DAYS: Writing staff returns 4/23/08

[cubsgirl]

I am with Toups. I will call tomorrow her first "official" show. Also if a story is bad it doesn't matter if it is revolving around vets like John/Marlena or newbies like Nick/Chelsea. It is still a bad story.

Combining the jobs of writing a storyline for a particular show and the dialogue sounds like a budget cut to not have as many on the writing staff. Although I laugh at the comment that days was "writer-less" from Jan. 25 to today.

Thanks for the update because I was wondering when Dena was "officially" taking over.

[Sylph]

Well, Toups, how could you think I was an Egyptian slave-master with a whip who makes people do his bidding? I would never, never request a person write a 5 paragraph post on AMC writers' trademarks. That's insane.

What my post was about is the fact that people are feigning their interest in writers and many don't know what they are talking about. If you take a look at who is posting in The Directors and Writers Thread and what they are posting, all this is crystal clear. This whole interest in writers was a genuine thing with several people here, who've spent years watching closely who wrote what and deduced certain things, but then one day it all went out of control with posts like "I want [insert name] back" without knowing what is it that makes this person special.

When I say I want Trent Jones back, I know why I say that. When I say I thing GH's team is perfection (without Guza, with Korte), I know why I say that. But when someone else just throws in a statement like "Veronica Sandbridge is a fabulous writer", I have my doubts. So, sure, I can accept people liking Rebecca Taylor's dialogue, hardly though, only if there's some sort of honest, authentic argument that will back up the claim.

[NYC123]

I see where you are coming from. I remember watching many of Bettina Bradbury's episodes back in 1993-2006. It was good. Yes there was days where it was bad but it is better then what we have today. Like Sinclair said many of the Erica/Maria scenes were fierce and well written. Bettina Bradbury has history with the show. She has written with Lorraine Broderick and Agnes Nixon. She has been loyal to AMC pretty much from 1990's to 2006. If she does come back I would be happy because compared to Courtney Bugler, Rebecca Taylor she looks like a good and better writer.

[JackPeyton]

<~~~all my very little knowledge as to soap writers stems from Toups, Sylph, DeeDee, & Sinclair

[Toups]

To clear things up, the staff writers aren't doing double duty as in writing breakdowns and dialogue.

Before it was HW to Breakdown Writer to Script Writer.

Now it's just going from HW to Script Writer.

Depending on the soap and HW, it can be good or bad.

With DAYS, I think it's bad because Dena is a very lazy and well, she just plain sucks. I think she's going to struggle even more without the help of breakdown writers because doing more work and Dena don't go together. LOL

[brimike]

Exactly. DH and VG are writing all five breakdowns every week. I expect lots of false tags, flashbacks and repeated exposition.

[Sylph]

I'm glad you understood me. I have to point out that my previous two posts weren't directed towards you, but towards some other people. If my post was offensive, I'd like to apologize to you, but I think you realise my tone was jocular and light.

I watched Bettina's work on ATWT, and as I said in The Directors and Writers thread, I think she's load better than Taylor and Bugler. She was just hit and miss while part of ATWT's team.

[brimike]

I agree, Sylph. ATWT has been, for quite some time, a "Scriptwriters' Show". Much like GH, they have a stellar scriptwriting team in place. In that regard, BB's scripts never really stood out there.

At Days though, they should have thanked their lucky stars they had an A-lister in their midst for so long, and it's insane that they'd fire her. Days needs script writers like her. But since Dena fired her at OLTL, I'm not surprised she fired her from Days too.

[SouthOfSoap]

Ugh, this is such an unispirational writing team - perfect for Hackley.

Minus Bradbury who departs soon, the best writer is Jodie Scholz who only really bloomed under Hogan. She, Kelley & Godelia seem to be the the type of writers who take their cue from their HW, which is worrying under the current regime. I hope they take their cue from Ed Scott instead.

The rest are Dena groupies, blech.

[Sylph]

I totally agree! I'm sure she'll find her way on some other soap opera, though.

[JAS0N47]

To answer the question asked yesterday about John Newman's birthday, here's a fully updated bio for him. Writing runs in his family! I'll also edit my original post and insert his bio in there too.

John S. Newman was born into a soap opera family. His parents are former "Guiding Light" actors Roger Newman and Fran Myers. Both later became writers, including a stint by his mother for "Days." Newman's first stint for "Days of Our Lives" was from March 2003-December 2004. In his spare time, Newman is a musician. His debut album as Johnnie Newman was "The Golden Coast." He was born on March 29, 1976 in New York City, New York. Tenure: March 12, 2003-December 28, 2004; April 23, 2008-Present.

[Sylph]

Wow, thank you for the info, Jason!

[Toups]

WHAT! John is Roger and Fran's son???? How did I not suspect that before? I'm ashamed of myself. *hangs head*

Thanks for the updated info, Jason!

[brimike]

Yeah, I had no idea either.

Kicking myself now...

[Kubla Khan]

Well, I'm just guessing here -- but I was under the impression that the traditional "breakdown" is dead. Not only are the breakdown writers gone, but the breakdowns as well. The scripters just work off of the looser weekly "thrust" from the headwriter. Meaning they have more control of the episode's structure.

Someone in the know, correct me if I'm wrong.