Daytime Confidential #247: Sam Ford Interview
By Luke Kerr on June 03, 2008
On today's episode of Daytime Confidential Jamey and Luke visit with Sam Ford, project manager for the MIT Convergence Culture Consortium who wrote his Master's thesis on the daytime soap opera As The World Turns and currently teaches a course on the American Soap Opera at MIT.
We discuss his thoughts on the daytime industry and what it is like as a longtime soap fan to teach a class on the American Soap Opera to students who may not be familiar with the genre. He tells us who his student's favorite characters are and how his work with the Convergence Culture Consortium impacts his perception of the daytime industry.
Be sure to visit his MIT Soaps Blog and the MIT Convergence Culture Consortium.
the Daytime Confidential Player at the bottom of this post or Download us for FREE via iTunes. Vote for us on Podcast Alley. Add us as a Friend on MySpace. Drop by our sister site TV Fan Online and visit with other soap fans in the TV Fan Online Forums.
- Login or register to post comments
-
- Email this page
Comments
26 November 2007
1 year 27 weeks
Interesting podcast. . .
Serial fiction and continous narrative is an interesting thing. I'm also a comic book fan, I haven't read that many books in the past couple of years.
I vowed not to buy another Marvel book until they fix the whole Spiderman BND travesty. I've been more into soaps lately largely because they are free.
Comics at almost $4 a pop get expensive fast. I woudn't know the first thing about professional wrestling though.
14 November 2007
2 days 10 hours
This sounds like such an interesting show! I'm excited!! I work at a university and I wish we had a class on soap operas!!!
27 March 2008
1 year 4 weeks
Luke & Jay,
I have no idea how you guys do it but you consistently are hitting these podcasts out the park by thinking quite outside the box (to mix a few metaphors). This was just a fantastic treat all around. Not only was I glad to see the intellectual/academic side of soaps discussed but also someone address the obvious parallels between soap, sports (not just wrestling) and comic book fans and their respective dedications to their genres and immersive narratives.
I had written a much longer response that was obliterated by a browser crash and, considering I just got out of the hospital, I just didn't have the energy to re-write it. However, let me commend one and all for another great job.
---------------------------------------
THE EDGE OF NIGHT: 2008 - Hi-Octane Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5DbWdX8IA
14 November 2007
2 days 10 hours
DS9Sisko, sorry to hear you were in the hospital. I hope you're doing okay now
27 March 2008
1 year 4 weeks
I'm much better, Daisy. Thank you so much!
---------------------------------------
THE EDGE OF NIGHT: 2008 - Hi-Octane Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA5DbWdX8IA
22 January 2008
5 hours 28 min
Aww Sisko I hope you are feeling ok! I had missed your insightful comments and thank you so much for the kind words!
20 February 2008
11 weeks 3 days
WOW what an interesting podcast. Thanks for making my work day more interesting with all the info you talk about. Plus it give me more websites to browse when the boss is away.
14 November 2007
2 days 10 hours
AWESOME SHOW!! Thanks so much for "introducing" us to Sam Ford. I loved what he said about soaps so much that I've already checked out the MIT blog, found his podcast interview with Kay Alden and started reading his thesis! And I'm wondering how to swing a leave of absence from work/school so I can take his class at MIT!!
And just as a side note, I really appreciate that this site, the podcast, and the forums have the best of all worlds when it comes to soaps. We've got fun fan content but at the same time there's thoughtful discussion, debate and analysis of all things soap - which can be really hard to find anywhere else. So thanks!!
22 January 2008
5 hours 28 min
Thank YOU Daisy for reading and listening!
27 March 2008
45 weeks 1 day
Terrific interview. Thanks!
3 February 2008
12 hours 33 min
I agree w/ Daisy that this is rapidly becoming THE BEST most well-rounded, insightful site for soap fans. Not only is it the best place for rumors and spoilers but the critiques are smart, too. Thank you for making this my one-stop site for all things Soapy!
I admit that I almost didn't listen to this podcast since I don't watch ATWT, but I'm SO glad I did. Mr. Ford has some great insights on today's soaps. Judging by this potcast, his thesis should be required reading of all Soap network TPTB. I've heard soap fans compared to sports fans before, but never comic book fans. And it's interesting that primetime shows borrow more successfully from daytime than the other way around. I also thought he had a good point about writing for the future when you're not sure how long that future might be. Not to mention that the industry blames the decline in viewership on everything but itself. Lots to process here; good stuff!