I figure as long as the characters are creating and pushing forward stories for existing characters, then it's a good thing. It's just a shame that the ones we like don't stick around long!Also, I've put up a new blog entry correcting my misapprehension about Bonnie and Derek's kiss! Thanks again for that, Mark.

Thanks for your article about the lack of diversity in today's soap opera world, Mala.

Quote:
Bonobochick - I'm not sure what you mean about ten episode deals going out. I know Melinda Sullivan and Nick Galbraith were only signed on for ten episodes...?

It seems like TPTB are signing up folks to come in for 10 eps (or as Mark pointed out sometimes less than that) to propel stories. And we know when these folks are cast that they will be around for 10 eps (or less). I mentioned 10 because both the actors who played The ZZ Twins and now the actor playing Hunter have all done the 10 ep deal. I think EWM had about 10 eps too when they brought him back as Matt only to WASTE HIM TOTALLY by being Alison's shoulder to whine on regarding Casey the entire time. Shameful! Ultimately, I am wondering why TPTB insist on adding short-term characters constantly to propel stories instead of writing more for existing characters. It doesn't leave a lot of room for viewers to get invested in these characters because we know they'll be gone soon & their only purpose to is progress the plot [at breakneck speed].

Also, I read your column about diversity and I have a bone to pick. Overall, I thought you had some valid points about the complacency about minorities on soaps. As a Black/Bi-racial woman, I've always been aware of diversity on soaps... or the lack of. One of my pet peeves, however, has always been when soaps have two Black characters and force them together even when they don't work romantically (hey Abe/Lexie! hey Neil/Tyra!). If it happens organically, then great, but if not...

Also, you referenced as a potential coupling Jade & Dallas. I've seen people bring that up before as an example of what ATWT could do with both characters. They met back when Jade and Dallas were both on more often (Summer 2007) plus their age gap was less significant then and there didn't seem to be much there in the way of interest or flirting. That aside, my beef? If something were to happen between Jade & Dallas organically, I'd be all for it like with Bonnie & Derek. I like Bonnie & Derek together when TPTB bother to write for them. But putting Jade & Dallas togther just because their skin color matches is insulting, IMO. Jade & Dallas have interacted and neither seemed interested in the other. A forced pairing - no matter the skin color - is not fun to watch (hey Casey/Alison!). I am all for more diversity on soaps but I don't like seeing characters paired off simply because they're the same race. I would like Jade to get to know her father more as that could be a great story but I don't disparage that she hangs out with her family that is white because that is a part of her too. Lily and her children are Jade's biological family members & up until a few months ago, the only family Jade has known about & interacted with for the past couple of years. I tie Jade hanging out with Casey because Casey was hanging with Luke and Jade was hanging with Luke.

As for Lily on Y & R , I've seem a few others comments over the years that she should date a Black man. I am not opposed to seeing it but I've come to think of Lily as possibly a woman of color who doesn't find Black men attractive. I've got more than a few female friends who are Black and don't date Black men for various reasons. Could be the case with Lily too. Does not dating a Black man somehow invalidate Lily as a viable representative of a Black woman on a soap?

I do have say, I like Remy & Christina on GL . I think they're very cute together.

I've always thought that despite its MANY failings Passions was very good at having and using its large minority cast. More soaps should copy that. They had same race and interracial pairings. Some pairings worked and some didn't but it was done well and done often. That's about the only thing I miss about that show.

DMR - Thanks!Bonobochick - I think the problem with blog posting is that I can't go beat by beat explaining what I mean, because otherwise the entry would be 3,000 words long (believe me, I DO go on), and so maybe I wasn't clear enough about Jade and Dallas, etc. I'm by no means a fan of forcing a couple together just because they're same race or ethnicity. I did think that Elena Goode's Jade had chemistry with Dallas and had hoped for something there. And that's all I was referencing when I brought that up. Chemistry is chemistry and has nothing to do with race. And of course it's not wrong for Jade to hang out with her white family members...I'd just like to see equal time with Derek. But those aren't the stories soaps are interested in telling, and therein lies my beef. It's not about "forcing" Jade or Y&R's Lily to be with black men but rather exploring those options and giving validity to those kinds of pairings.

