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Like Sand Through an Hourglass: Behind the Scenes of DOOL

OnceSane

By OnceSane
in Days Of Our Lives

Door County Cherry
Message added by Door County Cherry

The Behind The Scenes thread is not a spoiler thread.  So spoilers, including casting information, do not belong in here.  The "behind the scenes" information specifically related to casting should go in either the spoiler thread or the Salem International thread which discusses. departures and arrivals thread. 

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FrankOFoley
FrankOFoley

If you will permit me, I’m going to get on my soapbox and make a comment about healthcare in the US. Recently I read about Bryan Datillo’s wife battling breast cancer. (soaps.she knows). Happily for t

boes
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DaphneCat
DaphneCat

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JBC344

JBC344

Christopher Sean is in Florida and he tweeted something about being on Marcos Island on the Atlantic (I guess).  And Drake tweeted back to him, "Come home to Salem, son, and let's have a geography lesson.  Marcos Island is in the Gulf."  :)

Lol, I read "Drake" and thought Drake the rapper?  Wow, he is a Days fan, cool.  I realize now you were referring to Drake Hogestyn.

  • Love 4
Tiger

Tiger

(edited)

Is Nerium considered a pyramid scheme? I thought it was like Avon.

From what I've read about Nerium, it (and Monavie by-the-by) fits the federal statutory definition of "pyramid scheme" to the letter.

I don't know enough about Avon's business model to say whether it is or is not.

Anyway, Nerium is not only a pyramid, but there are multiple independent scientific studies which claim many of the chemicals in Nerium's products are toxic.

I seriously do not understand why someone with actual talent like Freddie Smith is involved in something so shady. As I said earlier, what a shame.

Edited by Tiger
  • Love 2
Rick Kitchen

Rick Kitchen

From what I've read about Nerium, it (and Monavie by-the-by) fits the federal statutory definition of "pyramid scheme" to the letter.

I don't know enough about Avon's business model to say whether it is or is not.

Anyway, Nerium is not only a pyramid, but there are multiple independent scientific studies which claim many of the chemicals in Nerium's products are toxic.

I seriously do not understand why someone with actual talent like Freddie Smith is involved in something so shady. As I said earlier, what a shame.

 

There's a woman involved.

  • Love 1
dingochick

dingochick

Kate Mansi Celebrates 50 Years of 'Days of Our Lives' With an Instagram Takeover

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/kate-mansi-celebrates-50-years-c1433954094037.html

 

Guess this means Abifail is going to be around through November sweeps. Nerts. C'mon writers, help us out!! I would be on board with the Chad/Theresa meeting (and pairing). :)
 

  • Love 1
Apprentice79

Apprentice79

(edited)

I  have never seen Eric talking to Kate, Sonny, or even hold his grand-niece Arianna...I have never seen Will with Nicole, Theresa his cousin, with Jennifer his aunt..I have never seen Sonny with Kayla his aunt,you would think that they would be close since he was named after Steve...Xander should be around Justin, Adrienne, Sonny, Will and Arianna...

Edited by Apprentice79
  • Love 1
Apprentice79

Apprentice79

Thinking about the dreary state of the show makes me remember how great Douglas Marland as Head-writer was on As the world turns, I wish somebody could have writers and producers of the four remaining daytime soaps read his manifesto on how not to wreck a show:  

 

 

The late Douglas Marland is considered one of the greatest soap opera writers of all-time. At various points in his career he was the head writer of As the World Turns, Guiding Light, General Hospital, The Doctors and Loving. He also wrote for Another World (on Harding Lemay's team) and co-created Loving and A New Day in Eden.

The rules on "How Not To Wreck A Show" were published in the April 27, 1993, issue of Soap Opera Digest about six weeks after his death. They seem like common sense but are any of these being followed today? By anyone?

How Not To Wreck A Show
* Watch the show.

* Learn the history of the show. You would be surprised at the ideas that you can get from the back story of your characters.

* Read the fan mail. The very characters that are not thrilling to you may be the audience's favorites.

