Mala, do you know anything about Abigail returning this fall? Someone posted it as a spoiler on this board, but I'm not sure if I can trust the spoiler.

Really, ATWT? Really? Do you really think the way to improve your ratings is to put all your best couples in stories fans don't like? Do you really think we want to see Jack and Brad squabbling over Janet? Or Janet playing Jack and Brad off each other? Or Katie and Janet 'sparring' over both of them? And don't get me started on Holden and Carly! I no longer recognize either of them. The ratings are lower and lower every week. When was the last time the ratings were decent (it wasn't that long ago)? When Brad and Katie were moving towards their funny and wonderful wedding (how quickly they've been ruined), when Jack and Carly were inching towards getting back together and when Holden and Lily were genuinely trying to make it work. And all this was BEFORE Liberty and Janet came to town. I'm not saying the rating problems are all about them, but it's not a coincidence. If this is the direction the show is headed in, the ratings are only going to go further down.

I'll poke into the Abigail thing. I doubt it's true. It may just be wishful thinking and/or pot-stirring. And, honestly, can we just go back to the Hugheses and the Stewarts? 'Cause, Dude, I'd happily watch Dr. Bob five days a week.

That's what I love about the Hughes/Stewarts storyline right now. We actually get to see scenes with Tom, Bob, Margo, Kim, Lisa and Susan. The scenes between Kim and Susan at Al's were great!

Hi Mala.We need to talk. I got some questions I hope you can help me with.About the night before the Emmy there was a party and a picture of MW/RH dancing real close and you probably heard the rumor that's been going around about these two having an affair in real life. I would be shocked and I don't believe it, but that is the rumor, I was hoping you guys could cover it or learn something about it. At P&P board I saw a link to the picture and some of the talk.Next, I'm dying to know will Paul Ryan work with anyone else besides Meg, there are a bunch of us who have been waiting and waiting and waiting for that and get nothing. I saw what you wrote in the magazine, but Ro, Sofie,Craig, Emily, have all been nothing more than used as props in the boring Peg.Why are the other fans of Roger totally ignored for the PEG fan base.Now we know a wedding is coming. Sofie/Paul friendship was ruined so she can lose her mind in a PEG three-way. So sick of seeing everyone ruined so these two can be together. Believe there are a bunch of us who don't like the coupling of PEG. We've been waiting almost three years. It's like watching paint dry. We can't even enjoy Barbara anymore because she is used to prop this boring couple. Can't the Paul first fans get something that doesn't involve Meg. I'm trying very hard not to go back to OLTL, but just so hard to enjoy Paul with Meg.One last thing or two. Why can't they bring James back, Paul is so weak these days?What man is only about getting with a certain woman, no life besides that. His whole day is spent chasing down this woman. No real job, no real friend, not much of a family, no real life, no real ambitions and when did he get divorced from Rosanna?One last thing, why don't you guys cover this in the magazine, instead of making it look like Paul have all these women chasing him. Sofie is just used to get Peg back together. I mean we knew they were not going to let them get together. Why don't you cover stuff like Paul has lost two babies chasing behind and trying to win Meg, been blown up, been over cliff, been shot, and it's all for a stupid plot to show what a fool he can be chasing behind this boring woman, in which a lot of fans are not even into this couple. I hear this same thing from fans on line and off line and from some people that stopped watching the show for that reason.Sorry I went on and on, but I had to get it out, had to ask your great opinion on all this, but it's been so hard on us who are not into Peg and never will be.

It is not our magazine's policy, or my personal policy, to comment on rumors about actors' personal lives. Roger Howarth and Marie Wilson are both married. They are very good friends who really enjoy working together. Rumors are just that: rumors.As for your dissatisfaction with Paul/Meg, I can't speak to that either. The pairing has just as many fans as it does detractors...and Paul being driven solely by his romantic goals is hardly unique. Most characters on soaps forget they have jobs or friends or anything else and just focus on whoever the love interest is.Plus, if you read several pages back, I have declared a moratorium on discussing Paul's love life. I don't want to get drawn into fanbase wars!

