* An Exclusive Opportunity to Mingle with the Stars *

THE BAY THE SERIES:

Soap Stars Support THE BAY Fundraiser Fan Event and Party

WHEN: Saturday, July 31st
TIME: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CST
WHERE: Henry’s Hat Restaurant
3413 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Los Angeles, Ca 90068
http://www.henrys-hat.com/

*** TICKETS ARE $50 EACH ***
*** ONLY 60 AVAILABLE ***

Plan to join the cast and crew of the web’s hottest new series ‘THE BAY’, as well as a host of other soap stars from ABC, NBC and CBS Daytime, as we gather to show our support in promoting the future of soap operas. Those attending include Mary Beth Evans (DAYS, ATWT, GH), Tristan Rogers (GH, B&B), Lilly Melgar (GH, B&B), Martha Madison (DAYS), McKenzie Westmore (AMC, PASSIONS), Nicolas Coster (SB, AW, AMC), Matthew Borlenghi (DAYS, B&B, AMC), Sandra Dee Robinson (AW, B&B), Dylan Bruce (ATWT), Charles Shaughnessy (DAYS) and MANY more…

The evenings festivities will include a complimentary buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres, served from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., and an open bar serving complimentary beer and wine from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. (A cash bar will be available afterwards.)  The evening will also include Raffles and Auctions offering exclusive one of a kind autographed items, a walk on role on THE BAY, and V.I.P Passes to the exclusive Premiere Party !!!  It’s time to party !!!

YOU CAN PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE:

Dreams really do come true. Sometimes we just need to help them along the way. Here’s our chance.

The Bay The Series is the hottest news to hit the soap world since soaps made the transition from radio to television. Now, a new millennium later, we bear witness to another transition. As network soaps continue to struggle with ratings, viewership, and how to recapture the glory days of their past, there are those who have their eyes on the future. One such person is Gregori J. Martin. Not only does Gregori know what fans want in a soap opera, he knows how to make it a reality. The Bay The Series promises to give fans back what network soaps have long since lost… real story, real balance, real drama, and real star power… lots of star power, and all delivered by way of the internet… for now.

Come September 15th, The Bay The Series will make its debut. The story will begin. Until then, it’s hard to ask a future viewer to show support for a show that has yet to air, but a quick look at The Bay’s cast list makes that request much easier. Add to that the constant praise and excitement stated by the actors themselves, it then becomes hard not to become excited. Check out The Bay’s promos as well. It becomes obvious that the glory days of soap operas are returning… September 15th to be exact. Now we have the opportunity to make sure the story will continue.

The Bay The Series now has an account on Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter is a way to ‘Fund & Follow Creativity’. It’s a great way to offer support for The Bay The Series. Here’s how it works:

~Every project has a funding goal (any dollar amount) and a time limit (from 1 – 90 days) set by the project creator. When the deadline is reached, there will be one of two results:

1. Funding Successful: If The Bay has met or surpassed its funding goal, all backers’ credit cards are instantly charged and funds go directly to the project creator (LANYFilms, Inc.). Project creators are then responsible for completing the project and delivering rewards as promised.

2. Funding Unsuccessful: If The Bay has NOT met its funding goal, all pledges are canceled. That’s it.

~If you make a pledge and The Bay is successfully funded, your credit card will be charged when the project reaches its funding deadline. If The Bay does not reach its funding goal, your credit card is never charged. If funding fails, all pledges are canceled.

~The Bay will continue to accept pledges until the funding deadline, even if the goal has been met. Any and all amounts pledged will be greatly appreciated. Only you and the project creator will be able to see your pledge amount, though your Kickstarter user name will be listed on The Bay’s ’backer page’. An email will be sent to you when funding ends, no matter the outcome.

~Amazon Payments processes all the pledges on Kickstarter. When you decide to make a pledge, they will quickly send you to an Amazon Payments page to confirm. If you have an Amazon account this takes only a few clicks. If you don’t have an Amazon account, Amazon will ask you to register during the pledge process — it’s painless. You won’t need to do anything annoying like stop in the middle and check your email.

Contributions of any amount are accepted, be it one dollar or a million. All will make a difference, and all will be appreciated. Rewards/Incentives are offered for different levels of contributions, including tickets to the exclusive premiere party scheduled in September. But more importantly, we can make this happen.   The Bay The Series is the wave of the future for soap operas.  You don’t always have to be careful what you wish for.  In fact, The Bay The Series is where dreams can come true… all of them.

