Dark Shadows Fans

Dark Shadows Fans

 I will always be grateful to the cast and crew for giving me my love of cliff-hangers and in many ways made me the writer I am today. We are producing a paranormal thriller called Never Can Say Good-bye. It's suspense builds very much like what they did in the original Dark Shadows--you know the good one. Lillian Lamour's audition footage reminded very much of Lara Parker's Angelique. You can watch it on our website. It would interested in hearing your feedback.


















To learn more about Never Can Say Good-bye please click here to go to our website.

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Love can be a blessing or a curse.

Have you ever met someone and suddenly felt love or hate? Did you wonder why? What if you had forgotten the reason? Would you want to remember if it could save you life?

Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal thriler-horror that combines a traditional ghost story with unique twists.

BuzzWorthy Radio: Scott Clifton! 7/16/2009 10:00 AM

Scott Clifton, who plays the role of high school teacher Schuyler Joplin on ABC Daytime's One Life to Live, will be making an appearance on BuzzWorthy Radio. Many fans remember Clifton playing Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital from the same network. Hear him talk about his time on GH as well as what is coming up with Schuyler on the series.

To listen to the show or talk to Clifton on 7/16/2009 10:00 AM go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/buzzworthyradio/2009/07/16/BuzzWorthy-Radio-Scott-Clifton

Call-in Number: (646) 595-4228

The Fallacy of Soap Opera Ratings

The Fallacy of Soap Opera Ratings
By
Theresa Chaze

The cancellation of Guiding Light only proves that the network executives don’t understand their own industry. Soap operas are the only genre where they have a true monopoly. It is the single aspect of programming that independent and cable networks simply don’t have a way to compete. To say that the soaps were grandfathered into our lives is into an understatement. Before VCRs or DVR’s, viewers planned their schedules around their favorite TV shows, including soap operas. If they were forced to miss, they found a fellow addict to catch them up or waited for the rerun. Soaps by their very nature don‘t rerun episodes, therefore their viewers became the most loyal and reliable in the industry, making them also a consistent form of income for the networks with their own built in sponsorship consortium.

During television’s infancy, most people only had access to three stations. Competition for viewers was low in comparison to today. This was the era that soap operas were born and their fan base established. It was the guilty pleasure that no one would admit to watching, yet everyone knew what was happening. After school and on vacations, children watched and became addicted to the shows their mothers and grandmothers watched. It is a legacy of fond memories that the children of the 1960s forward have carried into their adulthood.

Although viewership has always been consistent and loyal, it has always been also under reported by Nielsen; people simply didn’t always want to admit they watched soap operas. Even through society and technology has changed, Nielsen’s way of reporting has not. They do not acknowledge delayed viewing, which has become the primary means of watching daytime programming for those who work from 9 to 5. Instead of upgrading their accounting systems to more accurate methods, they continue to use the diaries and equipment that fail to account for delayed or remote viewing.

This statistical over sight has made it appear that the genre is no longer an asset to the networks. This is far from the truth. One would only have to look at the popularity of the fan events, the merchandizing and the demand for interviews with the soap stars to see that their fan base is not only enthusiastic, but actively growing. Fans love their soaps and their stars enough to spend their time, their money and their energy on them. The peripheral businesses make hundreds of million dollars from around the world from fans that simply cannot get enough of their favorite soap.

Yet the sponsor and the networks look only at the ratings without putting them into proper context. The ratings of the past were higher due to the lack of competition for viewers. When the pie is only split three ways, all the pieces are bigger. Cable and satellite networks now give viewers more options for programming, thereby increasing the number of slices in the pie. So the question that must be both asked and answered is--are the lower rating for soap operas just a natural result of the increased division of viewers or is the genre run its course? As long as the comparisons aren’t made on a level playing field, the information they yield cannot be accurate. Before a network makes the irreversible decision to cancel a soap opera, thereby infuriating the fans base, it really needs to compare the ratings across the board for that day part. To do less could very easily cost them a valuable asset.

Interactive Radio Show: Until You Walk the Path

Until You Walk the Path, You Won’t Know Where it Goes is an interactive internet radio show, which takes a broader look at the topic of spirituality. Instead of focusing on the religious aspects of life, it delves into how our spirits inspire us to be our best and highest selves. The goal is to give a venue to those who wish to share their inspiration, their wisdom and their courage. By sharing our experiences, we not only give encouragement others to reach for their dreams, but to also help them find new alternatives and possibilities in their lives.

Until You Walk the Path, You Won’t Know Where it goes airs 5 pm eastern Sundays on Blog Talk Radio. This interactive radio show encourages its listeners to actively participate through the chat room or by phoning in. Free calls can be made through Skype by clicking on the “Talk” button on the home page http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze. The call in number is (347) 324-3745.

Days of Our Lives

Here is the deal. I have put my best effort into getting the head writing gig at Days. It was one of the reasons I kept the storylines going and added on the two extra plots. I wanted to build a diverse resume. Having said this, I have come to realization that the show has gone too far to come back. Not even I can raise the dead.

The current writers and producers have taken the show so far down the rabbit hole that there is no bringing it back. The Hail Mary I had will no longer work. So regretfully I am giving up and looking elsewhere. There has to be a soap or a production studio that is looking for a writer who can create storylines based on suspense, romance, drama and humor. Days of Our Lives used to be known for all four qualities; however, it has been turned into nothing but soft porn for teens and tweens.

As promised, I will finish The Wedding, but it won't be until later in the week. I am very grateful to everyone who has been so supportive. Without some of you, I would have never had the courage to even try for the gig. Once I did, I found a whole new dimension to my writing skills. I just wish I could have used them to save Days, but when those in power are actively trying to destroy a show, there isn't a whole lot anyone can do to save it.

