Members Paul Raven Posted October 15, 2008 Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 Going through some old SOD's,I came across many articles tha thought might be of interest to other posters. If you are interested,I'll keep adding to this post and hopefully,lively discussion will follow. Maybe other posters will dig out old SOD's and do the same! March 21st 89 DOOL's Gay Plans Dool's exec producer,Al Rabin,reveals that his show has been actively pursuing the idea of introducing a recurring character who is openly gay. "We were discussing the possibility early last year", says Rabin."One option was to make the character of Alan(now gone)come out as being gay.There were also storylines introducing a new gay character being tossed around. We had several meetings with the members of the gay community and their response was favorable." Then,the writers strike hit. Rabin explains,"I felt the replacement writers were not capable of handling this kind of story. After the strike ended,we found ourselves in the middle of changing our writing staff. Doing a gay storyline is not somethhing we're ruling out.It's just that,for the time being,the writer's situation has done the idea in." But that doesn't mean the brainstorming did not result in some ideads of how a Days plot might evolve."If we do a gay story,one of the most important things would be not to make this person an island. Other characters would have to be around to understand the gay situation. Any gay storyline would have to be treated in a realistic way. Not negative or positive but just the way it is. The bottom line would be to tell thhe whole story or the whole idea would fall flat very quickly. a well rounded gay story would be very successful andas far as days is concerned,it could still happen." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YRBB Posted October 15, 2008 Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 A very good idea for a thread! Thank you for starting it. It's very interesting that they were planning to add a gay character. I never knew that before. Rabin sounds like they were really devoted to doing this correctly, but I have to wonder if it would have been done well? Maybe it's just the idea of DAYS that I have in my head right now that would make me doubt it, because I'm not really sure about the state of the show in 1989..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted October 15, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 Oct 17,1989 Crime Watch - Industry Insiders Reflect on the Rise of Corruption on Daytime Soaps- by John Kelly Genovese Until a few years ago,daytime drama was associated with affairs of the heart - and acknowledged by actors as the best place in television to build a character. Nightime,on the other hand, was for shoot-em-ups,detective capers and the kind of medical dramas in which the patient either recovers or dies within the hour. But,by the early 80's,the roles began to reverse. Daytime soaps sharply increased their murder rates,and formed a preference for bizarre villians(such as GH's Mikos Cassadine and DOOL's Stefano DiMera) From the mid 50's to the early 80's,the one show acknowledged to be a cross between daytime and nightime was Edge of Night.Created as a crime and suspense melodrama,it featured murder trials,mob stories, and on location chase scenes.EON was the only show of it's type-until it's last few years on the air,when soaps became a crime dominated medium. Three of Edge's alumni offer their opinions about the rise in crime of soaps:Don Hastings(Bob ATWT)who played loveable loser Jack Lane from 56-60;Ann Flood(Bitsy AMC)who played the heroic Nancy Karr from 62-84 and award winning head writer Henry Slesar(from 67-81)who also wrote for SOM,SFT,OLTL and CAP. Ann Flood defines crime as "an intrusion into other people's lives for the purpose of theft or abuse",and tributes soaps crime craze to the publics' increasingly insatiable demand for quick stimulation. "The more you satisfy,the more you have to stimulate",she ponts out. "The shows are going to greater and greater extremes. There are so many shows now,and they have to come up with different ways to convey the same sort of threat. Henry Slesar agrees."The necessity of plot invention is so great that crime becomes an easy resort. It's symptomatic of the problems of soap opera.You can make things happen by somebody breaking the law.It becomes cliche and it's unfortunate that it has to be that way". Still,Slesar believes that EON was different from other soaps because"it was a melodrame where the crime was intrinsic. But I would gladly have done without it on any soap I worked on." By the mid 80's,almost no soap was immune to sci-fi plots,as well as star crossed supercouples.Henry Slesar,for one,deplores the science fiction element."On Edge they were trying to force me into underground cities and mad scientists-all that Buck Rogers crap. Science fiction definitely has it's place-but soaps are not the medium for it." Don Hastings looks back on those days as "really Looney Tunes times. I liked my original love story(on ATWT) with Miranda,when she was in that drug ring and turned out to be "The Corsican".The original thought,aparently,was that she'd get killed saving my life.Instead they kind of squeaky-cleaned her up and married us off ...and we went nowhere." Ironically,under the writing leadership of Doug Marland,ATWT has come to somewhat resemble EON during it's glory days.There is physical action,but the major emphasis is on slow brewing suspense.Hastings