~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.

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

~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?

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

-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.

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

-By Jen

Awww Mary Beth Evans…. gotta love her!

So usually I do not post on Mary Beth ‘s blog from week to week, but I making an exception this week due to the fact that there are just so many good tidbits from Mary Beth on what she has done and where she is going in regards to her acting career.

It goes without saying that I love Mary Beth.  As a person, as an actor, as someone that can just  make me smile when I need one.  I love her attitude in the ways of life and I love the fact that what she does for a living makes other people happy, I wonder and hope she knows that.  The fact that she would give us back Kayla for even a few episodes and now it looks like Sierra is making a few appearances, well that just makes my day.  I really hope a show wises up fast and puts her on contract somewhere!

I love the behind the scenes video also she gives us.  Mary Beth is really becoming the little video girl!  Thanks again!  Loved seeing all the faces we haven’t seen in awhile.

Old Friends and New Opportunities

It’s just a flash, but as you can see, Mary Beth Evans is back as Kayla!!!  We can’t wait to see her when she airs this June !!!

For the complete May/June Promo clip, watch below…

-By Guest Blogger miahappy

Hello, my name is Mia and I am a Steve and Kayla addict.

There, I said it. The first step in conquering any addiction is admitting you have a problem. The thing is, in this case, I am not sure my addiction is a problem.

When I was 13 I began watching Days of Our Lives (initially just to annoy my sister who watched daily despite being a Luke and Laura fan at heart). I’ll never forget the first episode I ever saw. There was a big party and Renee was killed…classic whodunit mystery involving just about every character on the show.

A week later, I quietly admitted to myself I was hooked.

I was initially convinced there would never be another couple greater than Bo and Hope. Well, in the matter of a few months, with the talent and chemistry of two spectacular actors… namely Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans, I knew in my heart it did not get better than their Steve and Kayla.

I remember sitting in front of the television every afternoon after I got home from school to watch the recorded episode. Some of those old tapes (even some on Beta – yes, my dad was one of the 15 people back then to insist that Beta was the way to go – lay off!) were worn out because I would rewind and play them over and over and over. There were scenes that stood out in my memory, even years later; the patch removal, the first kiss, their first time on the roof, the first time after Kayla was raped (my personal favorite), and no doubt, their yacht wedding. I knew back then my interest teetered on obsession, but who cares. I had my daily fix and I was happy.

I stopped watching Days after Steve ‘died’ in 1990. Most of the reason was because I had just begun college and was in a real transition in my life, but another reason was because I already knew at a very young age that it just doesn’t get any better than that. How do you follow up such a great love story? The old videotapes unfortunately didn’t make the move with me and I have no idea what ultimately happened to them, but with Steve ‘gone’ it was better in my mind to let them go. I never bothered with any other soap…I knew there was no point. So for the time being, I hopped on the wagon and moved on with life.

Almost 20 years later, due to restricted activity from a pregnancy and WAY too much free time, I found myself surfing through YouTube early one Saturday morning. I was positively giddy to find a plethora of Steve and Kayla clips at my fingertips for my endless viewing pleasure. I laughed, cried and reminisced back to my teen years as I watched scenes I remembered so very fondly and could practically still recite despite having not seen them for many, many years.

It was then that I officially fell off the wagon.

Long story short, in order to feed my growing addiction I found myself engulfed in the multitude of fan fiction stories posted on the forums. I’ll tell you, I knew after reading that first story that things would never be the same. Finally, there was something to fill that void that could not be taken away by some idiot running a multi-million dollar organization…some moron who couldn’t care less about what his fans are begging for nor the product he puts out. I wouldn’t have to suffer through watching some dim-witted executive attempting to destroy something that, although fictional, held a dear place in my heart and always would.

