I Propose a Challenge....

I didn't know how to start this entry because of the positive feedback I received over the first. I had no idea this would catch on so quickly! But I am thrilled! Its great It means many viewers are tired of the same angry, backbiting commentray that only rile up bases to pick arguemnts over one another and then take it out on the Actors; writers; the show in general..........So let's try to fix this approach after years of seeing its negative impact?

Trying, to here.....

So, I just wanted to answer a few comments I received which I found to be funny.

1) "Do you have any stylish tips for Spring when it comes to nail care and color?"

A: Yes! Nudes and neutrals are in for this spring.....Going back to beiges, shell pinks.....the shape of nails is ROUND and of course...Soft pinks, high lip gloss and soft eye shadows...We just did a photo Shoot for the Travel Channel this past week and this is what we used......As for my French manicure look...ladies THIS WORKS I kid you not.....

Two coats of protien base first, followed by a sheer tone of pink I prefer Madamoiselle or Picket fences by Essie followed by Blanc or Marshamallow for the wihite. Now, this is the trick. Do the white LAST not first. I have seen so many places paint the white on first without even base WTH is that? Thats the first way to dehydrate the nailplate and cause more damage in the process. If you polish the white line last, it seals down your polish for at least six to ten days. And Use Seche Vite for the top coat and seal the edges... I have one client who lives in San Diego {her Father in law owns the San Diego Chargers yes I had to put that in there because I promised her I would mention her....now that I have....} and she comes up all the time just so I can do this.

2) How long have you been watching Bold, and how did you become interested in Soaps?

A: I have been watching The Bold And The Beautiful since 1987...I would watch it when Bo and Hope left Days.....Santa Barbara was one of my favorite soaps of all time all because of what I called them The "Brain Trust..." This writing team was so solid back then they won emmy after emmy and created some of the most wonderful characters Daytime had to offer. But what I was attracted to the most, was how they unfolded the longterm storylines and how they pinpointed on everything from beginning to end......Those writers were, Charles Pratt Jr, {AMC HW} Robert H Guza Jr, {GH} Patrick Mulcahey, {B&B} Meg Bennett, {ex GH and B&B Married to Bob Guza} Courtney Simon, {ex Dr. Michaels ATWT} Gary Tomlin {ex OLTL Days} Paul Rauch {Y&R} Frank Salisbury{Where the heck is he yall?LOL} Michael Minnis {B&BI am guessing but I believe Michael was there too.....i will check back on this] and the Wonderful, Late Anne Howard Bailey...She will be truly missed. She could churn out stories with ease.

The common thread is that all of these writers have worked together over the years and have moved on to become HW's of other shows. The thing is, many I think, got caught up in the egoes......which is truly depressing because you NEED ALL of your writing team to work it together and One vision which means, everyone including your audience agrees on......I fail to see where Guza has learned this...but the one thing I do give him credit for is how he is able to get the demos up....he goes for the dark side of things and cut the knife deeply......but you also need light hearted banter to even out the heavy overload which brings the viewership down and well makes them bored..GH needs to have some happiness .Carly and Jax pregnancy is a start. so hopefully that answers it.....

There's a reason why many start watching Daytime soaps, not just because out of habit or because they have nothing better to do. Many fall in love with the creative imagination that keeps our real daily lives light hearted and seperated from the problems that plague us. Such as, the Economy "The Economy The Economy", which is taking its toll on Television as I mentioned in the last column, and everywhere even here in Las vegas our tourism is down, but not out..we are still maintaining but many people I have been friends with over the years have lost their jobs on the strip because we are over staffed....Ceasar's thinking about Chapter 11? its a reality folks. California is sending out IOU's instead of tax returns......sounds like Great Depression days....I can recall living in the Bay Area back in the eighties thats the first time I saw a homelss family living out of a shopping cart....and when I came to Vegas, I saw a small population where crime was never an issue. It was culture shock....

People need outlets to feel good instead of angry all the time- especially when it has to do with trvial entertainment......I simply cannot understand why Network Know It All's fail to realize your writers are WHAT keep viewers at home? and thats going to happen a whole lot more now because with less jobs; downsizing, people are going to want to watch things that make them HAPPY......Reality shows over gossip and trash media isn't going to do it eventually burn out hits.....but creative writing? Always thrives.