is having a ball with it."I never knew how Marland came about that talent for mystery stories",he grins. Ann Flood believes the crime sequences of earlier days were far more chilling because they seemed more real.The soaps were not yet budgeted for action footage or exotic locations,and had to settle for city streets and studio rooftops-everday locales that hit viwers close to home. Yet,neither Flood,Hastings nor Slesar,see an end to the current crime wave."Crime is now the chief ingredient of soaps,not romance,not babies,not adultery-these are just vague background subjects.I see the plot summaries in SOD.In every one of those shows,there's always a murder,or someone on trial,or someone being terrorized",says Flood. Is this a positive or negative thing for the soaps?Slesar maintains that it all depends on the handling,and sums up the issue by saying,"Without character,without interest in human beings,what is the pont of all the murders and whodunits?It's nonsense". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveFrame Posted October 15, 2008 Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 thanks Paul. Paul, I have an archive section at my History site SoapsWEB. One of the sections if for SOD articles. I don't have either one of those. Do you mind if I post them over there and list you as the source? Or if you want you can post them over there. I would love to archive them in that section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted October 15, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 Please Steve,feel free to post them at Soaps WEB. It would be nice to have them archived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Greg's GL Posted October 15, 2008 Members Share Posted October 15, 2008 Great thread. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted October 17, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 October 1986 Of all the storylines you ever wrote,which was your favorite and why? Doug Marland-headwriter ATWT “The Douglas Cummings murder mystery because it was perfectly cast,perfectly produced,and accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish in my first story for ATWT. All the surprises paid off so it was great fun to write and great fun to watch.” Margaret DePriest-headwriter AW “The Salem Strangler story I created for DOOL because it brought Roman Brady into Marlena's life and turned the show around. It brought suspense back to the show and dropped romance into the lap of the viewer's favorite character – Marlena.NBC received more calls on that storyline than ever before. People called up,begging that Marlena not be killed off.” Pam Long-headwriter SFT “It was when I was writing GL.The story that I am most proud of was the one between Beth and Phillip and her stepfather Bradley.Beth and Phillip were madly in love but they had so much going against them;he was sophisticated,worldly,rich.She was none of those things.Phillip's best friend rick,was in love with Beth,and their parents were against them.Beth's stepfather,Bradley,who had reared her,raped her.” “It was through her love for Phillip that Beth was able to tell him what happened.She had felt so alone,her mother had been blind to what was going on,but Phillip supported her,and there was a pay-off to that storyline:there was a trial,Beth took the stand and Bradley went to jail. Bradley Raines was a character I was terribly proud of.He had committed a terrible act.but he was not one dimensional.You saw the sins of the father had been passed down-his father had been a very sadistic man,but Beth and Phillip refused to have those sins passed down any longer.In the end,Beth said maybe one day she could forgive Bradley,but she could never forget what he had done”. James Lipton -headwriter Capitol “There is a wonderful song by Richard Rogers called' The Sweetest Sounds I've Ever Heard' and it ends with 'the sweetest sounds I've ever heard are strill inside my head'.That's the way I feel.The best storylines I've written are still inside my head,although there is one that will be airing in a few months,which I believe is the best I have ever written and wild horses wouldn't drag it out of me.Charlotte Savitz(producer) said something at a story conference that just struck a chord in me and my response was,'What if...',then I proposed a story that would involve all our leading characters.So,we'll see.But the sweetest sounds are still inside my head”. Norma Monty -co headwriter GH “My favorite story would have to be the one concerning Grant Putnam because it was so full-bodied and so filled with emotion.The story had so many twists and turns because of Garnt's friendship with jimmy Lee and his relationship with Celia.There was also the shock that Natasha(Luke's physical therapist)was Grant's control.” “There was suspense in believing Grant was one type of person and then learning he was another.We saw his emotional change as he came to see it was not bad to be an American and we saw him change through Celia's love and his love for medicine”. Ernie Wallengren -producer and writer Falcon Crest “My favorite story was written by a team of us and took place in the third season.The second season ended with Julia having shot and wounded Chase.In the third season,we also learned she shot and killed Carlo Agretti and Chase's mother Jacqueline.” “Melissa convinced Julia to ask for the death penalty,which she did,but instead was sentenced to life imprisonment.While in prison,she drugged a guard,eventually removed to a mental institution,and later