GH: January 2025 Discussion Thread

[Contessa Donatella]

Yes, it may be only 21 seconds long but swooning is still allowed.

And, the two of them, still in Germany ... a combined 7 minutes is on its way to you.

"That's something to toast to, you changing your mind."

(Not spoiling, just teasing.)

[DRW50]

I don't know if anyone who is advocating for a 10-to-15-minute soap wants 10 minutes of fast scenes. I would go back to the old formats of 15 minute soaps - a small cast with a few guest performers, 2-3-4 scenes in that episode. 

I also think someone who is not Frank Valentini and is a better producer would manage the format. It goes beyond just short scenes with him, as last year the scenes lengthened and I still don't think the show was very good outside of a few moments and performers.

I do think some younger people might watch a soap if it was 15 minutes and made easily available to them. Of course they aren't going to just watch any show. The soaps have been poorly written, produced, and acted much of the time for years and years now. They aren't going to just tune into something because it's shorter. I'd never say B&B is better just because it's shorter. I would say that a 30 minute show allows for more improvement and possibilities. 60 minutes was out of network greed, not to enhance the genre.

I do think that with improved quality, a 15 minute soap would be more likely to bring new viewers in today's world than a 60 minute soap. But of course, even with a shorter runtime, if the quality doesn't improve, and if the producers and network actively fight story that was bringing in new fans or exciting fans who had lost interest (like Trina/Spencer did), then nothing will change.

Edited February 2 by DRW50

[j swift]

To my eye, it seems as if an older generation of producers has not adapted to streaming.

Yes, in the age of DVRs (which I know some people still use), you needed short scenes to capture the attention of the audience.  However, it ruins the organic nature of a conversation when every time a person asks a question, they cut the scene, go to commercial, and then return for the answer.

In the age of streaming, people don't channel surf during commercials.  They may be second screening on their phone.  But, there is no danger of loosing a viewer to another show during the commercial, because, obviously, that's not how streaming works.

So, it just makes sense if you are trying to grow a younger audience to write in the same cadence of other streaming shows which have longer scenes, and more intense dialogue exchanges.

[Maxim]

I am not saying that anyone here wants the short scenes, quite the contrary. I'm just saying that it's going to be easier to stomach when the episode is small. Having to watch 40 minutes of it... is really irritating. That was my point. Cutting the duration to 10 or 15 max... will make it MORE bearable EVEN in worst case scenario of this trend of tik-tok pace continues.   

[DRW50]

I agree ten minutes would make short scenes easier to watch than forty. 

I think the 10-15 minute format benefits from longer scenes, rather than shorter scenes, but with care, there could be a balance. It's just a shame we don't have that on soaps anymore. 

Before anyone steps in I know this is off topic so I'll stop.

[Maxim]

I think this discussion is appropriate given the fact that it all starts from the GH fast scenes comments. I agree 100 percent that 10-15 format may bring a lot of new viewers. I myself would find more time to follow multiple shows if they are not so long. 

[Taoboi]

I thought their kiss was a great coda to end the episode given they have been in each other life's coming up on a year since he popped up at Bobbie's. 

[Contessa Donatella]

Yeah, it was Feb. when Drew dropped Carly like a hot potato at the mere mention of Jason's return, right? Then Jason returned. And, yes, Jack Brennan showed up in town. So did John Jagger Cates but he daid' & no one even cares. 

I do see your point about the kiss being an ending but to me it was instead a beginning. Unless I am way off the show has just created Jackly as an actual couple, potentially rootable & a ship. 

I liked the fact that when Jack had twist ties in his pocket & intended to kidnap Carly from Bobby's she hit him a major lick with a serving tray & she similarly broke some glass something or other over Valentin's head just two days ago!

(When challenged for a ship name for Cody & Molly I came up with Cansing.)

[Taoboi]

I was thinking it was in March so cool.

 

I mean ending as in end of episode, not as in ending.

 

Anything pass THIS point of your post WOULD be spoiler for me.

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 So once my eyes glanced some names...since I have started the episode mentioned BUT have not finished, I bounced.  

[Contessa Donatella]

Absolutely!

Oh, well in that case, I agree!

Oh, no, dreadful of me. I am so so sorry. You have my formal apology. Tell me what I can do that would make it better?

I well know how you are & usually I am up to the task. Horrible epic failure here tonight. OY!