Thanks for your support

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE BAY THE SERIES AT KICKSTARTER

The Bay has their first promo out and it stars Mary Beth Evans in the role of Sara Garrett.  Please take a look and comment on how excited you are to see Mary Beth in the role!

The Bay Promo featuring Mary Beth Evans

For a PARTY!!

That’s right, this weeks blog is taking a break from publication because we are hard at work here at party central preparing for “The Bay” kick off party co-hosted by our very own Mary Beth Evans!

Tomorrow night at the L Scorpion Lounge in Hollywood, the cast and crew of  The Bay will be out in full force to celebrate the start of taping just two days later.

We will have FULL coverage on site, not just from Mary Beth, but from the whole cast and crew! Lilly Melgar, Dylan Bruce, Tristan Rogers, John Callahan, Sandra Dee Robinson and Martha Madison are just some of the cast that will be there!

If you haven’t already, follow the official fan sites at TWITTER and FACE BOOK for complete updates that will include pictures as well as updates from the party, LIVE!  We know this was last minute and many fans could not make the trip or make arrangements to attend, but we are going to do our best to bring the party to you virtually so you can enjoy it also!  Please join us!  It will be lots of fun!

Check back next week for a full write up and blog on the party!

For more information on the party and attending the party please click HERE.

~By wawame

It just doesn’t get any better than that, does it?  Every emotion you could possibly feel all wrapped up in a five minute span.  After all this time, their characters and their stories still rock me to my core.  But, someone thought the concept needed fixing.  So, they fixed it.  Romances the caliber of Steve and Kayla’s eventually came to an end.  Soaps have never been the same.

In my opinion, and much to my dismay, soap operas are broken.  Not a day goes by that we don’t read some comment or article reinforcing that notion.  Overall viewership is down, and come September, another one of the daytime serial dramas that has seemingly been with us forever will come to an end.  Soap operas are definitely broken, and yet no one who is in charge of writing these American icons seems to know why.  In fact, TPTB seem to sit back and scratch their heads in wistful denial while blaming the viewers (or lack thereof) as, one by one, soap operas continue their path to extinction.  It’s been implied that some of us apparently don’t ’get it’; an implication that the storylines of today’s soaps are a tad too ‘smart’ or ’cutting edge’ for our liking.  Add to that, the twenty or so of us online posters that continually complain of these ‘smart’ and ‘edgy’ storylines deserve little consideration.  We may be viewers, but unless we are one of the extreme few who have a Neilson box or belong to a focus group, our opinions are moot.  Speaking of, did you know that in 2009 there were only 25,000 total American households that participated in the Nielsen daily metered system, representing over 114,500,000 American households that had televisions?  That’s right… 0.02183% got to decide what the remaining 99.97817% got to watch on their TV.  But such is our gauge, and we accept it.  Still, you would think that since a soap writer’s income can depend on the success and longevity of their stories, they would at least contemplate what those ‘twenty’ or so angry online folks are saying.  In fact, by Neilson Rating standards, those ‘twenty’ would represent approximately 100,000 viewers… viewers that just might fall into that oh-so-coveted 18-49 demographic.  The thing is, we know it’s more than ‘twenty’ that are screaming for change… a hell of a lot more.

It’s a pity that TPTB sometimes turn a deaf ear or discount such a large representation of their viewers, seeing how the vast majority of both past and present viewers (online and not) have a good idea of what it will take to help save our soaps… or at least give them a chance to go out in a blaze of glory.  Viewers are, after all, the very life blood of soaps.  We know what we want.  Apparently, so do the actors who made our soaps great.

“The things that they remember are not the wildly imaginative things.  They are the stories that deal with the human heart.  That’s what the show should be.  That’s what the stories should be.” – Bill Hayes (Doug Williams - Days of our Lives)

Supercoupling, no doubt, will always remain “an important part of daytime,” believes Byrne (Martha, ex Lily – ATWT). “The Luke and Lauras, the Bo and Hopes, the Lily and Holdens, the Josh and Revas … That is what people remember about soaps, the love stories. Even with all the different groundbreaking stories that have been told, the first thing people talk about are the supercouples, following them on their journey over the years. It’s a huge part in daytime.”