* Be objective. When I came in to ATWT, the first thing I said was, what is pleasing the audience? You have to put your own personal likes and dislikes aside and develop the characters that the audience wants to see.

* Talk to everyone; writers and actors especially. There may be something in a character's history that will work beautifully for you, and who would know better than the actor who has been playing the role?

* Don't change a core character. You can certainly give them edges they didn't have before, or give them a logical reason to change their behavior. But when the audience says, "He would never do that," then you have failed.

* Build new characters slowly. Everyone knows that it takes six months to a year for an audience to care about a new character. Tie them in to existing characters. Don't shove them down the viewers' throats.

* If you feel staff changes are in order, look within the organization first. P&G [Procter & Gamble] does a lot of promoting from within. Almost all of our producers worked their way up from staff positions, and that means they know the show.

Don't fire anyone for six months. I feel very deeply that you should look at the show's canvas before you do anything.

* Good soap opera is good storytelling. It's very simple.

  • Love 11
TigerLynx

TigerLynx

I remember these rules being mentioned when others soaps were failing, and eventually got cancelled.  One of the things that has struck me about a lot of show runners of soaps in recent years is the contempt they seem to have for the fans.  They think the fans should just accept whatever they write, and the fans are wrong if they don't agree with where the writers take the characters.  It seems to escape their grasp of reality that if the fans don't like the direction a show is going in, all they have to do is stop watching.

 

Theresa is a great example of the writers not bothering to consider the history of the show and characters.  There should have been something more to Kim and Shane's daughter arriving in Salem as the latest bad girl beyond Theresa is bad and trouble.  Also, Shane Donavan is RICH.  He isn't just well off, or has some money, he has TONS of money.  Theresa and Eve having money problems when it comes to providing for their children is DUMB really BAD writing.  Even if Shane or Kim did not like the things Theresa or Eve were doing, there is no way they would not provide for Tate or Paige.  Shane would have paid for Paige to go to any college she wanted to.

  • Love 2
Apprentice79

Apprentice79

(edited)

Exactly Leftphalange, the same can be said for Will. Will would never cheat on Sonny and put Arianna's family at risk, due to his history with his parents..If they  wanted to give Wilson a problem as a couple to face and conquer together. They could have had Will become an alcoholic, I remember when Will was a tween, and he got arrested for public drinking. Lucas was very worried that Will had the propensity to drink like him. The show could have used that piece of Will's history to create conflict for Wilson in their marriage without hurting their characters. An addiction of any kind is an illness and not a character flaw.. That is an example of what Douglas Marland said, when writing for a character, in using their back story to write stories for them...Alcoholism runs in Will's family....Lucas is an alcoholic...

 

Perhaps Will begins to feel trap in his marriage with Sonny,  not wanting to hurt his beloved husband. He turns to the bottle for solace, it could start with a simple wine at night to calm his nerves after dealing with Ari all day, while Sonny is at work taking care of them...It can spiral out  of control from there...They could have built from there, incorporating Maggie, Lucas, Sami, Justin, Adrienne, Alex, Victor, Caroline, kate, Rafe, Jennifer into the storyline. Alcoholism destroys families, imagine the scenes we could have gotten from that type of character-driven storyline. Perhaps, Wilson could have even separated due to Will's alcoholism with Sonny taking custody of Ari. Plus, you would have Sparkle come into the story to take advantage of this to get Sonny back adding more pressure to the volatile situation between Wilson...I would have had Ari get hurt while in the care of a drunken Will, this would push him to seek help. This would be a nod to history as well because Will got hurt in a car accident because of a drunken Lucas, when he kidnapped him as a toddler.

 

 While in Rehab, Will meets a good looking guy and sparks fly......They form a close bond and that irritates the hell out of Sonny, who does not like Will's growing dependency on this  handsome guy...Feeling neglected and ignored, he has a one night stand with Sparkle that has unforeseen consequences down the line.....This new friend of Will's  is not as benign as he seems, we found out that he is Andre's son and he does not have good intentions for Wilson...