But…I digress…

The day I read the last new fan fiction was a sad one for me. I thought to myself, ‘what now?’ It took a great deal of self-convincing and a number of attempts before I finally decided to give it a shot and write a story of my own. If there was nothing to read…I’d write. I’ll tell you honestly, it was the best decision I have made in a long time. Now there is hardly a day that goes by without some time spent writing, or reading, but mostly both. It is a wonderful escape to difficult times and the struggles we all have to deal with in life. Without this outlet, I’m sure they would have taken me away in a straight jacket months ago (but there is no guarantee my husband doesn’t have them on stand-by at this moment – in fact, he won’t tell me what the unmarked speed dial number is on the phone…I’ll have to ask him about that).

When I was asked to write this blog, my mind began to wander back to the beginning. What started this time-filler, which turned into a hobby, which quickly became an addiction for me? Well, the answer to that was the magic of Steve and Kayla.

What is it about this fictional couple that has spawned multiple websites, luncheons (*expletive* you Corday), campaigns and tons of intriguing fan fictions? What is it that kept them alive in our hearts for the past 20 years and will keep them with us forever, despite the attempts at destruction through the current production team in charge?

Here’s my take…

We start with a very flawed character, Steve “Patch” Johnson. The eye patch definitely gives him an air of intrigue and the pretense of danger. The smarmy attitude and obvious vendetta against Bo Brady peaked our interest as we began to wonder about this new nemesis introduced to the scene.

He was a mercenary. An orphan who never had anyone honestly love him, he did what it took to survive, but even early on we could see there was more to this man than met the eye (no pun intended). His time with Hope showed us glimpses into his heart; a heart he tried desperately to hide from the outside world. For him life was hard and he had been repeatedly hurt and rejected (even by his own mother). He wasn’t going to let anyone get inside his heart – that was carefully locked away, never to be opened again.

Then there was Kayla. She was beautiful, intelligent, sweet, and very caring. Raised in the textbook happy home, she lived her life caring for those less fortunate, always on the side of the underdog. Despite numerous warnings from many people who cared for her, she insisted on seeing the good in everyone, regardless of common stereotypes.

Their relationship started in the worst possible way. He stalked and terrorized her. But, fans of the couple will never forget the look on ‘Patch’s’ face the first time he saw Kayla from her closet in Cleveland. Everyone could see it was the beginning of something magical.

It was a classic love story. There was a bad boy with the heart of gold. The good girl who refused to be deterred from going after the man she wanted. She showed him what love was and helped him break down the heavy walls he had built around himself. He intrigued her, and showed her passion and excitement, making her the woman she always wanted to be despite being treated as a child by most of her family. They were a perfect fit. Brutally honest and accepting of each other regardless of what they found. They had a love like no other.

She supported him through the turmoil of his family returning to his life and the fallout of an abusive father. He supported her through a horrific rape and the devastation of deafness. Together they experienced highs and lows, good times and bad, and although many were against their relationship at the start, they won everyone over with their devotion and commitment to each other. Their love for each other could not be measured and will never be questioned.

If there were a dictionary definition of love story, I would think we would find the story of Steve and Kayla; two strong, independent people drawn together through an unbreakable connection. With them, we definitely see the sum is greater than the parts.

They can take away the actors. They can write off the characters, but thank God they can’t take away my love for them. They will live in my heart and for as long as I enjoy it, on my computer screen.

In a world that tends to be very cynical and cold, I will always have a refuge. When things just get too tough and I don’t want to face reality, I can lock myself away and escape with my ever-loving couple, whether they are riding into the sunset in the wild west, living happily ever-after in medieval times, or fighting drug lords in the jungles of Columbia…

You know what? I don’t think my addiction is a problem. In fact, for as long as it gives me the peace I seek, this addiction is going to be fed.

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

-By Liz

These days I watch soaps just to see my favorite actors, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans:

When I watch, and this has been true (for me) since the mid 90’s, I have to wonder if I saw the potential for something really great, would I give it a chance these days? Would I wholeheartedly jump in and treasure the story? Would the writers? I see how jaded I have become with the way storylines are told…the cliches, the stunts. If something interesting does start, it’s not likely to last more than some months; the momentum is lost quickly. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. So I have to wonder, if Steve and Kayla (just as we saw them) debuted in 2010 instead of 1986, would they have a chance to achieve the same popularity/greatness?

