The Soap Writer is Damned if you Do and Damned if you Don't...

Just reminding the Headwriter/EP again of the challenge I proposed to him in the last blog feature...Ah yes The Goddess wants a no-holds-barred interview with the Soap Scribe at this August Fan Event in LA. I feel it would be a good thing to help re-establish trust with the writing team and its very leery audience{yes brad this truly does need to be done} I mean not everyone can see the forrest through the trees here, especially when the trust factor has been so damaged in Daytime..I mean you even have the mags back to trying to gain the audience's trust so, ...in my honest opinion, I feel this would be a way to help it. Again, you can let me know in your own special way as you ponder on that thought.

I Had an interesting conversation this week with a showrunner who does documentaries with the History Channel now but used to be a producer for Childrens' programming. Shows such as Mortal Kombat , Dogfights, and even Clifford The Big Red Dog..But as our conversation turned to the Guild, and of course network anxiet, ...Oh yes the echoes are getting longer about how writers are being pushed out in favor for in-expensive reality shows.... Its not just soaps that are in trouble. Primetime is and the jobs are becoming scarce for good solid writers in Hollywood. The Obsession with reality shows such as American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, The Apprentice and so on is finally making a dent. We are entering a new realm of cheap gimmicks at a very costly price to Hollywood.

I feel its extremely important to keep this advertised loud enough so viewers are fully aware of the impact Daytime/Primetime writers, actors, directors and yes even producers are feeling here. The cutbacks are getting wider, and the unemployment line is getting long..Its important to support your writers because without them your entertainment goes fully out the window...

The Loss of Guiding Light, and the rumblings of As The World Turns living on borrowed time, is just another reason for us to change the way we have been thinking about Soaps I can still recall someone in the industry informing me that Soaps are dying and will be gone in five years-That was back in 2001 It is now 2009 and they are still holding on-but barely....as we all have been led to believe...We would like them to keep thriving and enjoy our guilty pleasures here, but how do we accomplish that if we are ranting and raving over and over how terrible the soap storylines are? We are killing our overall message here.

If showrunners are visiting the cyberworld along with their writing teams and listening to the overall demands, and they comply, yet nobody is happy, then the Soap Writer is damned if they do, and damned if they don't. I usually like to use this phrasing for a character that can't win, but this time, it seems the writers can't....If they give the viewer juicy story, its met with skepticism and overall DOOM. I witnessed several meltdowns this past weekend all because of plotlines coming to fruition...A kiss....A sexual romp....and an overall fear, that what people have invested in is about to be blown to bits....


The Drama is always on....as CBS says but to me, its on the message boards. Viewers have asked for thought provoking storylines; long term committments; slow burns not rushed romances even comedy....and when its presented to them, its met with such anxiety

People, but forgive me for saying this but follow the storyline here. Drama must occur to make stories interesting otherwise the characters run out of avenues to travel....the long road home. It doesn't mean the stories end, it means there's been layers added to a beautiful feast...but its not done yet. When the time comes to partake in that indulgence, you'll be grateful you waited. Trying to recall what Doug Marland Said, oh yes, "Never give the audience what you have led them to want; instead give them something they didn't expect that they'll like even better." A direct quote from Patrick Mulcahey when referring to the learnings of Marland philosophy....and its so true....if you give it too soon, it never lasts....thus longterm story arcs, which I am finding refreshing these days! Writers are not in the business of giving the merchandise away, they are in the busines off keeping you glued to your seats with underlying currents bubbling to the surface. Its called Build up....and its the traditional Marland/Phillips/Bell Formula and its making a comeback...Do many not see this?

A few hints here. Who did not love Jack Wagner, Susan Flannery and Hunter Tylo last week? Susan and Jack are just bringing a whole new dimension to this show and I love it! How much fun are you having writers? To be able to take risks; stir the pot and make them character driven? You know, I just simply knew my little biast Ticky loving heart would go pitter patter seeing the two of them in the room again. It was such a delight to watch. Again, why did this pairing end? I feel, it deserves another closer look here, especially with Nick suggesting he and Stephanie and Taylor make such a formidable team, don't you? The dynamics of Nick/Taylor breathes life into this show while supports several sub plots waiting to be unveiled here. Continue to bond, over coffee, I say. Its better than pistachioes.

The Build up with Rick and Ridge is reaching the boiling point but there's a foreshadowing event about to ripple through as Thomas is making a return...is he truly cured? Point Dume Malibu is the sacred spot for the dedicated Bridge fan as we all know Point Dume was 1994 when Tracey Ann Kelley wrote such beatiful vows for this pairing..ah yes and the scar tissue that led up to its destruction over the years.....and now its coming full circle....but for whom...Rick.............or Ridge?

Bridget& Owen, well my goodness, what a lovely way to postpone the inevitable. I truly am enjoying the writing for these two. The dialogue from April 7th about Bridget afraid to move forward still stuck in the mire not able to get over Nick just yet while Owen being forced to let go and move forward ah yes and the beautiful embrace at the end..To quote my friend Distraction, "Simply gorgeous" writers! While Jackie plays with Owen pushing Nicket; Bridget lingers for Owen and for Nick as Katie wants a wedding date set...how will Bridget react to the news that Owen is seeing Jackie? How will Owen react to seeing Bridget with Nick? and how will the Cougar react to Bridget and Owen's feelings for each other, especially Nick? Gee katie, I feel you should find out about Bridget and Owen first..It gives you more weight in the wars with your soon to be Mother in law. Classic Soap. Great job writers. A nit pick here, when I said "push the envelope".......this isn't the love scene I was referring to but its true i did not specify....tsk tsk....

Its Eric vs Stephanie As the new battles wage on to see which design house will win out in the end......Eric is definitely going to need that martini...

And finally, Martha Byrne. I watched Martha's show and did a breakdown of her dialogue....not bad at all, I am looking forward to seeing more of what she comes up with especially the writing for Susan Flannery....that right there is the gem of everything. You nail that, and you can nail it all....Keep the characters true to themselves, and you can never go wrong with the storyline.Good writers feel the characters and let them make the decisions. Thats the way it was in the beginning so shall it be true always.

To the Brooke/Ridge brigade here......Your supercouple is being challenged with some of the most amazing dialogue I have seen in years. No matter how many want your pairing to fail, I feel the writers want to see it succeed because of the effort to put out such incredible dialogue..ups and down occur...the message stays the same....Savor it.

So I am seeing great storytelling here...not what this show has seen in decades in my honest opinion. the feel of it is maturing for the greater good, and the story arcs have a bonafide direction....I see bountiful fruit being spread all throughout....where one story looks like its about to end...another one takes its place....Damned if you do and Damned if you don't writers?

I say Do.....Continue to Build it and they will come.