For decades, soaps (Days of Our Lives and Another World) were a reliable source of profit for NBC. The loss in revenue was solely due to the bad writing driving the fans away. If I owned stock in GE, I would be asking why Jeffrey Zucker was allowed to destroy a product that was not only very popular, but also an active and dependable source of income and still keep his job.

Buzz Worthy Radio: Mary Beth Evans Interview

zWorthy Radio


Date / Time: 2/27/2009 6:00 PM

Category: Entertainment

Call-in Number: (646) 595-4228

Crystal Chappell, who plays Olivia Spencer on CBS Daytime's, "Guiding Light," will be making her very first appearance on BuzzWorthy Radio. Many fans got to know and love her first when she played on NBC's, "Days of our Lives." From there, she went on to play on "One Life to Live," and now her Emmy winning role on GL. Hear her talk about her most latest storyline involving Olivia's pairing with Natalia, played by actress Jessica Leccia. Mary Beth Evans returns for a special exit interview on BuzzWorthy Radio! Be there as we take live callers and discuss the latest happenings with Days of our Lives, the news of her being let go, and what do we have to look forward to with Mary Beth.

BuzzWorthy Radio: Beth Chamberlin!

Beth Chamberlin, who plays the role of Beth Raines on CBS Daytime's Guiding Light, will be making her second appearance on BuzzWorthy Radio! Beth will be discussing the recent return of Phillip Spaulding, played by Grant Aleksander, as well as what is in store for her character as well as more returns along the way.

Days of Our Lives: Gloria Loring-Actress, Singer, Author

I am proud and please to announce that Gloria Loring will be appearing on my show, Until you Walk the Path on March 3, 2009 at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze

Date / Time: 3/8/2009 5:00 PM
Call-in Number: (347) 324-3745
To fully participate in the chat room you will need to set up a free account at www.blogtalkradio.com

Actress, singer, author and entertainer, Gloria Loring will be visiting. She is the recording artist of the #1 hit song Friends and Lovers; co-composer of television theme songs Diff’rent Strokes and Facts Of Life; an audience favorite from daytime TV’s Days Of Our Lives; spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; author of four books, including her newest, Living With Type 2 Diabetes: Moving Past the Fear; a keynote speaker for corporations and non-profits; and one of the few artists to sing two nominated songs at the Academy Awards. Her newest musical show, TV Tunez Tonight, is a celebration of television’s best theme songs that draws from sit-coms and dramas, to westerns, sci-fi, sports, games shows and commercials, appealing to all demographics.

Days of Our Lives Fans Speak Out

There is a internet radion show called In the Zone that will be dedicating their Friday show to letting Days fans speak out. The site address is at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/inthezoneradio

Date / Time: 2/6/2009 10:00 PM Eastern

Category: Entertainment

Call-in Number: (347) 996-5978

If you create a free account at www.blogtalkradio.com you can participate in the live chat room.

Thaao Penghlis Fired: Who will be next?

According to Nelson Branco of the TV Guide Suds Report, the ax has come down on another Days of Our Lives vet. Thaao Penghlis, who was know for playing the dual role of Tony and Andre, is the latest vet to be released from contract. He is to die in March as part of a major murder mystery.

The executives and Higley have obviously decided to accelerate their plan to have Days cancelled; hopeful after which their careers in TV will be totally over. Only a moron would hire any of them after the hack job they did on Days.

With the firing of Dee and Drake, they not only brought the wrath of the super couple down on them, but the contempt of soap fans and industry insiders a like. Not only was the firing foolish, but their exit was an insult to the actors and their fans. Hastily put together and without one creative thought, the storyline was disgraceful. Yet then again, what do you expect from a writer who is incapable of writing for intelligent, powerful women--only those who use sex to get what they want.

With the incomplete and nonsensical storylines along with the total disregard for the show and characters' history alike, Days has become a nothing more than soft porn for teens and tweens. The veteran actors who have the loyal fan bases and actually have talent have been tossed aside for younger actors who lack talent enough to get parts in anything other than grammar school productions, where the whole class is forced to participate.

With the sweeps being pushed back to March, due to the digital conversion, Corday and Higley are once again making promises they never intend on keeping. The big romance reunion of Marlena and John was actually a fifteen minute slam-bam-thank-you-mamam as they got the bums rush out the door.

As for Higley's ability to write a major murder mystery--she can't write herself out of a wet paper bag. One industry insider was quotes as says she shouldn't be allowed to write a grocery list, while actors, which she previously worked with have been quoted as calling her a hack.

As another beloved vet is cast off, so will another loyal fan base turn against the show. Who will be next? Soon the only actors remaining will be the teens, who think have sex with older men gives them power. Makes you wonder....

Repost: Days of Our Lives 1-20-09

Days of Our Lives 1-20-09
Days of Our Lives

Alternative Storyline for Days of Our Lives
Here is the next installment of my alternative storylines for Days of Our Lives.

I have made a few changes. Recently I learned that that format I was using was out dated, which is why I wasn't taken seriously. It seems the industry is more concerned with what a project looks like, instead of the content.

Yesterday, I downloaded Cinergy Script Editor. I will be using it from now on, so the script will be in proper format. However, the free version doesn't have all the features, one of them being spell check so there may be errors. Normally, I don't post first drafts of projects.

As I have promised I will finish the ghost story, but there is no guarantee that I will keep it going.