Steve and Kayla were based in character-driven drama. Their storylines seemed to flow from one to the next because the core of the characters and their internal conflicts was always “the heart” of their story together. Steve and Kayla didn’t exist in a vacuum; their relationships with family were so much of a part of who they were as individuals. The pacing of the storyline in 2010 would have been completely different, too. With today’s pacing, Steve and Kayla would have kissed each other and slept together within a week of meeting. The buildup and the longing would have been nonexistent. Today’s lazy writers could never have written complexities and subtleties of the Steve and Kayla we knew. They did not need stunt triangles, nor endless baby drama, nor constant manipulations to be interesting. Everything that daytime is today would have destroyed everything (outside of the acting) that made Steve and Kayla so special.

Why has daytime changed SO much in the past decade and a half?

I remember reading an article in the 90’s by a bigwig in the daytime industry (I’ve honestly forgotten who it was), who said that the reason soap storylines had changed so much by the mid to late 90’s was that “the daytime audience, like all audiences, became more fickle as they had more choices in programming”, which in turn meant having to try many different, shocking plots to get attention for their shows. At first, I honestly found the quote insulting. Oh c’mon. PUHlease. The reason soaps were failing and audiences were dwindling down was merely because there were more choices? A judgment was being made that “the audience” had changed and were less loyal. I found that far too simplistic. Why not blame the lame, sensationalistic sci-fi plots that had replaced the romance and character-driven drama that appealed to multiple generations (so many viewers had grown up watching with their mothers, grandmothers and babysitters)?

So what came first, the chicken or the egg? Did audiences tune out because soap opera programming no longer appealed to them as a whole? Was it the quality of the storytelling that turned them off? Or was it like this ‘bigwig’ said; that daytime lost so many viewers because there were more choices available, and the only way to get those viewers back was by pulling “stunts”/gimmicks for attention and reaction?

It is true that over the last two decades in particular we have become a nation, perhaps a world, expecting instant gratification, constant movement, instant dinners. Watching a story that drags out over a long period of time (as in a serial format), might not be in “sync” or in tune with the pace of today’s world. It is also true that the generations before didn’t have as many “other” choices to watch when soap operas got maddening and ridiculous. That said however, we still see in primetime that innovative, fresh, quirky, edgy shows that offer consistent quality programming, still attract viewers (of many ages). Why wouldn’t that be true in daytime programming? We have DVR’s now. We’ve had VCR’s for over two decades. Even back when there wasn’t much choice on “what else” to watch, there was still the choice of not watching at all- and still, soaps thrived for decades.

For me, there was a far more prominent reason for the drastic change in daytime soap viewership in the 90’s, and OJ was not it. The biggest change in the 1990’s (when soaps saw their biggest drops in viewership) to impact television as a whole, was a change in the business of show business. In the 90’s, targeting a specific (increasingly younger) demographic seemingly became the only way to attract advertising dollars- thus alienating a huge portion of daytime viewership in the process. (Even more disturbing: they think mobsters, rapists and other misogynists are great sex symbols for that younger audience they’ve been courting…but that’s another topic for another day).

When is alienating the majority of your audience a good idea? Never. No matter how colorful their packaging, nor how big the hype, there will never be an industry that thrives when most of its consumers are driven away by bad product.

So …what do you think? If Steve and Kayla debuted today, would they even have a chance to be half as great? What has changed daytime so much since the 90s, in your opinion?

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

~By Jen

… that is the question.

