Excellent post MarkH btw.

I think right now there are better. Y&R is a far better show right now than OLTL. If Ron C is indeed the best of the eight, then daytime is truly doomed.

Well the posted said the best Head Writer out of the eight, not shows. I agree with that sentiment. Everyone seems to be the same tired old recycled HW's we had about 5 years ago, only that they're at different soaps right now.

IMO Y&R is good right now, but just like OLTL, the show has a tendency to drag a bit.

Week after week, Toups reminds us that OLTL is tops in a very young demographic (the former Passions demographic).

I think it says alot, when IMO, the show hasn't been shoving the teen/younger set down our throats compared to oh say ATWT. I know when I was once in that demographic it wasn't the teen set that pulled me into the show, but the adults per se.

I'm watching today's Canadian show now, and the show looks brighter. Anyone else notice this? It looks better.

MarkH as usual I agree with a lot of your post. But I don't buy the suggestion that to make OLTL more campy and more of a hommage to the 80s was a decree that came from above. Frons and crew all seemed VERY satisfied with the new buzz and critical acclaim OLTL was getting under Carlivati, true ratings weren't climbing but they were steady. I think the 80s vibe was nearly ALL Rauch's doing - and I'd lay money on it. It's no secret that he was a HUGE HUGE fan of the show during the 80s--for one of several reasons.

"I think it says alot, when IMO, the show hasn't been shoving the teen/younger set down our throats compared to oh say ATWT. I know when I was once in that demographic it wasn't the teen set that pulled me into the show, but the adults per se. "

WHY DON'T MORE SOAPS REALIZE THIS. A huge draw with EVERYONE I know who watches soaps is the broad ages of characters on the show--something that's rare in primetime shows and can often be especially appealing to teenagers looking for a sense of family. I know it was for me. It also felt sophisticated I think to me to follow the problems of people largelyolder than myself (something that's common for generations--Archie comics and teen shows like Saved By the Bell were and are enjoyed much more by PRE TEENS who imagien themselves as teenagers, for example). Yes when I became an AMC addict the romance of Hayley and Brian was appealing to me, but it wasn't even my fave story.

This is more common than I thought--I remember talking to an aquantance who frnakly I found to be fairly superficial and it came up that she was a DAYS fan--much to my surprise one of the first things she said was "It's not nearly as good as it was when I started watching--I hate that now all it shows are teenagers and young people" (this was about five years back)

I'm watching today's Canadian show now, and the show looks brighter. Anyone else notice this? It looks better.

Does OLTL air a day ahead in some parts of Canada? I'm in the west and we get it and AMC on A Channel (with the SOap's Up segment that;'s filmed right here in Victoria--I've met the host a few times in the grocery store lol) and we get the same day as the US--but on Global we do get Y&R and DAYS a day ahead. I just didn't knwo the ABC soaps aired a day ahead some places

Being the best by default is hardly anything good, IMHO.

WORD JP! I lost faith in Ron after his comments about the Todd/Marty ish(and IMO it's ish). I stopped watching because of that storyline

Being the best by default is hardly anything good, IMHO.

Bingo! We finally agree on something.

I think right now there are better. Y&R is a far better show right now than OLTL. If Ron C is indeed the best of the eight, then daytime is truly doomed.

Agree with you on all counts.

I didn't like teen characters even when I was a teen. I've been watching soaps since I was about 6 and my favorite characters have always been older characters. When I was a pre-teen, my favorite couples were Phoebe & Langley Wallingford, Palmer & Daisy Cortland, and Edward & Lila Quartermaine. and for goodness sake! Teenagers just aren't very interesting and nobody knows that better than other teenagers.

Isn't that his job, to write stories he thinks are good? It isn't a community job where viewers get to co-write the show.

Actually he's supposed to write stories that appeal to a broad audience and makes huge quantites of people want to tune in. Getting all caught up in thinking "Oh! I am being so clever and creative and bold. I really love what I am writing here." doesn't not equate to commercial success. Doesn't mean his stories are bad just because not so many people like them. Maybe we just don't "get it". But ultimately, he needs to please his audience.

Does OLTL air a day ahead in some parts of Canada? I'm in the west and we get it and AMC on A Channel (with the SOap's Up segment that;'s filmed right here in Victoria--I've met the host a few times in the grocery store lol) and we get the same day as the US--but on Global we do get Y&R and DAYS a day ahead. I just didn't knwo the ABC soaps aired a day ahead some places

Yes. But I don't know which parts.

I disagree. One must also judge a product by context. We can act like soaps are not under enormous corporate control, but that would be...ostrich like.

Week after week, Toups reminds us that OLTL is tops in a very young demographic (the former Passions demographic). I scarcely think that is an accident. Many of us feel this is a silly audience to pursue (because they will be fickle, not like the old days). Nonetheless, this is clearly a direct consequence of the camp.

I am not saying that the "camp" is not part of Carlivati's creative vision....but I also don't doubt that the "homage to the 80s" and the "make it high camp" mandates also came from above.

But let's look at it from a whole different perspective. Let's say the camp IS Carlivati's creative vision...AT LEAST HE HAS ONE!!!

If I have eight rosebushes, standing in a rown, I am going to lavish particular attention to the one with the greatest signs of strength and the nicest blooms. It may not be perfect...but I've got to nurture the good in what I have.

Amen!

Noooooo!!!!!!! Carlivati is human and makes mistakes too !!! *Gasp*

It's like 1992 JER turning into 2004 JERk in the span of a month.

:::chuckle:::

Actually he's supposed to write stories that appeal to a broad audience and makes huge quantites of people want to tune in. Getting all caught up in thinking "Oh! I am being so clever and creative and bold. I really love what I am writing here." doesn't not equate to commercial success. Doesn't mean his stories are bad just because not so many people like them. Maybe we just don't "get it". But ultimately, he needs to please his audience.

No matter what this guy says- he is not a fan- he is the HW...But he thinks by saying this, he's entitled to some hugs at the end of every story...This ain't fan fiction...This guy gets paid extremely well to write this stuff, to dictate who's dying, who's lying, and who's getting off with a not guilty verdict....If he's a professional he will take what is said and use it to improve his work and not go home sobbing about it.

What is he supposed to say when interviewed about his stories? "They suck and nobody should watch them?" Number one, IMO most of them don't and number two, that's just unlikely. Why don't we roast every other HW for daring to do fall previews as well?

It's like 1992 JER turning into 2004 JERk in the span of a month.

BEST. QUOTE. EVER!

What is he supposed to say when interviewed about his stories? "They suck and nobody should watch them?" Number one, IMO most of them don't and number two, that's just unlikely. Why don't we roast every other HW for daring to do fall previews as well?

Yeah I gotta agree here--even with the unfortunate Dena Higley I felt bad when fans complained when she hyped her stories... What is the poor woman meant to do? LOL

What is he supposed to say when interviewed about his stories? "They suck and nobody should watch them?" Number one, IMO most of them don't and number two, that's just unlikely. Why don't we roast every other HW for daring to do fall previews as well?

Sure he's supposed to hype his stories, but when it gets to the point, that he comes out and says that he can't understand why fans would be upset about the Todd and Marty stuff, and won't even try to imagine why some of us would be upset, then that's a turn off for me.

He acts like we shouldn't be upset about it cause he's "not going there" but he already has in so many ways....

t's like 1992 JER turning into 2004 JERk in the span of a month.

Sums him up perfectly!