In the other thread, I made a throwaway comment about how the Bell soaps at this stage should just let AI compose stories for them, and I thought, "Hmm... I wonder what AI would churn out if I fed it enough information?"

Just a cute, fun thread for us to play around and see what interesting things they'd create.

For instance, I asked AI to "Devise a business story for me for Young and the Restless involving Victor Newman and Jack Abbott that is ripped from the headlines. Something current. Jabot (Jack's company) versus Newman Enterprises (Victor's company). Do it about their beauty lines being at odds."

It gave me the following options:

To pull a story "ripped from the headlines" for Victor Newman and Jack Abbott, we can look at the real-world 2024–2025 shift in the beauty industry: the decline of "founder-led hype" and the massive rise of "Longevity Science" and AI-personalized skincare.

Here is a storyline that pits Jabot against Newman Enterprises using these current business battlegrounds.

---

Storyline: "The Immortality Protocol"

The Headline: "The Death of the Influencer and the Birth of Bio-Hacking"

In the real world, brands like Rhode and L'Oréal are pivoting away from celebrity faces and toward "medical-grade longevity" and AI diagnostics. In Genoa City, the battle for the vanity of the world is about to turn toxic.

The Conflict: Jabot’s "Ancestral" vs. Newman’s "Eternal"

Jack Abbott launches "Jabot Ancestry," a line focused on "clean beauty" and ethically sourced ingredients (referencing the real-world 2025 "Clean Beauty" regulation acts). He positions it as a return to the legacy of John Abbott—wholesome, traditional, and transparent.

Victor Newman, sensing a weakness, acquires a cutting-edge biotech startup to launch "Newman Eternal." Using a "ripped from the headlines" trend, Victor integrates Conversational AI (like the real-world 2025 AI-beauty assistants) that "scans" customers' faces via smartphone to prescribe a personalized chemical cocktail.

The Turning Point: The "Bio-Silk" Scandal

A major 2025 industry headline involves class-action lawsuits over "Fake Collagen" and synthetic ingredients in "plant-based" products.

• The Sabotage: Victor discovers that one of Jabot’s "organic" suppliers is actually providing a synthetic "Bio-Silk" that hasn't been FDA-approved.

• The Moustache Twirl: Instead of reporting it, Victor waits for Jabot’s massive global launch. He then uses his media conglomerate to leak the "greenwashing" scandal the moment Jack’s stock is most vulnerable.

• Jack’s Retaliation: Jack finds out that Newman’s "Eternal" AI isn't just analyzing skin—it’s harvesting biometric data to sell to insurance companies (a major 2025 privacy concern).

The Climax: The Boardroom Showdown

The story culminates in a black-tie gala at the Athletic Club. Jack stands on stage, ready to apologize for the supplier error, only to reveal he has bought the very data-mining company Victor was using. Jack now owns Victor’s "proprietary" AI, effectively holding Newman Enterprises’ entire beauty division hostage.

Victor: "You think you've won, Abbott? You're playing with chemicals... I'm playing with time." Jack:"Then time is up, Victor. Jabot just acquired your 'Future'."

---

What this story uses from 2025 headlines:

• AI Diagnostics: Based on the real-world 2025 integration of AI-powered skin analysis.

• Greenwashing Lawsuits: Inspired by the 2024/2025 class-action suits against brands like Neutrogena and Tom’s of Maine regarding "natural" claims.

• Biometric Privacy: Reflecting the current global legal debate over how beauty apps handle facial data.

I've thought about it. I like your idea here. The main problem is my interest is more in older soap material which they don't have as much access to. I don't know if GPT has story ideas for Michael Randolph's bisexual life on AW, although if it does, I'm sure I'd enjoy them.

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by DRW50

3 hours ago, NothinButAttitude said:

In the other thread, I made a throwaway comment about how the Bell soaps at this stage should just let AI compose stories for them, and I thought, "Hmm... I wonder what AI would churn out if I fed it enough information?"

Just a cute, fun thread for us to play around and see what interesting things they'd create.

For instance, I asked AI to "Devise a business story for me for Young and the Restless involving Victor Newman and Jack Abbott that is ripped from the headlines. Something current. Jabot (Jack's company) versus Newman Enterprises (Victor's company). Do it about their beauty lines being at odds."