Most current is at http://www.geocities.com/easternguardian/days1-20-09




This is what I previously posted on the NBC Days boards not all of the posting are in the current proper format

http://geocities.com/tirgana/daysofourlives.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/Days10-16.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days10-26-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days10-31-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days11-2-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days11-15-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/Days12-2-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/Days12-8-08.pdf

http://geocities.com/tirgana/day12-14-08.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/tirgana/days12-30-08.pdf



If you like what you are reading, please leave me a comment here or on the NBC message boards. Or better yet contact the executive producers at

Gary Tomlin or Ken Corday
Corday Productions
3400 W. Olive Avenue
suite 170 Burbank CA
91505-4630

818-295-2821

From the NBC Days of Our Lives Fan Board: People that don't want to watch Days anymore

Like all industries, television networks and producers sell a product; in their case, it is entertainment. If the company doesn't provide a quality product that meets the consumers interests, standards or expectation, then it simply will not survive. The viewers are consumers and the product. The networks and TV stations used entertainment, news and sports to attract viewer; after which, they sell that attention to sponsors. Simple, yet some in the industry have forgotten that no matter how much they push a show or idea, if the viewers aren't buying there is nothing they can do about it. NBC, Sony and Corday Productions have taken for granted the loyal viewership of the Days of Our Lives. The viewers are just leaving. The executive are driving them away.

The following quotes are from the NBC fan board.

DOOLFr33k

Newbie

Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 23-January 09
Member No.: 346,696


I also feel that letting Drake and Diedre go was a HUGE mistake by TPTB but I will still watch the show to support the veterans that are still on the show.

What so many of you "I'm not gonna watch Days ever again"-ers aren't thinking about is that if you don't watch Days, you will be putting all the other vets out of a job as well by letting the show get cancelled! I personally will not support that.

I really hope that with Drake and Diedre gone it will make more room for Steve and Kayla to have a major storyline of their own.

Hartleyfan

Group: Members
Posts: 8,204
Joined: 14-January 07
From: Ready to leave DOOL with Drake and Deidre
Member No.: 226,229

I completly understand,but I am showing my devotion and loyalty to Drake and Dee and I refuse to continue watching a show that treats fans and actors like a pile of sh**.


gingerp

Group: Members
Posts: 876
Joined: 28-December 05
Member No.: 78,411

Steve and Kayla have had more than one big storyline since they returned. Sorry, but I will never support this show again. I don't care if it stays on the air or is cancelled.

DrakeDBEST

Group: Members
Posts: 920
Joined: 7-September 07
From: Canada
Member No.: 276,726

My all-time favorite actor had his role terminated after 23 CONSECUTIVE years on DAYS even though he NEVER said once that he wanted to leave the show. Drake wanted to stay with the show until it went off the air but it didn't matter to TPTB. I'll never support the show again that did this to him so as of today, I'm done with DAYS. I'm sorry to the vets left behind because IMO they're in for rough times ahead.


StevePatchFan

Group: Members
Posts: 625
Joined: 21-October 07
Member No.: 282,485

I think Drake and Deidre will be back, mark my words.


melly123

Group: Members
Posts: 195
Joined: 9-April 07
Member No.: 248,866

I agree..it will be just like the last time when they "killed off" John. I think they like when they get viewers in a big uproar. I'll still be watching.


Theresa_Chaze

Group: Members
Posts: 1,478
Joined: 7-November 07
Member No.: 285,927


There will be nothing to come back to. Even if Days does last more than a couple of month, both Dee and Drake have enough fans that any show who picked them up would get a big boost in the ratings. Rumor has it GH is courting Dee. It's also rumored that Drake wants to go into producing. Once they move on, they aren't coming back, especially they way were treated.

If you believe Corday when he said they would be back, I got a bridge for you. It doesn't go any where, so I'll give you a good deal on the purchase price.

As for thinking of the other vets, they aren't being treated any better than Dee or Drake. It's just a matter of time before their air time goes down to zero and they are off the show in the same way. It a simple race to what happens first. The cancellation or the next vet firing


JarlenaFan

Group: Members
Posts: 495
Joined: 13-July 08
Member No.: 316,917

I love so many vets on the show, but even with my love of John and Marlena the stories have been hard to watch this year. I don't have the heart or energy to stick around and see what they can do to Hope, Steve, Tony, Anna, Bo, etc.


Mia_Devlin

Group: User Moderators
Posts: 2,108
Joined: 28-December 05
From: Until Matt comes home!
Member No.: 78,463

The problem is why should anyone watch if the show no longer entertains them? I can't find a single storyline happening right now that actually entertains me. It has less to do with the characters then he writing. How about TPTB try and gain fans by 1) writing an entertaining show that actually makes sense and gives the fans a reason to want to watch? 2) How about writing for the characters we have known and loved for years and staying true to those characters rich histories? This show could be so much more then it is. They have talented actors but the writing they are given well it stinks to high heaven and no one should have to watch that unless they enjoy torturing themselves. It isn't the fans responsibility to keep this show on the air it is Corday and Higley's responsibility and one doesn't seem to give a damn and they other can't write worth a damn.

Aeb_2308

Group: Members
Posts: 188
Joined: 10-December 08
Member No.: 340,542


That is true that they should rely on history and a lot of Fan fic writers could do a better job but I will continue watching my favorite Charactors and hope that someday the writing might improve. You can't force people to watch or not watch a show. If people are not entertained by the show than they should not watch it.

I hope that Steve and Kayla get a good story now that John and Marlana are gone.


Jiggs

Group: User Moderators
Posts: 4,417
Joined: 28-December 05
From: J&M Heaven
Member No.: 78,414


Well, I am not a fan of Steve and Kayla, and I don't believe in watching a show I am no longer invested in nor care about. It's suppose to be entertainment, which is a selfish act. I don't watch shows that I don't like. I don't owe Days of Our Lives anything, nor the remaining vets.



mesagirl

Group: Members
Posts: 1,661
Joined: 10-August 07
Member No.: 274,884

My thoughts are that although I understand this loyalty some have to just two characters in a huge ensemble cast, that we need to remember that there would be no "Dee and Drake" if it weren't for Days in the first place.

