Friday, November 28, 2008

Here It is... The Latest Eric Braeden SOD Cover


I posted on Wednesday about the rumors of yet another Eric Braeden Soap Opera Digest. From the image above you can see that it is true. Is there anything to be said that I haven't already ranted about?

Braeden has now appeared on 8 of the past 21 covers (with Victor mentioned on a ninth). In that span, Y&R has been featured on 15 covers (with none dedicated to the sensational Jeanne Cooper). Braeden has appeared on every other cover since the October 28 issue.

Once again, "Eric Braden" was named on this new cover, the December 9 issue. As I pointed it out in the past, Digest usually does not include the actors names on its covers, but with Braeden, it happens almost ever time. Even last week, when the story was about two superstar actors being fired from DAYS, only their last names were used.

I have asked Digest Editorial Director Lynn Leahey for a comment and will let you know if I get an answer.

3 comments:

  1. Maybe Braeden's paying Digest ad rate to be featured on the cover all the time? I don't think it matters what the readers want, just like the viewers. After the very last issue of SOD rolls off the press Lynn will be wondering what went wrong!

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  2. The Braeden covers probably pull in a higher percentage of sales so it's in the magazine's best interests to feature him (and Y& R) more often. It makes some sense since Y&R is the highest-rated show, so there are more viewers attracted the mag when that show is featured.

    I used to work at two different comic book companies where it was true that if Batman or Wolverine were featured (on titles in which they usually didn't appear), those issues would see a spike in sales. The same probably holds true for soaps.

    It seems like preferential treatment, but those extra bucks are probably what keep the mag afloat.

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  3. Frankie, my only issue with that is the fact that 95% of the daytime actors have never been on the cover.

    So how does SOD actually know other actors and shows will not sell. It seems like it is assumed but it's been so long since anything different was tried, there's no current data to back that up.

    And even with Y&R during the past month, I have enjoyed Jeanne Cooper's storyline most of all on Y&R and she hasn't been on a cover. I just went home for the holiday to Tennessee and my family asked me first thing about what's going to happen to Katherine. They are much more interested in her than Victor.

    Obviously someone's data says Y&R and Braeden sell magazines. I would just like to see some alternative covers to test that assumption.

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