Interestingly enough, of what I've seen, and I've tried to play close attention.... (if I missed something please let me know) aside from the very first article in late January where she confirmed that Josh was the fetus, Susan Lucci has NOT commented on the storyline.

Makes what you want of that.

I've been kind of staying away from the McTravesty threads ever since they turned in the other direction. But you make a clear point and I think that's why I am apt to think she's outta there. I don't think Susan is supportive of this story. What I infer from her silence is that she's pissed for Agnes Nixon and she's pissed for AMC. I'm not saying that Susan has ever played the diva card before but if there was a time to do it, this would be it.

I highly doubt you've missed anything. In fact, I'd like to believe that her silence is meant to be as conspicuous as it is.

The fact that Susan wasn't part of the intial PR/damage control spin that AMC did, has always spoke volumes to me. Sometimes saying nothing says more then words could ever say. I don't claim to know what Susan thinks of this storyline, all I know about how she feels about it, is nothing. And that is very, very, unusal for her. She's a team player. I would have expected something from her.

And as one of the people who helped lead the charge against the fetus, Susan commenting, even pimping the storyline would have at least given me faith that something good could come from this. If anyone could have helped calm the waters some what, I believe it would have been Susan. Yet, we've gotten nothing.

At the very least, makes you wonder.

Susan was asked numerous times by Mike Cohen, AMC's PR wizard, to speak about the storyline in the press. Susan declined over and over. She's a doll - she believes in the old "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." It's a shame she isn't more a Kim Z. or Eric B. because in this case she had the clout to get the story aborted (ha).

I read on this board that La Lucci is very GOP friendly. Whether or not that is true, I have no idea. But she obviously doesn't want to piss off her fanbases: those who are Superlibs and those who are Superconservatives. Or maybe she thinks the story is convolted and sucks just like the rest of us.

Susan was asked numerous times by Mike Cohen, AMC's PR wizard, to speak about the storyline in the press. Susan declined over and over. She's a doll - she believes in the old "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." It's a shame she isn't more a Kim Z. or Eric B. because in this case she had the clout to get the story aborted (ha).

Thank you for saying that. That's what I believed, but I'd never heard anything to back it up. I love that about her. I wish in this case she would have spoken up, but for her, I can see how it's better to say nothing at all. Silence is sometimes deafining.

LOL, MMT had no trouble speaking. They should have gagged her. LOL. Hopefully when her reign of terror ends she'll take her wonder fetus with her.

when she doesn't perform ANY of the functions of an executive producer.

People seem to think that an EP's duties encompass only writing and casting.

WRONG.

EPs have a LOT more on their table than the writing. And frankly, back in the old days (i.e. the GOOD days), it was not the EP's job to get involved in the "writing." Gloria Monty stormed on the scene in the late 70s, tho, and made every last fuckin' thing about HER and HER VISION. She was the boss in every regard. A good thing? In some regards. But, Gloria was more of a business woman than a creative person, and she would do anything to get ratings, buzz, and publicity more than everything else. Including writing a tactful storyline and respecting the fundamentals of soap opera.

Julie actually is very involved in the casting. So I guess you can blame misfires on her. She's very involved, but that doesn't mean that she has total control. Because not even Judy Blye has final call on who is cast. It's ultimately up to Brian. What Julie and Judy can do is decide who gets to audition, decide who gets callbacks, and who gets sent to the network for final consideration. It's a shame that some of these actors, selected by Judy and Julie, get as far as they do that Brian gets to look at them, but what can you do?

I actually think the casting has been much more solid under Julie than it was with Jean Dadario Burke. But, it's to each their own.

Budgets, PR, production coordination (someone needs to be supervising everything production-related. How can anything get done when different tech. and design departments are working independently? They need someone in charge of everything, who knows all), running the studio, dealing with actors, casting, legalities, etc. The show and the studio is a huge-ass operation, m'friend, and it doesn't run smoothly all by its lonesome.

It's too bad that Julie doesn't have "veto" power as far as writing goes. But that's the way she goes at ABC Daytime. Just 'cause she can't veto a ridiculous Megan plot-line doesn't mean she doesn't have anything left on her plate.

