2008: The Directors and Writers Thread

[brimike]

Ya got that right. I don't know why I'm even surprised anymore.

[DaytimeFan]

Surprised at Donna's ouster. She's one who I thought was at P&G as a lifer...her AW was uneven...but she got Linda Dano's Emmy winning storyline (Felicia the Alcoholic) up and running (Peggy Sloane took it the distance) and for THAT I am forever grateful.

So sue me but I'm one of those diehard Sally Sussman Morina fans. She and Sony are still on wonderful terms (hence her husband) and I loved her stint at DAYS. She worked at Y&R in the 80s, was back for the end of Alden/Smith and is available. I wouldn't be surprised, or upset, to see her surface.

[Chris B]

I remember reading somewhere after LML was fired that it was between Sally Sussman and LML for the Headwriter position.

[brimike]

I remember reading somewhere after LML was fired that it was between Sally Sussman and LML for the Headwriter position.

Wasn't Sally one of LML's firings, as well? I think she was let go around the same time Bibel was let go.

[JackPeyton]

Me too! SSM =

i dont follow writers much but i do love that woman.

[SOAPSFOREVER]

My pick: THE LABINES, mainly because they write character, not plot. Though Claire doesn't have a history with Y&R, she'd surround herself with people who do, and she'd be true to the Bill Bell vision. I'd also bring back the strong cadre of writers from the glory days of Y&R, outliners and scripters. In my dream world, I'd make sure Barbara Bloom was sidelined and had no input whatesoever. Same for Sony. I'd give control of the show back to the HW and writing team. And while I believe a strong EP can do wonders for a show, it still and always will be about the writing (though I'd love to see Ed Scott back at EP, and the directors he took with him to DAYS).

[Sylph]

Oh, look at that!! I agree completely! I think this is (at least partly) in agreement with my suggestions in the dream team thread.

[Sylph]

Even with all these capitals and scandalous use of bolded text, this post makes no sense.

[Sylph]

"Lived and breathed the Bell atmosphere"? What the hell does this mean?! I think two pages ago we discussed this - just because someone was there for a long time, that does not make him/her HW material. Or good writer, for that matter. You should also re-read my post about naive newbies.

Why lose valuable time on someone who just wouldn't be the right person?

See how it goes?! See how it goes?! The person in charge of a soap can either earn millions or lose them (for a network, production company), make irreparable changes to a soap, it's just not as simple as "see how it goes". You can't bring a shepherd from the Alps and put him in charge waiting to see how it goes.

[juppiter]

<<< Huuuge Sally Sussman-Morina fan. I loved when she head wrote DAYS. I would be over the moon if she head wrote Y&R.

[brimike]

Again, I agree, Sylph. (Really, this has to stop... )

I think OLTL had it right when they made Ron co-head for seven months first. He was new, nobody knew if he could do it, he'd been a breakdown writer for, like, ten years but that doesn't mean he'd make a good head writer (not to mention the numerous bad head writers he worked under... and who knew how many bad habits he picked up from them?)

So I really wouldn't mind if one of the "newbies" was given the co-head position. Usually, that involves just assisting the head writer in laying out story, structuring the weeks, and I think it's a great way to "test it out" without risking millions, like you rightfully said, Sylph.

ETA: And let them do it for a year or two. Really learn the ropes. I'm not saying someone should be rushed into that position. It was different with Dena and Ron because Ron was clearly making changes for the better and DH was floundering. If you're going to mentor somebody, REALLY mentor them. I could get behind Claire for a year or two, with Sara as her co-head. (Claire's pretty much retired anyway, so I don't think it would bruise her ego at all to come out of retirement for a year or two to test this out)

[Toups]

Yeah, I'm not surprised you didn't get it.

It means someone from the Bell world. Someone who worked with Bill and Kay.

Same goes for someone who has never written or watched the show before. The conclusion for both sides is we just don't know for sure.

No thanks, reading it once was enough.

Yeah, you give them a chance.....like Ron Carlivati for example. Or Karen Harris at Port-Carles for another example. Or Brash/Cwikly at DAYS. They did very well when they were give a shot. It's just too bad they didn't last very long - stupid decisions by TPTB.

[Soapsuds]

Toups.....This is the same Karen Harris who wrote for the Incredible Hulk?? She was featured in the extras for the Incredible Hulk DVD that just came out. She said how she wrote for the audience. What she thought they wanted to see. Funny thing is that Hulk's majority of viewers was women and not men or kids. I found that very interesting.

Maybe Karen Harris can be hired to write for ATWT.

[brimike]

I would actually LOVE that, but no way would Goutman let someone who actually thinks for themselves "head write" his show.

[Sylph]

I got it; but you're completely wrong about stuff. However, never mind, I won't try to change your mind. It never works.

Oh... If you only knew...

Obviously, it wasn't. But, hey, who cares?