Days was around a long time before the characters of Marlena and then John were introduced. There is more to Days than just John and Marlena.

When I finally stop watching this show(which is fast approaching I fear), that I've watched for the past quarter of a century I might add, it won't be because two actors got fired because of a very volatile financial climate. It will be because the story lines suck, the writing sucks, etc. Which unfortunately to me, is what has happened.

Watching Days for me the past few months, years almost, has become a chore, a sense of obligation. There is no longer the anticipation that used to come with watching this show. There is no one left to root for, no one to identify with, no character that is interesting enough to make me want to tune in to find out what happens to them. That is the fault of the writers, producers and casting directors.

Where are the epic story lines? Why do people fall in love at the drop of a hat now, instead of letting the story build slowly, so the viewers can be screaming in their living room... just kiss already! Where is the good vs evil story lines? Days is now a blur of characters that walk around with no meaning, no agenda, no story line. Some prop other characters, some just bed hop, some are fading in to the woodwork. Too many s/l's have started and yet have never gone anywhere.... we get a middle that had no beginning, and never sees an end.

Days, like Mia says, has hardly any entertainment value left to it. It's been gone a long time now, well before Dee and Drake were let go, well before Days turned in to an afterschool special.

There's just nothing special left to this soap anymore. It's all been sucked out by the poor s/l's and crappy writing.

Sorry, had to vent there. I'm done heh.


Jiggs

Group: User Moderators
Posts: 4,417
Joined: 28-December 05
From: J&M Heaven
Member No.: 78,414


Mesagirl, I used to enjoy the whole show... over the years that changed until all I cared about anymore was J&M. Of course there is more to Days than J&M, but not for me. I think for many, letting go of D&D is just the last straw.

Moonwind333

Group: Members
Posts: 102
Joined: 20-December 08
Member No.: 341,757

I no longer trust TPTB at DOOL. After what Corday & Co. did to Drake TWICE and now to Dee who is to say who is next? He/they can profess the end of releases all they want but I don't believe it. Why should I invest any more of my time and emotions in a show that could do this again and again to other characters I love with no warning or apologies and once again see them treated like unneeded extras. No, I don't think I want to take a chance again. My love of Days started on day one, but probably won't last to the end, not when TPTB have so little respect for actors that have devoted half their lives to the show and so little respect for the audience that has supported it. And it is not just about two actors leaving, it is about HOW two actors were summarily dismissed.

mesagirl

Group: Members
Posts: 1,661
Joined: 10-August 07
Member No.: 274,884


Yeah I totally get that. I guess for me, J&M were never the end all be all for me on Days. The only couple that truly resonated for me that strongly were Jack and Jennifer, and they left, and I still watched the show. I'm not saying that no longer watching cuz J&M are gone is wrong for some people to do, I'm just saying that their leaving shouldn't break the show, characters come and go on soaps.

Days suffers from things far worse than just losing two main characters, that affect the entire cast as well as most of the remaining viewers.... crappy s/l's and **** poor writing. Not even the amazing acting talents of some of the cast can save the show. The writing is just that bad.

In some ways, Dee and Drake could be viewed as lucky... getting out before their characters were totally destroyed by this cold mess called Days of Our Lives.

To read the rest of the postings on the topic please go to http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showtopic=813725&st=0

The NBC boards contain a cross section of the viewers; they come from all genders, ages, ethics and educational backgrounds. It is their voices that need to be heard.

Days of Our Lives: Character Sketch--Stefano DiMera aka Joseph Mascolo

Days of Our Lives: Character Sketch--Stefano DiMera aka Joseph Mascolo

In 1982, veteran actor Joseph Mascolo joined the Days of Our Lives cast as devilishly handsome and manipulative Stefano DiMera. Complex, passionate and frequently controversial, Stefano has been the character the fans loved to hate. Even though family and power have always been important to him, it is the thrill of the hunt and the conquest which is the key to his character. To deny him is to only further attract his attention and in many cases his wrath.

Born the seventh son of a seventh son, Stefano not only considered himself indestructible, hence naming himself the Phoenix, but he also thought himself above the laws of man and God. Raised as the family crowded prince, he was never to be question, but blindly obeyed. Whether friend, family or foe, to disobey his command was to bring down the fury of Stefano. Not only did his charisma and magnetism attract the attention of the women who didn‘t learn to fear him until it was too late, but his intelligence always kept him three moves ahead of ISA and the Salem PD. In many ways his love of opera reflected how he fancied himself to be akin to the Divine as he controlled and manipulated the mere mortals he walked among. The people of the world, including his own children, were merely pawns to for him to use and discard at will.

In spite of the relatively recent rewrite in history, it was not the feud with the Bradys that brought Stefano to Salem, but the long standing dispute with the Bradfords and the legend of the Baka. The Brady's only became targets after Roman thwarted Stefano's plans. Nor was Marlena originally the target of his obsession. Instead, Stefano saw her as perfect wife for Tony. It was only after she interfered with his scheme and stood up to him, that he became fixated with owning and controlling her.

Larger than life, he was always a passionate character with a dynamic personality, whose laugh could be both amusing and terrifying. Stefano wanted what he wanted and it didn't care what he had to do or to whom as long as he achieved his goal. It was his strong will and quick wit that made him in many ways invincible. His schemes were a strange mixture of gothic romance, sci-fi fantasy and horror. From the faking his death to programming memories of one character into another, Stefano quintessential villain that fans love to hate. He was always the master conductor who orchestrated international plots, while his henchmen did the dirty work.

