Like many, videogames are a cultural blindspot.

But, in light of recent events, it fascinates me as a culture that we still look at movie grosses in pop culture, but we rarely see the sales of videogames tracked in the NYT or other Monday media sources, despite their broader appeal and impact.

I actually don't play as much as I used to, but I am still a gamer at heart. I was actually looking forward to buying Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and this promo by ABC with GH actually reminded me when the game would be coming out.

So, IMO, it was a silly little spot, but it got me to buy the game. So, it did its job.

12 hours ago, Vee said:

There are gamers (myself included) and other fans of various things that do watch soaps. Smith himself is proof that a male and sometimes str8 audience still watches, he's a longtime fan (and the Black male audience has also turned up for BTG, evidently - several male celebs have come out repping for it).

But I really don't think ABC is pushing for Stephen Smith to have a regular recurring part or ongoing romantic subplots on GH. The initial cross-promotion may have happened once someone at the network or Disney discovered he was a GH fan, but Smith and Brick's ongoing presence and weird storylines are probably just because Frank enjoys having him back. Similar to Snoop's recurring role at OLTL, which was more organic and he was also a longtime fan.

I used to play video games too - sometimes I still wish I did but I stopped a long time ago as it was just too expensive. I'm never sure how much crossover there is now as most of the current audience for soaps is likely older, conservative, white, female. 

I can see where Disney is hoping this or Smith's appearances will bring in male viewers, but what's missing is the male character who would draw male viewers, like Victor Newman. That's never been Sonny, and it's not going to be Jason, or Valentin, etc.

If marketed properly I think Rory Gibson's Michael could have that appeal, but that isn't going to happen.

42 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I can see where Disney is hoping this or Smith's appearances will bring in male viewers, but what's missing is the male character who would draw male viewers, like Victor Newman. That's never been Sonny, and it's not going to be Jason, or Valentin, etc.

I actually think it is/was Sonny for some male viewers, and Jason at times. Anecdotally we have Smith himself being a big longtime Sonny fan, and Erika Slezak's own husband Brian Davies (she told that story in her interviews for her guest spot). I've heard other stories IRL myself. That fondness for Sonny across genders, while not nearly as big as the pop culture footprint for Victor Newman, does exist and is one of the key reasons they don't cut him. I'd still downgrade Sonny and Mo's role and change how he functions on canvas, but I wouldn't cut him for that reason.

8 minutes ago, Vee said:

I actually think it is/was Sonny for some male viewers, and Jason at times. Anecdotally we have Smith himself being a big longtime Sonny fan, and Erika Slezak's own husband Brian Davies (she told that story in her interviews for her guest spot). I've heard other stories IRL myself. That fondness for Sonny across genders, while not nearly as big as the pop culture footprint for Victor Newman, does exist and is one of the key reasons they don't cut him. I'd still downgrade Sonny and Mo's role and change how he functions on canvas, but I wouldn't cut him for that reason.

I think Jason at his peak was a little too pretty, but I could have seen Sonny having that appeal at certain points. I think Maurice just lost that along the way, whereas Eric Braeden didn't (his work has declined but his charisma is still there).

2 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I think Jason at his peak was a little too pretty, but I could have seen Sonny having that appeal at certain points. I think Maurice just lost that along the way, whereas Eric Braeden didn't (his work has declined but his charisma is still there).

He absolutely has lost it, but the loyalty from the casual audience is still there.

Edited November 9Nov 9 by Vee

On 11/8/2025 at 10:40 PM, Errol said:

I actually don't play as much as I used to, but I am still a gamer at heart. I was actually looking forward to buying Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and this promo by ABC with GH actually reminded me when the game would be coming out.

So, IMO, it was a silly little spot, but it got me to buy the game. So, it did its job.

My husband games excessively which irks me to no end. Myself... I can't play anything other than Icy Tower or Super Mario. My brain doesn't work with games. I start falling asleep trying to play... or so frustrated that I'm losing that I end up hitting the keyboard. 

Oh... and Sims of course...  I used to make all the characters cheat on their wives with men. 😂

P.S. Haven't played these games in years probably. Maybe it's time to download Icy Tower! 

Edited November 12Nov 12 by Maxim

I loved that they used Kristina Wagner for that. I chuckled. It was Sweet