So what happened?  Why is the concept of ‘supercoupling’ now considered nothing short of a myriad of curse words, a sure formula for eventual failure?  They were the epitome of romance and every soap had them.  Every soap is remembered for them.  They personified the glory days of soap operas and gave many their highest ratings.  Now we are continually served what is touted as ’true romance’, where in reality, what we are being served is nothing more than lust-filled trysts; acts so shallow that even the most dedicated fan can’t help but scoff.  The majority of today’s couples are nothing more than two bodies that pass in the night.  They marry and divorce countless times, all within the span of a few months… sometimes a few weeks, but not before cheating on the one they swore they would love forever.  The thing is, we don’t expect our rooting couples to be perfect, but we do expect them to be at least ’rootable’.  But there are no true romantic heroes or heroines (anti- or not) to root for. Now, we only have characters who are painted the dullest and darkest shades of gray; characters who turn on a dime and change their undying devotions as much as they change their underwear.  True romance seems to be a thing of the past.  It left when the formula writing for supercouples became taboo.  Slowly and surely, the viewers started leaving, too.

It seems that, somewhere down the line, someone decided that the concept of ‘supercouples’ was detrimental to soaps.  In fact, it has been stated that supercouples ‘eroded the genre, making it predictable and boring’.  Ken Corday of ‘Days of Our Lives’, titan of the very soap that attained enormous success because of the ‘supercouples’ concept, stated, “I’ve never believed in it. Either people are involved in a good story or they’re not. They’re an interesting couple or they’re not.”  Well Ken, many are still waiting for that good story… those of us who haven’t already left, that is.

Do I think bringing back the ‘supercouple’ concept will save soaps?  It sure wouldn’t hurt. But I’m wise enough to know that supercouples themselves do tend to have a limited shelf life, considering soap writers have a limited concept of how to write for a happily married couple.  (Boring, they say… though my long and happy marriage has been anything but.)  I know that when two characters achieve such status, it is unthinkable for the invested viewers to accept a break-up, infidelity, or to accept without question that their preferred couple simply fell out of love.  Heaven forbid they should remain faithful as a married couple and struggle with life’s sometimes unfair demands.  Soap writers might actually have to think outside the box if that were to happen.  Shudder.

It’s the core ingredient that defines a supercouple that can help save the genre.  It’s that basic ’supercouple’ ingredient that is so painfully absent from today’s soaps.  It’s what made supercouples so popular and unforgettable; the fundamental component that so many watched soaps for in the first place.  That ingredient is romance… true, unadulterated, blissful, and sometimes painful romance.  It is the one thing that so many who post on the soap boards continually, consistently, and animatedly beg for; a good story with real romance… long-suffering, angst-filled, passionate, rewarding, and unmistakably real romance.  It defined every supercouple that existed.  Even still, we’re not asking for a new generation of supercouples, we’re just looking for the ride.  Writers don’t have to give us inseparable pairings, but surely they can give us the romance.  We may not get to eat the cake, but at least let us taste the icing.

Do I want a rewrite of Steve and Kayla?  No.  Their story is not ‘broken‘, so I don’t want it ‘fixed’.  Their story cannot be duplicated, nor do I want it to be.  ‘Days’ had a chance to expand it, to recapture what Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans could undoubtedly deliver.  But, ’Days’ blew it… big time.  Never has such a golden opportunity been wasted.  Now that Stephen in on The Young and the Restless as the infamous Tucker McCall and Mary Beth has been cast as Sara Garrett on The Bay, I find myself ‘wanting’ again.  I find myself wanting to feel what I once felt when the concept of ‘supercoupling’ was indeed the norm.  I want to see real and true romance play across my screen.  I want to feel my heart flutter as I witness a stolen glance.  I want to ball my fist in frustration when yet another tender moment is so rudely interrupted.  I want to hold my breath after what seems to be forever, a first kiss is shared… or the first one in a very long time. I want to wipe my tears when the inevitable break-up comes about.  I want to cry when they cry, and laugh when they laugh.  I want to live my fantasies through the characters, week after week, month after month, year after year.  True romance never grows old and it’s never, ever boring… especially since there are so many ways to write it.  Dedicated viewers have proven as much, seeing how so many have stuck around and tolerated the lunacy, all while hoping that one day, true romance will make a return.

