Taking Charge of A Soap

[ClassicAMCDays]

First and Foremost:

ABC Daytime President:

Pink Slip:

Brian Frons

Hire:

Felicia Menei Behr

All My Children:

Pink Slip (EP and Writers):

Julie Hanan Curruthers

Barbara Esensten & James Harmon Brown

Addie Walsh

Chip Hayes

Jeff Beldner

Marla Kanelos

Courtney Bugler

Rebecca Taylor

Amanda L. Beall

Stephen Demorest

Promotion:

Michelle Patrick (Co-Headwriter)

Karen Lewis (Associate Headwriter & Scriptwriter)

Hire/Rehire (Executive Producer & Writers):

Gillian Spencer (EP)

Lorraine Broderick (Co-Headwriter)

Michelle Van Jean (Associate Headwriter & Scriptwriter)

Judy Tate (Associate Headwriter & Scriptwriter)

Patrick Mulcuhey (Associate Headwriter & Scriptwriter)

Carolyn Culliton (Script Editor)

Agnes Nixon (Creative & Story Consultant)

Probationary Status:

Kate Hall (Impressive scriptwriter, but hesitant to put her as Associate Headwriter)

(IMO, writing teams are most effective when they're smaller.)

Pink Slip (Actors):

Sabine Singh

Amanda Baker

Cameron Mathison

Jeff Branson

Alec Musser

Brent Webber

Ambyr Childers

Hire/Rehire:

Julia Barr

Cady McClain

Finola Hughes

Vincent Irizarry

Robin Christopher

Kate Collins

Debbi Morgan

Marcy Walker

Promoted:

Jill Larson (contract)

Jennifer Bassey (contract)

Tonya Pickens (contract)

I'll do the recasts at a later date...

[Khan]

>> I'm up for it and I'll work for M&Ms and Pringles.

Procter & Gamble doesn't make M&M's. Will you settle for Crystal Light On the Go?

[EricMontreal22]

Isn't Gillian Spencer in her mid 70s now? No that that's too old or she wouldn't do it but to be an EP at that age takes a lot... Similarly, Agnes Nixon still sits in on story meetings when she can--sadly I think that's the extent of any involvement we can get from the lady on the soaps anymore (I'm not sure if these are meant to be dream/fantasy choices or realistic ones)

[Sylph]

Fantasy choices.

[Paul Raven]

Great to see all the responses!

Some of you guyz got a little carried away!!!

I asked that you detail what could realistically be acheived in these days of tight budgets etc.

So,let's reign in the fantasy eg having Grant Alexander back at GL or a staff of 20+ writers.

My plans for Y&R

I would put a stop to any more newbies unconnected to the show.

Use the history -bring back Billy(hopefully David Tom) and Scott Granger

Slow down the story and play all aspects of a situation

Business stories that make sense.

Use the Heather/Paul story to bring back Mary as an occasional charcter

I would have Traci return and interact with Colleen

Diane would return (either actress) to inform Jack that she plans to remarry and that her future husband wants to be a father to Kyle.Jack at first is hostile but after meeting the man and talking with Kyle gives his blessing.

Keemo returns,adding diversity to the cast and bolstering the Abbott family.

I would keep Victor and Nikki together and show how their relationship has matured.

I would involve them in a story with Matt Miller(Victor's brother)that would ultimately lead to him being killed and the revelation that he has a daughter that Victor&Nikki adopt,thus continuing the Newman family without SORASING.

Perhaps Dina Abbott for a final time to make peace with Jack and Traci-maybe she has been in contact with Keemo all this time.

Have Cane be an imposter.Use this story to bring back Phillip IV.Perhaps a short term return by Nina.

In other words.use the rich history of the current characters to position them in new situations.

Have the new faces tie into the history.Maybe Nate comes to stay with Neil.Kate Valentine returns.

Bring back the qualities that made the show #1.

[Andrew]

Days of our Lives- Let Maggie & Marlena Evans change place, both can stay, but let Maggie who has been not used for years get a storyline, and Marlena who right really hasnt that much to do either, be put on recurring.

I Have never been a fan of Suzanne Rogers, i have seen episodes from America, but i have never seen the Serial Killer Storyline who has just started in sweden, and she really is a great Actress.............

