Ellen Wheeler

Kim Zimmer

I posed this question to a very impassioned Ellen Wheeler: Does that concern you that the show could be cancelled at any moment?

KIM:

I think the state of soaps across the board is in jeopardy. Look at Deidre Hall (Marlena, “DAYS”), Drake Hogestyn (John, “DAYS”), and Susan Lucci’s (Erica, “AMC ”) pay cut. It’s a trickle down effect. But it upsets me that they (P&G) has money, and it’s there. I think the longer people agree to pay cuts and downsizing their soaps, the more they get a way with it. That angers me, and I understand the economy is terrible. I think there is money there that they could throw our way. I have great faith that this show can recreate itself to keep going, but they have to pay attention to the quality. If it’s going to be smaller it has to be quality, and it has to be good. It’s the hardest thing for me to watch this once fantastic show, just be pissed away. It’s not by anyone doing anything wrong, but it’s just that it’s getting diluted. It goes back to the stories need to have a beginning, middle and the end.

Completely depressing. And I don't even watch GL.

Sad.Sad.Sad.

That stuff about Reva's family fitting on a small set was absolutely pathetic.

KZ makes me happy, I completely agree with her and glad she's saying what she's saying!

Ellen Wheeler is one diluted bitch.

I love how Ms. Zimmer is not afraid to speak her mind. Good for her! ITA with her too.

One of the many reasons why I love Zimmer and always will. I love that she isn't in her own bubble as far as daytime is concerned. She knows very well what's going across the industry and she isn't afraid to talk about the things that she doesn't think are right.

I love Kim Zimmer, I'm glad she sharing her thoughts.

Me loves the Zimmer love. I am not saying she is perfect and never have, but I never have gotten why she is always called the b*itch when all she does is speak what is on her mind and she clearly loves and cares about GL and daytime too.

I think the longer people agree to pay cuts and downsizing their soaps, the more they get a way with it.

I totally agree with her on this point. I think in the case of ABC and AMC, it was probably a do or die situation. However, I can see ABC taking advantage of these actors down the road by lowballing them in future negotiations.

I totally agree with her on this point. I think in the case of ABC and AMC, it was probably a do or die situation. However, I can see ABC taking advantage of these actors down the road by lowballing them in future negotiations.

Exactly - even if by some miracle ratings do bump up to the 2.5's or 3.0's of a few years ago, there will still be cuts because they managed to eek by on a shoestring budget to get back up to that point, so why try and loosen the purse strings? That's when they'll decide to use the "if it ain't broke..." routine. It's a shame too because maybe spending just a little bit more money on actors, sets, writers, (at least the right ones) would get them those larger ratings they're after...

She rocks! Luv her How many other divas read up on every storyline and keep track of other characters? Didn't Anthony Geary recently say something asinine like "I don't pay attention to soap opera news."

She rocks! Luv her How many other divas read up on every storyline and keep track of other characters? Didn't Anthony Geary recently say something asinine like "I don't pay attention to soap opera news."

I feel the same way. In this day and age, the soap star who thinks that they only have to pay attention to what's going on with them on their show is doing themselves a big disservice, IMO. The casts of Y&R and B&B probably don't have anything to worry about, but as far as ABC and P&G go (oh, and that "Days of our Lives" show too...is that still on?), they could really help themselves out by not only tuning in on what's going on behind the scenes at the other shows, but also banding together.

I've always dreamed of all of ABC mistreated vets coming together and threatening a mass exodus if things didn't change. Sure, Frons doesn't have a problem picking away folks little by little, but I think he'd terribly afraid of losing so many all at once.

Ellen Wheeler is one diluted bitch.

I think you mean "deluded," my sugar pie. Unless EW is actually mixed and stirred with water... Who knows.

Oh... and just for the record...

Edited December 30, 200816 yr by R Sinclair

She just may be - that would explain a few things

Unless EW is actually mixed and stirred with water... Who knows.

While I understand where Kim Zimmer is coming from, if the more expensive soap actors don't take huge pay cuts, they are gone and at their ages, even if they have savings, the fact is that there is a lot of work out there for them.