411 on Soaps

How should Days of Our Lives handle the passing of it’s star, Frances Reid?  That’s a good question, especially for long time fans of the show.  There are two logical options: kill her off or let her live.

If we give Alice Horton the Sally Spectra (B&B) treatment, we send her to live with Jack & Jennifer in London, or Bill in Africa or what have you.  That’s fine and dandy, but we know the actress has passed.  I don’t think it would do any good for Days to just write her off with a happy ending.

On the other hand, what if Days were to kill off Gram?  Perhaps the stress of Mickey’s death was just a bit too much for her to handle?  Hey, Days does have a 45th Anniversary coming up this November!  What a good November sweeps story.  November is plenty of time to get the key people back: Jennifer (Melissa Reeves), Jack (Matthew Ashford), Marie (Maree Cheatham), Michael (Roark Critchlow).  There are many other Hortons who can return and other past characters can come back.  Everyone who every walked through the streets of Salem was touched by Mrs. H in some way. 

How would you like Days of Our Lives to handle the death of Frances Reid?  Let us know!!

How exactly do you kill off a legacy character like Mickey Horton?  Well, “One Life To Live” fans were asked the same question a few years ago when Asa Buchanan was axed off.  To that end, I offer what my suggestions would have been on how Mickey Horton’s funeral should go, according to me:

1. Various characters return to town for the occasion. Here are 10 I suggest:

-Melissa Horton (Lisa Trusel)

-Sarah Horton (Lisa Brinegar)

-Jennifer Deveraux (Melissa Reeves)

-Michael Horton (Roark Critchlow)

-Susan Martin (Denise Alexander)

-Marie Horton (Maree Cheatham)

-Laura Horton (Jaime Lyn Bauer)

-Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans)

-Jessica Fallon (Jean Bruce Scott)

-Dr. Neil Curtis (Joseph Gallison)

2. Use this storyline to be BIG umbrellas for the rest of the canvas!  This is being done if Maggie is going to get a relapse in her alcoholism.

3. Give us a good amount of flashbacks in the funeral episodes.  That means flashing back to the characters first scenes, having present characters re-cap key storylines that made this character so special, ect.

4. I only put 10 cast members, but there are more.  For example, I didn’t put Doug & Julie, but that should be a given, right? They are technically still recurring on the show.

5. Use this death to re-build the Horton family.  Allow two or three of these characters to settle into Salem and get back into things.

Clearly there must be something in the water at NBC Burbank.  Now hot word on the street is that Lindsay Hartley (Arianna, Days; Theresa, PSNS)  is expecting her second child with husband Justin (ex Fox, PSNS).  Someone brought it up to my attention, using wikipedia as a source.  If true, congratulations to the couple.  Fan out people!!  Fan out!

Miss Gina is not the only with an opinion!  Here are my picks, in her same categories for the world of suds, 2009:

Smoothest Criminal: Kate Roberts, Days of Our Lives 

Baddest Bitch: “Claudia Zacchara”, General Hospital

Wildest Wedding: “The Big Gay Wedding”, One Life to Live

Most Awesome Bitch Slap: “Sami to Nicole”, Days of Our Lives

Most Ridiculous Storyline: The Murder of D.A. North, All My Children

Most Popular Couple: Jason & Sam, General Hospital

Most Hated Couple: Ridge & Brooke, The Bold & The Beautiful

Best Baby Switch: “Sydney”, Days of Our Lives

Worst Baby Switch: “Faith”, Young and the Restless

Biggest Punk Ass: Owen, Days of Our Lives

Sexiest Actor: Florencia Lozano as Téa Delgado, One Life To Live

Unsexiest Actor: Clementine Ford as Mac, The Young & The Restless

Biggest Wastes of Talent: Lesli Kay (Felicia, The Bold & The Beautiful); Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton, Days of Our Lives)