So, I have to admit that last week was a miserable week for me, it was rough. I kinda kept up on what was going on in cyber space but it was a hit and miss on what I would see. But, I DID pick up on the fact that it was confirmed that Mary Beth Evans is indeed coming back to Days of Our Lives for Alice’s memorial episodes (whatever that entails at this point). I saw it on Twitter from the official PR person from the show (I get all my news from Twitter). This was the first official notice from the show itself that she is going to be on, not just that she was “asked” to come back for the shows. So, considering I was in a miserable mood last week, this made me feel good, it made me smile, and I was happy. Not only was I going to get to see Mary Beth back on my screen, but I was going to get to see Kayla also! I should be happy, right? Well, then I started to read some of the comments/thoughts on it. Seems there is an item out there that it is possible that Mary Beth is one of the actors that could be back for “more” episodes than just for the memorial. Michael Bruno even placed her back in the “working” section of his site as “Kayla Johnson”. What does that mean? Two days? Two weeks? Or even more? No one is saying. Not only that, but speculation abounds on what “back for more than one show” really means. Even more frightening is what it might mean seeing how Stephen is not coming back with her. What will happen to Steve and Kayla? Will they even mention it? Will we have to learn something frightening like Steve is MIA again? Or even worse, are they are not even together? I personally don’t think it will be either.

I am a firm believer that you cannot trust these writers any further than you can throw them. They have given us NO reason whatsoever to trust them, NONE. This is the same team that just wrote our beloved couple off the show as if they were nothing more than day players never to be heard from again. Even more insulting is the way Mary Beth, Stephen and their fans were treated. That is where my beef lays with the whole thing. “Steve and Kayla” are fictional characters, the others are not. We have feelings, and as consumers of their show, we should be treated and respected as such (See Giddy’s Blog last week). But, this is not going to be a recap. This blog is going to be about why I am happy that Mary Beth is coming back (for however long it might be). Yes, I am happy.

The first thing I have to say is that I am a “post-Steve” Kayla fan. There, I admit it. It’s out in the open. Not that it was a big secret, but just so you have all the facts. I was able to enjoy “Kayla” minus Steve. Call me strange, weird, whatever… I have heard it all. Mary Beth did some really good work during that time and it would be a shame not to acknowledge it. But, I am not naive about things; I know how things work. I get that there is going to be “Steve and Kayla” fans, there are going to be “Stephen” fans, there is going to be “Mary Beth” fans, and then every other combination you can come up with. Everyone has a right to feel the way they feel on the situation. And supporting one situation does not mean you don’t support another. I guess I almost feel like Switzerland in this situation, because I really do see all sides of the argument.

On one hand, TPTB have shown us that they are not to be trusted with any super couple (see Bo and Hope currently). All it would take is one comment from Kayla that she hasn’t seen/heard from Steve, or they are having “trouble” and they are just taking a “break”. Now I can see this point… really I can, and as I said before, I don’t trust this regime running this show for one minute. But, I honestly do not think they will go this route. My thing is this… I just can’t worry about it. It’s not worth it to me to worry about it at this point. While I hold Steve and Kayla as “THE” couple over every other Daytime couple and I would hate to see anything tarnish that, I can’t get over the excitement over seeing Kayla, and more importantly, Mary Beth on my screen again. And honestly, to me at least, nothing they do to Steve and Kayla at this point will tarnish any memories I have of them as the greatest love story on Days of Our Lives or in daytime. Heck, many have proved that certain “things” can be ignored if need be.

I think a lot of the conversations are based on just what your personal threshold is of what you can and cannot bear to see. Everyone doesn’t have the same threshold. Everybody is looking at scenes from a different perspective. Some might look at a scene as a “Mary Beth” fan, some might look at it as a “Stephen” fan (or their respective characters), or as a “Steve and Kayla” fan. Where you personally come from has everything to do with what you are willing to accept or not accept. And again, it can be a combo of things. It’s not always so cut and dry.  Few things are.

On the prospect of Mary Beth coming back for an undisclosed amount of time, I am all for it. The thing we have to remember is that this is for Alice, a tribute to her. Steve and Kayla have a history with Alice. I find it an honor that not only did Days ask her back, but that Mary Beth is accepting a come-back just for her when we know in the past she has turned down such invitations for appearances. No one at this point even knows if her story will expand beyond just a tribute to Alice, so why panic? Because you don’t trust “them”, I get that… really I do. But my prize is just seeing Mary Beth again back in her Kayla persona for how ever long they want to give us. I guess I have proved by the above statements that I am not one that is afraid of Kayla minus Steve by enduring the 91-92 days. So, that is where I am personally coming from. Even though I really don’t think it is something we have to worry about. I am well aware that others come from different perspectives on the issue and I welcome them and I think I would even agree with them.

