That GIF makes it look like Petey is playing pocket pool while talking to his mom...

As would I.

I think it's fair enough for the critic to come at these shows as a newbie. But he doesn't seem to understand the appeal of daytime soaps at all. Fans have almost always had to jump in--to some degree--"mid plot" and figure stories out. For a lot, this actually appeals to them--to try to unravel the story, who's connected, etc. To say that they should just watch Revenge because they can view Season 1 on DVD is missing the point.

Still, it would have been nice if these revivals had been treated as more jumping on points than "...and now the continuing story of All My Children".

But I suppose that's what those 10 minute recaps PP released were for. The shows themselves jumped right in.

I hadn't seen this posted. On Monday 5/6 Eden Riegel will be guest on Michael Fairman's TOLN youtube 30 minute interview. She is the first AMC actor/actress to be dong this interview. OLTL Melissa Archer and Tuc Watkins were the first two interviews. I really have to wonder what exactly her status is because she is sure doing a lot of press for the show lately.

I hadn't seen this posted. On Monday 5/6 Eden Riegel will be guest on Michael Fairman's TOLN youtube 30 minute interview. She is the first AMC actor/actress to be dong this interview. OLTL Melissa Archer and Tuc Watkins were the first two interviews. I really have to wonder what exactly her status is because she is sure doing a lot of press for the show lately.

tilnightfall ‏@tilnightfall30 Apr

.@edenriegel Where is your pretty face in the opening of @allmychildren ?! #AMC

Eden Riegel ‏@edenriegel30 Apr

@tilnightfall @allmychildren I'm not a regular!! I'm a "special guest star."

Still, it would have been nice if these revivals had been treated as more jumping on points than "...and now the continuing story of All My Children".

But I suppose that's what those 10 minute recaps PP released were for. The shows themselves jumped right in.

It's a bit of a no win situation though. There still are numerous "fans" who are upset at all the new elements. "Am I supposed to know who this Evelyn woman is??"

 

My response to these idiots

Ok are you guys seriously trying to compare AMC & OLTL to Devanity & Venice. Those shoot 13 Episodes a YEAR. AMC & OLTL shoot 210 episodes a year EACH. That apples and Oranges. Also AMC & OLTL are not web soaps. They are TV sops that just happen to air on Hulu, Hulu Plus & Itunes. No offense stop talking about it if U havent even watched an episode of the revivals until you do. Your oopinion means NOTHING

 

Some critics have influence, no getting around that. OLTL and AMC have just ONE week in. NYT is quite powerful.

   

Some critics have influence, no getting around that. OLTL and AMC have just ONE week in. NYT is quite powerful.

No it's not. I don't know if ANYWHERE is powerful for soaps--so few places review them, but this has had a number of positive pieces about the shows (though very few actual reviews). THe few times soaps have been reviewed in papers like NYT it's been with derision--it doesn't affect their base.

The NYT doesn't even hold much weight overall with tv reviews (see the huge bomb review they gave Game of Thrones) and even movies now. Where they still DO hold weight and their review matters most, is with Broadway theatre.

It's unfortunate that the review paints a negative picture, but I also can't really argue with it. I feel that both AMC and OLTL's online incarnations are strong and carry lots of potential, but I say that as a soap fan who knows the shows. I appreciate the history because I know about it. But I did get the sense, watching the first few episodes of each, that they'd generally repel anyone who didn't have some pre-existing investment. I think a bit more of an effort could've been made to make each of these have more of a "pilot," threading in the history and familiar elements while also allowing new viewers to ease in.

But I guess they also aren't really marketing toward non-soap fans. They're trying to get a good chunk of the TV viewers, and hopefully some viewers who fell off in the last decade or whenever, to give these shows a chance. And that appears to be working, so that's probably a success. But I do understand the reviewer (who, admittedly, seems to write from a place of bias) feeling alienated by them, too.

I disagree the show did fine so that someone who is new could jump in and not be too lost. heck you can say that about ANY show these days.

I know quite a few people on twitter who'd never watched OLTL that found themself hooked on it and while they were lost they were willing to find out what info they could if they were confused or lost on something

Special Guest star is often used as a technicality status so that actors are legally free to do other projects for competing networks and don't have to worry about meeting contractual obligations. I think Chris Noth is still a "special guest star" on TGW.

It's unfortunate that the review paints a negative picture, but I also can't really argue with it. I feel that both AMC and OLTL's online incarnations are strong and carry lots of potential, but I say that as a soap fan who knows the shows. I appreciate the history because I know about it. But I did get the sense, watching the first few episodes of each, that they'd generally repel anyone who didn't have some pre-existing investment. I think a bit more of an effort could've been made to make each of these have more of a "pilot," threading in the history and familiar elements while also allowing new viewers to ease in.

But I guess they also aren't really marketing toward non-soap fans. They're trying to get a good chunk of the TV viewers, and hopefully some viewers who fell off in the last decade or whenever, to give these shows a chance. And that appears to be working, so that's probably a success. But I do understand the reviewer (who, admittedly, seems to write from a place of bias) feeling alienated by them, too.

I guess, in theory I agree with you or at least see your point.

A part of me wonders why he even bothered reviewing it though--I mean I wouldn't review a new hip hop album even if it was one that was marketed to try to get a new audience, and if a publication asked me to, I'd hope they'd post a different review with it from a previous fan to try to get that perspective.

This guy obviously did some basic wiki homework (I was glad he pointed out, albeit briefly, how primetime shows have adopted a lot of soap elements), but basically said he hasn't watched a soap a day in his life--I didn't recognize the name so I'm not sure if he's the regular tv critic or not. And to his credit he does kinda half say if you liked soaps already you migth wanna check these out. But it seems like he misses the appeal of the daily format.

But I will grant you that *some* of the press for these things has implied new viewers can tune in easily, although most of it has been squarely aimed at "look we brought your fave shows back."

I disagree the show did fine so that someone who is new could jump in and not be too lost. heck you can say that about ANY show these days.

I know quite a few people on twitter who'd never watched OLTL that found themself hooked on it and while they were lost they were willing to find out what info they could if they were confused or lost on something

Maybe TOLN should provide a webpage with just the relevant backstories. The critic points out that people can read the often massive, and hard to follow Wiki entries, but if they had a simpler one with just the basic details needed, maybe it would help? Or not. I have no idea at this point.

On Take 2 on Blogtalk, Jordi V says he is doing double duty on AMC in CT & The Glades in Miami. Maybe he is recurring at AMC

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/take2radio/2013/04/30/jordi-vilasuso

No it's not. I don't know if ANYWHERE is powerful for soaps--so few places review them, but this has had a number of positive pieces about the shows (though very few actual reviews). THe few times soaps have been reviewed in papers like NYT it's been with derision--it doesn't affect their base.

The NYT doesn't even hold much weight overall with tv reviews (see the huge bomb review they gave Game of Thrones) and even movies now. Where they still DO hold weight and their review matters most, is with Broadway theatre.

This is true. Compared to the more popular online TV critics (Like Alan Sepinwall), The people who review for the Times always seem like they would rather be doing something else. And Alexandra Stanley just sucks.

On Take 2 on Blogtalk, Jordi V says he is doing double duty on AMC in CT & The Glades in Miami. Maybe he is recurring at AMC

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/take2radio/2013/04/30/jordi-vilasuso

I think he is on recurring, that's why he's not in the opening credits