The Soapgeist - Nov. 23/09

SUDSIEST REVIEWS FROM “JAMES FRANCO DAY” ON GH
An artist whose canvas is murder, but “where is the hospital?”
“Franco was initially seen witnessing an awkwardly staged gangland shoot-out [I had forgotten the way everything on a soap set, right down to the stairs people run down, looks like flimsy cardboard]. I’m not going to pretend I’m a regular GH watcher — you’d figure that out fast, if I tried to pass — but I’m also the sort of person the producers want to attract: that is, a new viewer, to boost the generally sagging ratings of the soap opera genre. Oh, and pardon a newbie’s question, but: Does General Hospital ever have any scenes in a hospital?”
—EW.com’s Ken Tucker in his James Franco/GH review
Translation: Welcome to our world, Ken.

“This all apparently has something to do with other art projects [Franco] has going, and it's all related to image and deconstruction and so forth, but from a strictly pragmatic perspective, this move is absolute genius. Even soap snobs aren't going to think this is because James Franco has to do GH. No, this is clearly because he chooses to. And that choice is a genuine fake-left, go-right maneuver in a world where publicity tends to make everything seem utterly predictable. This is a legitimately surprising thing to do, and there are fewer and fewer things like that in existence. He's probably not going to hurt himself — even if it's terrible, everyone will just blame the fact that it's a soap. And in return for three days of work, he gets attention, he gets exposure to some of the most devoted television viewers in existence, and he gets to do something that most of his peers have never done. All in all, one of the more goofy and potentially wily moves I’ve ever seen from an A-list actor.”
—Linda Holmes from NPR
Translation: What is Vanessa Marcil waiting for — Christmas?

“As for Franco the artist, he apparently likes rearranging dead bodies and recreating crime scenes, and he’s stalking Jason the hit man — there was a creepy scene where he waved at Jason as the mobsters drove away from the shoot-out, and gave Jason the shivers. It was sort of awesome, because I really don’t like the mob. Later, you see him getting all sexy with his agent, the deliciously slinky Marsha Thomason of Las Vegas, and you see there’s just something off about the guy. Sadly, it all comes back to the mob. But Franco’s so intriguing — there’s an amazing amount of there, there — that I’m hooked.”
—The Palm Beach Post’s Leslie Gray Streeter, who is a regular GH viewer
Translation: They should rename this show General Mobsters.

“It is quite some time since I paid any attention at all to the goings-on in fictional Port Charles, N.Y. These days the landscape is dominated by Italian gangsters of the post-Sopranos variety, some of whom are apparently less villainous than others. There are also: a woman who runs or works for an art gallery and her perky assistant; some security specialists of no clear moral convictions; a cop; and a couple of women whose specific roles I could not divine, apart from the sex. There was no hospital in evidence, general or otherwise — nor any doctors, for that matter, or likely holders of doctorates.”
—The L.A. Times’s Robert Tyler
Translation: I can’t believe I’m watching this garbage.

“Because I’ve only been an occasional soap opera viewer in the past, I’d forgotten a key fact about the daytime genre: There’s not really a narrative middle ground. Either what's happening is utterly bat guano ridiculous, or nothing is happening at all. And unusually, you get both extremes in the same episode. Wait. Make that a *very* creepy drifter, since after the shoot-out ended, he gave a malevolent smile and wave to the departing goons and then walked over to one of the wounded wise guys and crushed his windpipe. Or at least we were later told that the guy had died of a crushed windpipe, though the scene was so poorly shot and sound-designed that he might just have been standing on the guy's chest for all I could tell. He then rearranged the body and threw several coins at the corpse. And no, I’d never have recognized the dead guy as the mobster who gave Franco change earlier if I hadn’t been told.

He also wasn’t distractingly good. Just as you didn’t go, ‘Damn, that guy looks like a movie star’ when he appeared, you also didn’t go, ‘Damn, that guy’s a Golden Globe-winning thespian whose last regular TV role was on one of the greatest network dramedies of the past 10 years.’ He’s always been an actor prone to twitching and smirking and that’s what he got to do on GH, but from what I could tell, he's far from the only affected twitcher in the cast. Dominic Zamprogna, Brandon Barash and Bradford Anderson all seem capable of giving Franco a run for his money. Watching Friday’s GH felt exactly like watching a soap opera on any other day, except that I knew one of the actors by name.
—HitFlix’s Daniel Fienberg
Translation: I was in a coma during the whole Tony Geary craze back in the ‘80s.

“[Today was the day] people who had never watched GH before in their lives watched a little bit of General Hospital, just to see James Franco. Never forget! Turns out, it’s not very hospital-y at all, and it's about the mafia and the art world and a lady having a meltdown in her living room.
—New York Magazine’s Lindsay Robertson
Translation: What happened to love in the afternoon?