Thank you, thank you Mala, didn't know about your moratoriumon Paul's love life but that make sense. I wil share one last thing on the subject, if they have as many, shouldn't those fans be able to enjoy Paul some of the time with someone else? Fair is fair. I'm done with the subject.As for it being all about the guys' love life, we going to agree to disagree on that one. I can pick any male on any show and tell you something they have in there life besides their love interest. With Paul it all their is, even his relationship with his mother and he will push away kids he made or think he made just to be with Meg. Honest, it's a bit much.Does this mean we can't ask questions about James?Thanks for your time Mala.

Quote:Does this mean we can't ask questions about James?I'm not Mala, but I know Anthony Herrera is living in Argentina so he's probably not available for ATWT. And recasting James is not a good idea, IMO. The last time I saw Anthony Herrera in something new was as a guest star in a Dutch drama series. They film that show in Buenos Aires.

No, it's perfectly alright to ask about James, and Mark has provided the skinny on that! LOL. Thanks, Mark! I didn't have to do any work!As for fair being fair... it's a nice theory, but TV just doesn't work that way. You can't always get what you want. Otherwise, the Carjack fans wouldn't be sitting through Breakup #2,412, the Nuke fans wouldn't have had the Ameera story, and Henry and Aaron fans like myself wouldn't be wondering where they are! Not every group of fans gets to be happy.

Isn't Anthony Herrera sick or something? I read somewhere that is ailing or was. That is why he isn't doing too much these days. It would be very hard to recast James Stenbeck. It would be like casting someone esle as Stefano DiMera from Days Of Our Lives. Can't see that even happening. Joseph Mascolo (ok I know the last name is misspelled, so forgive me) made that role just like Anthony Herrera made James.

Thanks Mala, Thanks Mark.Mala, I not trying to get what I always wanted all the time and have things alway be my way, I came to the show for RH and has never got what I wanted for him. Just asking for Paul to get to be with someone else besides Meg some of the time and that not everything in his life and his family be about Meg. And I'm sick of them using others and babies and young females to prop the boring couple coming together.I do understand what you are trying say, perhaps New Writers could help this alone. LOL.Enjoy your 4th of JULY!Thanks.

Hi Mala. On the subject of Paul and Meg (I am a fan), do you know if SOW or SOD will feature an interview with either Marie Wilson or Roger Howarth anytime soon?Another story I enjoy right now is the Hughes/Stewart wars. I'm hoping those will not end, once this trial is over. Because the trial seems like it should be wrapped up this week or next, but I've enjoyed the clashing of the two families immensly.

Mala, there is a new casting notice for the role of Brian Wheatley. It seems like Luke received a large amount of money from Damian. Luke and Noah want to start a foundation and Lucinda finds this Brian as a possible director. From the audition script it seems like there might be sparks between Brian and Lucinda.Do you know more about this role and if they already casted someone for it? I'd love to see Lucinda have a love interest!

Quote: It is not our magazine's policy, or my personal policy, to comment on rumors about actors' personal lives . Roger Howarth and Marie Wilson are both married. They are very good friends who really enjoy working together. Rumors are just that: rumors.

As for your dissatisfaction with Paul/Meg, I can't speak to that either. The pairing has just as many fans as it does detractors...and Paul being driven solely by his romantic goals is hardly unique. Most characters on soaps forget they have jobs or friends or anything else and just focus on whoever the love interest is.

Plus, if you read several pages back, I have declared a moratorium on discussing Paul's love life. I don't want to get drawn into fanbase wars!

Well then, I don't expect to see any Emmy after party pictures in your magazine and I also don't expect to see you commenting on Paul and how he gets all the girls like you did in last weeks issue.

This new foundation storyline sounds interesting. I wonder what kind of foundation the boys are starting? It's ridiculous that these teens are starting a business, but it sounds like a very different storyline for the guys.

Quote:Well then, I don't expect to see any Emmy after party pictures in your magazine and I also don't expect to see you commenting on Paul and how he gets all the girls like you did in last weeks issue.

Actually, my rule about Paul's love life only applies to the boards, as the last time it came up, there was a lot of infighting here and a lot of questions I couldn't answer. I never said the moratorium applied to the magazine...especially since if a news story for the week applies to his love life, we're naturally going to cover it and comment on it.

And we have a lovely selection of photos coming up in our post-Emmy issue.