But there's a way...... there's always a way.... You just have to want it badly enough to make it happen.....Thus is why I got involved in this to begin with....I became tired of Daytime Big Wigs using their audience as a play thing and writing whatever they could to shock the viewer.....IMO this was done for years out of fear of the cyberworld finding out about storylines in advance- and that could be true to say because, I would know. I used to be an insider and let me tell ya, its a thankless job- no glorification in it what-so ever......One minute you are someone's best friend because you make them feel better but then you have pissed off the establishment.. next you are on their hit list to be proven wrong......and thats the trap I think many fall into. I know I fell into it repeatedly....FYI there are no leaks anymore!!!!!!!!! The leaks are done by the shows itself! this is no joke here people! If you want to know whats going to happen, you just have to watch.LOL! Because there are spoilers out there to trip you up and I think thats a good thing now. I know many including Guza and Co and even Bell himself does not take kindly to others leaking storyline info in fact I have heard he detests it and theres a bonafide reason for that....They want to surprise the audience for many many reasons...for sweeps for the element of watching things unfold and to have CREATIVE CONTROL over the shows...so I think in the past we had a bit of a war going on with the insiders vs the showrunners.....Wasn't personal, yall....we all have the same goal here:)))) To fix Daytime and keep it going for the next several decades....

Truth is, those insiders would leak info to prevent the culmination of BAD storytelling. The trust factor that was established years ago between Audience and EP/HW was tarnished because of always being let down; No payoffs were shown...heck not even a true reason to follow the story because it was about SHOCK first. But I cannot give that to Brad bell here, because that lies with Jill Phelps just as much.....

And it killed many GOOD stories. IMO GL being cancelled now, shoot it was on death's door after the storylines of 1995.......Lucy's rape, the Death Of Maureen; Murder of Nadine; the destruction of Frank and Eleni, and oh yes the one GOOD thing that came out of that GL debacle was the late Michael Zaslow.....he was spared even though CBS didn't give him the respect he deserved..Blake/Ross/Holly story.and the Casting of Ron Raines with Kim Zimmer those were good steps, but the overall message was dark darker darkest pain...bloody, anguish, self destruction and plot driven format.....so yes, there are a lot of mitigating factors to why Daytime plummeted.....and writing was part of it; power plays with writing characters into heavy corners to get them off the show was another....So that is why I got involved in this I wanted to change Daytime and bring the power back to the viewing audience and REPAIR the marriage between Writers and the fans.

So let's see if we can try to accomplish this....because I think, this opportunity had tremendous promise here....once TRUST is being established again, its up to the viewers to suck it up and admit, "okay this was good...Okay this was pretty awesome...Ok but I don't know if I can take that step i have been so disappointed so many times.....what if they make it like it used to be? I can't trust....Can't can't cant'.....its better to be angry and on guard...."

No actually viewers its not and let me tell you why...Everything you have been asking for, you have been receiving you just simply are not USED to the GOOD SHOCK......its grand it really and truly is. I means this HW/EP has been listening to your opinions, your rants and your discussions. I would even have to go out on a limb here to say he has visited many message boards.....Does Guza do that? IMO I think he better start instead of not caring what viewers think....its a HUGE mistake...... Viewers think about it.....

YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO HATE..............

There isn't self destructive dialogue being put in place to manipulate your way of thinking instead they are giving the history lesson for you to accept the direction and the characters how they have always been written......What we perceive is not always what is....and when you finally see it and the beauty that transforms, its pretty much an acknowledgement they care about your favorite characters. The HW's job {Bell and Alden} is to protect their Alter egoes. every single one of them. This never used to be the case in the past.....but its a reality now, and its a gorgeous one. I will start with the Amazing, breakdown of Mr Adam Dusevoir from April 'st show.....

Adam Adam Adam....And you produce too? Amazing I feel brad bell had a hand in this one with story placement. Bradley, you are impressing me, this is amazing and what you are doing for Susan Flannery here, is restoring my true belief that Characters that have made an impact on Daytime CAN be ushered out with grace and success.......Another gold Star I give to you because Guza simply does not treat his vets and icons in the same manner. How depressing. But let's get back to the fabulous words of wisdom and how we usher out..........

And into a whole new Generation.......with using Stephanie as the catalyst to launch it....

Donna: Well, guess what, Stephanie? He is not your problem anymore. So why don't you be a good little ex-wife and go? I'll take care of him.


Stephanie: You know, your family has just about destroyed everything that I ever held dear to me. (Sighs) I built this company-- (Laughs) and created an image that was well thought of all over the world. But that's gone. The class, the style, the elegance--it's all gone. And you are so foolish, Eric, if you don't understand that the clientele is going to go, too. You know what? I'm too old and too tired for this. I can't take this anymore. (Sighs)

Eric: You know, you talk about this as if you were the sole owner of this company, the sole member of this family, as if I were some kind of accessory that just came along with everything.