[nell17]

I don't know the specifics about writers and all that, but the soap that I would change would be All My Children. I would try to make it about the core families again. The Kanes, Martins, Chandlers.

First off, if I could go back in time, Ryan never would have survived that fall off of the cliff. The surrogacy story line with Spike still would have happened. Greenlee would have left and Zach and Kendall would have just raised the baby as their own. Both of Kendall's kids would be happy and healthy. JR would have been arrested for Kendall's accident and put in jail and then in rehab.

The Chandlers: I would center it around Adam. When he lost the company and had his heart attack, Skye and Haley should have come home and stayed. Colby could have used some help getting those Carey women out of her house. JR could use some guidance when it comes to turning his life around. After he got back from rehab, of course. Bring back Liza. There's no way she would let Colby be in Pine Valley for a year without so much as a phone call. They could all be working together against Zach and the Kanes to get back Chandler from Cambias. Colby could be the face of Fusion and the one having the hard time dealing with the fame. We could use the Chandler Grandkids, Enzo, Leila, etc.

Brooke would still be around because of Tad and Adam. Recast Jaime and give him back his brain.

The Martins: Bring back the hospital side of this show. Jake and Jeff (the real Jeff not whoever John James was playing) could both want to be chief of staff when Joe retires. Josh could be there as well. Jake and Jeff could bring back wives and kids. Julia/Josh/Tad could be an interesting triangle if Julia is helping Tad find Kate. There would also be something interesting about Tad being the only non-doctor of the Martin men. Those teens hanging around Tad who have that band would have been Martin grandkids. They'd all go over to Ruth's and Joe's for monthly dinners and for the holidays.

The Kanes: Bring back Bianca and Miranda. Kendall needs a friend. Kendall and Zach could fight to keep Chandler away from Adam. Kendall could run the casinos and get rid of Fusion all together. Zach could have someone from his past lives come back to see him or his mother could actually have family. He needs a sister, brother, uncle, somebody. Erica gets a new exec-producer for he Oprah-like show and it's Liza, who will not take any crap from her.

Annie and Emma could stay and they could just explore her relationship with her death father. Maybe she could marry a Martin, Jaime.

I'd get rid of Ryan, Jonathan, AVA, Aiden, and create some Martin Grandkids. Babe and Krystal would be in jail, never to return. Also gone would be Jackson and Greenlee. She never would have returned until she was remarried and successful in her own right. She also would have adopted a kid by now. She'd be living the good life in Paris right now. Her whole reasons for being back in Pine Valley are stupid. I would have also had her be married to David. If I had to keep Jackson, I'd bring back Reggie and Danielle. I'd give Jack his cajones again by making him the DA and but put him with Brooke or Liza or Skye to piss Erica off.

I could go on and on, but everyone would stop reading.

[R Sinclair]

It was where it was the All Fusion episode, where the whole episode reeked of a bad sitcom pilot. Prat falls and one liners and comic hijinks galore. Walsh wrote the breakdown, Beall wrote the script.

That was partially Passanante, but mostly Culliton who turned Laura psycho. Passanante is the one who got Leo and Laura together and the whole heart transplant thing. Culliton turned Laura into a nutcase and sent her off to the looney bin after Leo left her at the altar. She went berserk!

[MichaelGL]

Gillian Spencer might be in her 70s but last thing I knew was that she was apart of the GL writing team either in 2005 or 2004. Of course she left, but she I think she's not that incapable of writing now since she was a soap two or three years ago.

[stenbeck212]

I can't wait for your stories to begin airing!

[MichaelGL]

Paul Raven you have some very good ideas for Y&R.

[Khan]

Great ideas, Paul Raven, but I can imagine how they would fare in the hands of LML (or another hack writer/producer)...

>> I would put a stop to any more newbies unconnected to the show.

"But...what if those newbies were hawt!?"

>> Use the history -bring back Billy(hopefully David Tom) and Scott Granger

Except, in the case of our hackmeister, Scott would suffer from Mathison's Syndrome (named for AMC's Cameron Mathison, and his inability to keep his shirt on), and would be too stupid to live; and Billy would come back as a blackmailing, rapist freak who gets offed by February sweeps.

>> Slow down the story and play all aspects of a situation

For Wednesday's shows, because, it's clearly been so successful for GL.

