or so years at ATWT. I do wish he would improve upon some things like more family interaction, more use of vets, and better conclusions to storylines, but IMO, the greatness of 2000-2002 at ATWT far outweighed the bad of the following years.

characters come and go on all soaps, even characters we may love.

A head writer cannot fire someone. Not unless they atleast have a producer credit.

Hogan writes for the cast he's given, and all new characters are subject to the approval of the EP.

Hogan can provide insight to the EP if they do need to let someone go, he could be consulted on who's exit would make the least amount of impact on the current stories. But that's really it.

As for Renee herself - she's a great actress, but she is hardly core to Days of Our Lives. She's had about 3 storylines in 12 years that featured her as something other than a background character. She is very expendable. And if this is for budget, I'd rather lose someone unimportant like Lexie, than someone who matters - like Hope.

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)?

No. I think it was Ken Corday who got into it. I strongly doubt Hogan would lie about Abe & Lexie only to send Lexie packing a month later.

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.

Days fans are stupid. It's the only thing I can wrap my head around to explain this. The man has delivered a show that is actually watchable, and entertaining now on a day to day basis - yet the negativity remains. Where was the anger when JER was destroying the show? Sticking characters into horrible triangles with no plan - this is what makes these dumb fanbase viewers happy. Not quality storytelling, with a beginning, middle, and an end.

Days fans are stupid. It's the only thing I can wrap my head around to explain this. The man has delivered a show that is actually watchable, and entertaining now on a day to day basis - yet the negativity remains. Where was the anger when JER was destroying the show? Sticking characters into horrible triangles with no plan - this is what makes these dumb fanbase viewers happy. Not quality storytelling, with a beginning, middle, and an end.

ITA 100%. This is what I've been trying to say over and over again.

Days fans are stupid. It's the only thing I can wrap my head around to explain this. The man has delivered a show that is actually watchable, and entertaining now on a day to day basis - yet the negativity remains. Where was the anger when JER was destroying the show? Sticking characters into horrible triangles with no plan - this is what makes these dumb fanbase viewers happy. Not quality storytelling, with a beginning, middle, and an end.

Not all DAYS fans are stupid, but I totally see why you made that statement. It seems more and more fans that actually speak out about the show are only invested in certain characters and couples, and b!tch and moan when they aren't shown 5 days a week, 365 days a year. I will take what Hogan and his crew have done in almost three months' time then the last SEVERAL months of JER. Despite some flaws with writing of certain characters (especially Hope and Shawn), and the continuing presence of Swillow, we have gotten more family interaction, the flashbacks of what happened five minutes ago are gone, and several characters have smartened up and matured.

I also think it's downright dumb to keep comparing Hogan's writing at ATWT to what he's been doing at DAYS. Both shows have a different vibe and a different approach to storytelling.

We can criticize Hogan and his writers for the quality and direction of the stories and characters, but we can't blame him or them for who is fired and hired. That lies with Corday and the other higher-ups at DAYS.

Not a liar.

As for the previews, he exaggerated a little bit. He was a little too excited. He made everything sound really exciting, and it's not matching up.

As for the casting things, things come up...i.e. ED and JM! So, whatever.

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.

Style is one thing. Yes, his riskier moments (Babs' descent into madness; James' kidnapping of Carly, Em, and Rose and the Hell Spa) are more sympatico with what Days was known for in the late '80's to the present, from what I gather. Overblown with nods to the gothic tragedy.

But, STORY is STORY. Non-payoffs piss off all fans. Hogan will never "cross the t's and dot the i's". Stories will either have a good beginning or end...and the middle will make you curse the day he was born for torturing you.

Sure, maybe the Hogan/Days marriage works, meshing styles completely. But, just from my experiences with writer's roulette, I don't think that writers really change their habits. McTrash ruined Guiding Light in the late '90's, long before she unaborted Erica's fetus, kwim? And Pissy has sucked a lot of life out of ATWT.

Quite frankly, I'd like to see an example of a headwriter who *doesn't* exaggerate or outright lie in show previews. Hell, if I got a dime everytime I read an interview that doesn't jive with what's on screen, I would have enough money to own these shows. Interviews do not make Hogan the anti-Christ, IMO.

Honestly, Hogan has always been a writer that I could take or leave. When he's good, he is very good. When he's not, he rivals some of the other awful writers in daytime. I think that Hogan's style fits DAYS more than it EVER did for ATWT. But Hogan will focus on his favorites, damn everyone else. He will focus too much on those actors. But, to put things in context, DAYS has a better chance at quality now than it has in YEARS. It's not going to be perfect, but it will be better than Reilly.

Hogan will never "cross the t's and dot the i's". Stories will either have a good beginning or end...and the middle will make you curse the day he was born for torturing you.

I couldn't agree more. One story I've got to say he had a good beginning, middle and end was Barbara's story. Also honorable mention would be Rosie's death. Every other story he had either had a good beginning..etc..etc..like you said.

Honestly, Hogan has always been a writer that I could take or leave. When he's good, he is very good. When he's not, he rivals some of the other awful writers in daytime. I think that Hogan's style fits DAYS more than it EVER did for ATWT.

Agree as well. When he was good....he was good! When he was bad....he was bad! See above for good storylines. One story that reminded me of Days was when Hogan had Barbara kidnap the girls to the spa. That smelled Days.

Frankly, I don't care one way or another about Sheffer. He was/is way overrated, but I do agree that he has written some good stuff. But I never once thought he deserved all those writing emmy's.

Quite frankly, I'd like to see an example of a headwriter who *doesn't* exaggerate or outright lie in show previews. Hell, if I got a dime everytime I read an interview that doesn't jive with what's on screen, I would have enough money to own these shows. Interviews do not make Hogan the anti-Christ, IMO.

Definitely. But here there seems to be a bigger incongruency. Maybe it's just me? I don't know.

Frankly, I don't care one way or another about Sheffer. He was/is way overrated, but I do agree that he has written some good stuff. But I never once thought he deserved all those writing emmy's.

Tisk..Tisk... Actually I didnt think he was overrated his first couple of years. He did deserve those first few Emmys. But the later Emmys I am not to sure. Now that I have seen all his work at ATWT. I think he is overrated.

EVERYONE PLEASE GO TO THE POLL FORUM AND VOTE! THESE HOAGIE THREADS ARE MAKING MY FACE HURT.

I'd like to point out a few things no one else has mentioned (unless I completely overlooked it). First of all, no one has mentioned that we were told there are more pink slips coming. I think that figures greatly into this. Another is the length of time storylines are drafted out. If Renee's firing is Hogan's idea, then it would seem likely that he had her written out for a while now in his drafts. I don't know how far in advance those drafts are written, but I'm certain that some of you on this board do know. Also, the argument about his being a liar is that he hasn't delivered what he professed to and if he is thinking that he actually has, then he is sadly mistaken in reading the viewing public because most of us hate what he is writing for most of the characters and don't see his progress. I've heard that he is working on the individual charcters to "fix" them and what I'm seeing is that he is messing around with them so when he decides how he wants to use them, we'll just be thrilled to death they are making sense again and not particularly notice that they aren't the same anymore. Personally, I find the stories very juvenile, not believable and in cases strictly infuriating on one hand, but on the other I'm finding the day to day viewing so much better, digging into what is going on and looking forward to what comes next. In summation, my feelings are mixed.