Ah yes lets have another History lesson and learn how all of this came about. I truly am impressed with how Adam Dusevoir wrote these scenes and the stellar , solid performances from John and Susan... Stephanie and Eric are tired......

That is key here....

And this here at the very end was just remarkable.

Eric: This is my company, Stephanie. You've never been satisfied being a partner in this company any more than you were satisfied being a partner in our marriage. The only thing you really know how to do is control. What, you say you're too old and too tired for all of this? Well, so am I. I had a heart attack last year. It's not clear to me exactly how much time I have left in my life, but you can be damn sure I'm not gonna spend it fighting with you.

Stephanie: Well, if I--

Eric: You're fired!

Oh yes, he is. The final hurrah of generation ONE has began and its to usher in Generation 3 of this show. Bell you are on the right track here....LOL!!!!! fabulous!

And finally this.....

Stephanie: Eric, um, let's just make this a clean break. It'd be a lot easier for me, okay? I really don't want to compromise my self respect any more than I already have, but I also want you to understand I don't wish you ill. I truly--I truly hope you'll be happy. I think you're also going to regret this day, because I think Forrester has lost something important. And I don't think the company's ever going to be the same again, but that's your problem now. I have my own. My-- (Sighs) work here has come to an end. But I'm not at the end of the road yet.

No our lovely Susan is still on for a bit as Stephanie and she is kicking it and taking names her latest scenes have just been perfection! From this Episode, April 1, to April 2nd where Miss Tracey Ann Kelley brought the "end of an era" theme into the fractured halls of FC while Stephanie stood forlorn on the rocks at Marina Del Rey looking back at how young she and Eric were and the start of Forrester Creations...Susuan didn't have to say anything her facial expressions just had you glued to your seat feeling the emotional pain and desperation in Stephanie's eyes....After fifty years....

What is she supposed to do now? It was beautiful to watch She is truly one of the best stage actresses I have ever seen and that "stage four" performance is what I love to see! Take it to the edge and just keep looking down and see how far the audience reacts...THAT's how you do drama.. thats how the Gotcha moment is provided! In fact, I miss these exceptional monologues its long over due here in soaps to see the characters mired in their own deep thoughts and reflection of themselves......its what brings the marriage between writer.....and audience culminated with the bride/groom IE: actors to your screen.. and why you fall in love in the first place!

Susan is eventually going....until she does..RELISH IN IT.

I am thinking about attending Fan event In August. I went to the GH one years back at the Sportsman's lodge, in the hopes of getting to chat with the actors to find out story direction {thats why us insiders got involved here} but now, I don't need to find out info about story direction, I am happy with the way it is going. All I have ever asked for years is for character driven stroytelling to return to Daytime....With Bell and Writing team making this a reality, I am shooting up here for something bigger........

I have been informed by some that what I am doing is helping the industry, not hurting it. soooooooo This "Glorified Maniscurist" {very cute Patrick you need to come down from the mountain here!} wants an INTERVIEW.......

With you Brad. You see, I think its time we meet, and if you are going to be at Fan event in August, well, I think this could be a good thing again for the show.....it would continue to establish trust with the viewers and demonstrate that yes you do CARE about your viewing audience....So if I come to LA......its to interview You and prove to the Bold Viewership and others, you're going to set an even high standard with daytime.....So how bout it? You can always drop a note in the dialogue someplace as you know, I like to pay attention to detail......here...

And with the writers. I think its a mistake to just showcase the actors for Fan Event {although dual events with couples or pairings IMO brings a whole load of viewers to the show even cross over viewers from other soaps sampling because the internet viewers are very savvy people. They make it a point to know who writes what because then it gives an incentive to tune in? Such as for me, I love Patrick Mulcahey and have followed his writing for decades.....but I also love Jack Smith because of what he represents for this show......HISTORY......then you have Tracey Ann Kelley who has been writing Brooke and Ridge for years...some of her dialogue has been bunred in the brains of many viewers.....Elizabeth Snyder, Rex Best, Michael Minnis, Shannon Bradley who wrote compelling dialogue with Stephanie and Rick..."you little pissant!" I mean its just the fact that the writing team gets no PROPS........Its time they did....and I would like the trend to continue....So, how bout it? I'll let you think about this one for a bit then I will be looking for an answer....Don't worry I don't bite....not anymoreLOL!!!!

Recognition for the writing team is what helps keep everything going.....Without your writing team, your show and characters are nothing but a blank page. I would like to bring that MYTH to an end here....let me know what you think, I am inclined to say this is up to you.:)))