News Brief

LYNN LICCARDO: And They Say Nothing Happens in August
"...that brings me to recent seismic events in the world of soap opera journalism. This past weekend, while the rest of the world surfed from the escalating war between Russia and Georgia, to the Olympics, and of course, the unfolding John Edwards saga, the soap opera world was reacting to the firing of Soap Opera Weekly editor, Carolyn Hinsey.

As for the future of soap opera journalism, this situation brings to mind the Chinese symbol for crisis being a combination of symbols for danger and opportunity. I believe that opportunity lies on the Internet, and it is likely fraught with danger, as most change is."

Former SOD Editor ALAN CARTER: Stop talking down to the audience
"...human nature hasn’t changed. People have enjoyed being hooked on stories for thousands of years. The shows need to stop talking down to the audience … just because Maury and Jerry Springer are on at the same time, doesn’t mean the soap audience is filled with a bunch of toothless morons. Class up the soaps, add some romance (funny notion, huh?), cut out all the mysogynist, inane, out of nowhere violence that doesn’t ever advance plot (hi, General Hospital) and maybe, since this is 2008, a world that reflects the real world."

PATRICK ERWIN: The Hinsey report
"I think the intense backlash and negativity coursing through some of those responses in the Jossip thread? Is not just about Hinsey, or anything she or Lynn Leahey or anyone else did. I think it’s also being fueled by general anger and frustration at what’s happening with the industry right now. Everyone is fighting tooth and nail to survive. And more importantly, people - fans, actors, writers - are feeling like they are NOT being heard and are NOT being taken seriously."

FLASHBACK: Carolyn Hinsey 2007: Talk About Screwing The Pooch
In the December 4th issue of SOD (on newsstands now), Hinsey chimed in on the writer's strike.

"As I write this, daytime writers are on strike over issues that, as far as I can tell, do not have much to do with soap operas. Soaps are not released on DVD or streamed onto the Web. Some are available, but the networks only wish young people would download soaps on their iPods and watch them. (Hello, young demos!) But daytime scribes are in the Writers Guild, so they have to walk away.

Personally, I think soap writers should be exempt from this strike. Soap ratings have never been lower and no good can come of all these people walking away from their jobs. Either the shows will get worse, ratings will fall more and shows will get canceled - which means fewer writing jobs in daytime - or the producers filling in for the striking writers will do a better job and take over.

Talk about screwing the pooch."

Bardon return boosts EASTENDERS
The return of John Bardon for a one-off episode gave EASTENDERS a ratings boost last night (Monday), according to early figures.

The actor was forced to retire from his role as Jim Branning in the soap after suffering a stroke in July 2007 but paid a surprise visit to the Square in last night's episode, shown on BBC One at 8pm. The episode was seen by 8.65m (39.6%) over 30 minutes, a week-on-week rise of 800,000 viewers and enough to place EASTENDERS above CORONATION STREET. A further 583,000 (3.2%) watched the later repeat on BBC Three.

Y&R's Cooper still on a high
Jeanne Cooper is still on a high after winning her first Emmy back in May. "I don't think she's going to come down, ever," said her son, actor Corbin Bernsen.

But after 35 years on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, nine daytime and two prime time Emmy nominations, Cooper, 79, is taking it all in stride.

"She's one of these people — it means something, but it doesn't, really," Bernsen said. "She does it all for the thrill, for you guys, for the fans. That's how she is."

Mel B turns her back on Britain as she admits she prefers US soaps
After living in Los Angeles for five years, Mel B has turned her back on British soap operas EASTENDERS and CORONATION STREET in favor of the US counterparts.

The former Spice Girl gushes about her love for daytime soap opera ALL MY CHILDREN in a brief promo for American TV network ABC.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: AW and GL star Petronia Paley

Petronia Paley is best known to soap fans for her six years as Quinn Harding on ANOTHER WORLD in the 80s. Quinn date Roy Bingham (Morgan Freeman) and later Zack Edwards (James Pickens, Jr.) before being murdered by the Sin Stalker in 1987. Paley went on to play Vivian Grant on GUIDING LIGHT in the 90s. These days you can catch her doing theather.

In December, the small off-Broadway venue was the home of "On the Way to Timbuktu," a monologue written and performed by Poughkeepsie native Petronia Paley.

Paley's portrayal of emotionally torn Slim, the show's focus, has gotten her a nomination for a New York Innovative Theatre Award in the category of Outstanding Solo Performance.