ALL: Types of characters every soap needs

[Lye-C]

Comic relief characters like Eileen Davidson’s Susan and Sister Mary Moira, Jack Deveraux, Vivian and Ivan, Bonnie Kiriakis, Dr. Rolf and Bart, and Andrea Hall’s Hattie.

[soapfan770]

 

Oh goodness this is way off topic a year and half late but after just learning about da fling’s passing I actually asked whatever happened to poster Tess. Didn’t do too much digging to get an answer lol. Thank you both for sharing your memories I’m glad that I’m not the only one to remember her. It was a quirky board for sure but it was fun. 
 

LOL I still have Brian’s private email giving some juicy details about that when I inquired about why the boards were closed.  I remember being shocked and laughing out loud when the real Strasser surfaced for a New York Times interview around the time of GL’s cancellation to share some GL memories and found out he was a successful children’s novelist. I wonder whatever happened to the imposter. There was a troll here a few years back that eerily reminded me of Sean-Paul especially when they stirred up big drama, but I don’t know if it was him. 

Christmas is the time I miss WOST the most for sure though. Thanks again for the laughs and memories have a good Holiday!

[Planet Soap]

As someone said early Carly on ATWT, add to that early Carly on GH, Roger on GL.

YES! I think since the Sopranos accelerated the shift away from clear good vs evil dynamics and more situational morality, gray area type characters. Today, we have less good superman stops the evil villain and more Tony who kills people trying to be a good dad. 

The sad part is, we have shows now glorifying evil doers rather than holding up a mirror to them. I question wether the evil glorification is inadvertent or deliberate.

Every soap needs a grand dame. Kay Chancellor, Lucinda Walsh, Iris Wheeler, Felicia Gallant, Stephanie Forrester. A strong, sometimes combative, dignified, larger than life, older woman.

[titan1978]

I think you can easily look at the Curlee era of Guiding Light and pull out the archetypes that are needed for the bare bones.

The home base type couple- Ed and Maureen, and keep them as complex as the two of them were, not just boring talk to’s and Ed still a doctor.

Schemer- Sherry Stringfield’s Blake was many things. Lonely, backstabbing, volatile, funny, ambitious and talented in business.

Anti-hero/villain- Roger Thorpe, and keep him early 90’s style. Ambitious, dangerous, and smart about not getting caught. But not crossing so far over the line that he burns out.

The media crew- Gilly with a more modern media company to fit the times, but still needed for cross commentary on other stories.

Blue collar company like Lewis- construction works for the most story angles because they can be used everywhere. I think two brothers running an inherited company that love/hate each other works very well here.

Dreamer, but also a little quirky- Bridget, and you need a classic ingenue for her to go against and an attractive dimwit they both want until they learn they can do better.

Alexandra Spaulding- Beverlee version, surrounded by the next generation of her tycoon family. The Alan-Michael archetype would be bisexual, and has no hang ups about this. Redo his triangle with Eleni (immigration marriages would seem like a hot button story right now) but it is all men.

Social climber Nadine and her kids, the Frank type is gay and deeply closeted.

Crossing over with GH, I think you also need a Kelly’s type place and Ruby type running it. 

 

Maybe I just need to go rewatch early 90’s GL.

Edited December 30, 2024 by titan1978