TV Guide Canda's Soap Power: The 21 Most Influential Players

Oh, wow, wow, wowzers and whoa! Congratulations to Daytime Confidential for making the infamous list!!! Onward and upward; indeed!!

The Daytime Diva, Daytime Confidential~ ABC Edition, View from the Recliners Edge

Congrats DTC! Nelson's list is quite provocative - as usual. He's becoming a bit too personal though with his gripes against the brass. He's definitely got a flair for the dramatic which makes him a perfect guy to cover soaps.

again. another biase list bye the unworthly nelson branco. making that comment about."That'd teach ABC" lost you creditbility sir. your opinions means adsolutely nothing.

Remember .... we all have opinions. Everyone is entitled to them, even you, and they all mean something to someone.

Nelson, I thank you for the complement!

Tina

Interesting list. For the most part, Branco has a really good soap column. However, his penchant for being overdramatic is getting on my nerves, and he’s seriously risking becoming the Chicken Little who cried wolf, especially after he promised to reveal a HUGE deal this past weekend regarding the backstage drama at DoOL. After he told the tale, I was, like, yeah, it is a deal, but it’s not a HUGE deal.

Also, I don’t like his dire proclamations of and predictions for the soap industry. Sure, it’s troubled. Sure, things need to be done to preserve and grow it. Sure, I appreciate soap pundits being honest and open about the state of the industry. But is it on the fast track to becoming totally obsolete? I don’t think so. Few people use rotary phones anymore, but cell phones, which do basically the same thing plus more, are big business. The industry will change (maybe drastically), but I don’t think it will die out completely.

But you wouldn’t know it by his hyperbole (a thing I despise): “I don't think Days will ever recover,” and “Who controls this disastrous and dying industry?” Granted, he knows the industry much better than I do and could be totally right. My gut tells me that ain’t the case.

If nothing else, his describing the present and future of soaps as being hopeless could very well turn off potential viewers and fans as well as present ones who are disgruntled and displeased. If soaps are “disastrous and dying,” why should anybody bother investing anything in them? There’s a happy medium between Patty Simcox and Debbie Downer, and I wish Branco would find it.

Various and sundry comments on some that made the list:

21. Congratulations to daytimeconfidential.com. Y’all really do deserve kudos for your awesome site. Both the design/layout and content of it are great. Yours is one that other sites (not just soap or even entertainment ones) should emulate. I appreciate your journalism and your intelligent opinions. Hardly a day goes by that there’s not some sort of update with substance. For what it’s worth, you’ve played a big part of this lapsed soap fan coming back to the fold. All the best to you and your continued success.

15/14. Thank you, Nelson, for calling the soap mags on their misleading headlines. I’ve given up on them because of that (and their insipid “celebrity style” features). Oh, if a coworker leaves one on the break table or if I’m not in a hurry at the library or if I'm in a long line at the store, I’ll pick one up and skim through it, but I don’t buy ‘em and sure wouldn’t subscribe. Just don’t mislead your readers yourself.

7. Big, big thank you to Nelson for calling out DoOL’s for its lack of credibility and the boldfaced lies they’ve thrown around like confetti. Never say never, but I refuse to ever again watch that show after the horrid, hideous Salem Stalker mess. Once burned. . .

It wasn’t the violence or gore or dismissal of the characters and actors that offended me but rather the awful, making-it-up-as-they-go-along story telling and the lies told to fans all along the way. Ken Corday is a joke, telling us, “We meant to do that!” No, you didn't. If you did, it would have had a point, it would have made sense, it would have had a lasting effect (besides the permanent distaste I have for the show).

It could have been a bold, fascinating murder mystery that changed the show forever, but it missed more beats than an armless, legless drummer. It fell apart and sent the show into a black hole. Forget this past weekend’s DoOL drama. As far as I’m concerned, the show never recovered from that fiasco. I mean, did people really believe that John Black was dead and Drake Hogestyn was fired after all the stunts they've pulled?

6. I don’t know if “Bold and Beautiful” going to an hour would be such a good thing. I have no persuasive argument against it, just my gut feeling that it’s not the thing to do.

4/3. I’m confused. Did Branco love OLtL’s 40th anniversary tribute? That’s what it seemed like to me from reading his power feature and hearing him on one of the DC podcasts. Funny, since he ripped it to shreds in his July 21 column (http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.ca/The+Nelson+Ratings+July+21+2008/Soaps/Ne...).

2. Yes! Soap episodes need to be available on line. I would watch more often if they were. As it is, I play catch as catch can. I’m much better at pitching.

1. So, Branco’s saying that CBS and/or P&G are trying to maim or kill AtWT by stunting one of it’s most popular pairings (Noah and Luke)?

I'm really getting tired of Nelson. He is entitled to his opinion, but does he have to be on almost all of the podcasts lately? He really wore be out with all his hyperbole (there is no hope) about Days this week. I also don't care to hear abotu him vs Barbara Bloom for the 42nd time.

I am truely honored to be among some great people here at Daytime Confidential. These people are my friends who I love dearly and I will continue to support this site wherever it may take us! 

Thanks Nelson for putting us on the list!!!    You know your stuff and thanks for telling it like it is!!!

I've been upfront and personal in the industry — and trust me, I'm NOT exaggerating when I say it's dying. No one is denying that in the biz. There's a HUGE difference in the industry and it's sad and depressing. I see it up close and personal. These actors are sick and tired of being treated like slaves thanks to the mismanagement of IDIOTS. Used to be, soap stars were LIMO'd to the studios and now they can't even afford craft services. I make more money than the soap stars — and that's a shame. I exagerate for effect, but only to articulate the truth effectively. Does that make sense?
And finally, let me say: I was on TWO podcasts out of TWENTY in a month — I hardly count that as ALL THE PODCASTS. I mean, I'm bad at math, but... Also, I GAVE DC MY EXCLUSIVE LIST REVEAL BEFORE I REVEALED IT! My editor thought I was crazy to do that!

Congrats Luke and everyone at DC... much deserved.  Nelson you are a champion for this struggling genre and it is much appreciated! 

Great podcast. Congrats to all of you at Daytime Confidential for making Nelson's list! Strangely, when I heard NB put you guys on the list, I felt a wee bit proud. Having listened to this podcast from almost the very beginning, I think it is so cool and amazing that it has grown into such an influential force . . . Congrats to Luke for his vision, and everyone who contributes to the podcast, forums, and website.

Good job, y'all!