WEEKEND SUDS FLASHES
AMC boycott almost over! More on Pratt’s ouster! Is Tuc Watkins out at Housewives?
• American Thanksgiving came early. Soap fans partied all weekend with the news that head writer Chuck Pratt had been let go from AMC just as the 40-year-old sudser was taping their anniversary episodes to air on Jan. 4 and 5. When Soapoperadigest.com confirmed the news on the ouster heard around the daytime world, the AMC cast was reportedly stunned. “No one had a clue,” says one cast member. An ABC insider reveals that Brian Frons gave the maligned and controversial scribe three months to shape up or get out. Clearly, the result was the latter. “Fans were upset, but most importantly, certain high-level stars were furious over the material they had to act out, including the most vocal actor, Susan Lucci,” says the mole. According to daytimeconfidential.com, beloved soap scribe — and former AMC writer — Lorraine Broderick will step in for Pratt during the transition until ABC finds a new head writer (funny since Ilene Kristen and I were just asking why a sudser hasn’t employed Broderick in our interview this past Thursday). Expect Pratt’s material to air well into the new year so don’t bother tuning in until all traces of the hack are gone.

• ABC & SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares, ABC-TV’s annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will be presented at Town Hall in Manhattan on March 21, 2010, according to the BC/EFA website. The yearly event features actors from AMC, One Life, and GH offering musical numbers and skits. Attendees can also expect appearances by some of the women of The View.

• It’s that time of the year. Tuc Watkins will be off the One Life canvas due to his winter gig on Desperate Housewives, but according to Soap Opera Digest he’ll be back sooner rather than later as the intellectually challenged yet charming and sexy cad, David Vickers. But the two-time Soap Opera Spirit Award winner could be back permanently. You may have already heard that Housewives is killing off three characters during their airplane crash episode next month.

SUDS POLL
Which soap improved the most in 2009?
• As The World Turns
• Days of our Lives
• General Hospital
• Guiding Light
• The Young and The Restless

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
The Oprah Winfrey Effect
Now that daytime-TV queen (sorry, La Lucci) Oprah Winfrey has announced that she will indeed exit the national airwaves in 2011 when she traverses her titular talk show to her own network, OWN, will there be any justifiable reason to turn on your TV during the day? How will the Emmy winner’s departure affect ratings-challenged soaps if Oprah takes her loyal audience with her?

SO LONG SPRINGFIELD
New actors line up for Las Vegas farewell — including Otalia!
Next stop on the Guiding Light Farewell tour? Las Vegas. On Dec. 5, 2009, event director Mike Gold will welcome Emmy winner Justin Deas along with Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia as new cast additions. Gold tells Suds, “We have put a special promotion together for anyone that signs up for both the afternoon and evening sessions. They will receive pre-autographed, colour 8x10 pictures of each actor participating in the Las Vegas event. Fans will receive these upon check-in at the event.” Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is offering special room rates at their hotel, plus other Harrah's properties in Las Vegas. Click here for more details.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK Noah Mayer: “Luke, where’s my Oil of Olay, damn it?!”

VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’s AMC reunion

 

PODCAST NEWS Michael Fairman hosts new B&B podcast series B&B is launching its new podcast series this coming Tuesday, Nov. 24 with its first guest, the newest member of the cast, three-time Daytime Emmy winner Sarah Brown (Sandy). On-Air On-Soaps’ Michael Fairman is host of the B&B Podcast feature. Fans can hear it by logging on to the show's website theboldandthebeautiful.com and registering there. (P.S. Michael, you really need to spend more time at the gym — your arms are too skinny!)

(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

Courtesy of Soap Opera Network

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,915,000 (+81,000/+39,000)
2. B&B 3,276,000 (+134,000/-205,000)
3. DAYS 3,055,000 (+189,000/+385,000)
4. GH 2,818,000 (+36,000/-71,000)
5. AMC 2,753,000 (+177,000/+70,000)
6. OLTL 2,692,000 (+242,000/-220,000)
7. ATWT 2,452,000 (-96,000/-83,000)

Total Households
1. Y&R 3.6/12 (+.1/same)
2. B&B 2.4/8 (+.1/-.1)
3. DAYS 2.2/7 (+.1/+.2)
4. GH 2.1/6 (same/-.1)
5. AMC 2.0/7 (same/-.1)
5. OLTL 2.0/6 (+.1/-.2)
7. ATWT 1.8/6 (-.1/-.1)

*Editor’s Note — GH was the week’s No. 1 program in Daytime in Women 18-34 (412,000/1.2 rating). This week ranked as GH’s most-watched week in this demo in more than two years — since week of 9/17/07. The Emmy-winning series also hit a nine-month high in Women 18-49 (976,000/1.5 rating - since week of 2/2/09. And if that wasn't enough, GH reached a seven-month high in total viewers with 2.82 million viewers. The best news is that James Franco hasn’t even begun airing yet so expect GH’s numbers to dramatically increase in the next coming weeks.