But lest I be charged with hypocrisy, I'd like to clarify that we DO speculate on real-life relationships when there are eyewitness accounts and reputable sources reporting on them. Co-stars hanging out and being friendly doesn't really fall under that banner.

Meglet - Keep checking our magazine for interviews with Marie or Roger. Since they have had quite a busy summer, I'm always talking to somebody about that storyline.

Mark and Anthony - That story with Lucinda does sound awesome. I'm investigating!

Mala, unless an actor their rep makes a statement about their personal life, I consider it gossip. I'm glad the magazine only uses reputable sources and doesn't get into speculation. That would diminish all credibility.I hope the Nuke/Lucinda story is happening. It sounds good.

I actually don't mind a little gossip. It's when it involves people having affairs that I get all creeped out. I think I live in this little bubble where I want to believe happily married people are happily married. LOL.

Mala, is SOW going to do a story on the Cyndi Lauper visit and give us an idea of where the story is going next? I know you mentioned there would be some coverage.... I was just wondering if we'd see it in this upcoming edition.

In SID they mention that the summer storyline will involve both romance and Luke trying to help Noah realize that he does deserve to be loved and to learn to trust in their love. I'm also thinking that this will be a learning experience for Luke too because both him and Noah are insecure so in the end I think that they'll learn to trust in their love together.

Thank you for not talking about Roger and Maries private lives. I am glad they are happy and enjoying the work they do.

AnthonyL - I do have a piece on Cyndi Lauper's visit and one for a subsequent week coming up! I actually talked to Jake just a couple of days ago.truefan - I pretty much don't discuss anyone's private life on a message board, except for Brad and Angelina! Whether it's Roger and Marie or the Hensleys or Dylan Bruce, as the ATWT Editor, I wouldn't want to fuel fan speculation. That would be inappropriate.

Quote:AnthonyL - I do have a piece on Cyndi Lauper's visit and one for a subsequent week coming up! I actually talked to Jake just a couple of days ago.truefan - I pretty much don't discuss anyone's private life on a message board, except for Brad and Angelina! Whether it's Roger and Marie or the Hensleys or Dylan Bruce, as the ATWT Editor, I wouldn't want to fuel fan speculation. That would be inappropriate. Is this an interview with Jake? If it is I can't wait to read it. I'm really excited to read about the Cyndi Lauper article .

Quote:AnthonyL - I do have a piece on Cyndi Lauper's visit and one for a subsequent week coming up! I actually talked to Jake just a couple of days ago.Jake ! Will you be elaborating a little more on this:"...Plus, I hope an especially charming little moment with Cyndi and Jake doesn't hit the cutting room floor. It gave a few of us standing off-set quite a chuckle..."???

Mala: Can't wait to see your piece and what Jake had to say about it. Should be a good read, as it always is. Previously you had commented that you were in the studio the day Cyndi Lauper had taped her appearance and that you and some other press weren't allowed to see a scene that the ET cameras were recording. If you don't mind me asking, were there any other news magazine shows on set (such as EXTRA or Access Hollywood) there covering Cyndi's appearance? Thanks!

Mala....Hi! You mentioned that Roger and Marie had a busy summer. Does that mean maybe the PEG fans will get a joint interview with Roger and Marie one of these days? We'd love to get one at some point about their story? PS....Marie mentioned recently in a radio interview that they were shooting on location...this was about a month ago......so Im looking forward to seeing some on location shots...maybe from the magazine?Thanks.

Mala, I loved your editor's note on Luke and Noah and I so agree. It is time for a love triangle. Luke needs to know there are other men out there and Noah needs to fight for Luke for once. And jealous!Noah is so sexy! LOL! Though... I'd kind of like Luke and Noah to have sex with other first before bringing on a third. Of course, if Luke is anything like his mother (and he is!) he'll lose his virginity to someone other than his 'true love'.

The Cyndi Lauper bit is pretty much information already knows! And I would hesitate to say I wasn't "allowed" to see what ET was filming. I was just kidding around about being chopped liver. The folks at ATWT gave the rest of us ample time with the cast and Cyndi and we got to watch filming, too. It was a great opportunity.

As for the cute moment between Cyndi and Jake... well, I don't want to give it away now. What if it doesn't air? After we see the episode and I see if it's in there, I'll elaborate.

