One Life to Live OLTL: The Prospect Park Era (old production thread)

[DRW50]

I think it's because it would be seen as something different, and as providing a story. Unfortunately, as I think we saw with Will, it really doesn't provide much story at all - his only real story has been from his having sex with Gabi.

I also think people want to see tropes turned around into a new format - like the conflict between a girl and a boy means they're in love. To some, this translates to a boy verbally and physically and psychologically abusing another boy means they're in love. I don't care for this, but I guess I get their view.

Above all else I'm tired of people wanting young gay characters to be "bad" (bad as in violent and abusive assholes), and wanting young characters to be gay because this person hates the characters' parents (the people who wanted Will to be gay to humiliate Sami, the people who want Morgan to be gay to humiliate Sonny and Carly).

[rhinohide]

I was just about to ask. Are soaps really so backward vs. primetime? Maybe I don't watch enough television. Lol.

[DRW50]

Spartacus apparently had a very positive and complex couple...I haven't watched the show, but I should have mentioned them.

[cassadine1991]

Wow.. I don't wish for that.. I find it sad when want that to happen.

[DRW50]

I didn't mean you, I meant some of the comments I would read on some boards at the height of the story with Jack bullying Shane. I often saw far more sympathy and support for Jack than for Shane, and that if only people would understand Jack's pain then he and Shane could be happy, and all the rest. I think some people applied general soap couple tropes on that story, whether they belonged or not.

[rhinohide]

Several subscription cable shows have created believable loving gay couples IMO. HBO Starz Showtime etc. they tend to be much more progressive. I just haven't seen that much difference between daytime and primetime programming in this regard.

[DramatistDreamer]

Sadly, daytime dramas have long ago ceased to be incubators in anything remotely groundbreaking. For the past 10-15 years daytime soaps have lagged far behind prime time soaps in story lines that even include some 'social' issues.

The producers and writers of ATWT loved to pat themselves on the back for the inclusion of kissing scenes between Luke and Noah but I can remember Melrose Place having a kiss in the '90s and I wasn't even an avid viewer of that show.

I know the fact that it is daytime and the demographic of the daytime viewer has much to do with how content of story lines are focused and written, and for this reason, I don't expect any of the remaining daytime soaps to do anything groundbreaking in that regard unless not doing it somehow threatens their bottom line.

Perhaps if these digital/Internet reboots break ground and generate lots of buzz, accolades and viewers in the process, maybe then the networks may allow their soaps to try something daring but honestly, I expect the opposite from soaps on the networks right now because many of these writers are 'nervous' in the wake of all the cancellations that have occurred in the last 5 or 6 years.

[cassadine1991]

Well some did view them as already being a couple, I kind of did myself

[DRW50]

I can see why people felt that way, but I don't think I could have unless they'd had a different type of storyline. To be honest I was never sure what they were doing, exactly, in the writing - I can never remember if Jack and Shane were both interested in Vimal's sister, or just Jack.

Any gay kisses on Melrose Place were cut by FOX. Very blatantly.

[cassadine1991]

That whole thing with Vimal's sister was a complete waste of time

[John]

Yeah hopefully she doesnt return

[cassadine1991]

I totally bought Andrew's Jack as he could be gay or bi, except they were afraid to go there. Even Andrew said he would've done it and it would've been interesting to play

[AlexElizabeth]

What in the world did I just read through?

Anyway, I didn't even remember that Cutter was in jail.

[Khan]

Once again, Vee, I agree with you. That's why I am wrestling suddenly with this particular issue (the fact that it is "tricky," not that I agree with your statements).

[Antoyne]

I got lost as well..

But speaking as a young gay man myself, I actually get annoyed with the constant speculation/fanficing(new word?) of every younger male character being gay. Will/Sonny on Days are gay and happy and as boring as can be. I personally feel the only way having gay characters on Soaps would work is if there were more than two. I've lost my train of thought.