On the issue of whether Mary Beth herself would agree to come back if she knew that it could possibly mean that Steve and Kayla were in some kind of trouble and “trusting” her on it. Honestly, I don’t know Mary Beth well enough to say one way or another if that is true or not. I know in talking with her and from interviews, both she and Stephen take the characters of Steve and Kayla very seriously and as many speculate, it’s that fire for the characters that put them at odds with the current team. There are many interviews with Mary Beth during her post-92 DOOL days where she was very open about her displeasure in they way Kayla was written during that time. She is not one to shy away from voicing her displeasure with things. So, based on that, you pretty much have to trust her on it. I know I do. I am sure when her and Stephen came back in 2006, there was nothing but good intentions. But, sometimes they just don’t always play out like we would like them to. Even saying that, I know from experience that I don’t even have to agree with Mary Beth all the time. From all accounts, her last days on the show back in 91-92 where not good ones at all, but you would never know that from her performances… never. She is a professional and she does her job as such. If she accepts a job, she will give it her best. I know that.

The question for everyone now is whether to watch or not to watch… basically it’s up to you. But, I know I will.

Copyright © 2011
This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this content on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is on any other site than www.snandmbe.com it makes the page or post you are viewing an infringement of the copyright.

~By Giddy

SOD then asks Corday about the fact that Chappell and Kurth are returning while fan favorites were let go. Corday says that “it was a matter of choosing amongst three very powerful couples” and deciding which to keep on the show and play. Corday continues that “by the time this happens in September” John and Marlena will have been off the show for nine months, and “Patch and Kayla the same”. He says that the show did not decide to bring Carly back at the same time that John, Marlena, Patch and Kayla were written off. Corday continues that we shouldn’t “do a price check” because “John and Marlena and Patch and Kayla are not even in the same store.” He says further, “for the ardent John and Marlena and Patch and Kayla fans, great, you can still see them at their luncheons. That was then, this is now.”

Okay I admit it…I do tend to carry a grudge. It’s been almost a full year since Ken Corday gave the infamous Soap Opera Digest interview and I still get pissy when I think about it. I won’t even get into the “luncheon” comment, because well…that comment was so unbelievably insulting to fans I believe it stands on its own and requires no further elaboration.

I think the reason I have once again found myself dwelling on this interview has to do with what has been going on over at Days for the past several months. I freely admit that I have not watched a single second of the show since February 2009. For that reason I am not going to get into anything related to the current stories, the writing, the ratings or the direction of the show that I once loved so much.

Instead I want to focus on this profound pearl of wisdom given to us by Corday: “That was then, this is now.” Even without reading the article, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what Kenny is talking about in that little blurb. He is referring to the recent firings of Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans (Steve & Kayla) as well as Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall (John & Marlena), and he is defending his decision by basically telling the fans to suck it up and get over it. In Corday’s opinion, fans need to realize that, while S&K and J&M may be two of the greatest supercouples in Days’ history, they are the past. So what if they were popular in the 80s? This is 2009 and fans need to accept the fact that Days is not what it used to be. No Ken, unfortunately for longtime viewers, it’s not.

So why is this still bothering me after all this time? I think after going through the various stages: shock (“I cannot believe he actually said that”) to denial (“No, he did not just say that”) to anger (“The nimrod said it and he meant it”) to acceptance (“Okay, so he obviously doesn’t care about the fans”), I had thoroughly and completely moved on. Whew! No more messing with my DVR and no more rushing home after to work to watch that day’s episode.