My recent chat with Jake was for an upcoming issue to tease story,

P.S. AnthonyL, it's too bad Dusty's dead, because then Luke could really be like his mom and sleep with him! (I'm so sad in my DeadDusty/Luke 'shipping, aren't I?)

Quote:The Cyndi Lauper bit is pretty much information already knows! And I would hesitate to say I wasn't "allowed" to see what ET was filming. I was just kidding around about being chopped liver. The folks at ATWT gave the rest of us ample time with the cast and Cyndi and we got to watch filming, too. It was a great opportunity.As for the cute moment between Cyndi and Jake... well, I don't want to give it away now. What if it doesn't air? After we see the episode and I see if it's in there, I'll elaborate.My recent chat with Jake was for an upcoming issue to tease story,P.S. AnthonyL, it's too bad Dusty's dead, because then Luke could really be like his mom and sleep with him! (I'm so sad in my DeadDusty/Luke 'shipping, aren't I?) Yes, please tell us if the moment between Jake and Cyndi airs so we'll know what we missed, if anything!And I look forward to your piece with Jake on their upcoming storyline.As for Luke/Dusty... you're not the only person who shipped them! Though I remember when Dusty was so nice to Noah, people joked that he'd probably sleep Noah because you know how Dusty liked to 'comfort' need, messed up people!

Quote:Mark and Anthony - That story with Lucinda does sound awesome. I'm investigating! I really hope we will see it on the show. Lucinda with a love interest would be great and I know Elizabeth Hubbard would like it too. Last year when she was here in Holland she did an internet video chat on the official Dutch website of ATWT. One of my questions was what kind of storyline she would like to do in the future. This is what she said:I know what all the fans in New York want. They want her to have a guy. Could she please have someone who loved her? Well... it doesn't look that way. I mean, they have people who are going to trick her or steal her money. But they rarely have anyone that's gonna really love her. And it would be fun to play some love scenes and show a different side to Lucinda. I'd like that. For those who are interested. The whole videochat is still online: http://www.rtl.nl/soaps/astheworldturns/videochat.xmlClick on "Videochat Elizabeth Hubbard". The introduction is in Dutch, the rest is in English.

Mala, I enjoyed your opinion piece here on the website about Luke and Noah. While I love angst as much as the next soap viewer, let's give the guys a *bit* of a break before the next crisis hits. Just a brief period of time with no problems at all. I'd settle for an episode or two of happy times at this rate! And I do mean brief. If it goes on for too long, I get bored......

Mala do you know if that was actually Allie singing as Sage the other day? If so, she is really good! I do know she does have some musical background.

Mala,The competing publication lists Berto Colon as appearing on ATWT as Sgt. Hopper on "Wednesday, July 7th." Do you know if he's going to appear on Monday the 7th? Wednesday the 9th? And am I correct in assuming his role has to do with Luke and Noah?

Mala, thanks for the piece on Noah's enlisting in this week's issue. It makes me look forward to next week's shows! However, I'm bothered by the fact that Luke outed Noah. No matter how they spin it, or Luke's reasons, it was wrong, IMO. Noah is making a terrible mistake in going into the military and he'd be miserable..... but that's not for Luke to decide. Noah needs to make his own choices freely and without pressure and while I know Noah decides not to join the Army in the end.... I just don't like how it all came out. I really wish the show had of come up with some other way of ending this arc than having Luke violate Noah's rights in such a way.

Quote:Mala, thanks for the piece on Noah's enlisting in this week's issue. It makes me look forward to next week's shows! However, I'm bothered by the fact that Luke outed Noah. No matter how they spin it, or Luke's reasons, it was wrong, IMO. Noah is making a terrible mistake in going into the military and he'd be miserable..... but that's not for Luke to decide. Noah needs to make his own choices freely and without pressure and while I know Noah decides not to join the Army in the end.... I just don't like how it all came out. I really wish the show had of come up with some other way of ending this arc than having Luke violate Noah's rights in such a way. The way it sounds in the article, though, makes it sound like Luke offers his opinion (albeit in a soapy, dramatic way) and then Noah is left with the recruiter and has to decide what to do. Luke wouldn't be Luke if he just let Noah go to the recruiter without making his case--especially after what happened the last time Luke accepted one of Noah's crazy noble ideas without stating his misgivings. Anyway, I'm glad the show is addressing DADT in a very direct way. When we first heard about Noah enlisting I was very fearful that this issue would be sidestepped, but it seems like the way the writers have set it up allows Noah the opportunity to put his past--the Army, the closet, his father--behind him so he can finally be completely free to be who he is with Luke.

