Bell....Book....&...Candle...

I have a meaning for that title....

Brad Bell, I still would like an interview with you and some from the writing team at fan event August 29th, after perusing the message boards including my own home turf, The House of Bridge...very curious how you plan to provide thought provoking stories without burning the audience to the point they refuse to come back....Is the rule book being followed, here? Or are we living on the wild side yet again to see if we can shock the female?

Writers, what's going on inside your mindset here? Is there at least ONE male character on Bold rootworthy towards a female viewing audience? Or are the days of waiting for a romantic male hero coming to an end?

According to one who is quite familiar with the history of this show and has been watching the writers very closely, I find her commentary fascinating...

"That is the problem with Brad and Patrick right now.... stop looking at the SL on paper and watch the screen! As for "getting past the sexual stuff".... that sounds like a lame Nick Marone line.... and how many times has Bridget been asked to get past the sexual thing by her beaus?Sex does have meaning. It is not a casual nothing..... it is the centerpiece of the Ridge-Rick war. It is the lingering hurt in Bridget's heart. The problem with Bold and Beautiful is the lack of a romantic story.... why paint a character as a MILF chaser if you have intended to sell him as a romantic lead later?"


Because from what I have received in pm's, emails and such, {and to those I thank you for responding}, you are not winning over the women with "hearts and flowers..." many want to engage in a game of chicken and see who ducks first- I can honestly say right now, if I were to wager, ...Its never good to upset or alienate a very wary viewing audience....such as this one.from the HOB from L239x...

"Right now, I treat this show like it has a contagious disease, so I stay away. I check-in here from time to time to see how it’s doing. I wish it (the show) will get better so I can start visiting it again. I even hold out hope that it (the show) will even make a full recovery so I can start hanging out with it, like I use to do.However, if Ridge stupidly falls into Stephanie and Taylor’s manipulations and leaves Brooke, even if it's just for 1 second, I will officially acknowledge its death, move on, and never look back."



..Just a thought here...


....but first....

As promised my interview with Chief Technologist Daniel Mance, of the Harris Corporation, Broadcast Communications. As many of you in the industry know Harris is one of the leading technology companies... We had a delightful discussion during the NAB, {National Association of Broadcasting} on the future of television, and what it means to you.

1. About the New plan Broadcasting has to keep on the airwaves........

Television broadcasting is still very relevant. It’s very much a part of our cultural media heritage, our home social viewing experience and the primary means for delivering news and entertainment to the home. That being said, traditional television is undergoing radical change in the way content is delivered and accessed. Scheduled programming that canters to the habitual routine of prime-time TV is on the wane – giving way to on-demand and open access content. You will still watch the same programs, on the same flat panel – but the way you received and navigated your content will change. And that’s only looking 5-7 years out. Beyond that, I’m not sure if the television experience will be recognizable. The internet will continue to redefine our relationship to visual media and we’ll look back at the 50years of TV and consider it to be quaint.


2. the Decline of Media and Journalism........

So, the transition of TV to the web puts us all on ‘internet time’ as it’s called – where information is free flowing, our attention span is limited and so the sound and visual bites are smaller. This is particularly true for news and journalism. As we search out the nuggets of information we want, our tolerance for broadcast pandering or unwanted deviation is practically zero. So, first is that we are reluctant to spend time on analysis and review and secondly, we don’t want to pay for the content. Nobody has the patience or time to devote an hour to a news program – and certainly not do so if we are subject to advertising or superfluous production. So, the story is cut short due to our shorten’d attention span – and our unwillingness to sit through a ‘show’ or commit to a regime of viewing reduces its value . Without a value proposition, the news or commentary program is suffering.-


3. and just HOW Much it costs to sell ad blocks to advertisers on TV and CABLE compared to what it would cost On the internet.........


The costs of television based advertising vary based on time, program content association and market penetration(ratings) – as well as total packaging of the advertising bundle. Normally, advertisers runs large blocks of ad, called ‘campaigns’ across various media: TV and On-Line. Actual price variations depend on many things – I cant suggest the ratio of costs because although each prime time TV spot (say $5,000 per showing for a $100,000 campaign over a week) in a major market has more focus than banner or pop-up ads that are similarly priced in total but have a much more dispersed base in time and placement.


4. why Networks are showcasing their TV shows on the internet


Because, finally, there are vehicles that allow them to present their content, in a protected setting, and derive adversting dollars in much the same way as traditional television. Look to HULU as a leader in this area.

5. And the future impact of Youtube , Twitter, and the Main websites...

YouTube is, in fact, loosing lots of money. Content like that is fun to dabble in, good for viral video and fortunately Google has lots of money to throw at the servers and networking to make it work. But without premium content, it does not have a business model.

Thank you so much for your time, Dan. Looking forward to seeing you Next year...