escaped and tried to kill her mother.” “I liked it because the storyline was unique-it had emotion,and more action than you usually see on prime time serials”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EricMontreal22 Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 They dont' ask the writers of Loving or AMC? "James Lipton -headwriter Capitol “There is a wonderful song by Richard Rogers called' The Sweetest Sounds I've Ever Heard' and it ends with 'the sweetest sounds I've ever heard are strill inside my head'.That's the way I feel." LOL!!! The ego on this man! He wrote and nearly destroyed one soap opera after anohter after his disastrous 1966 stint on AW! And now we have to suffer thru his pretentious lectures about "acting" god I hate him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted October 21, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 21, 2008 March 24 1998 Top 25 Y&R Plots 1. Jack & Jill and the naughty photo. 2. Dru sleeps with Malcolm/Grace sleeps with Nick 3. Lorie & Leslie's custody fight. 4. Tyrone becomes a white man. 5. Nikki the stripper. 6. Ashley finds out John isn't her dad. 7. George Rawlins murder mystery. 8. Shawn buries Lauren. 9. David Kimble in the trash compactor. 10. Chris Brooks is date raped/Cricket Blair is date raped 11. Phillip Chancellor 111's demise. 12. Cole & Victoria might be brother and sister. 13. Snapper(as played by David Hasselhoff). 14. Brad the gardener becomes Jabot executive. 15. Chris's mom has AIDS/Keesha has AIDS. 16. Victor's 'death' 1993. 17. Sheila kidnaps Lauren's baby. 18. Phyllis loses custody of Daniel. 19. Sharon learns Cassie is her child. 20. Victor & Nikki's wedding. 21. Who shot Victor? 22. "St Croix" remote. 23. Sarah the maid. 24. Victor and the dungeon. 25. Kay and Marge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members YRBB Posted October 21, 2008 Members Share Posted October 21, 2008 Yum, yum, yum, all very memorable, wonderful Y&R plots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Paul Raven Posted October 22, 2008 Author Members Share Posted October 22, 2008 March 24 1987 Late Breaking News and Coming Attractions. *One down:Another suspect in the DAYS murder case is in the clear after Shane discovers that Barbara didn't kill Emma,after all. *OLTL's Robert Desiderio(es Steve)will appear in the upcoming CBS movie,BABY GIRL SCOTT.Starring Mary Beth Hughes and John Lithgow,the film explores the issue of parents' rights in the case of a severely brain damaged infant. *Another theme song:AW's new tune,written by John Leffler,will be introduced at the end of March by country crooner Crystal Gayle and Gary Morris(ex Wayne,THE COLBYS). the single will be included in their album,due out in May.Gayle,a fan of AW,will be written into the show for a few episodes. *Joining John McCook(ex Lance Y&R) on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL,which will premiere on March 23,are Y&R vet Lauren Koslow(ex Lindsay)Ethan Wayne,(son of John Wayne),Judith Baldwin,and Susan Flannery(ex DAYS and DALLAS).McCook plays the patriach of a wealthy family;Flannery plays his wife,Stephanie,and Koslow will work for their manafacturing company.Baldwin will head the middle class Logan family. *Stormy times ahead for ATWT's May/September romance:Dr Taylor Baldwin(a non contract role)has arrived in Oakdale to cause trouble for her ex and Lyla. *COLBYS cold war:The romance of Bliss and Kolya gets rockier as ballet dancer and Soviet defector Kolya becomes more Americanized.Bliss has reason to worry:Will Kolya forget the reasons he wanted his citizenship in the first place?And will he choose love or career? *What's up,Doc?A so called friend turns against SB's CC,and Eden has to swallow her pride to hold on to Cruz. *If it's not one thing it's another:On DAYS,Patch is about to be arraigned for killing his father. *Quick take:Joel Bailey(ex Lindsey SB and husband of SB's Gina Gallego)has a guest spot on ABC's JACK AND MIKE this month. *Action on AMC:The Pine Valley scandal takes its toll on Angie,who realizes the danger Jesse faces working undercover.And the appearance of Travis's wife Barbara,his business associate,will complicate his relationship with Erica. *As we reported in the last issue,Bianca Jagger will appear in two episodes of THE COLBYS,scheduled for March 12 and March 19.Her character will be summoned to California by Jason Colby to help identify Hoyt Parker. *LOVING's Jack will become involved with streetwise Zena,who's undergoing therapy in the hospital. We're told Zena will arouse Jack's investigative instincts. *While Steve's away...Rod,ATWT's newest stranger with a mysterious past,will be the new man in Betsy's life. *GH's Tania(played by Hilary edson,who is being written off the show)will be seriously injured in a hit and run accident.Meanwhile,a new teenaged patient will take desperate measures to stay close to her friend,Monica. *Hayley's(SB)rape case takes an unexpected turn when a surprise witness takes the stand. *At the movies:Lucy Deakins(ex Lily ATWT)will star in the feature film,Little Nikita. *Moment of truth:On RH,Maggie will take Frank's advice and use the only weapon she has left to use against Delia:The truth.she tells Roger that she's pregnant.Roger's reaction?He wants to be alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dc11786 Posted October 22, 2008 Members Share Posted October 22, 2008 This is actually for "Ryan's Hope", I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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