ATWT: Article on Luke/Noah

[bakedghoti]

From marlenadelacroix.com.

For the complete article go there. I pasted only the interview with a GLAAD guy.

DAMON ROMINE, ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA DIRECTOR, GLAAD

http://www.glaad.org/

Damon Romine, the Entertainment Media Director at GLAAD, has a special perspective on it all because he worked in the soap world as a soap opera magazine editor for ten years.

Patrick: Prior to the kiss controversy, how did you think ATWT handled Luke and Noah’s storyline?

Damon: Though daytime dramas have been around for 60 years, As the World Turns is the very first soap to portray a gay male romance, as well as the first soap to feature a male kiss onscreen. By introducing Noah and Luke to their cast, the drama has boldly taken an historic step forward. Because of the careful writing of both characters’ individual journeys which ultimately lead to their romance, GLAAD was proud to nominate the soap for a GLAAD Media Award. And while we support Noah and Luke’s romance and are eager to see where their relationship is headed, we also understand that Nuke needs to share screen time with a lot of other characters, and that we’ll have to be patient at times and wait until their story takes a front seat once again.

Patrick: So what do you think caused the change in how “Nuke” have been portrayed? Are there any specifics you can point to?

Damon: We’ve noticed — like all other ATWT fans – that Luke and Noah seem to be having intimate near misses and that their story seems to have fallen to the wayside in recent months. Such is the nature of soaps, though, and we have been assured by the powers that be that there is a big Nuke storyline coming up. And who’s to say their next story won’t create a passionate response as well? The nature of a soap romance is that the supercouple can’t stay happy, so I expect fans to continue to be passionate regardless of what happens to Nuke.

Ultimately, while tremendous strides have been made on soaps, it’s clear that we’re not at a place where gay and transgender people are treated the same on daytime as they are on primetime or cable. But even when you look at primetime, gay male characters weren’t kissing on network television before two years ago with Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. So the fact that Luke and Noah have shared two kisses is historic, and perhaps some compromises are being made on the intimacy front to allow their story to continue to be told, but let’s keep in mind that if P&G or CBS did not want to tell this story, they would very easily have already brought it to an end.

Patrick: Can you tell me a little about the reactions you’ve gotten from LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people about this controversy?

Damon: As all of us who have been in the soap business know, soap fans are the most vocal and passionate fans there are. There are fans who want to see more of Luke and Noah and who want this couple to get the same attention and respect as other couples on the canvas. This story has pushed the daytime genre and created a glimpse of what can happen when soaps are inclusive of gay storylines: Increased story potential and increased viewers. It’s a win-win and I look forward to the day when gay stories are given their due on daytime.

Patrick: Any thoughts about how the mainstream press has covered this controversy?

Damon: Coverage in outlets like NY Daily News and LA Times certainly brings more attention to the show and can only bring more viewers to the show. CBS has reported that the show’s ratings have gone up because of Nuke, and press coverage can only bring in more viewers, so this is ultimately a good thing to further keep Nuke on the canvas.

Patrick: Does GLAAD anticipate taking any specific action regarding this controversy?

Damon: We’re going to continue to support and encourage Luke and Noah’s journey, to promote the show and talk about the importance of this couple to viewers and how a storylline like this helps change hearts and minds. The show was nominated for its second GLAAD Media Award in as many years and we’ll find out on March 17 if they win. [They won at the 1st Annual GLAAD Media Awards].

[bakedghoti]

There are just too many problematic areas in this whole Luke/Noah situation which is stopping a queer male fan of soaps like msyelf to get behind this couple and to get behind the vocal media outlets that are supporting them. Where to begin?

1. I think PGP, TPTB at ATWT and TPTB at CBS are NOT homophobic. Not at all. They allowed the characters to kiss quite passionately in the past. As for their lack of screen time now, I think the pairing is simply not working. It’s not a question of them being gay, so they don’t get screen time. Luke/Noah are not working, so they are now relegated in the background. I think there was all this pressure/expectation/build up for Luke/Noah to open the door for more lgbt characters. They became more than 2 soap characters, they became the face of an agenda. And that is a turn off.