Quote:Bonobochick - I think the problem with blog posting is that I can't go beat by beat explaining what I mean, because otherwise the entry would be 3,000 words long (believe me, I DO go on), and so maybe I wasn't clear enough about Jade and Dallas, etc. I'm by no means a fan of forcing a couple together just because they're same race or ethnicity. I did think that Elena Goode's Jade had chemistry with Dallas and had hoped for something there. And that's all I was referencing when I brought that up. Chemistry is chemistry and has nothing to do with race. And of course it's not wrong for Jade to hang out with her white family members...I'd just like to see equal time with Derek. But those aren't the stories soaps are interested in telling, and therein lies my beef. It's not about "forcing" Jade or Y&R's Lily to be with black men but rather exploring those options and giving validity to those kinds of pairings. Thanks for clarifying what you meant. There should be options, yes. I just wanted to doublecheck on that since it's not the case currently that the lack of it somehow invalidates Lily or Jade or the like characters. Forced pairings should be avoided at all costs, regardless the reason for it! I have seen more than a few posts by folks wondering why TPTB even went through the whole drama of making Derek Jade's father only to make him disappear. Maybe that's another question that can be asked to JP/CG next time either deigns to give an interview about the future of the show cause I'd like to know why we can't have more of that but we can have Dusty-Meg-Paul shoved in viewers' faces ad nauseum or the trainwreck of Casey/Alison. Anyhoo, maybe EG's Jade worked with that other Dallas (was it #2 who always wore the tight shirts or #3?) but DWJade and WPDallas just doesn't work for me as a romantic pairing. (It's not just the age thing since they made her younger and him older though I freely admit to not being being a fan of that age gap since he looks older than her father). They just don't seem like they'd have a thing in common. Obviously mileage varies but I don't see it. Maybe if GL isn't picked up, "Remy" will find a new home in Genoa City or Oakdale.OLTL is obviously working on diversity with hiring Terrell Tifford to play opposite DDS's Rachel.

ATWT used to push the envelope when it came to race. Bonnie is bi-racial, she is Jessica and Duncan's daughter. Back then, that was cutting edge. There is no reason that Bonnie, Dallas, Derek, and Jade can't have a more prominent role in Oakdale, it may take some creativity, but why have the characters and not try to utilize them? Bonnie is Lisa's godchild, Dallas is a cop and Jessica's brother, Jade is Derek and Rose's daughter. They have background, use it. Maybe Lily wants to know more about Rose's history and starts getting close to Derek. Bonnie starts helping Paul, and starts feeling attracted to him. There are plenty of possibilities, and if they were on a little more often, maybe they would start to have a fan base, though I doubt as rabid as Nuke's....lol

Mala, whenever you get word, I hope you have good news about Sarah as Lucy coming back. SHe's recurring and I think she should be here in Oakdale not just for Johnny but for all her family. She's pretty seamless in her interactions with everyone from Craig to Luke to Carly to Dusty to Johnny, I'm sure Sarah has proven her worth many times over. What would happen if she got a better storyline? With Grayson giving his support for Sarah coming back, I could hope at least bring her back on the holidays. It doesn't even have to be Lusty even, Lucy has existed WITHOUT Dusty before. WHo is Lucy without the Johnny saga, the Lusty saga? She could still interact as Luke's best friend, get into tangles with Lily about Damian, help out Lucinda, get into cahoots with Chris which leads to conflict with Alison. I already thought out of long term storylines for her and Damian with Lily/Holden/Lucinda/Luke outrage/fallout. In fact at this point, I could see her more crucial to the canvas rather than even gasp Aaron, which the show has long since forgotten.

Piggy backing on the recent discussion we had about diversity in soaps...So Alison + Hunter = flat. Zero sparks. Yet Hunter's enraptured for some reason. Alison + Casey = paint drying while bamboo shoots are shoved under nails. Yet Casey's enraptured for some reason not shown.And Jade continues to be diminished in order to prop the gloriousness of Alison, made even more egregious by the fact that Jade's really the lone character of color regularly seen on the show. Shameful on top of boring and stupid. Terrible, terrible writing and a miserable storyline. I know Passanante said that there would be growth for Jade in the near future but I don't see how that is going to happen if she isn't allowed to interact with her father (or the rest of her family for that matter cause when was the last time she was hanging out with Luke?) as well as being the whipping post of TPTB to showcase the awesomeness of Alison. I mean, seriously?? Really?

smokey - I certainly hope Sarah returns. I've really enjoyed her turn as Lucy and think she's done some stellar work.Bonobochick - The more I see Davida Williams as Jade, the more I really like her, and I wish she was given more to do.

I agree on both points - and I'd love to hear Sarah Glendening sing on the show again. She's teriffic....and she really had believable family chemistry working with Elizabeth Hubbard. Last Monday, I LOVED how they had 8 major players in the same scene all coming together to help Lucy at the police station.

Oh, man, I loved when the whole family rallied around Lucy. I can't believe it took THAT long to get her in scenes with Lucinda and Luke! (Maybe all the alliteration scared the writers? LOL!)