Honestly, regarding DADT and Luke "outing" Noah, we won't know how it is until it plays out onscreen. I pretty much just know what's in the article, what Jake told me, etc. For all we know, it could come out a lot more heartfelt than Luke callously outing Noah so he can't/won't enlist.And, because I promised I would spill the cute moment after it aired, it was Cyndi bumping Tony aside and dancing with Noah... who then put up his arms and danced like a dork. My fellow reporters on set and I found that pretty hysterical and I'm glad it made it to air. BTW, Jake claimed that's not how HE dances, but how he thought Noah would dance. Yo's is a TINY set, and it's amazing how packed it looked onscreen!

I think Luke telling the recuriter that Noah is gay and that they are a couple is outing him no matter what shine you want to put on it. I'm sure Luke will do it with his usual compassion and warmth and love and I understand why Luke is doing what he is doing. Noah joining the military is a terrible decision on Noah's part and he'd only be more miserable than he already is. But, it doesn't make Luke outing Noah right though. I just hope Noah doesn't come to resent Luke for it.

Oh and thanks for telling us about that cute moment. It was a great scene in a pretty good episode.

Any idea why the casting has apparently changed? A while ago SID had Berto Colon appearing as Sgt. Hopper on the 7th; this week's SOW has Che Ayende appearing as Sgt. Wilkins. Are there two military men in the episode? Or were the scenes Colon shot scrapped for some reason?

I enjoyed your blog today, Mala. The visit by Cyndi was more than I thought it would be. It would've been nice though if Noah had of actually apologized for his crappy behavior over the past few months and told Luke that he loved him. As for the rest of the show, what was the point of the Henry and V. scenes? Filler? Other than that, I can't see why they were there. And is Mike going to wander through every storyline? Will he be butting his nose in Luke and Noah's business next cause that's the only plotline he hasn't been horned into. As for Holden and Carly, I grow more and more disgusted by this affair. This is not Holden Snyder, who would leave his wife's bed and go sniffing after his mistress. And Carly's behavior at the house was just gross. They should be guilty and ashamed. This is neither sexy, nor fun to watch.

Mala: It must have been something to be on set during the Cyndi Lauper scenes! I'm sure many of us would have loved to have been there with you! I remember that you mentioned how you noticed Jake and Van really became the characters in the way they transformed into teenagers right before your eyes while you were watching. While I didn't see that transformation, as a viewer, I did notice just how young they acted (and even looked) in this particular episode, more so than usual.The rendition of True Colors from the show (which is better than the original version in my opinion) and the looks from Jake/Noah and Van/Luke during that scene was just perfect. I really hope you got to see that song performed live as that was, for me, the highlight of a great episode.

Mala:We know the boys are headed for a bit of happy and there's been talk of a new storyline soon (according to Van and Jake mentioned it in a recent interview). Have you heard what the storyline is going to be about? And what are Luke and Noah going to be doing in the meantime?Thanks for anything you can tell us!

And speaking of the "bit of happy," might that include *gasp* sex? And if it does (and it's got to, right? We're crossing the line into farce if it doesn't!), will the show handle it like it handled the resumption of kissing? In other words, will it come out of the blue, unspoiled and unannounced to even the soap press--or will we have enough advance warning to, say, call in sick that day?

NoahFan - I actually did get to see "True Colors" filmed and it was even more moving in person. And the guys looked incredibly young that day when the cameras were rolling...which is pretty much what I mean by watching them transform. Obviously they act their regular age in between scenes (Of course, guys in their 20s aren't THAT much different from teenage boys. LOL!).

AnthonyL The "bit of happy" relates to Luke and Noah's connection but not their story persay, since the inevitable implosion of Holden and Carly's affair is going to hit Luke pretty hard. Watching this latest crisis in his parents' marriage really gets to Luke and I don't yet know what's going to happen, but I kind of hope Noah is able to step up after his months of distance and reassure Luke that love can last.