Unfortunately, for the Days and the viewers, the current writers have trivialized him. Instead of the dramatic character that considered the world his oyster, Stefano has been turned into a baby-cooing supporting character for the younger actors. The head writer has effectively castrated the character with her inability to write complex storylines that involve multi-dimensional characters whose power comes from between their ears not between their legs. Instead of being master of all her surveys, the writers have him worrying about grandchildren and his legacy, when the real Stefano thinks of himself as the seventh son of the seventh son destined never to die. The writers sent him out like one of his flunkies on the great diamond caper. Stefano isn’t an errand boy; he would have been at home smoking a Cuban cigar, drinking 100 year old brandy, and listening to opera while his pawns did the dirty work.

Although there are many storylines with diabolical plot and schemes that could yet be written for Stefano, they are not likely to be seen on the screen. No matter how talent the actors, unless there is writers create plots and storylines to for them to hang their performance on, there cannot be romance, drama or suspense; all the things that keep the viewers turning in.

So to quote Shakespeare:
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

So it will be as the sands run out and Days of Our Lives will fade in to history.

Days of Our Lives--No longer just a One Soap Opera Blog

Some of you will notice that I changed the title to my blog. There is a reason. Although I love Days of Our Lives very much, after January 23 I will no longer be watching it. It was a very difficult to decision to make. I have been watching since nearly the beginning. I have grown up with many of the characters. Alice and Tom Horton were as near and dear to me as my own grandparents. The romance, suspense and humor was a constant in my life; unfortunately, that show has been missing for a long time. For nearly two years, Days hasn't been the show that I loved. The writing has rapidly degraded into to being nothing more than soft porn. Favorite characters have been dismissed, rewritten to be shadows of their former selves, and ignored. There hasn't been an actually storyline for over a year. The firing of Dee and Drake for me was the finally straw. The ratings prove that I am not the only one who misses the good old Days.

In April, I started writing alternative storylines in protest to the bad writing. It started as a way to embarrass the writers to doing their job. However, it became so popular that I not only kept it going, but applied for the head writer gig. In hind sight, I'm not surprised that I didn't get taken seriously. At best the application was amateurish; at worse, just plain wrong. If there was another mistake I could have done, I certainly can't think of it. Anyway, the past is the past. I would still like the head writer gig, but at this rate it would be a temp job. Instead, I'm going to edit the script for format and style, bringing it into industry standards. After which, I'm going to apply to the other soaps for a paying gig on the staff. With Days, I know the history and the characters; but I'm a quick study. With a little help from the actors, I can catch up.

Reality TV: Maximize Profits With Discount Entertainment

Reality TV: Maximize Profits With Discount Entertainment

In the entertainment industry, it can truly be said that everything old is new again. From the beginning of the film industry to the current contract negotiations, studio executives have attempted to keep the lion share of the profits, while denying the necessity or importance of the skilled workers and talent that make the industry possible. The movement towards reality shows is just latest in the long line of attempts to devalue industry professionals in order to keep salaries and benefits low.

The American film industry was created by pioneers who weren't thinking about changing the world, but how to make a quick buck. Nickelodeon owners quickly learned that the true money was to be made by producing films instead of just showing them. The ruthless competition between the studios eventually led to the top nine forming the Motion Pictures Patient Company, which signed an exclusive contract for the film stock produce by the George Eastman factory. The contract created a monopoly that not only controlled who could produce films, but also which films could be made and where the films could be shown. Anyone failing to meet the Trust, as the Motion Picture Patient Company came to be known, was either excluded from the industry or found themselves to be the target of violent attacks.

The strangle hold the Trust held on the business cascaded throughout the industry. Independent film producers were denied access to film stock made in the United States. Although they could buy stock from other countries, they also had additional difficulties with processing the film. In addition, the Trust was known to use strong arm tactics to shut down offices and destroy sets. In spite of public interest, on-screen talent was considered easily replaceable by the studios and was listed only by their character name in the credits. By limiting the information, studios prevented the actors from building a fan base that would give her or him financial or creative leverage. Distributors were required not only pay a fee to distribute Trust films, but they were also limited to showing only films produced by the Trust studios. To do other would bring down the Trust’s wrath. Not only would films be withheld, but their Nickelodeon would be subject to the same violence as the filmmakers. Between the anti-trust court battles and the influx of foreign film stock, the Motion Picture Patents Company was busted in 1917, clearing the way not only for independent film makers but for the actors and production staff to start receiving their due.

The independents were not only more willing to take risks on subject matter, but they saw the profit in creating a star system. They realized that in the short run it would cost more in salaries, but in the long run the profits would be much greater. Signing actors to exclusive contracts insured that their fan base would also stay loyal to the studio. Although the stars gained in notoriety, they lost independence. Morality clauses in the contracts gave the studio executive a great deal of control over their private as well as professional lives. Bound by contracts, actors were assigned roles based availability instead of desire to play the role or compatibility for the part. Contract actors received a weekly paycheck whether or not they worked; therefore, the studios used them as frequently as possible, even if the connection between role and actor had to be forced.

When the Supreme Court ruled that the ownership of theaters and film distribution was a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the studio contracts was brought to an end. Having to compete for theatrical screens forced the studios to limit the number of movies they released a year and increase the quality of the productions. Instead, cast and crew were hired for individual projects. No longer held by the rigid contract system, actors, directors, producers and the technical crew were able to not only chose projects, but also negotiate the terms of their contracts. Whether on-screen or behind the scenes, the more popular the talent, the more control she or he has in determining the terms of the agreement.