Mala good choices for ATWT for most intriguing couples. Too bad TPTB don't realize what they are missing by continuing to ignore the potential with CarJack. Sadly they just keep losing more viewers by just having them fight all of the time.Mala do you write now for both SOW and SOD? For awhile now the articles in the 2 magazines have been identical for ATWT. Quite honestly I'm wondering why I need a subscription to both if they are going to continue to be the same or is this just temporary?

Quote:Mala do you write now for both SOW and SOD? For awhile now the articles in the 2 magazines have been identical for ATWT. Quite honestly I'm wondering why I need a subscription to both if they are going to continue to be the same or is this just temporary? I was going to ask the same thing.

They were likely leery of letting Luke, Lucy, Lucinda, and Lily link up.

Mala did you get a chance to talk to Maura about her Emmy nom? I know her last day taping was Friday. I realize you'll be covering this in the magazine so I'm not expecting you to fill us in now, but just wondering if we can expect some reaction from Maura in your article? I'm dying to find out what she submitted and hope it was the episode of the night before Jack married Janet. She was phenomenal that episode.

Who picked the intriguing couples for ATWT? Sorry but I don't agree with either choice.

Mala, will the magazine cover Elizabeth Hubbard's gig at Dutch soap Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden (Good Times Bad Times)?

WorldTurner - The magazines do help each other out on occasion.YellowRose - The WEEKLY staff voted collectively. I was thisclose to getting Simon and Katie in there. LOL.

So... I don't get an answer? *sad eyes* I'm really looking forward to Elizabeth on GTST. It's going to be fun to watch her on my favorite soap. It would also be great to see GTST mentioned in a US soap magazine.

LOL. I'm sorry, Mark! Didn't mean to make you feel left out! There will be a GTST mention! I think it's totally awesome that she's going to be on a Dutch soap and I expect regular reports from you here on how she's doing!

LOL! That's great! I'm looking forward to that.

I'm going to upload her scenes on YouTube. Elizabeth's character will speak English but I'll add subtitles if the other characters speak Dutch.

Liz' first airdate is July 2nd. Unfortunately the season finale is the day after. Dutch soaps always take a break during the summer. GTST will be back 8 weeks later. So they will probably introduce her on Thursday and then the storyline really kicks off in season 20. Either way, it's going to be great! It's a smart move by the show. They can use it as a little teaser so viewers will tune back in for the new season. That's why it's also not a surprise the show is bringing back the character Lucas Sanders (who will be gay) that same week.

Lisa Lisa Lisa! Great to see her throughout the episode today, even though they made her look like Ellie Mae Clampett! She and Barbara have not exactly gotten along over the years - Lisa's face was priceless when Barbara pulled her aside to chew her out. Also great to see Dr. Larry...does this mean Frannie Hughes' return isn't far behind???

I hate seeing Lisa in this storyline. When did she become Meg's best friend?Can anyone please tell me that Damian is not going to be part of Meg's storyline for long please? All he did was stand by and listen to her screeching today. It was painful and I'm disgusted by it. Anyone else? Meg took all the sex and mystery out of Damian.

mala -when is jp's writing contract up? cg produced the show when hogan sheffer was writing and winning emmys...so i doubt if he is a "hands on" producer like mab or paul rausch...with ratings in the toilet and small arc stories spanning 2-3 weeks obviously NOT working...at what point will there be a regime change?everyone who watched during the marland yrs or sheffers yrs knows that the show is capable of SOOOOO much more!why isnt this happening?sorry for the tough questions, but i think they should be addressed...do you ever ask the "real" questions when interviewing the powers that be? or are they off the record? or are writers not supposed to ask the tough questions for fear of not getting future scoops?thanks!

Quote:mala -when is jp's writing contract up? cg produced the show when hogan sheffer was writing and winning emmys...so i doubt if he is a "hands on" producer like mab or paul rausch...with ratings in the toilet and small arc stories spanning 2-3 weeks obviously NOT working...at what point will there be a regime change?everyone who watched during the marland yrs or sheffers yrs knows that the show is capable of SOOOOO much more!why isnt this happening? So many fans have wondered this for years, and as no change has happened by now, and with ATWT on the brink of being gone forever, I don't expect there to be a change.I fully expect JP and CG to be at the helm of this show when it goes off the air next year. It's very sad that no one at Telenext wants to seem to address the main problems with the show, and these problems are not just apparent to us, but to all fans (seriously, when was the last time anyone saw someone post "I LOVE THE WRITING ON THIS SHOW!), and therefore, the show is doomed.

but people seem to forget that cg helmed the show when hogan sheffer was writing and winning awards which leads me to the conclusion that jp is running the show...