It gave me the following options:

To pull a story "ripped from the headlines" for Victor Newman and Jack Abbott, we can look at the real-world 2024–2025 shift in the beauty industry: the decline of "founder-led hype" and the massive rise of "Longevity Science" and AI-personalized skincare.

Here is a storyline that pits Jabot against Newman Enterprises using these current business battlegrounds.

---

Storyline: "The Immortality Protocol"

The Headline: "The Death of the Influencer and the Birth of Bio-Hacking"

In the real world, brands like Rhode and L'Oréal are pivoting away from celebrity faces and toward "medical-grade longevity" and AI diagnostics. In Genoa City, the battle for the vanity of the world is about to turn toxic.

The Conflict: Jabot’s "Ancestral" vs. Newman’s "Eternal"

Jack Abbott launches "Jabot Ancestry," a line focused on "clean beauty" and ethically sourced ingredients (referencing the real-world 2025 "Clean Beauty" regulation acts). He positions it as a return to the legacy of John Abbott—wholesome, traditional, and transparent.

Victor Newman, sensing a weakness, acquires a cutting-edge biotech startup to launch "Newman Eternal." Using a "ripped from the headlines" trend, Victor integrates Conversational AI (like the real-world 2025 AI-beauty assistants) that "scans" customers' faces via smartphone to prescribe a personalized chemical cocktail.

The Turning Point: The "Bio-Silk" Scandal

A major 2025 industry headline involves class-action lawsuits over "Fake Collagen" and synthetic ingredients in "plant-based" products.

• The Sabotage: Victor discovers that one of Jabot’s "organic" suppliers is actually providing a synthetic "Bio-Silk" that hasn't been FDA-approved.

• The Moustache Twirl: Instead of reporting it, Victor waits for Jabot’s massive global launch. He then uses his media conglomerate to leak the "greenwashing" scandal the moment Jack’s stock is most vulnerable.

• Jack’s Retaliation: Jack finds out that Newman’s "Eternal" AI isn't just analyzing skin—it’s harvesting biometric data to sell to insurance companies (a major 2025 privacy concern).

The Climax: The Boardroom Showdown

The story culminates in a black-tie gala at the Athletic Club. Jack stands on stage, ready to apologize for the supplier error, only to reveal he has bought the very data-mining company Victor was using. Jack now owns Victor’s "proprietary" AI, effectively holding Newman Enterprises’ entire beauty division hostage.

---

What this story uses from 2025 headlines:

• AI Diagnostics: Based on the real-world 2025 integration of AI-powered skin analysis.

• Greenwashing Lawsuits: Inspired by the 2024/2025 class-action suits against brands like Neutrogena and Tom’s of Maine regarding "natural" claims.

• Biometric Privacy: Reflecting the current global legal debate over how beauty apps handle facial data.

That is 1000% more interesting that what Griffith is serving up.

I am actually shocked at how much more interesting that was than the BS they provide on “business” stories.

That’s really good and I’d watch it!

@NothinButAttitude I'd totally watch that. It's a lot better than anything Josh Griffith has come up with.

I know people hate AI, but it can be a beneficial tool

14 hours ago, DRW50 said:

I've thought about it. I like your idea here. The main problem is my interest is more in older soap material which they don't have as much access to. I don't know if GPT has story ideas for Michael Randolph's bisexual life on AW, although if it does, I'm sure I'd enjoy them.

I asked Gemini to do the following: "Can you help me compose of story for the soap opera Another World? There was a character named Michael Randolph on the show in the 70s. He was going to be made bisexual. Can we compose a story? Another World Homepage and Eight Years in Another World by Harding Lemay are good reference points."

It provided me with...

This is a fascinating piece of television "what if?" history. As you noted, Harding Lemay—the head writer who transformed Another World into a character-driven literary powerhouse—originally intended for Michael Randolph (the son of John and Pat Randolph) to be the first gay or bisexual character in daytime television history.

In his memoir Eight Years in Another World, Lemay recounts how he planned for Michael to return from college and reveal his sexuality, which would have acted as a catalyst for the final collapse of John and Pat’s already strained marriage. However, the sponsor (Procter & Gamble) and the network blocked the move, forcing Lemay to marry Michael off to Molly Ordway and later Karen Campbell.