“My most vivid memory of my time on Days of our Lives is that every time I walked into a meeting with a long story and sat down beside Al Rabin (‘Days’ producer), he’d say, ‘Well, where’s the romance?’….”- Leah Laiman, ‘Days’ Head Writer ’86-’88 (quoted from ‘Days - 25 Years of Romance’ magazine)

I wish Maria Arena Bell and Hogan Sheffer would ask that question.  I’m hoping Gregori J. Martin will, too.  (Considering his vision and the talent he has already signed, I actually hold hope that he already has.)  Regardless, half the answer is already on their shows.  If anyone wonders why there are those who want Mary Beth to join Y&R and/or Stephen to join The Bay, I suggest reading last week’s blog by Liz.  Stephen and Mary Beth certainly have the chemistry.  They definitely have the work ethic.  They clearly enjoy working together, having stated so time and time again.  And, they definitely can spin gold when given little more than straw.  We, the viewers, can have what we so desperately miss if TPTB were to ever consider the possibility.  I hope they do, because something tells me this may be one of the last chances we will have in seeing the caliber of soap opera romance these two actors can deliver.  From their first encounter or when they reacquaint, through their trials and tribulations, to the ultimate payoff, to their inevitable end (or is it?)… these two actors, if the writing is there, could once again make a permanent and indelible impression deep inside our fluttering hearts. 

And it could damn sure help with the ratings… just like this did.

~by Liz

“…Chemistry and magic, that you cannot make. It’s either there or it isn’t. If it’s there and the writers are writing for it, it comes alive.”
~ Judi Evans, in an interview at www.soapoperasource.com

Chemistry is that ‘thing’, like music, charisma and art, that has no singular definition nor a particular method for making it ‘sing’ to the audience. Trying to define it is futile. I can only summarize what it is about the chemistry between Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans that ‘hooked’ me, and made me such a huge fan.

In my eyes at least, there are different kinds of chemistry. There is run of the mill chemistry, when two actors in a scene seem to enjoy working together and know their material well enough to ad lib or play in the scenes. Then there is organic, undeniable, off the chart chemistry that Stephen and Mary Beth share: the kind that can’t be manufactured.

I can’t deny the importance of writing in making a successful television/soap opera couple, writing is a major part of chemistry. For example, Stephen and Mary Beth, as Stefan and Katherine, had chemistry in spades! I loved Stefan and Katherine together. But the writers at General Hospital did not deliver their end of the bargain, didn’t commit to telling a story for each of the characters individually, nor together. It was as though the lazy GH writers expected to just throw Stephen and Mary Beth in a scene and have them and their chemistry do all of the work in capturing the audience. The story was rushed and not fully explored. In order to really create a successful soap or TV couple, the story has to build slowly, we have to watch them develop a relationship, layer by layer, and see their emotions deepen as they get to know each other. The greatest love stories on soaps strengthen both characters; bring out the best in each character.

On Days of Our Lives in the 1980′s, there was a real sense that the writers were enjoying ‘the ride’ as much as the audience. The audience was taken up and down a rollercoaster ride and allowed to feel a myriad of emotions. The writers were able to recognize chemistry quickly, and played it for all it was worth. Steve and Kayla didn’t have just two actors with amazing chemistry; they also had a team of people behind the scenes committed to making them successful.

But no matter how hard the writers and producers try to tell us who the next supercouple will be, they don’t have the power to predict that. The audience has to be able to relate to, root for, and make an emotional connection to the individual characters in the “couple”. That isn’t always something the powers that be can control or manipulate.

Chemistry isn’t just in the writing, or just in the formula. I remember when “Patch” the thug came onscreen. We were supposed to despise him. But there was something about the way Stephen Nichols played that role, walked his walk, swaggered his swagger, and played that harmonica…that made the audience want more, more, more. (And when we saw him with Kayla…it was just *over*…a supercouple was born). Steve was larger than life, as most characters in supercouples are. He had “it”, naturally. He spoke to something the audience wanted and needed to see; and the more they saw, the more they wanted. You never know what the audience is going to crave until you offer them a variety of menu options, and let them have at it. When you have the perfect recipe, and the perfect combination of ingredients in that recipe…you only know “how perfect” it is because the audience devours it.