Mala, I just read the little Liz/GTST mention. It's really cool to see "my" show mentioned! But I'm a little confused. It says it's a 8-week guest stint. But other sources have said it's for 3 weeks. Maybe she's here for 8 weeks and only works for 3 weeks? I believe she has a Dutch boyfriend so she probably wants to spend some free time with him.

You'll get more mentions, Mark. I actually just talked to Liz Hubbard today! She was so much fun to chat with about the show and it's really exciting to see this kind of global soap actor crossover, don't you think?To everyone asking about Jean Passanante's contract, that's not info I have! Sorry, Guys.

I agree. It's really exciting. I actually had a dream not too long ago about an ATWT/GTST cross-over and I thought "that's never gonna happen!". And then this news came out! I can't wait for more GTST in SOW. Especially what Liz herself thinks about working over here.

In the lastest SOD, Forbes March said Mason is going to have nothing to do with Luke and Noah. Was he being serious? Luke and Noah are ignored and the writers have no idea what to do with them. They still aren't getting much airtime. Noah still exists in a bubble and has no family. They are really going to be bringing on another gay character very similar to Noah and not have him anything to do with either one of them? Why don't they use the two gay characters they have instead of bringing on a third one nobody cares about? I don't get it. I don't think it's fair at all to bring on a new gay character, especially similar to the one they already have, and keep Luke and Noah permanently invisible.

mandeemarshe - Forbes was kidding. He has a very sarcastic and offbeat sense of humor and meant that of course Mason will be involved with Luke and Noah.

Mala, are the powers that be kidding about Meg/Damian as a romantic pairing? I am being serious with that question, especially in light of the fabulous chemistry between NB and PS and the glaring lack of it between MWi and PS.I didn't think ATWT could have a pairing worse than Paul/Meg and then I got Casey/Alison. Just when I thought they hit a romantic nadir with Casey/Alison, TPTB throw Meg and Damian together... Damian who should be spending time with his son is instead now rescuing Meg from her latest self-created mess. Again, I must ask if TPTB are kidding with Meg/Damian? Please tell me they are. Are SOD & SOW getting lots of fan mail for Meg/Damian? Has it increased for Casey/Alison? Or are both more popular in the minds of TPTB than the fans?

Quote:Forbes was kidding. He has a very sarcastic and offbeat sense of humor and meant that of course Mason will be involved with Luke and Noah.

So we can assume Noah and Mason will be having a torrid affair? Because that's actually what he was asked about. Thanks, Mala. I was hoping that would be the case! I think Noah and Mason are going to be hot together. Poor Luke! But, I smell Van's next Emmy nomination in his scenes as the betrayed boyfriend!

Quote:Quote:Forbes was kidding. He has a very sarcastic and offbeat sense of humor and meant that of course Mason will be involved with Luke and Noah. So we can assume Noah and Mason will be having a torrid affair? Because that's actually what he was asked about. Thanks, Mala. I was hoping that would be the case! I think Noah and Mason are going to be hot together. Poor Luke! But, I smell Van's next Emmy nomination in his scenes as the betrayed boyfriend! He said that his character would stictly be Noah's advisor and that the relationship would be professional and platontic. So I'm not sure where you got the idea where they would be having an affair since thats not what he said.

Mala, was he also kidding about his and Noah's relationship being platonic and professional?

I'm really starting to think whoever wrote the article with Forbes should have added the phrase, "...he said jokingly" or "... he said sarcastically." I'm surprised how many people didn't pick up on the satire and are taking his comments seriously.

I agree it should have been indicated in the article that he was being sarcastic or kidding. There was no way to tell that and many of us aren't familiar with him and would have no way of knowing that is his personality so people did take what he said seriously.

I have an interview with Forbes coming out in the issue that hits stands next Friday and you'll all be able to see clearly how his sense of humor works!

Quote:You'll get more mentions, Mark. I actually just talked to Liz Hubbard today! She was so much fun to chat with about the show and it's really exciting to see this kind of global soap actor crossover, don't you think?
So to be sure. Can I expect an interview/article where Liz talks about GTST? Because I would love to know what her thoughs are about working over here.

No, I figured I'd keep the chat to myself.LOL!

Hahahhaha........

I knew that the writers wouldn't miss out on the opportunity to use the character as a credible and potential new love interest for Luke or Noah. I mean, it's Forbes March. The man is gorgeous, talented and hot. Why would he just be an advisor and friend to either character?