I read on this board that La Lucci is very GOP friendly. Whether or not that is true, I have no idea. But she obviously doesn't want to piss off her fanbases: those who are Superlibs and those who are Superconservatives. Or maybe she thinks the story is convolted and sucks just like the rest of us.

Susan is fiscally conservative and socially liberal. She has always been supportive of liberal causes, especially the gay storylines throughout the years.

Agnes is kind of similar and an oddball. She is an active and practicing Catholic, but a VERY liberal one. She supports and has always supported things like abortion and homosexuality and obviously has incorporated the subject matter into her work. She is proof that you don't have to a rabid neo-con to be religious.

Susan is fiscally conservative and socially liberal. She has always been supportive of liberal causes, especially the gay storylines throughout the years.

Agnes is kind of similar and an oddball. She is an active and practicing Catholic, but a VERY liberal one. She supports and has always supported things like abortion and homosexuality and obviously has incorporated the subject matter into her work. She is proof that you don't have to a rabid neo-con to be religious.

Thanks for that bit of info. I've always enjoyed reading stories about where Agnes Nixon got her inspiration for certain storylines. I read once in TVGuide that she had a lesbian roommate in college, which is why she was always trying to get those kinds of issues out on AMC. I wish she would come out of retirement, at least until they picked a good Head-Writer to take over the spot.

Excuse me, but bellcurve asked you for your SOURCE. Where did you read this about Agnes Nixon?

The question was answered. It was in TV Guide. I remember it too. Michael Logan said that Agnes Nixon had called and said it wasn't her idea, but that she supported it. As I recall her rationale was to the effect that Erica "thought" she was having an abortion, so the intent of the original story wasn't undone.

Sorry. That's what AMC's PR dep. wants you to believe, but in reality, Agnes has very little to do with "AMC" these days as this has been the case for a while. ABC, time and time again, for many years, has gone ahead and did things that Agnes disagreed with. This is one of the main reasons she left as headwriter in 2000 - she didn't have enough control. Agnes is spending her days at her Pennsylvania home playing with her grandkiddies and enjoying her peace and quiet, not reading Megan McTavish's latest gag-inducing story outline.

Sorry. That's what AMC's PR dep. wants you to believe, but in reality, Agnes has very little to do with "AMC" these days as this has been the case for a while. ABC, time and time again, for many years, has gone ahead and did things that Agnes disagreed with. This is one of the main reasons she left as headwriter in 2000 - she didn't have enough control. Agnes is spending her days at her Pennsylvania home playing with her grandkiddies and enjoying her peace and quiet, not reading Megan McTavish's latest gag-inducing story outline.

HAHA!

Isn't Susan's contract up before the end of the year? If so, that fact may have had some impact on whether or nto she's protested this story behind the scenes. Not saying it would cost her a job, but giving Fronsie a pain in his ass (as much as he deserves it) if salary negotiations aren't sewn up would be an difficult dilemman for any actor. Who knows she may have raised holy hell. But I appreciate her utter silence if she could not do more either due to personal philosophy or concern for her personal livelihood.

Not only were Agnes' comments less the glowing, there was more than a bit of layering of her message...starting with the separating herself from any credit for the storyline idea. If Agnes is speaking out, these days, you can just about be someone scrambling behind the scenes to fix a PR issue.

Isn't Susan's contract up before the end of the year?

Her contract is up right now, so I'm sure it's been re-negotiated (paycut included of course!)

Thanks, Jackie, for your info on Agnes Nixon. I agree 100% with you because I read the same thing about her somewhere awhile back. IMO, IF Agnes had to agree with EVERY SL that gets put on our screens, AMC would be a thousand times better than it is right now under the writing of a certain McHack! So that bit of info concerning Agnes was a little hard to swallow. So thanks for coming to the rescue!

ETA: Hi, rsmith! Long time no see!

Okay I won't be convinced until if/when there is an official press release this fall but here's an interview with Burton Armus, just for kicks:

http://www.streethawkonline.com/armusint.html

It's about the show Street Hawk he did in the 80s (I actually remember it lol. Didn't last long at all but I liked it) but you can get a taste of who this guy is.

They ask him about writer Karen Harris...wonder if she is daytime's Karen Harris.

My favorite line:

I enjoyed them and liked them a lot better than I did some of the above the line assholes and executives.

Good luck dealing with Frons Mr. Armus lol