Below is a "reconstructed" storyline that aligns with Lemay’s 1970s aesthetic: focusing on internal psychological conflict, class dynamics, and the "unspoken" tensions within the Matthews/Randolph clan.

---

Story Title: The Shadow in the Garden

The Setup: The Return of the Prodigal Son

Michael Randolph returns to Bay City after a long "sabbatical" in Europe following his graduation. To his mother, Pat, he is the golden boy who will finally stabilize the family. To his father, John, he is a rival for Pat's attention and a reminder of John’s own perceived failures as a "man's man."

Michael brings with him a "friend" from his travels—Julian Vane, an enigmatic, sophisticated architecture student. While Michael tells Pat that Julian is just a roommate helping him with his law studies, the tension in the Randolph living room is palpable.

The Conflict: A House Divided

The story wouldn't be a "coming out" in the modern sense; in Lemay’s world, it would be a slow bleed of subtext and growing resentment:

• John’s Suspicion: John Randolph, always struggling with his own masculine insecurities and his history of infidelity, begins to sense an "otherness" in his son. He pushes Michael to join his law firm and marry a "suitable" Bay City girl (perhaps a cousin of the Corys). John’s hostility toward Julian isn't just about Michael; it’s about John’s fear that his family legacy is dissolving.

• Pat’s Denial: Pat Randolph, ever the emotional anchor (and occasional alcoholic), chooses to see only what she wants. She treats Julian like a second son, ignoring the long silences and the way Michael looks at Julian when he thinks no one is watching.

• The Breaking Point: At a high-society party at the Cory Mansion, Michael is cornered by Mac Cory’s daughter, Iris, who tries to manipulate him into a romance for her own social gain. The pressure of the performance causes Michael to snap. He doesn't make a grand announcement; instead, he has a private, devastating confrontation with John in the library.

The "Lemay" Twist

In true Harding Lemay fashion, the "scandal" isn't just the sexuality—it’s the hypocrisy. Michael reveals he knows about John’s past affairs and "double life." He argues that his love for Julian is more honest than the "theatre of marriage" John and Pat have been performing for decades.

The Resolution

The storyline would conclude not with a happy ending, but with a melancholy departure. Recognizing that Bay City is too small for his truth, Michael decides to move to New York City with Julian.

• The Fallout: Pat is left shattered, finally forced to look at the cracks in her marriage without Michael there to act as a buffer.

• The Final Frame: The story ends with Michael and Julian at the Bay City train station. They don't hold hands—it's 1975, after all—but as the train pulls away, Michael looks back at the skyline of Bay City and realizes he has finally found his own "Another World."

Um, what exactly is Gemini?

1 hour ago, MissPhoenixGirl92 said:

Um, what exactly is Gemini?

Google Gemini is an AI model

@NothinButAttitude Thanks. That is fascinating. I would love seeing Iris in that type of story, especially as she was likely one of the few in Bay City who had ever even known someone who was out. The ending is fitting for the time yet probably more progressive than a soap at the time was going to give. And similar to Lemay the focus is ultimately on the parents.

Interesting stuff. But why would Iris consider a potential affair with middle-class Mike Randolph as social gain for herself? If anything it would have been the other way around, with Michael gaining social status from a relationship with Iris. Maybe AI didn't catch the fact that Iris was a jet-setting socialite who had spent most of her life in Manhattan, the south of France, and Switzerland.

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

@NothinButAttitude Thanks. That is fascinating. I would love seeing Iris in that type of story, especially as she was likely one of the few in Bay City who had ever even known someone who was out. The ending is fitting for the time yet probably more progressive than a soap at the time was going to give. And similar to Lemay the focus is ultimately on the parents.

When I read it and got to the end, that final line just got to me. It would make sense that Michael would have to be written off in due time due to time the story would've occurred, and I could totally picture Lemay giving Michael a subtle yet happy ending for the audience to interpret.

Minus the Iris hiccup, I am stunned that it mapped a story as good as it did.

2 hours ago, Tisy-Lish said:

Interesting stuff. But why would Iris consider a potential affair with middle-class Mike Randolph as social gain for herself? If anything it would have been the other way around, with Michael gaining social status from a relationship with Iris. Maybe AI didn't catch the fact that Iris was a jet-setting socialite who had spent most of her life in Manhattan, the south of France, and Switzerland.