In response to the increasing competition of networks and entertainment venues, the networks have created cheaper ‘reality” shows that do not focus on professional talent, storylines or staging. Although reality shows have been around since radio, it wasn’t until the 2000s that they became highly prolific. The shows feature ordinary people in situations that have little to do with reality; instead the shows have become a hybrid of games shows and dramas, as the participates compete against each other for prizes. Using exotic locations or sets, the audience becomes voyeurs as they are giving glimpses behind scenes. Even with million dollar prizes, these shows are cheaper to produce than those with skilled artisans.

The star system has come full circle as once again studio executives chose to use unknown players as a way of streamlining costs so that they may retain more of the profits. Instead of improving the quality of the shows to increase revenues, they chose to produce and promote entertainment shows of lower quality both in content and production values. By giving ordinary folk fifteen minutes of fame, the studios undermine the guilds and unions of the entertainment industry, thereby increasing the power of the studios to not only control but also manipulate the industry. The movement away from professional talent back to the nameless performers is a tactic taking straight from the Motion Pictures Patient Company’s hand book as they once again chose quantity over quality.

Days of Our Lives: What the NBC Board Fans think.

The NBC Days of Our Lives fan board contains a cross section of the fan base. I thought it would be interesting to share what is being said about Days with others who care about the show. Below are a couple of threads that were started by different people. They copied and pasted in full without edits.

The end of DAYS for me-started by Purpur

Purpur
I have been a faithful viewer of DOOL since November 16, 1966. There were lapses of five-month intervals twice a year for several years while I was in school. However, when I could watch the show, I did. Every so often, I would get discouraged about the show when the writing was particularly inane and the viewers' intelligence insulted more than usual. Still, I made excuses for the writers and producers and kept watching.

Now, with the new developments, it has come time to part ways. I am disappointed and disgusted that "old-time warriors" are to be pushed aside for young "twinkies" and a more "hip" story. The money they could have saved by better writing and decision making, by not hiring superfluous actors and not writing inconsequential storylines, would surely have paid the salaries of the veteran actors. For decades, the veterans like Alice and Tom, Julie and Doug have kept the story together and it was still interesting and engaging to watch DOOL. All that is now water under the bridge.
I feel for the newly hired young actors as well as for veterans like Alison Sweeney, et al. The new young actors surely were delighted to finally have landed a role to support themselves. The veterans are probably constantly worried over job security. I truly have compassion for them. It is not fair to them. But then, it is not fair to the viewer either. I know actors come and go and sometimes it is necessary to let someone go, but this usually has much less to do with the actors themselves than it does with the writing.

I realize that conflict is what keeps a story going. I wouldn't presume to be so conceited as to proclaim that I could write a better story line. But then, I don't get paid for this kind of work either. If one gets paid for a certain job, then it is his/her responsibility to deliver. That goes for producers of a show as well. They make millions on programs, but delivery of DOOL has not been up to par for some time now.

So, here is my proclamation: As of today, DOOL has lost one viewer. This probably means diddley-squat to those in charge, but it gives me the satisfaction that I have exercised my right to not support a show that is written in an inferior manner and that treats its actors like easily and arbitrarily replaceable commodities. From the NBC Boards I understand that many fans, whether they be Sami and EJ fans (as I was) or EJ and Nicole fans or Sami and Rafe die-hards, seem to be in an unhappy frame of mind regarding DOOL. Perhaps the producers and writers should pay heed.
Thank you for having given me the opportunity to speak my mind.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Devil Doll
Sorry to hear your leaving purpur but I can understand it because I know had EJ been paired back up with Sami I would be doing the same thing....so I guess my staying cancels out your leaving or the other way around if writers suddenly change the storyline. I guess I don't share your thoughts on the writing right now since I think in the last few months its improved a great deal and is back to holding peoples attention at least. I know getting past the vets not being on as much as you were used to is also disappointing, but I think every generation has had to go thru that as the characters that were once so popular and loved are pushed to the back burner to make room for younger less experienced actors...but I don't hold DOOL personally responsible for that because its just the way its always gone, not just on this show but others as well. I hope you'll reconsider and think about staying because this show needs all the support it can get now and who knows maybe someday you might wanna tune back in after taking a break from it and it would be a shame if it was no longer there when you did.


Daisy 132
Sorry to hear that, Purpur, but I do understand. I'm hardly watching anymore either, and many of us have left already. I don't care about supporting the show. It's a disaster, as far as I'm concerned. None of the stories are interesting to me, some of them absurd. Anyways, put the extra hour in the day to good use.

Tcpdesigns
I think it is interesting that so many different fan bases are jumping ship. For once it isn't about "if my favourite couple isn't together I'm not watching". It is about the overall quality of the show. We could all handle our favourite couple leaving if the show had anything else to fall back on. It doesn't.

Aeb_2308
I am sorry to her that you are leaving. I only watch a few times everyweek myseff I will forget to watch my tapes and watch some of the stuff I have never seen on youtube.

EjamiLove18
I understand and agree with you the writing seems to have gotten arbitrary and terrible but I gotta stay for my man James Scott! and my girls Allison and Molly.
i hope it gets better -cuz ill keep complaining if it doesn't! lol but I love the actors and dool has been one of the consistant things in my life since watching it 12 years ago with my mom. but merry christmas to you as well

Wicked Game
I quit watching almost 3 weeks ago. I really don't miss it, especially after I come here and read that I am not really missing all that much. Who is to say if I come back in the future, but as long as HIGLEY is writing schlock it will be this way.

I too have been watching since I was 12. I think that was even before Doug and Addie.

Caged Bird
I've been watching the show for twenty-five years, and I am truly disappointed in the turn it has taken. I don't even know why I continue to watch. The last year has been one of the most boring since I've been watching.