Ah yes, back to our discussion in regards to the male lead on Soaps. In the eighties, it was Cruz Castillo, {super cop and beloved hero rescuing the lovely heroine Eden Capwell} Bo Brady of DOOL, {Super bad boy from the merchant marines who loved Hope Williams to the point he chased her down at the church to prevent her marrying larry Welch...ahh one of the reasons I fell for soaps....} to none other than Lucas Lorenzo Spencer of GH, reformed mob man on the run with Laura Baldwin....{still love that summer of GH from 1980....The dance at the department store....to being stuck on Cassadine Island}.

Yes THOSE types of romantic heroes. Most of them were never just a good guy to start with but a rogue or a bad boy with a heart of gold....... Bold has never had one of these....and this is what women search for: The romantic male lead who loves and desires the woman of his dreams and fights for their happiness and her love.....How can any soap opera stand on its own without the draw of romance to its female viewer if the show continues to write male leads unsvory to women?

"Tacky, unimaginative writing, darling...... Ridge was never a MILF chaser.... that is still my point. Chasing sex for political purposes is Rick's M.O. right now..... not a favorable comparision for Owen."



Currently, we have Ridge giving ultimatums to his "Wife" Brooke, in regards to her son Rick; while allowing his former wife to manipulate the situation time and time again....the dialogue now has Ridge becoming silent when it comes to sticking up for his wife-

Viewers are not happy.

We have Rick Forrester, Brooke and Eric's son who is playing the dark knight of this show who battles with his unwavering hatred for the father of his love Steffy.....to the point that Rick crossed such a line that it disgusted many women tenfold....

Viewers again not Happy.

"that would be the predictable, tacky retread soap thing to do......the writers, however, have not established Rick and Steffy as another Ridge and Brooke.... I do not watch the show to see Reffy........."

We have Eric Forrester who is married to trophy wife Donna Logan....who delights in honey bathing moments at the office and making poor decisions and engaging in bad judgement when it comes to his children....

Viewers again Not HAPPY.

We have Nick Marone a character that came on in 2003 to be this salty sea captain who now is entrepeneur wanna be and has slept with every female on this show except Stephanie, Donna, and his Mother.....Has a child with Brooke and a seedy past; had a child with Bridget that died but then left to be with her Mother; was engaged to bridget her daughter again but slept with Katie her aunt....Moved on with Taylor, but then couldn't get past his love for Brooke....Now Nick is caught between his ex wife, bridget {his ex wife's daughter; one of his exes..}..and her aunt his current fiancee...

Viewers again Not Happy.

Nick is a pig and he will never change. The only time he's sorry is when he's caught with his zipper down and then his sorry only lasts 2 seconds.

And finally, we have Owen who came on with such promise is now fooling around with the boss {Nick's Mother} while making ga ga eyes at bridget.....

Viewers are Not Happy.

And i get soaps are about angst, i just wish they would create another angle then these boring triangle's. Also alot of Bridget fans will be turned off by this, thats the thing i dont get about this sl.

And finally, Don Diamont joins May 12, his character is a womanzier...doesn't care who he insults.....and women are supposed to fall for this man? because he has money?

'It is funny that when our show debuted in 1987 much was made about Caroline being Bill Spencer' only child.....Now Bill has potentially 4 children.... and by how many women..... hmmm.... uncharacteristic of the upright, principled, media magnate who prized loyalty.I am not sold on the idea of Bill Jr.... we will see ho Brad Bell spins this one.... I dont like the idea of Joanna Johnson returning to sell us Don Diamont.I prefer the return of Karen Spencer as a reveal of Owen's paternity."

So if, the true formula is to have female viewers come back to watching soaps, why is it that this show is more about the male audience instead? I simply do not understand the deliberate attempt by the writing team to alienate their viewing audience. If its about giving "something for everyone", then writers, you wind up pleasing no one...?

Let's just call it like it is..... the pairing of older gen-younger gen couples is a Brad Bell fetish..... tainting Owen thru a MILF does not make him a stud.... it raises a red flag to women who have suffered men with libidos they chose not to control.How many times must Brad and Patrick create scenes where Owen ignores Bridget and pursues Jackie? I can count at least two ..... my gfs have all abandoned B&B for OLTL.... I have joined them in their admiration for the Brody-Jessica storlyline.Havent abandoned our show.............. yet.Browen no longer compels me to watch, btw. I am a huge Susan Flannery fan.As far as writing a romance...... where is Bridget Dobson now? I would LOVE for the Dobsons to create a new soap."

I think she may be on to something here....Patrick, Brad, Michael, Betsy Snyder, and others... take notes from this...you never know who may be grading you...she makes a valid point...

Writers......you have lots of work to do.....

Until next time...