I don't think it caught it either, but that's something that could be easily tweaked by feeding Gemini more information and why Iris wouldn't be the best choice. Wouldn't Molly Ordaway be better? Didn't she and Michael get involved at once? At least I thought I heard it in the clip where Olive and Liz locked horns before Liz spoke to John.

OK. I did another scenario.

Here's what I asked:

"Can you devise a soap storyline for As the World Turns had it still continued? How about a poignant love triangle between Lisa Miller, John Dixon, and Lucinda Walsh. Can we also add a widowed Don Hughes back in the mix, too? Kim and Bob Hughes, who are close friends to Lisa have to be involved somewhat too."

What Gemini devised:

If As the World Turns were still on the air in 2025, Oakdale would be buzzing with the arrival of its most legendary titans. To make this work, we lean into the rich history of these characters—their rivalries, their shared losses, and that undeniable spark that never quite goes out.

Here is a pitch for a storyline titled: "The Oakdale Autumn."

---

The Premise: A Legacy at Stake

The story begins with the 90th Anniversary of Memorial Hospital. A gala is being thrown, and the guest list is a "who’s who" of Oakdale history. However, the celebration is a facade; a mysterious conglomerate is attempting a hostile takeover of both the hospital and Walsh Enterprises.

The Players

• The Matriarch: Lisa Miller, still the undisputed queen of the Oakdale.

• The Rival: Lucinda Walsh, sharper than ever but facing a rare moment of professional vulnerability.

• The Rogue: Dr. John Dixon, returning from "retirement" in Switzerland with a secret.

• The Soul: Don Hughes, returning to Oakdale after the passing of his wife, seeking a quiet place to heal.

---

The Storyline: "The Last Waltz"

1. The Unexpected Return

The gala is in full swing when Don Hughes walks in. He’s grieving and looking for the comfort of his brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Kim. Kim immediately senses that Don is adrift. She suggests he stay at the Hughes’ guest house, but Lisa, ever the opportunist, insists he stay in the Penthouse at the Lakeview "on the house."

2. The Triangle Ignites

John Dixon arrives shortly after, claiming he’s back to "save the hospital" from the takeover. He immediately gravitates toward Lisa—their chemistry is as volatile as ever. However, he discovers that Lucinda is the one who secretly funded his return to help her fight the corporate raiders.

• The Conflict: Lucinda and John share a "battle-hardened" bond; they understand each other’s ruthlessness. But John has always had a soft spot for Lisa’s vulnerability, and Lisa has always been John's greatest "what if."

• The Twist: Lucinda realizes that to win John’s full loyalty, she has to dismantle his lingering feelings for Lisa. She begins a subtle campaign to push Lisa toward the newly widowed (and very wealthy) Don Hughes.

3. The Hughes Intervention

Bob and Kim find themselves in the middle. Bob is worried about Don’s heart; he knows Lisa Miller is "weather" that Don might not be prepared for in his fragile state.

• Kim’s Role: Kim acts as the bridge. She confronts Lucinda about her manipulations, leading to a classic "battle of the blondes" scene in the Lakeview lounge. Kim tells Lucinda: "You can buy companies, Lucinda, but you can't manage human hearts."

---

The Climax: A Night at the Lakeview

At a private dinner, the four icons collide.

• John is jealous of the "old-fashioned" comfort Don provides Lisa.

• Lisa is torn: Does she want the excitement and danger of John Dixon, or the steady, honest love of a man like Don Hughes?

• Lucinda realizes she might actually be falling for John herself, complicating her cold-blooded business plan.

The storyline would culminate in a high-stakes board meeting where the future of Oakdale is decided, not just by stock options, but by which alliance holds true.

3 hours ago, Tisy-Lish said:

Interesting stuff. But why would Iris consider a potential affair with middle-class Mike Randolph as social gain for herself? If anything it would have been the other way around, with Michael gaining social status from a relationship with Iris. Maybe AI didn't catch the fact that Iris was a jet-setting socialite who had spent most of her life in Manhattan, the south of France, and Switzerland.

I took it as her arranging a relationship between him and someone else, maybe a young lady she wanted out of the way. (like Clarice)