Dayzer
Sorry to hear you are disappointed in the show. I have been a fan of Days for over 25 yrs as well, so I feel your pain. DOOL was so good back in the day. In fact I was just watching old episodes on youtube of Jack and Jennifer *sigh* they were so cute. It seems like the writers don't get it. Where is the romance? Who wants to watch the sleaze we are being subjected to everyday? Not me...I have about twenty shows backed up on Tivo and I have no desire to watch them.


NoleDays
This is an excellent post, and I wish TIIC could see it. I agree with everything you said. However, I've watched since 1965, when I was 9 years old, and it's a part of my life. It's the first thing I do when I get home from work. I watch the Days I recorded that day and chill. It's comfort food...of course I'm getting quite a bit of indigestion from this comfort food lately.

I'll keep watching at least until the last vet and semi-vet (Sami, etc.) are off the show. (And I'll fast-forward through the cr@p.) When it has totally become the serialized afterschool special I suspect they are going toward, then I will no longer watch either. It will be sad to have such a big part of my life gone, but then, it will no longer be the Days I grew up loving.

Wicked Game
<
Dool crazy
I'm like you and will not give up the show. I have watched from the first day 43 years ago and can not imagine a day without my Days. Your right in calling it comfort food. LOL I will not allow Corday or anyone to drive me off and will continue to support the veteran actors we have with the show. I don't care a whif about this younger bunch except for Max. I find it so sad to see the deplorable state the show is in now. It was so wonderful and the stories were so exciting and wonderful. I could hardly wait for the next days show. Talk about going from the top of the world to the bottom of the tank. I still hope in my heart that things will change. Wouldn't that be grand?

Windy Lindy 48
I've watched Days since 1969 and I agree with you. I'm getting very discouraged with the story line. Maybe they should fire poor writers and keep the good actors. The story lines have become boring, boring, boring.
The youngsters they've hired aren't nearly as interesting as the oldies but goodies.


Sofasu
I'm so sad to hear you're leaving us but I totally understand...the young acting is
definitely subpar and there are no longer s/ls that you can't miss for several days
and still know what's up. As another poster said, I too am appalled at the sleaze
they are purporting as romance. There is no wholesomeness to this show what-
so ever. I have never ff'd through so many "kissing" scenes in my life. It seems
like everything is upsidedown....nothing is the way it should be.....there are no
values, no goodness.....sometimes I think this is more like soft porn for the
teenagers to watch. They definitely need some fresh ideas - enough of all the
copycat s/ls, also, they need to listen to hear what the viewing audience wants to see.

Don't they ever have anyone read this board to find out how disgusting it all is
now? Recently the boards have reached an alltime low as well. It used to be fun
to exchange ideas with everyone, but not anymore. I am so close to giving up but
then the positive side of me says it has to change - it can't stay the way it is....
but then again, I am probably wrong.

Daisy132
No, you're not wrong. I completely agree with everything you've said, and actually, after reading this post I wonder why I'm watching the show myself.

I think that if we tune in again in about six months, we wouldn't have missed very much. I'm thinking of doing that, and maybe ask one of the mods, as I did before, to suspend me from this addictive board for a while to keep me from posting so much.

Smiley Cat
As soon as Marlena leaves, I'll be tuning in another show and starting to forget all about Days, too.

Shaena30
To me it seems like the worse Nicole's storyline is the meaner we all get, we want it to end, the Ej/ Nicole (I'm sorry but Ecole sounds like a germ) people want it to go on and have EJ and Nicole live happily ever after when we all know that the signs are all pointing to a EJ and Sami pairing, so out of our frustrations we all come here and fight with each other about who likes Nicole and Sami and who hates them. It's makin me crazy.....lol

Mommapry

I know that you are not the only one to make this comment, but it bothers me that so many people seem to be picking on the new young actors. If the writing stinks, is it the actors fault? It is a little hard to be an interesting actor with boring writing. I think we should give the younger actors the benefit of the doubt until they get some sort of story line. Who knows if Melanie is a good actor or not, all the writers have her doing is whining!

GimmiMoreEJami
If I remember back, the previous young hipsters were Bo, Hope, Marlena, Roman, Jack, Jen, Kayla & Steve and they shoved Marie, Neil, Don, Liz, Laura and Bill out the door when they arrived.

I don't think we have the writing staff with those same skills that once made soaps great and probably never will again.

Cook fan
I'm glad that someone pointed this out. I don't necessarily agree with everything that is going on with DAYS right now. I've seen lots of my favorites come/go. I can remember how devastated I was when they axed Matt Ashford not once but twice. I didn't think I'd have the heart to keep watching. But, I've been a faithful viewer for 21 years now. You just have to roll with the punches. You have to have vets. But, the door also must be open for new arrivals. That's how the show carries on. Julie/Doug were all the rage back in the 60's. Then, John/Marlena/Bo/Hope/Steve/Kayla/etc. all rolled in and Julie/Doug/Maggie/Mickey all took a backseat to the trials/relationships of these newbies. Unfortunately, the day has arrived where new generations/characters have to come on board. We wouldn't have ever had Carly/Lawrence/Vivian/Billie/EJ/Sami/Nicole/Phillip/Brady if we had just tried to hang onto the past. You must have the new as well as the old.

Ken Corday: You are only as Good as your last Show?