Richard - If they WERE to pull super sekrit sex on the press, there's no way we could then urge you to plan a sick day, could we? It's a conundrum! Also, I think as much as fans want to see Noah and Luke make love or fade to black or whatever, it's not going to happen this soon. I think it's going to move as slow as molasses, because you still have people getting used to the kisses. I'm still bitter about Bianca, Lena, and the closed door on AMC, so, personally, I'd rather them take their time and do it right in a year or two rather than gloss over it now. Even though, yeah, it's pretty farcical to accept that two 19 year old boys are being chaste. Did Holden take them to a Purity Ball when we weren't looking?

A year or two? Sorry, but... No.

LOL. That would be sooo stupid. They were already talking about how they want to be 'together' at the beginning of this year. I don't see what could stop them now that they're together. We already saw them kissing on a bed. We saw them shirtless on a bed. A comination of that with an afterglow scene would be enough for me. I don't have to see them in Katie/Brad style.

Well, I guess there won't be a "Nuke Seal the Deal!" headline in this week's issue, then!But really, if they don't have sex soon, how can the show explain it? Luke is too upset about his family drama to do it? And what of all the references to how much they want to be together? Aren't those designed to soften the ground for eventual sex? Any veteran soap viewer who heard Luke tell Noah to come home with him last week had to have a lightbulb moment--"Wow, they're going to have sex soon."And anyway, all the pieces are already in place, right? They've shown kissing. They've shown two kisses in one episode! They've shown shirts being ripped off on a bed. Put those together, add a scene where they're covered by a sheet (still showing less skin than the swimming incident last summer!) and presto--you've got yourself a sex scene. And the storyline can carry on without this great big distraction getting in the way.

The thing is, it's a distraction to the people who expect them to have sex, not a distraction to the people who are just getting used to the idea of two guys together at all!

Mind you, I'm totally playing Devil's Advocate here. As I said, I'd rather them do it right than halfway ala Bianca/Lena but I think dropping all the cues (and ripping off all the shirts) and then doing nothing is pretty silly, too.

It's funny, but my colleague Julie, who covers AMC, actually turned to me the other day and went, "Wait, they're not having sex?" "Uh, no." "I just assumed they were and we weren't seeing it!" she said.

Maybe soaps should just quit it with sex altogether and have everybody hold hands. It'd give me less of a headache!

Also...? For everyone who thinks waiting a year to have sex isn't feasible, most of the real root-for couples on the show waited that long, if not longer. It's ludicrous, but it has a precedent.

Quote:Also...? For everyone who thinks waiting a year to have sex isn't feasible, most of the real root-for couples on the show waited that long, if not longer. It's ludicrous, but it has a precedent. That wouldn't be such a problem if it would make sense. But Luke and Noah were already living together in January. They're a loving, committed couple who wants to have sex. For them to wait 1 or 2 years would be unrealistic.

You're looking for something to make SENSE on a soap? LOL!If things made sense, Oakdale would be a vastly different place and a show like General Hospital would actually be a show about a hospital.

Quote:You're looking for something to make SENSE on a soap? LOL!If things made sense, Oakdale would be a vastly different place and a show like General Hospital would actually be a show about a hospital. I know... I know... But IMO, this would be TOO unrealistic.

Quote:Also...? For everyone who thinks waiting a year to have sex isn't feasible, most of the real root-for couples on the show waited that long, if not longer. It's ludicrous, but it has a precedent.

Fair enough, though I wonder if those couples had quite so many occasions to discuss wanting to have sex without actually having it? But if you're going to bring the wait for other couples up, you've got to start the clock on Luke and Noah a year ago, when it became clear they were headed for coupledom. It's been 11 months since the first kiss, nine since the boyfriend conversation in the hospital, seven since the "I love you" under the mistletoe, five since the sexy sandwich talk.

Unless Luke and Noah suddenly stop talking about their feelings for each other--in which case they'll cease to be soap characters--how can the show avoid a conversation about the fact that after all of that, they're finally free to be together? And what possible excuse can be used to prevent it?

Oh well. I'm glad you agree that it would be silly to keep making it seem like sex is coming soon if it isn't. I still have high hopes that it'll happen before the month is out.