I think many actors can develop a nice rapport and chemistry onscreen when they get comfortable with each other and comfortable with their characters. But standout pairings have that something special, above and beyond the standard, usually from the first moment they share a scene.

Stephen and Mary Beth bring out the absolute best in each other, and whether it is in the script or not, there is a palpable change in the “energy” of a scene when they work with each other (as if they light up the room together). Individually they are able to play such a range of emotions believably; that’s what it takes to truly appeal to the audience. Together, they are electric. Their success as onscreen partners flows from a combination of their natural chemistry, how committed the actors are to the roles they play, the intimacy between their characters that they don’t shy away from creating, and how real-feeling their characters become. On top of that, they trust each other as actors, and know they don’t have to hold back. And still, as much as I try to analyze it away, I think there’s also just a little bit of ‘magic’ involved…an extra special something that you can’t explain away because it’s not like anything seen before.

So to sum up?

Commitment to telling a story and being as real in the moment as possible + incomparable acting range + great trust between actors + a natural energy/connection between scene partners + not being afraid to be vulnerable onscreen + help from the writing/shows they appear on + an extra bit of magic = the ‘secret’ formula for Stephen and Mary Beth’s palpable chemistry.

I have yet to see another pair of actors who have all of that in combination, at the level that Stephen and Mary Beth do.

So what do you think? What is it about Stephen and Mary Beth’s chemistry that sets them apart, and puts them in a league of their own? What is that extra bit of magic?

Web-a what?

So you heard the news that Mary Beth Evans has been cast in a new web series called “The Bay”, but you have no idea what a “web series” is. Is it like a real soap, on five days a week? Is it like a nighttime soap that is only on one day a week? What are the production values? Can I watch it on my TV? Do I have to “pay” for it? You may have so many questions running through your head right now. But the most important one is, is this good for Mary Beth? In my humble opinion; yes, it is!

First you should get an understanding of what a web series is, or as some are calling them, “independent soaps” or “indies“. Web series are quickly becoming all the rage right now considering so many network shows are falling to the wayside. Actors/writers/producers are trying to find a way to ‘stay in the game‘, so to speak. As roles in what we see as the mainstream media dry up, they need another outlet to showcase their work. The internet is providing that outlet. While I don’t really see them thinking these web soaps are “money makers”, who knows what the exposure of one of these shows can do for the talent that produces them? No one is going to make a million (or even a thousand) dollars on these shows, but that is not looking at the bigger picture. For a lot of people that work in the entertainment industry, yes, making money is a good thing, but it’s more about the work that they produce. It’s about expanding and going with the trends. I am glad to see that Mary Beth is willing to take that leap into the “web” and explore such a cutting-edge medium.

Many soap stars in the last year or so have made the leap into the web series genre. Some have produced good results, and some, not so much. There is an excellent graph on the ‘We Love the Soaps’ web site that breaks down all the web soaps for interested viewers. This graph shows just how many web series there are that are currently available. Some you may be familiar with, others you may not. The first one I remember watching was produced out of the writers’ strike of 2007. It was called “Life in General,” and stared Arianne Zucker, JoBeth Williams, and John Ingle, among others. This was on a site specifically designed for writers out on strike and was appropriately called, striketv.com. It was a great show. I loved it and was hoping to see many more like it.

The most recognizable of the current web soaps is probably Venice, which is produced by Crystal Chappell. While this series received a lot of publicity before the actual launch of the show, I thought that after the show began, the publicity waned. I thought the production quality (I am a geek when it comes to production) of Venice was exceptional. But, after the first “free” episode aired, it failed to grasp my attention like I had hoped. Thus, I was hesitant to pay for it. That might have had to do with the length of the first episode (a mere 6 min.), or that I was not a jilted “Otilia” fan that just wanted to see more of what could have been done with the relationship between two women. While I will say that I did eventually get to see the rest of the series, I didn’t seek it out. But production wise, it was very well done considering their budget.

Then there is Steamboat, which chooses to take the satire approach at soaps. This is the description of the show: The Office” meets “All My Children” in this behind-the-scenes look at the desperate, dying days of a daytime soap opera. This series is from Michael O’Leary, and stars the likes of Kim Zimmer, Justin Deas, and Beth Chamberland among others. Heck, this one even has a guy wearing a patch on it! I really like this one because it makes me laugh, something network soaps have failed to do for me, well at least intentionally. It’s just fun. But again, one of the downfalls is that they only average 5-8 min. per episode.