Funniest Character: Melanie Layton, Days of Our Lives

Most Annoying Who Dunnit: “Who Shot Stuart?”, All My Children 

Biggest Douche Bag: Elvis DiMera, Days of Our Lives

Biggest Skeezer: Sharon Newman, The Young & The Restless

Best One Night Stand: Brian Frons and Chuck Pratt (as sort of compensation for firing him from AMC)

Most Incompetent Cop: Jack Snyder, As The World Turns

Biggest Jack Ass: Ridge Forrester, The Bold & The Beautiful

Hottest Virgin: Kristina Davis, General Hospital

Sexiest Couple(s): Bill & Lizzie, Guiding Light

Dumbest Dynamic Duo: Steffy & Thomas Forrester, The Bold & The Beautiful

Best Return From The Dead: “Mitch Laurence”, One Life to Live

Hottest Cougar: “Jackie Marone”, Bold and the Beautiful

Best Show: Days Of Our Lives

Worst Show: All My Children

According to “Second Chances,” Bryan has taped his last episode as Lucas Horton.

As most of you know, Bryan’s contract with Days ends at the end of February 2010. We’ve been waiting to see if he would be renewed by the show, and this past weekend we got our answer. According to Bryan’s manager, he has taped his last episode with the show this past week. (it should air sometime in February).

Bryan is thrilled to have new opportunities in front of him, but I know that I speak for everyone here when I say that he will be missed terribly.

http://secondchanceslumi.com/topic/6599622/1/

Daytime Emmy winner Leann Hunley is once agian reprising her role as Anna DiMera very soon on Days Of Our Lives.  It was all kept very hush, hush according to Hunley.  “I was pleasantly surprised when I got the call. It came out of the blue,” says the actress. “It was one of those, ‘Would you be interested in coming back for a few days and then we’ll see what happens.’ And I said, ‘Okay.’ But they said that the caveat of the whole thing was that I had to keep it a secret. So, I didn’t even tell my mother!”

Anna will be revealed to be Sydney’s kidnapper.  At the tail end of Friday’s episode, we heard Anna speaking to Syndey, but never saw her face.  And we won’t untill this Friday, December 18.  If you’re wondering what Anna’s motive is, I offer this reminder: Anna’s daughter, Carrie, is Sami’s half-sister.  And, when we last saw Anna, she was blaming Stefano for the death of her husband (and his son), Tony DiMera.  But is that reason enought to kidnap a baby?  We’ll just have to tune in, won’t we!

Watch this video, of CBS Cheif Leslie Moonves on CNBC this morning.  This is how we first learned officially of the cancellation of As The World Turns.  He speaks about it at the very last moments of the video. Please do take a look:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/34330479

After watching that, I was offended by the attitude of Mr. Moonves.  He seemed very disrespectful and a bit inappropriate.  But then again, that is simply my opinion.  Please do tell us yours.  In the following letter, I address Mr. Moonves, this video, and the future of daytime television.

Dear Mr. Moonves:

I am saddened by the cancellation of the long running drama “As The World Turns”.  It truly is a show that runs in my family.  My aunts watched it for many years, and their aunts watched it.  In fact, the show has been in my family since it first went on air on April 2, 1956.  But, as you said, “their day is over”. 

Well, when my grandmothers “days were over”, my aunts were able to remain connected to her in a way, by watching “that nasty Lisa!”.  These shows are generational, and you are simply looking at the business aspects of the shows.  You’re not looking at the fact that millions of people still do watch these shows.  Those are still eyeballs for you to advertise “The Big Bang Theory” or “Big Brother” to.  Those are still people who are tuning into your network out of loyalty or what have them.  I understand the business aspects.  I have a bit of business sense in me.  However, I would not have been as cold as you with really putting a great loss on many people’s hearts and minds today.  People have an emotional attatchment to these programs, but because you’re not getting the “bang for your buck”, you could quite frankly give a flying fig. 