Dedrie Hall and Drake Hogestyn Fans

Fan on the Sony and NBC boards, the Dedrie Hall and Drake Hogestyn Fans have started a new campaign to save the vets. Drake_Cake posted on the Sony board the idea to fax Ken Corday on 1/23/09, declaring that "I just watched Days for the last time." The concept is known by a few names; however, the concept is to tie up communications enough to disrupt business as a way of making changes. There some who suggested that waiting wasn't necessary. In order for the "paper blizzard" to be effective it has to happen over a short period of time--one day, two at the most." I recommend 1/22 and 1/23. By concentrating the efforts on those two days, the strategy will be more effective.

I added a few other contact numbers.


http://faxzero.com/ is a site to send free faxes.


Corday Productions Fax number
818)840-4968
Production phone number: 818-295-2820

Sony Pictures owns the rights to Days
Michael Lynton
Chairman & CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Amy Pascal
Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment
12102 West Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-3195
Phone: (310) 244-4000
Fax: (310) 244-2626
another phone line: 310-244-5722
NBC

NBCUNI.COM FEEDBACK
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
The GE Building at Rockefeller Plaza is NBC's corporate headquarters\
Phone: 212-664-4444. Fax: 212-664-4085

GE information
Jeffrey Immelt, CEO
General Electric Company
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828
(203) 373-2211
I couldn't find a fax number, but I have yet to look very hard. If someone has it please post it.

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An Opportunity for Days of Our Lives Fans to Speak Out

With the firing of Days most popular actors and the decay in the storylines, I want to give the fans of Days an opportunity to speak out. What would you like to say to Ken Corday or Dena Higley? What would you like to tell Dee and Drake? Call in and send a message to them or anyone involved with the show. Join me on my radio show 2pm Eastern at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theresachaze Monday December 29.

If you would like to participate in the chat room, you will have to set up a free account.

Looking for an agent or someone connected to Daytime TV

I am looking for an agent to represent my scripts and to help me get a writing gig. In addition, I have three novels that I would like to sell the rights too or be contracted to write the script. Nearly all my work is set in Michigan, which gives them an added selling point in today's financial climate. The State of Michigan is giving film makers incentives to film within the state.


Winning the 2006 International Gloria Film Festival, Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal romance that connects the present with the logging industry of the 1900. To help a friend, Elizabeth agrees to teach a writing course at a small college. She expects to find a sleepy town with a long history, but instead she finds herself dealing with violently jealous wife and the past mistakes she is only beginning to remember. Arriving in town, she finds it uncomfortably familiar. As the controlling President of the college, Judy Olson, shows her around, Elizabeth begins to realize that she has made a mistake and begins looking for excuses to leave. After meeting the famous historian, Michael Scott and his irrational wife, Shane, Elizabeth finds the past becoming more real than the present as the death of a small boy decades earlier reignites an old treachery, which could destroy the entire town. When love leads to vengeance, it is best to say good-bye.

Eye of Ra is an occult horror film that is based on Egyptian mythology. When Isis stole power from Ra, she initiated a guardian who not only had the strength to be the focal point for this great power, but who also had the ability to protect its secrets from those who would abuse them. Jealous of her grandmother and daughters’ spiritual gifts, Sandra takes her youngest daughter, Rikki and disappears. Seeking power, she searches the world for the Eye of Ra; when she finds it, it is Rikki not her that the Guardian chooses. Enraged, Sandra makes a pact with the Dark Ones; if they help her destroy her own daughter, she will use the Eye in their name. Sandra attacks in the middle of the initiation ceremony. The Priestess is killed before it can be completed. Barely escaping with her life, Rikki returns to the small town of her birth. Her physical wounds have heals, but the guilt and self-doubt keeps her from seeing the truth of her life. Sandra follows Rikki to finish what she started, bringing the evil of the Dark Ones with her, and a small northern Michigan town learns the black secret that had been buried among them for generations.

Awakening the Dragon -- Book One of the Dragon Clan Trilogy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fy7KEOE3AQ) -- is a story of magic, suspense and karmic justice combined in a tale of horror. Rachael moves to Coyote Springs to find a home and open her bookstore. Instead, she becomes the catalyst in exposing a murder and the target of a violent cult. She is forced to awaken her dragon spirit prematurely to save herself and all she loves. Will she be able to control the power of the dragon as it rises giving her the power to save all she loves or will the flames from within destroy her?


In Dragon Domain -- Book Two of the Dragon Clan Trilogy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvK7RjM9QRQ) -- Cheyenne and Celeste came to Coyote Springs to save a child; instead, Cheyenne found a home. With the help of their new friend, Jane, they created a spiritual sanctuary. But when Celeste stopped running, her past caught up with her. Dominic arrived with promises of love and passion. Instead of love, he reawakened Celeste’s dark side, turning her against those she loved the most. With the aid of the dragons, Cheyenne was barely able to ward off their first attack. With each soul they bound to them, Celeste and Dominic’s greed and hatred grew until they would not settle for less than totally destroying Cheyenne and all she loves. How do you protect yourself from someone who knows how to steal your soul?


Nict For Ure Selfe (Not for Ourselves) a paranormal suspense novelette that ties the present with the past as karma awakens an old blood feud. Alyssa attends a local Pagan festival, only become the target of the local deputy's bigotry and hatred. Unable to understand way she was singled out, she performs a ritual asking Bridget for her help. Instead of gaining wisdom, her spirit is transported back to a time before the Celtic Goddesses and Gods gave way to the Christos and when clan traditions could mean life or death. The book trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jk8S7AVw5E.

In addition, I have been writing alternative universe storylines for the soap opera, Days of Our Lives and posting them on the NBC boards. Starting out as a protest to the bad writing, my script has received more favorable reviews from the fans than what is been aired. I have applied for the gig, but I need someone to represent me to the producers.

I need an agent who has the ability to knock door of hinges--metaphorically speaking--and let some fresh energy into the industry. If you are such a person, please call me at 231-943-3298.