Gotham was another web series that garnered a lot of attention. I really like this one, and again, mainly for the production value. Gotham is produced by and stars Martha Byrne of ATWT fame. Kin Shriner, Michael Park, and Anna Stuart also star in Gotham. I also enjoy the fact that the Gotham episodes are of greater length.

With names like Drake Hogestyn, Tristen Rogers, Tonja Walker, and Martha Madison attached to the yet to be filmed web show, “Reality Bytes” also promises to be a good one.

For me personally, web shows fit my lifestyle. I admit it; I am a web-based person. I do like my TV. Heck, I will go as far as to say I LOVE my TV. But, in reality, I spend more time logged on my computer than I do in front of a TV set. Yes, I do have a state of the art monitor that, for me, makes it enticing to watch all forms of media at my computer. I know that there will be those out there who will say, “Well, I just can’t watch on my monitor.” Just remember, if you can watch YouTube on your monitor, then watching a web series should not be a problem.

I like that, with web soaps, they can take chances on things they can’t (or won’t) do on network television. It’s all about the creative freedom on the web. There is no one there saying, “Oh no, you can’t do that,” or “You can’t touch that subject.” The web offers more reign to be able to produce some interesting stuff we wouldn’t normally see on a network televised soap.

As for the downside to web soaps, one is the length of the episodes. They are, for the most part, under 10 minutes per episode. It’s hard to get into a story in only 10 minutes or less. The writing really has to be top notch to be able to grasp the attention of the viewer. It either has to really make me laugh or really make me cry, both of which will make me want to watch more. Also, the timing can be off on a web soap. A week apart? Two weeks? Who knows?

I think the MAIN thing that guarantees success for a web soap is found in its cast. You have to have a “name” to make people interested enough to tune in. This is something new; people will have to have a reason, other than the basis of a new show, to want to tune in. This is why I am so glad that Mary Beth got the leading role in ‘The Bay‘. She will pull people in, no doubt. I can’t even tell you how many times over the last twenty-four hours I have heard people say, “Well, I have no idea what a web soap is, but I will watch for Mary Beth”. Granted, I know a lot of Mary Beth fans, so that is a given. But, it also shows the loyalty of the fans out there. They are willing to try and explore something new for one of their favorites.

Mary Beth, back in 2001, did a little indie film called “American Coffee”. She had a very small role in it, but I thought it was brilliant because it was so out of the box for her. I am glad to see that she is still willing to take a chance and try something new. This gig should in no way hinder her opportunities in landing on another show, if she so opts. I seriously doubt that she will be under any kind of contract of any sorts for this. I really see no downside to her doing a web based soap. In my opinon, it’s a win-win situation.

What do you think? Will this ‘Web Soap thing’ take off? Are you excited to see Mary Beth explore this web soap opportunity?

For being cast in the lead role of socialite Sara Garrett

on the upcoming indie soap ‘THE BAY’

…Reports…

-By Giddy

Can you imagine how many ‘friends’ Elvis might have had on Facebook? Or how many would have ‘followed’ Paul, John, Ringo and George on Twitter? How quickly would a server have crashed from traffic overload if James Dean had posted a blog?

I dare say many a trembling teenage girl would have been camped out in front of their computer monitor, never leaving the confines of their bedroom oasis, where the walls undoubtedly served as a shrine dedicated to their favorite big screen idol.

I will reluctantly fess up that my room boasted what was essentially Shaun Cassidy wallpaper. Yes, I was a Shaun Cassidy groupie, okay? At least I’m brave enough to admit it. (C’mon, how many of you right now are mentally singing DaDoRonRon?). Much to my parents’ dismay, not a spot of plaster remained free of my pre-pubescent obsession with Mr. Cassidy. If only they had owned stock in Tiger Beat and Teen Scene, they could have long since retired to the Bahamas on my contribution alone.

As long as I am confessing my long guarded secrets I will go ahead and share with you that I was, in fact, a card carrying member of the Shaun Cassidy Fan Club (yes, there were actually membership cards…and for those of us who were not yet old enough for a driver’s license, it was quite a coo having that little card prominently displayed behind the plastic window). I also dabbled with membership in the Adrian Zmed fan club (any other T.J. Hooker fans out there? Anyone?…Bueller?…Bueller?). But I digress.