>> Business stories that make sense.

Actually, the "business stuff" would be downplayed, so we can focus on the show's new, fabulous, and "teen-friendly" Crimson Lighters.

>> Use the Heather/Paul story to bring back Mary as an occasional charcter

Except, Mary would be recast with Michelle Phillips (ex-Anne, KNOTS LANDING), and Heather'll turn out to have multiple personality disorder, on account of her mother, April, whoring her out as a child.

>> I would have Traci return and interact with Colleen

Except, Traci would be recast with Jamie Luner (ex-SAVANNAH, PROFILER and MELROSE PLACE); and instead of interacting w/ Colleen, how 'bout if she marries Nick so she can steal Summer away from Phyllis?

>> Diane would return (either actress)

Or, with Teri Austin (ex-Jill, KNOTS LANDING).

>> Jack at first is hostile but after meeting the man and talking with Kyle gives his blessing.

But only b/c, unbeknownest to Diane (and everyone else), she gave birth to twin boys, and Jack stole Kyle's twin at birth.

>> Keemo returns, adding diversity to the cast and bolstering the Abbott family.

He also develops romantic feelings for Colleen -- but hey, it's all good, Traci kidnapped her at birth and passed her off as her and Brad's baby, anyway.

>> I would keep Victor and Nikki together and show how their relationship has matured.

By having Victor constantly disparage her as "old" and "fat," and throwing his attraction to the much younger Karen in her face. Then, Nikki either will fall off the wagon or turn completely psycho -- but somehow, Victor'll hold Nikki responsible.

ETA: But even that won't be as sad as the idiots who'll form the Kick (for "Karen and Victor") Brigade (or "Kickers," as they'll call themselves).

>> I would involve them in a story with Matt Miller (Victor's brother)

Now played by Jay Pickett (ex-Frank, PORT CHARLES).

>> that would ultimately lead to him being killed

And, having a twin brother, Mark, also played by Pickett. (Because, why waste all that pretty on a murder mystery? Oh, and focus groups adore him, too.)

>> and the revelation that he has a daughter that Victor & Nikki adopt

That'll be kind of difficult, since it'll turn out to be AMBER!

>> Perhaps Dina Abbott

Now played by Pat Crowley (ex-Mary, PORT CHARLES) or Kathleen Noone (ex-Claudia, KL; ex-Ellen, AMC; ex-Mrs. Whatsherface, PASSIONS).

>> for a final time to make peace with Jack and Traci-

And to tell them she was pregnant with John's baby when they divorced...before dying.

>> Have Cane be an imposter.

Or Phillip IV's fraternal twin (Jill had twins, of course).

>> Use this story to bring back Phillip IV.

Now played by Brian Presley.

>> Perhaps a short term return by Nina.

Now played by Erin Hershey Presley.

>> Maybe Nate comes to stay with Neil.

But he's been abandoned and living on the streets. And to emphasize that? He doesn't own or wear a shirt.

>> Kate Valentine returns.

But, 1) she's now played by Lynn Herring, 2) she's sleeping with Cane, and 3) she's in cahoots with Kay to slowly poison Jill to death. (Don't worry: Kay'll get her comeuppance when she turns out to be suffering from Alzheimer's.)

>> Bring back the qualities that made the show #1.

And if that doesn't work? Two words: Serial. Killer.

[ClassicAMCDays]

Edited my above post to fit my vision of AMC, however, decided not to go with any recasts. I'll just do storyline ideas for now.