Edited by Apprentice79
tawny411

tawny411

Thinking about the dreary state of the show makes me remember how great Douglas Marland as Head-writer was on As the world turns, I wish somebody could have writers and producers of the four remaining daytime soaps read his manifesto on how not to wreck a show:  

 

 

The late Douglas Marland is considered one of the greatest soap opera writers of all-time. At various points in his career he was the head writer of As the World Turns, Guiding Light, General Hospital, The Doctors and Loving. He also wrote for Another World (on Harding Lemay's team) and co-created Loving and A New Day in Eden.

The rules on "How Not To Wreck A Show" were published in the April 27, 1993, issue of Soap Opera Digest about six weeks after his death. They seem like common sense but are any of these being followed today? By anyone?

How Not To Wreck A Show

* Watch the show.

* Learn the history of the show. You would be surprised at the ideas that you can get from the back story of your characters.

* Read the fan mail. The very characters that are not thrilling to you may be the audience's favorites.

* Be objective. When I came in to ATWT, the first thing I said was, what is pleasing the audience? You have to put your own personal likes and dislikes aside and develop the characters that the audience wants to see.

* Talk to everyone; writers and actors especially. There may be something in a character's history that will work beautifully for you, and who would know better than the actor who has been playing the role?

* Don't change a core character. You can certainly give them edges they didn't have before, or give them a logical reason to change their behavior. But when the audience says, "He would never do that," then you have failed.

* Build new characters slowly. Everyone knows that it takes six months to a year for an audience to care about a new character. Tie them in to existing characters. Don't shove them down the viewers' throats.

* If you feel staff changes are in order, look within the organization first. P&G [Procter & Gamble] does a lot of promoting from within. Almost all of our producers worked their way up from staff positions, and that means they know the show.

Don't fire anyone for six months. I feel very deeply that you should look at the show's canvas before you do anything.

* Good soap opera is good storytelling. It's very simple.

Sounds like all of that is the exact opposite of what Days writers do. Its why I've quit watching and won't be back.

  • Love 1
Petunia13

Petunia13

(edited)

Did you guys know that Rachel Melvin and Blake Berris who played Nick and Chelsea used to date and they remain close friends till this day. She said that he was a good kisser...lol

It's good to hear they're still friends or get along. Last interview she gave she said every relationship she had was a disaster that she was quites depressed and literally prayed over finding a decent man then finally gave up before finding her current beau who's been a breath of fresh air.

LOL I liked her honesty. Other than Dan shit and Zach accident I liked Chelsea.

Edited by Petunia13
  • Love 1
islandgal140

islandgal140

Thinking about the dreary state of the show makes me remember how great Douglas Marland as Head-writer was on As the world turns, I wish somebody could have writers and producers of the four remaining daytime soaps read his manifesto on how not to wreck a show:  

 

 

The late Douglas Marland is considered one of the greatest soap opera writers of all-time. At various points in his career he was the head writer of As the World Turns, Guiding Light, General Hospital, The Doctors and Loving. He also wrote for Another World (on Harding Lemay's team) and co-created Loving and A New Day in Eden.

The rules on "How Not To Wreck A Show" were published in the April 27, 1993, issue of Soap Opera Digest about six weeks after his death. They seem like common sense but are any of these being followed today? By anyone?

How Not To Wreck A Show

* Watch the show.

* Learn the history of the show. You would be surprised at the ideas that you can get from the back story of your characters.

* Read the fan mail. The very characters that are not thrilling to you may be the audience's favorites.

* Be objective. When I came in to ATWT, the first thing I said was, what is pleasing the audience? You have to put your own personal likes and dislikes aside and develop the characters that the audience wants to see.

* Talk to everyone; writers and actors especially. There may be something in a character's history that will work beautifully for you, and who would know better than the actor who has been playing the role?

* Don't change a core character. You can certainly give them edges they didn't have before, or give them a logical reason to change their behavior. But when the audience says, "He would never do that," then you have failed.

* Build new characters slowly. Everyone knows that it takes six months to a year for an audience to care about a new character. Tie them in to existing characters. Don't shove them down the viewers' throats.