2. From the get go, the acting has been problematic. In the hands of a more capable actor, perhaps Noah could’ve shined. But he’s weighed down by Silbermann’s lack of talent. His range is very limited and he is unconvincing. Hansis is slightly better, or less worse, so take your pick.

3. The writing has been uneven at best. There was no buildup or motivation as to why Luke had feelings for Noah. It appeared like it was all in his head. And the writing has trivialized the coming out process since Noah’s coming out was more of an afterthought than an actual epiphany.

4. Back to the acting though, how the hell could TPTB throw away Alexandra Chando (ex-Maddie) who inadvertently became more sympathetic than Luke/Noah. She was placed in the triangle as the roadblock to the 2, yet she ended up being the heroine since Luke/Noah were deceiving her. Also, AC was the best thing in the Luke/Noah storyline. She stole the spotlight, and made the audience root for her instead of Luke/Noah.

5. The beard angle was terrible. Yes many queer men use beards, but it made Luke/Noah even more unsympathetic since they were fooling Maddie. If Maddie sticked around, and Noah was bisexual, then the storyline could still have some steam. This is a soap, and triangles are protracted anyway.

6. The fans supporting Luke/Noah are just too rabid. People on various message boards were putting up banners saying Luke/Noah were the couple to watch even if they were not even paired yet onscreen since news broke of their pairing. And if you criticize the couple, they call you a homophobe. I criticized the couple, and a soap journalist called me a homophobe, so I had to tell him I’m queer. When will queer people realize that not everything is homophobic? It’s paranoid to think groups are conspiring against the screen time of fictional soap couples. It’s not a matter of Primetime being more sophisticated than Daytime. If the characters are working, and are generating $ for a company, then they’d always be onscreen. But Luke/Noah IMO failed to deliver the goods.

[JackPeyton]

Nuke has Huge issues.

the fanbase is the main one, the anti-fanbase is the other main one.

people want this true real life dramatic romantioc epic lovestory. this is the as the world turns, a soap opera, in 2008. not a soap opera in the 70's. it isnt going to happen. it is sad, but true. soaps just dont do it anymore, and when they try they fail.

nuke also became larger than the show itself. it would suffer "too much nuke!" from one side and "not enough" from another.

if they made out a lot would be upset, and if they dont a lot are upset.

it is a screwed if you, screwed if you dont situation. one i dont think ATWT relised when they started this storyline.

i for one think it is time for nuke to end. break them up, out of town noah goes.

not to say it cant be saved and turned around - but that has a lot more to do with As the World Turns and daytime soap operas more than it does a couple.

[JackPeyton]

IMHO, liking them and getting behind them has very little to do with being gay or not. there fanbase is very mixed.

so true. they became bigger than who theyw ere. first of all, they were no longer Luke & Noah, they were Nuke. Then Nuke became larger than ATWT and soaps.

also, i do not see them not being on as an agenda. they are backburned and ins toryline limbo. is that new and shocking? it isnt to me. i have seen it happen to all the best on all the soaps.

i actually disagree here. is JS some great actor? no. But he is decent. he pulls it off. VH has the same issue a lot of great soap actors do (like jen landon, julie berman, jen finnagen to name a few...). he is board and it shows. When he actually acts he is great.

i agree about the writing sucking, but there was buildup. Luke was attracted to Noah. He was hot and Luke knew it. Then Luke started to feel an attarction coming from Noah, who was maddie, his best friends, boyfriend. Noah's coming out was lame and stupid

ITA! this is where they screwed up. Noah coming out and Maddie leaving was stupid. This triangle was hot and could have went many ways and gone on for a long time.