Yes, “As The World Turns” may have been the lowest rated soap since its sister show, “Guiding Light” went off the air last September.  However, it had been higher rated.  In fact, for the 2007-2008 television season, “As The World Turns” was ranked third of the eight soap operas on air.  That tells me that people are still interested.  But what changed?  Well, as with most creative programs, there were dry spells.  And did you do anything to change that?  Certainly not!  I’m sure you didn’t investigate what was happening.  I’m sure you didn’t question Barbara Bloom or anyone with a hand in the show, to see what was going on.  Instead, you allowed the show to bleed out.  Well, news flash Mr. Moonves!  Compared to last season, all your soaps are down signifcantly in viewers!  Number 1 daytime serial, “The Young & The Restless” has lost 201,000 viewers compared to this time last year.  This is the least amount of viewers lost between all 3 of your soap operas.  “The Bold & The Beautiful” has lost 622,000 viewers!  I am not a networking executive, but that doesn’t sound good to me.  But, then again what  do I know?

ALL of your daytime line-up is in trouble!  Your soap operas have seen dramatic viewer decreases.  The longest running game-show, “The Price Is Right” has lost viewers.  “Let’s Make A Deal” is doing just slightly better than “Guiding Light” was.  And “The Early Show” has been the lowest rated of the network morning shows for many years.  In fact, “The Early Show” usually draws in about half the numbers of #2 rated ABC’s “Good Morning America”.  And “As The World Turns” pulls in the same amount of viewers in key demographics as “The Early Show” does.

Finally, Mr. Moonves, thanks so much for really helping our economy.  Now, more actors and crew are free to sit home during the daytime and watch a new cheesy game show, in a timeslot in which they used to dominate.  Ironic, isn’t it?

Sincerly,

Peter Adams

 
It just seems like it’s going to happen!  Does Katerina have another kid out there?  The two hottest answers at the moment appear to be Mia or Melanie.  Our own Jessica told me that she feels Mia is Carly & Bo’s daughter.  The ages match-up well to when she left Salem, in 1993.  However, that would make Will & Mia cousins.  But could Mia’s daddy be Lawrence?  And what about Melanie?  Did Carly have a previous roll in the hay with Trent Robbins?  What do you all think?  Could one of these two ladies be Carly Manning’s daughter?  Or could she have another child out there?  And another question at that: Who’s The Daddy?

http://daytimeroyaltyonline.com/topic/8224115/1/

Monday, December 7th
EJ demands that Nicole tell him what happened to Sydney; Rafe and Stefano get into an argument; Melanie tells Carly she can’t move in; Bo wants Hope to consider coming home; Arianna learns that Brady is in Cleveland with Nicole.

Tuesday, December 8th
Hope is upset that Bo and Carly continue to keep secrets from her; Vivian asks Victor to help her seek revenge on Carly; EJ assures Sami they’ll find their daughter; Vivian has a run-in with Kate; Maggie worries that Mia is growing bitter.

Wednesday, Decmeber 9th
EJ believes that Nicole has hidden Sydney; Carly fears Vivian will carry out Lawrence’s plan; Justin catches a tender moment between Bo and Carly; Rafe tracks down Nicole at the bus station; Vivian moves into Victor’s house.

Thursday, December 10th
Nicole is led off to jail; Stefano opens up to Kate; Bo, Hope and Ciara share a nice family moment; Justin tells Carly that he’s convinced she never stopped loving Bo; Mia shows up at Will’s to offer him help in finding Sydney.

Friday, December 11th
Carly admits to having feelings for Bo; EJ goes to see Sami with a plan; Bo warns Vivian not to harm Carly; Melanie and Nathan inform Daniel and Chloe of their recent split; Philip learns that Vivian has moved in.