TOPS OF THE DECADE
Who were the standouts in Y2K?
Every Monday, Soapgeist will be rolling out the top shows, actors, couples and storylines until ’00 decade is officially over. See if you agree. This week? Best Love Stories from the new millennium. My buddy Michael Fairman of On Air On Soaps is weighing in as well.
15. David and Dorian, One Life To Live
14. Greenlee and Leo, All My Children
13. Kyle and Fish, One Life To Live
12. Brad and Katie, As The World Turns
11. Angie and Jesse, All My Children
10. Tess and Nash, One Life To Live
9. Zach and Kendall, All My Children
8. Victor and Nikki, The Young and the Restless
7. Noah and Luke, As The World Turns
6. Bianca and Lena, All My Children
5. Brooke and Nick, The Bold and the Beautiful
4. Jack and Carly, As The World Turns
3. Patrick and Robin, General Hospital
2. Olivia and Natalia, Guiding Light
1. Phyllis and Nick, The Young and the Restless
Readers' Choices (tie) — Jason and Liz, General Hospital; Tammy and Jonathan, Guiding Light
 
THE NELSON RATINGS
Can’t watch all the soaps this week? No worries — here’s a cheat sheet!
 
Top 3 Soaps to Watch:
1. Days of our Lives, NBC/Global
2. General Hospital, ABC/A
3. Gotham, Gothamtheseries.com/YouTube
 
Top 3 Storylines to Watch:
1. Carly’s Secret Daughter, DAYS
2. Down Under Sydney, DAYS
3. Franco’s Painting By Corpses, GH
 
Top 6 Actresses to Watch:
1. Crystal Chappell (Carly, DAYS)
—tie — Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
3. Arianne Zucker (Nicole, DAYS)
4. Martha Byrne (Catherine, Gotham)
5. Lesli Kay (Molly, World Turns)
6. Anne Sayre (Tina, Gotham)

Top 5 Actors to Watch:
1. James Franco (Franco, GH)
2. James Scott (EJ, DAYS)
3. Billy Miller (Billy, Y&R)
4. Jon Hensley (Holden, World Turns)
5. Michael Park (Richard, Gotham)

Top 3 Most Entertaining Performers:
1. Betty White (Ann, B&B)
2. Louise Sorel (Vivian, DAYS)
3. Amanda Setton (Kim, One Life)
 
Top 3 Duos to Watch:
1. Carly and Bo, DAYS
2. Fish and Kyle, One Life
3. Jason and Sonny, GH

Top 3 Rivals:
1. Franco vs. Jason, GH
2. Eric Braeden and Peter Bergman, Y&R
3. John vs. The Banks, One Life

Top 3 Triangles to Watch:
1. Carly/Bo/Hope, DAYS
2. Sami/Rafe/EJ, DAYS
3. Todd/Téa/Ross, One Life

Top 3 Guilty Pleasures:
1. Celebrating Chuck Pratt’s AMC firing
2. Making fun of Y&R’s casting choices
3. Noah’s face, World Turns

Top 3 Families To Watch:
1. The DiMeras, DAYS
2. The Kiriakises, DAYS
3.  The Bradys, DAYS

Top 3 New Duos To Watch:
1. Nina and Paul, Y&R
2. Layla and Cristian, One Life
3. Matthew and Danielle, One Life

Top 3 Duos To Avoid Like the Plague:
1. Greg and Rachel, One Life
2. Bo and Nora, One Life
3. JR and Marissa, AMC

Top 3 Recasts To Watch:
1. Jonathan Jackson (Lucky, GH)
2. Michael Lowry (Ross, One Life)
3. Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS)

Top 3 Young Actors:
1. Drew Garrett (Michael, GH)
2. Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH)
3. Kelley Massal (Danielle, One Life)

Top 3 Biggest Wastes of Talent:
1. Carolyn Hennesy (Diane, GH)
2. The AMC cast
3. Eileen Fulton (Lisa, World Turns)

Top 3 Hair Models:
1. Denise Vasi (Randi, AMC)
2. Jackie MacInnes Wood (Steffy, B&B)
3. Stephanie Gatschet (Madison, AMC)

Top 3 Soap Magazine Covers (based on art direction):
1. Soap Opera Weekly — Thanksgiving Miracles!
2. Soaps in Depth — Y&R’s Eric Braeden
3. Soap Opera Digest — GH’s James Franco

Top 3 Best Reads/Buys at the Newsstand:  
1. Soap Opera Digest
2. Soap Opera Weekly
3. CBS Soaps In Depth

Top 3 Soap Moments To Watch:
1. Wednesday: On One Life, Dorian is named Mayor of Llanview. “My first order of business is to hang that tramp, Stacy, in Angel Square,” promises Dorian. “And de-gay myself.”
2. Wednesday: DAYS’s Kate isn’t happy to learn that Vivian is back in Salem. “Someone get me some more Botox, STAT,” screams Kate.  
3. Tuesday: GH’s Franco beds a Port Chuck lass. “Get off of me, Jill Farren Phelps,” he screams.

Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion group today on Facebook.

Follow TV Guide Canada on Facebook! And follow Suds Report on Twitter!

Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.