[dragonflies]

bakedghoti, great post

Personally I'm SICK of them being referred to as a Supercouple, they are NOT, they've got YEARS to go before they can even claim that title

[JackPeyton]

i agree, however they are the most populer outside of soaps couple since.... i dont even know.

That said, it is only because they are gay.

[bakedghoti]

Thanks zendall fan! ICAM zendall fan regarding luke/noah being called a "supercouple". It's laughable and kinda pathetic for their fan bases to be calling them a supercouple. They couldn't even make a paralysis storyline riveting. Calling them a supercouple is an insult to all the real, bonafide soap supercouples in daytime. A couple needs years before they earn that title! Calling them a "supercouple" (which they clearly are not) is just typical luke/noah gay agenda/propaganda. The fanbases should apologize to y&r's nikki/victor and sharon/nick, gl's reva/josh, b&b's brooke/ridge, brooke/nick, stephanie/brooke, gh's sonny/carly, days' marlena/john and bo/hope, etc. Giggle.

[bakedghoti]

BTW, since you didn't respond to number 6, it was nelson branco who called me/my comment homophobic when I criticized luke/noah.

[JackPeyton]

i didnt respond to #6 because i agree with you on it. i had nothing to add or anything to it. and to be honest, i didnt even know you were refuring to NB, and i dont want to get into some arguemnt over NB. i like him, you dont, the end. There is no reason to try and carry this on into every single thread and PM me on it.

[bakedghoti]

Oh I was just replying since you didn't respond to number 6. I wasn't beginning an argument. Anyway, back to topic, it's great that you agree with me on number 6 and the other points!

[JackPeyton]

Okay, i am sorry i took it the wrong way.

[Ryan]

I love Luke (not so much Noah), but I'm not going to bitch and moan because he doesn't have a big story. IMO, there are characters on the show more deserving of frontburner story. You can't have them on every damn day (which is what many want). If that were to happen, you run the risk of alienating the fans of the show (i.e. ATWTFF). The more characters are on, the more the show risks having the fans that do like them, turn against them (kinda like I did with Zendall on AMC).

It would be nice if Luke and Noah had a well written love story for the ages, but the same could be said for ALL couples on ATWT. What makes them so special that they are deserving of a "perfect" story?

Then you have the unbalanced chemistry. Van IMO carries that couple. Nothing against Jake, but I don't see much sparks between them. Every now and again something will be there, but it's not enough to really make me go "WOW!".

I have to disagree with those who said the triangle between Luke/Noah/Maddie was hot. I thought it was a complete and utter bore, probably because I found Alex Chando to be FF material. It was contrived and unnecessary. I think a story between Luke and Kevin had much more story potential.

Kevin was already introduced to the audience, had fans and a history with Luke. Them coming together and finding love after the break of their friendship would have been good to tell. I think they had more chemistry anyway.

[Vanguardian]

I'll respond to one part of number 6. Fans of Luke/Noah can be as rabid as they want to be and putting up banners of the couple wasn't a problem either. Hardcore fans of their favorite straight couples (impending or otherwise) are rabid all the time and there's not much in the way of complaining. Luke/Noah fans feel the same way! Now having said that, and as much as I still love Nuke, I would rather Luke/Noah be sent packing out of town to start their lives together rather than getting almost no airtime at the moment. It's clear that TPTB have chickened out with these two and have no plans whatsoever to tell Nuke's story in its entirety.

[stenbeck212]

I don't see that as the prevailing argument. How anyone could expect a breathtaking story for Nuke when nobody else was getting one is beyond me. At first there was concern that their airtime was limited. Even I didn't mind the amount that they were featured. Next came the uproar over kisses, which is completely understandable. Soap couples have been locking lips since the 70's and continue to do so.

[JackPeyton]

It is about so much more than a kiss. for me anyways. I dont care if they kiss. I want to see them in love and be in love and have a story. What i dont get is why people feel Nuke deserves this great epic lovestory for the ages, when couples much more deserving, with much better actors, and a lot mire history dont even have it.