* If you feel staff changes are in order, look within the organization first. P&G [Procter & Gamble] does a lot of promoting from within. Almost all of our producers worked their way up from staff positions, and that means they know the show.

Don't fire anyone for six months. I feel very deeply that you should look at the show's canvas before you do anything.

* Good soap opera is good storytelling. It's very simple.

 

I wish someone would send this to Ken Corday. He should stick this in a place where he can look at it everyday and remember. I read this and become livid all over again at his recent interview re: firing the last writing crew. You would think he just woke up one day, turned on the tv and was struck by how much the show stunk and he was shocked he tells ya, SHOCKED!!! This just seems like a noodle scratcher given his position for years as executive producer and to hear him tell it, he is very much involved in story so it begs the question how did it get so bad for so long under his watch? 

  • Love 1
methodwriter85

methodwriter85

(edited)

Did you guys know that Rachel Melvin and Blake Berris who played Nick and Chelsea used to date and they remain close friends till this day. She said that he was a good kisser...lol

A guy with nice lips like that should be a good kisser, I gotta say.

Edited by methodwriter85
  • Love 2
Rick Kitchen

Rick Kitchen

Charles Shaughnessy, talking about jobs he's had in the past:

 

 

I sold X-rated videos over the telephone. I sat behind a desk. I had to cold call strange motels — go through the phone directory in Arkansas and find the Naughty Nightie Motel. I'd call them up and say, "We're doing a special on 'Debbie Does Dallas' and Swedish Erotica. I can send you three and a poster." They just thought it was either a joke or it was Prince Charles calling and it was too bizarre to have him try to sell them porn. I never sold a thing. I couldn't get a single seller.

I did it for about two months, and then a friend of mine said, "You can work for me. I'm a private investigator." So I spent one day as a private investigator and that was terrifying. I nearly got killed. I was knocking on doors trying to find insurance scams. And this guy said, "Come on in. Let me tell you about this." And then as we're talking I realized, "Oh my God, he's completely crazy." He started throwing a knife in the floor by my feet talking about how Clint Eastwood has angels and the angels who protect Clint Eastwood protect him. And he said, "You see these scratches? These are the angels' tears." I thought, "This guy has a basement full of insurance investigators."

  • Love 7
Apprentice79

Apprentice79

(edited)

He was roomies with Casey Deidrick, I guess not any more?

There was a rumor that they were secretly lovers and the actors did have alot of chemistry..Chill had alot of following. I remember at one point when Chad and Will were rivals for Mia's affection, I thought that the show would go there and make them have an affair...This was way before the show was going to do a gay storyline with Will. Will was the perfect character to do the storyline because he is probably the only legacy child that actually grew up on the show in real time...Will was born in 1995..Chandler was against Wilson and wanted Chill to happen, he wanted Wilson to be best friends..Freddie had chemistry with Casey as well...lol

Edited by Apprentice79
  • Love 1
Apprentice79

Apprentice79

(edited)

Here is  a picture of Ashley Benson, my favorite Abigail reunited with cousin Nick(Blake Berris) on the set of Pretty little liars...He now has a role on that show...I loved the quad of Nick/Chelsea/Max/Abigail. They were so wondeful together and apart...I loved the brother/sister bond between Nick and Abigail....Memories....It makes me want to cry... I  loved Abigail's crush on Max and I loved her snarkiness about his fascinations with his nieces Stefanie and Chelsea...She looked so much like Jennifer, and had alot of good qualities from Jack....The show could have redeemed Nick after Will got shot defending him, by bringing back Chelsea and have them reunite by riding off into the sunset together...Chelsea could have helped Nick find his humanity again, just like he did with her all those years ago....Nick and Chelsea forever!

 

CKZqVeLUcAEtbE-.jpg

Edited by Apprentice79
  • Love 4
Door County Cherry
Message added by Door County Cherry

The Behind The Scenes thread is not a spoiler thread.  So spoilers, including casting information, do not belong in here.  The "behind the scenes" information specifically related to casting should go in either the spoiler thread or the Salem International thread which discusses. departures and arrivals thread. 

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