But then peculiar things started happening. We started hearing a rumor that Crystal Chappell was returning. Wait, wasn’t Carly on a really long time ago, like back in the late 80s and early 90s? Oh, I remember now. She shared a lot of scenes with Kayla at the emergency center, and with Steve during the Riverfront Raider story. Steve and Kayla? I guess they weren’t busy at any luncheons during that time.

Soon after, we heard that Louise Sorel was coming back too. Hmmm, oh yeah, Vivian Alamain. I liked her a lot…when she started on the show back in 1992. I think Kayla was still there at that time, even though Steve was presumed dead by then.

But wait, there’s more. Soon we were hearing that Wally Kurth was coming back too! Wally played Justin Kiriakis from 1987 to 1991. I remember when he helped Steve and Kayla when they were on the run after Steve accidentally shot Senator Deveraux. That was such a great story that encompassed so many different characters. Those 80’s stories really rocked! Of course during that time Justin also established a relationship with Adrienne Johnson, Steve’s sister played so wonderfully by Judi Evans from 1986 to 1991. Oh, did I forget to mention that Judi has come back to Days as well?

Yikes! I almost forgot to mention Anna Dimera, played by the beautiful and charming Leanne Hunley. I loved her from 1982 to 1986 and I still think she is fabulous. Unfortunately they killed off Tony (Thaao Penghlis) for the 10^th time last year, as Tanna and their fans became yet another casualty of the peculiar and unexplainable anti-supercouple mentality that has taken over at Days. 

Finally, it has recently been confirmed that Arleen Sorkin will be returning as the zany Calliope Jones, a character she played from 1984 to 1990. Rumor has it John de Lancie (Eugene, 1982 to 1986) has been asked to return as well. Calliope had a lot of humorous interaction with Steve and Kayla. Who could forget the naughty present she gave Kayla at her wedding shower? Such good times back in the 80’s!

It makes me wonder if Corday remembers that Steve and Kayla’s wedding in 1988 was the only time Days was #1 in the daytime ratings since 1974, and hasn’t been number one since. How ironic that Stephen Nichols is now on the #1 rated ‘The Young and the Restless’ as Tucker McCall, and if many longtime fans get their wish, Mary Beth Evans will soon be following him there. I would love to see what Maria Arena Bell, Paul Rauch and Hogan Sheffer could do with two of the finest actors in daytime on such a beautifully written and produced show. I would call that sweet comeuppance for two wonderful actors (and their fans) who were treated so horribly by a show to which they gave so much.

I want to make it clear that I am not complaining about any of the above mentioned actors/characters. They are all popular in their own right, and all have large and devoted fan bases and I respect that very much. In fact, I am actually happy for you. I am happy that each and every fan of each actor listed above gets to see your favorite on screen as much as possible. Personally, I like all the characters I have mentioned and I have lots of great memories of all of them from years past. Beyond that, I certainly don’t begrudge anyone a paycheck in this tough economy.

This blog is not about who has the biggest fan base or what characters deserve to be on the canvas at Days. It is about honesty and integrity and it’s about treating your customers with a little bit of respect. As fans, we are essentially the customers of the shows we watch. Aside from “preferred demographics” and “Nielson households,” the nitty gritty of it is that without us, there would be no show. Fans should be appreciated and catered to, not patronized and dismissed as if we are a group of ungrateful and demanding peons who need to sit back and accept whatever is dished out to us without question.

If someone is fired because there are personality conflicts or because they stand up for the history and integrity of their characters, then say that. Don’t gloss over it with some cloak and dagger nonsense about “budget cuts” and “that was then, this is now.” Especially when your actions and decisions for the next year contradict everything you just said in a public forum for the world to see.

At that point, you have not only lost fans, but you have lost respect and authority as well. You are called names like “putz” and “nimrod” and “tool” (as well as several others that can’t be printed here) by the very people you are there to serve.

In the end, I don’t suppose I will ever be able to reconcile in my mind what Ken Corday meant by “that was then, this is now” because to this 80’s Days fan, the “now” is looking more and more like the “then”…minus one of the greatest supercouples of all time.