Storyline Idea #1-- Lost and Found: Tad begins receiving mysterious muffled phone calls through an "untraceable" number. A few weeks go by, and he receives a message reading "Together Forver..Always." He enlists Derek's help in finding the origin of the message. He discloses to Tad that the message was sent from an island of the coast of the Florida Keys. Tad then asks Opal, Ruth and Joe to accompany him to Florida, informing them he has a good feeling about the turnout. Arriving in Florida, Tad tracks down an abandoned beach front property, where the calls initially began. He skeptically goes inside, where he sees what looks like an empty house. After deciding to inspect the house, Tad hears strange sounds coming from a bookshelf. He moves it, discovering a pad-locked door. He manages to release the lock after some hard work, opens the door and his eyes deceive him. Inside he finds Dixie and Brooke passed out from exhaustion on the floor. He calls Joe, Ruth and Opal who are waiting outside the house. Joe quickly administers IV fluids to Dixie and Brooke. After some time, both Dixie and Brooke regain consciousness, relieved to see familiar faces after such a harrowing ordeal. Both women give their accounts as to how they ended up in the locked room. Dixie informs Tad that David gave her a drug that reversed the affects of the V-TACH, bringing her back to life. He takes her to Florida to recouperate from her injuries. David exclaims that he finally has Dixie all to himself, that she is never going to be with that dopey Tad Martin or their Kate again. Dixie puts up a fight, so David is forced to drug her, subsequently locking her away in the aforementioned room. Meanwhile, Brooke who has expanded her Tempo office to Florida, notices the Pine Valley lincense plate, and decides to investigate further. She knocks on the door, to which she receives no answer; so she waits. A few moments later, she see David walking up from the beach, with a bag full of medical supplies. Shocked to see Brooke, David side-steps all her questions. Being inquisitive, Brooke prompts further about his activities. Frustrated, David invites her inside and she complies. She notices the house is practically abandoned, asking why he needed medical supplies if he wasn't treating anyone inside. David then says he brought the supplies for a friend, who is badly dehydrated. Concerned, Brooke takes out her cell phone to alert the hospital when David grabs her from behind. When she awakens, she notices a presumed dead Dixie occupying the space with her. Both women search for a way out, but are unsuccessful. When David comes to taunt them, Dixie and Brooke conceive a plan that could get them out alive. Dixie manges to seduce David into a kiss, while Brooke swipes his cell phone. With the success, they begin making calls to Tad, but he is unable to hear them due to the weak signal. Tad reeling from Dixie and Brooke's tales, is eager to track down David, whom hasn't been seen in a week. Brooke, remembers hearing him make a flight reservation for Port Charles, excaliming he had some rather unfortunate news for a perceived Quartermaine. Tad immediately phones Anna, warning her that her ex is in town and to be on the lookout. David makes his way to the Quartermaine compounds, demanding to speak to Skye Chandler. Monica expresses, Don't you mean Skye Chandler Quartermaine? David proclaims, She's no more a Quartermaine than I am, and I've got proof..

More ideas to come..including archs for Adam, Opal and Erica

[EricMontreal22]

Are you sure? that era is all kinda messy (especially in terms of when Agnes Nixon left and PAssanante became full term) but I'm PRETTY sure Laura started to go psycho before Culliton--there was a big chunk (well 3 or so months) in the fall of 2000 I believe where there was NO HW and maybe it was then that that happened-much fo the ghost Gillian and Jesse hanging aroudn as a ghost with Tad was from that era (Passanante started that ghost Gillian plot and then among huge rumours she was about to be fired quicklyleft AMC to become part of the ATWT team I believe and the AMC writers were kinda stuck with all this awfulness and kept up with some of it). I thought Laura was basically gone when Culliton came there--either way the seeds for her going psycho were planted just before he got there. Second Laura was so unidentifiable with the first Laura anyway but I didn't really mind her when she was all flirty with Bianca and sophisticated but still likeable--even if it seemed liek such a different character, but the way they made her crazy was just so awful (and so indicatvie of how cartoonyt he soap became under Passanante--I'm still confused how Passanante even joined AMC, after beign a co HW of wfulness at OLTL, when Agnes Nixona nd Elizabeth Page were reshapign the soap--she doesn't seem like someone Nixon woulda picked--and for a while when Nixona nd Passanate bothwere being credited we had such a scizo soap with Bianca's coming out on one side and libidizone on the other--maybe it's unfair but I'm pretty sure I know who was more in charge of which story)

MichaelGL I'm probably wrong (and actually GIllian is probably late 60s or so--her first soap role was Search for Tomorrow early 60s I think) - I doubt the woman is incapable of of wqorking for a soap by any means--but being on a writing team and beingTHE EP are huge differences in terms of time and work commitment--I'mnot sure she'd want such a fulltime job and responsibility especially as I knwo she's very tight with family.

[MichaelGL]

I understand .

I'm very sour about having the same EP and HW...LML has really turned me against the idea.