2009: The Directors and Writers Thread

[R Sinclair]

Ugh! The name "Mallory."

[MarkH]

The last credit on DOOL Wednesday said "Executive in Charge of Production: Greg Meng".

1. Is that a Sony guy?

2. Shouldn't it be Steve Kent? Or does this guy report to Steve Kent? In that case, what's Steve's title?

3. Is he new? I don't recall seeing that name before.

4. Why doesn't his name, or some Sony name, appear on the Y&R credits?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Meng's the Executive In Charge for Corday Productions, and no he isn't new, his name has been in the DAYS credits for years.

I think he probably handles the financial end of the show for Corday Productions.

Steven Kent is the Senior Exec Vice President of Programming for Sony's two daytime dramas. His name doesn't appear in either of the show's credits though.

[MarkH]

Okay, that helps. I was thinking Meng might be more like the P&G Executive used to be.

[sheilaforever]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1107539/

In the 90s, I think it even read 'Executive In Charge Corday Productions Inc.' - putting this together with Nelson Branco's numerous quips about Corday and his work enthusiam Meng is probably handling a lot of the behind the scenes business and managing.

ETA: When Aaron Spelling was producing a dozen shows in the 90s, I think he also always had someone to oversee things besides the showrunners. I would be interesting to know what exactly these "execs" are doing or if they are mere executers of the head honchos orders.

[MarkH]

It is funny. If Tomlin handles production and some creative, Higley handles some creative, and Meng handles business...it really gets difficult to see what role AT ALL Corday plays.

In that way, though people lump them together, one gets the sense that Corday and Brad Bell are polar opposites in terms of their hands-on role on their shows.

[JackPeyton]

Actually, Corday & B Bill are alo alike in how they run in the shows...

They start to get, interesting... and then... they mess it all up with their vision.

Granted B Bell writes his, and Corday just steps in. But regaurdless, they are both masters at [!@#$%^&*] up anything good. How days has managed to stay this good this long is beyond me.

[JAS0N47]

Toups: Michelle Poteet Lisanti was in the NBC credits today (6/11) on "Days."

[Toups]

Thanks, Jason.

You obviously don't watch the DAYS credits, Mark. Meng's been in the DAYS credits since the early 90's.

[JAS0N47]

Yes, Greg Meng joined the show as a production executive in 1992.

Press Release on Michelle Poteet Lisanti's return to "Days of Our Lives" http://www.jason47.com

Former "Days" head writer Michelle Poteet Lisanti has returned to "Days of Our Lives" as a staff writer, effective immediately. Her first episode aired on Thursday, June 11. Poteet Lisanti was head writer along with current co-executive producer Gary Tomlin from October 1980-October 1981. She was later a staff writer with "Days" from 1987-1994. She has been nominated six times for Daytime Emmys, winning once for her work on "One Life to Live" in 2008. In her new role at "Days", she will be writing breakdowns of the storylines featured in one or two episodes each week.

Poteet Lisanti began her writing career in 1979 and has previously written for "Texas", "Search for Tomorrow", "Guiding Light", "As the World Turns", "The Young and the Restless", "Port Charles" and, most recently, "One Life to Live." She was also the co-head writer of "Sunset Beach" for its entire run from 1997-1999. Poteet Lisanti, 55, was born on January 25, 1954 in Elmhurst, Illinois. She is married to Richard Lisanti and they have two children, including a son, Michael.

[R Sinclair]

That's how it goes. Carsey/Werner is the same way with Caryn Mandabach.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

On Monday's Y&R, why was Janice's name listed above Beall's? Janice doesn't write breakdowns, or is this a mistake?

[Toups]

Yeah, it was a mistake. JFE's name was above ALB (Monday) and Casiello (Friday; it was his first ever script), when her name should've been below Milstein's. On Tuesday's ep the credits are right and JFE is under Milstein's name.

[MarkH]

What was JFE's role in the Casiello breakdown/script? Just an EXTRA editor? I get confused by all these people...

[Toups]

Yeah, JFE edit scripts when Milstein's on vacation.

OLTL and Y&R are the only show that list temporary editors when their main editor is not editing.