I still remember the days of waiting impatiently for the mail to arrive so I could see what wonderfully cheesy token I would receive for being such a true and devoted fan. Keychain? Check…Refrigerator magnet? Check…Glow in the dark bracelet? Check…Anything with an image that proudly advertised my allegiance to my favorite singer/ actor was priceless to me.

Even now when I look at my 5th grade picture, where I sit poised like a queen on her throne, Shaun Cassidy’s face staring back from the front of my t-shirt, I try and remember what I thought when I looked in the mirror back then. Perhaps I was too distracted by my mountain of bangs and my multi-colored leg warmers. Why did I find it essential that everyone be keenly aware that I was one day going to marry Shaun Cassidy? That is, assuming I survived the stroke I would surely have suffered if I ever met him in person.

For those of us who grew up in the 70’s, 80’s, and even the 90’s, we have a certain mentality when it comes to celebrities, and usually that mentality is one where we think they are somehow untouchable. We wait for our favorite magazines to come out, we join their fan club, we write them long gushing letters never actually expecting a response, and we admire them from afar.

For soap fans in particular, things have certainly changed over the last few decades, haven’t they? It seems like only yesterday when the only spoilers to be found came from the soap magazines. How many times did I stand around waiting for the guy at the local grocery store to finally stock the magazine rack so I could grab a copy of Soap Opera Magazine (anyone else remember that one?) and find out whether or not Steve and Kayla were finally going to hook up? There was no Internet, no chat rooms, and no online community to snag little tidbits of information. We never had a clue what our favorite actor was up to unless we were lucky enough to get a feature story about them in one of the mags. We could join their fan club, but that entailed little more than the occasional newsletter, a few gaudy trinkets and a mass-produced birthday card once a year.

It continues to amaze me the amount of personal contact fans have with their favorite actors these days. Between Facebook, Twitter and other online communities, soap actors are more visible than they have ever been. Charles Shaughnessy, Melissa Reeves, Anthony Herrera, and Darin Brooks are but a few of the ones who maintain their own Facebook pages and who routinely communicate with their fans. Y&R’s Michael Muhney (ex-Adam) has been referred to as ‘marketing genius’ simply because he takes the time to post on a couple of the soap boards. His fan base continues to grow, and he’s no longer on the show. Smart man.

Sign on to Twitter at almost any time of the day and you will catch tweets from Alison Sweeney, Nancy Lee Grahn, Crystal Chappell and Daniel Goddard among others. The amazing part is that they don’t have anything necessarily earth shattering to share. They simply want to connect with their fans, and I for one find that extremely admirable. It’s interesting how a post like “off to the gym” elicits such a positive response, almost a sense of gratitude from fans who appreciate that they have some small connection to someone that they might never have the opportunity to meet in person.

Soap fan events are few and far between these days, and tend to be somewhat impersonal anyway. Add to that the fact that not every fan has the financial means or the time to fly across the country to have a photo signed and spend 2 minutes chatting with the actor, and it becomes even more obvious how important these new social networks have become. It’s important not just for the fans, but for the actors as well.

Mary Beth Evans posted on her Hybrid Mom blog last week that she was going to be returning to ATWT for a stint this summer and within an hour, it was all over the Internet. Folks like Soap Opera Digest, Soap Central and Soaps.com were talking about it almost immediately. Dang, you can’t get that kind of positive publicity anywhere else…and it was free!

Very few actors bother with fan clubs these days because, quite frankly, they have become out-dated and frivolous in this age of the Internet. Fans are no longer satisfied with the dime store souvenir and 8×10 glossies that gather dust in some over-stuffed desk drawer. They expect (and deserve) a little more effort from their favorites. They want to feel appreciated and they want to feel like they matter enough to be “in touch”, even if it’s something as insignificant as knowing that Daniel Goddard had chicken noodle soup for dinner.

You know the old saying, “it’s not the gift but the thought behind it that counts”? The same sentiment holds true for fans who are members of Facebook and Twitter, and those who surf the Internet daily espousing their love for their favorite actors/characters. As soaps continue their struggle to maintain their place on television, it seems only logical that the actors should be reaching out to their fans and embracing them; connecting with them and showing them they are appreciated.

To those who have yet to jump on the Facebook and Twitter bandwagon, take the leap. Welcome to the future, because the future is now.