Is anyone else wondering where the Public Service Announcement is for ABC’s General Hospital as Kristina is beaten by her boyfriend?  Well, so are we!  A group from Daytime Confidential has started a group to raise awareness to Brian Frons regarding this matter.  They’re DC usernames are blackjack21, daisyclover1938, ericaseviltwin, samrocks and taa2.  They’ve created a basic letter that you can send out to Mr. Frons, in the hopes that he will realize the importance of this socially relevant storyline, and educate viewers to the fullest extent of their ability.  Here is the letter you can send via US Postal Mail or E-Mail:

VIA U.S. MAIL
Mr. Brian Frons, ABC Daytime President
c/o ABC/Disney
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91512

RE: General Hospital PSAs for Kristina/Kiefer Storyline (for e-mail)

Dear Mr. Frons,

I am one of the General Hospital viewers who strongly believes that a public service announcement (“PSA”) pertaining to the teen relationship violence storyline should air more frequently as the story continues. Specifically, we feel that ABC/General Hospital should include a PSA addressing the abusive relationship after each episode during which Kiefer physically abuses Kristina.

We appreciate and enthusiastically support ABC’s decision to highlight a socially relevant and pervasive issue. Our concern stems from the conspicuous absence of a regular statement from the network providing guidance and resources to individuals in abusive relationships such as that of Kiefer and Kristina Davis. Given that General Hospital is the highest rated soap among female viewers aged 12 to 17, there is clearly an audience that would benefit from such a message

As you know, Kiefer’s first act of violence occurred on July 17, 2009 when he struck Kristina for not giving in to his sexual advances. By including a PSA from the national teen dating abuse organization, Love Is Respect, General Hospital ensured that this serious issue was handled in a manner that was educational as well as entertaining. Recently, however, on November 11, 2009, when Kiefer struck Kristina and called her a “stupid bitch,” there was no mediating message provided. This was a very difficult scene to stomach for many viewers, and it was so disturbing that we felt compelled to write to this letter to ABC. Although we recognize that Kristina’s subsequent decision to protect Kiefer and keep quiet is very common reaction—especially among young women—without a sponsored PSA at the end of the show, General Hospital not only legitimized this behavior, but it arguably glamorized it as well.

Please understand that this request is not about our preference for a particular storyline; rather, we are asking for greater sensitivity from ABC/General Hospital with respect to a storyline that is already in progress. Teens today face more challenges than those of us from earlier generations, and relationship violence is more prevalent than ever, affecting teens of all demographic groups. The aftermath of the Chris Brown/Rihanna incident is further proof that no woman is immune from relationship violence. Therefore, while some aspects of the show (e.g., Jason Morgan’s mob lifestyle, or Helena Cassadine’s revenge plots) are clearly fictional and few, if any, viewers would admire or attempt to imitate them in their own lives, the same cannot be said about Kiefer abusing Kristina, or her continued silence.

We have been watching General Hospital for many years and during this time there have been several wonderfully written storylines that were both socially relevant and enlightening, including Monica Quartermaine’s cancer diagnosis, Elizabeth Webber’s rape, Robin Scorpio’s HIV diagnosis, and Sonny’s Bipolar Disorder diagnosis. More recently, despite fans’ mixed reactions to Robin Scorpio-Drake’s Post-Partum Depression storyline, the group therapy scene with actual survivors was highly informative. In addition, the frequency with which ABC aired the Post-Partum Depression PSA provided potential sufferers with regular opportunities to learn about resources available to them. These storylines served as a valuable tool for promoting awareness among viewers without personal experience; further, they served as a method of decreasing the stigma for both survivors, as well as those who were afraid to come forward and seek professional help.

In sum, we believe that increasing the frequency of the PSAs on General Hospital would greatly benefit those who can identify with Kristina, or possibly with Kiefer—especially if they are likely to miss the resolution of the storyline several weeks or months in the future. Therefore, we urge you to consider airing the PSA each time Kiefer engages in an act of violence against his girlfriend Kristina. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me using the information provided above. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Anyone who is interested in supporting this cause can print it out and mail it, or can copy and paste it via e-mail. E-mail to brian.frons@abc.com or Brian.Frons@email.disney.com.