News Brief

Former DAYS Producer Says TV Can Lure Viewers To Libraries
Bristol Public Library wants you. Per the library’s intent to reach wide ranges of people, the series of monthly speakers continued Thursday night when marketing consultant Bob Brien booked his fishing buddy, Gary Fogel, to speak at the library. But Fogel did not speak on fishing.

For 26 years, Fogel worked as the senior vice president in charge of production for DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

“The country is in big trouble in terms of illiteracy,” Fogel said moments before he addressed the crowd assembled at the library. “I don’t think going to the library is something people do without being prompted.”

Fogel, who before moving to daytime soaps worked on such primetime television shows as FANTASY ISLAND and T.J. HOOKER, has a suggestion. Similar to how NBC’s FRIENDS helped spur America’s coffee shop craze, Fogel said TV could boost library attendance.

“If library supporters sent letters to the two dozen writers of hit shows to please consider writing into a storyline about going to the library,” Fogel said, “it could help.”

Meanwhile, Brien brought Fogel to the library to attract a certain demographic.

“It’s reaching out to the female demographic,” Brien said.

Mission accomplished. Of the 50 or so in attendance, roughly two-thirds were female and quite the fans of DAYS OF OUR LIVES On that note, Fogel did not disappoint.

“I had never seen a soap opera in my life,” Fogel said of the time he was hired by Corday Productions as executive vice president and senior executive in charge of production for DAYS.

“Yet of all the things I’ve handled, they were in fact the most interesting.”

Fogel dealt with the bottom line. He negotiated contracts with directors and actors and various members of the crew while maintaining a steady eye on a rock-solid fixed budget.

“Every single day was different,” Fogel said. “To me, it was fantastic.”

Folks in the crowd listened intently as the University of Toledo graduate extolled the virtues of daytime soap operas. They sat rapt as he took them beyond the tube to explain how shows were made and difficulties inherent in the production of daytime shows.

He in turn saluted them, the ardent and loyal fans of DAYS, which debuted Nov. 8, 1968.

“Beyond question and beyond any other show, DAYS fans are the most loyal"

HOLLYOAKS actor shocked by plot research
HOLLYOAKS star Nico Mirallegro has admitted that he is shocked by the research he has done for his role on the Channel 4 soap.

The 17-year-old actor spent two months reading up on schizophrenia after being told that his character Newt would start to experience symptoms of the mental illness. As well as studying books and internet sites, Mirallegro watched films about the disorder and spoke to real-life sufferers.

"I didn't know anything about this illness at all, nor did any of my friends," Nico told the Liverpool Daily Post. "But I've found out that around one person in 100 will experience it at some time, and so, in an average secondary school with 1,000 pupils, there are about 10 that could be affected.

SPOOF: EASTENDERS' Sean Arrested
" Psychopath Sean Slater of the BBC soap, Eastenders, has been lifted by 'The Ol' Bill' for Crimes To Acting.

The Psycho-turned Romeo-turned Psycho-turned Loverat-turned Father-turned Psycho-turned Fiance-turned Psycho Sean, was arrested amid wild scenes when he AGAIN forgot his lines."

AS THE CORN GROWS
A new soap opera on TV features a Blue Earth resident in a starring role. To be honest, however, the new television soap is not being produced in Hollywood, Calif., but instead is being filmed in Fairmont, Minn.

The drama is entitled AS THE CORN GROWS and is aired as a segment on OUR STORY on Charter Cable channel 14.

“To the best of our knowledge, AS THE CORN GROWS is the first TV soap opera ever made about rural Minnesota life,” says executive producer Jeff Rouse. “The show has the tongue-in-cheek flavor like that of MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN and the cliff-hanging intrigue of GENERAL HOSPITAL

It also is very corny, Rouse admits.

“It tells the story of a big city girl who moves to southern Minnesota after inheriting a farm here,” Rouse explains.

Mathison's PAGEANT returns tonight on the Style Network
ALL MY CHILDREN star Cameron Mathison and former THE VIEW co-host Debbie Matenopoulos return for a new season of INSTANT BEAUTY PAGEANT that nabs female mall shoppers and turns them into beauty-pageant contenders (against one another, not against big-leaguers) within a three-hour time limit.