As I can see from other responses, it's interesting that some folks have issues with not being made aware of Forbes and his sarcastic humour about his upcoming storyline involving Noah and Luke. When he made mention of the issues that he had with some Antonio/Jessica fans from OLTL, that was a clue for me to know that his character was going to cause problems for Noah and Luke's "singular love" for each other.

Quote:mandeemarshe - Forbes was kidding. He has a very sarcastic and offbeat sense of humor and meant that of course Mason will be involved with Luke and Noah.

Smartass! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme details! What did she say? LOL! <--- my first ABBA joke!It's just amazing. I grew up watching this show so to see this international interest (not only because of Liz, but also because of the gay character Lucas) is really great.

Ummm...in my opinion what Mala said about Forbes being involved with Luke/Noah doesn't automatically mean that Mason is going to possibly be a new love interest. What she said was just that he will be in their storyline. Yes the actor has a sense of humor and stuff like but he's supposed to be an advisor to Noah and he is working on a film with Luke.

It's a soap, and that means anything is possible. Mason and Noah could be strictly professional and platonic or, who knows, he could catch either guy's eye and rev up the love machine. We've still got over a month before Forbes airs, so that's a lot of time to speculate! Mark - Aw! Your first ABBA joke! I'm so proud. :::sniffle, wipes away tear::: Liz talked about how much she enjoys visiting the Netherlands and her experience on the show. She described the character she's playing, etc. And that's all you're gettin' outta me right now. She's one classy lady!

Today is a special day! *sniff* My first ABBA joke. *sniff*

LOL!

I knew you wouldn't tell me a lot. I guess I'll have to wait. But doesn't she start filming on Monday? How can she talk about her experience on the show already? Or maybe that date was wrong. Because the Lucas Sanders character comes back during the same week as Liz' debut and he started filming on Tuesday this week.

Can I expect to see it in the next SOW or a later issue?

Quote:It's a soap, and that means anything is possible. Mason and Noah could be strictly professional and platonic or, who knows, he could catch either guy's eye and rev up the love machine. We've still got over a month before Forbes airs, so that's a lot of time to speculate! I don't know who Mason will wind up hooking up with to be sure, but I think folks who think the show is going to bring on this hot, gay dude, put him in Luke and Noah's orbit and not have some hanky panky going on has never watched a soap opera.I look forward to the interview with FB. I like him already.

Quote:Quote:It's a soap, and that means anything is possible. Mason and Noah could be strictly professional and platonic or, who knows, he could catch either guy's eye and rev up the love machine. We've still got over a month before Forbes airs, so that's a lot of time to speculate! I don't know who Mason will wind up hooking up with to be sure, but I think folks who think the show is going to bring on this hot, gay dude, put him in Luke and Noah's orbit and not have some hanky panky going on has never watched a soap opera.You don't have to be a traditional soap opera watcher to know that those things happen...with straight couples. But this is Luke and Noah we're talking about here. It took over 500 days just for THEM to have hanky panky. And other than 2 very small references, have been G rated ever since. An uncreative and cliche triangle just doesn't seem possible the way this show still handles Nuke. If Mason does end up going after one of the boys, there will be no hanky panky. The show just wouldn't have the guts. This is probably the only instance where the unfair treatment compared to the straight couples is good.

Quote:I'm really starting to think whoever wrote the article with Forbes should have added the phrase, "...he said jokingly" or "... he said sarcastically." I'm surprised how many people didn't pick up on the satire and are taking his comments seriously. I agree, although I think a lot of people did understand that he was being sarcastic and attempting to be humorous, but mostly it was just off-putting.I can't say I'm all that familiar with his work and it's too bad to read that he actually got death threats because of a role on a soap opera, but no matter who he is or isn't involved with on the show, I'm already hoping he's short term.

Quote:I have an interview with Forbes coming out in the issue that hits stands next Friday and you'll all be able to see clearly how his sense of humor works! I'm so excited to read this! I'm a OLTL viewer who loved Forbes and his character of Nash. I was so angry when they killed him off (and I've never cried over a soap as hard as I cried during Nash's goodbye to Jessica at the hospital). I've never watched ATWT before but I will definitely be tuning in to watch Forbes. OLTL's loss is ATWT's gain.Can you give us a little hint about the interview? Will it be one of those long features or will it be something short and sweet? I've missed seeing Forbes in the soap magazines. He gives the best interviews.

I could not believe it when Lily actually had Damian MOVE IN to the Lily-pad because he had the flu. Damian is a grown man who has travelled the world, taken down kidnappers and faced off weapons smugglers. He's survived plane crashes, multiple attempts on his life and other assorted dramas. But he can't take care of himself when he has a cold?And Damian and Meg? They make ME sick.